How do you calculate plant load factor in wind power plant?

Answer 1

PLF in case of wind energy will be calculated as follows:

1.In case of past period: The data such as actual power geerated in a year and the capacity of a particular wind mill will determine the PLF. For Ex. If the wind mill capacity id 1 MW (1000*24*365) which is the installed capacity and the other part actual number of units produced in that year. The ratio of actual out put to installed capacity id the PLF of the wind mill of that year.

2.Incase of estimation for project vibility study: Installed capacity is the same i.e. The original capacity of the particular wind mill. The expected out put will be calculated by considering the wind power density, air density, wind speed, wind direction,wind shear, wind speed frequency, etc will give us monthly average wind speed ( one can rely on the publised data) which gives us in each month how many hours the plantt will be generating power which forms forms base for calculating expected out put. So calculation is done.

loss in transmission need not be captured in PLF.

Other factors tha tmay influence the PLF is the Level of availability of grid,

Posted by Peddi Reddy (IDBI Bank) 7.23 PM, 07/07/2012