3 ms·
> So where do you get power during the 50% of the time when there is no wind? A 50% capacity factor does not mean there's no wind 50% of the time. It only mean
by cesarb 5y ago
> So where do you get power during the 50% of the time when there is no wind?
A 50% capacity factor does not mean there's no wind 50% of the time. It only means that, averaged over a whole year, the power produced is 50% of the maximum the generator is rated to produce. This includes periods of time when there's wind, but wind that's not strong enough to reach the maximum output of the generator.
And the wind not being strong enough to reach the maximum output of the generator is probably the most common situation, since it makes sense to design the generator to reach its maximum output at the strongest normal wind on the region; when the wind is stronger than that maximum, the generator has to shut down (feather the blades and brake the rotor), otherwise it will get damaged.
- eldaisfish 5y agoYour reply does not address the question of where power comes from when the wind isn't blowing.
- tonyedgecombe 5y agoFrom places where it is blowing?
- HPsquared 5y agoHigh pressure weather systems (low wind speed) can cover a large area. I suppose on those days there is probably more sunlight though.
- liketochill 5y agoThey don’t have the data posted yet but there was an event in Alberta recently where there was no wind and this caused the price to be very high. So you either don’t use your AC on a hot still day or you get a giant bill. Looking through may 2021 I see instances in which actual wind power delivered is zero. https://www.aeso.ca/grid/forecasting/wind-and-solar-power-forecasting/ https://www.aeso.ca/grid/forecasting/wind-and-solar-power-fo...
- biehl 5y agoFrom the same place you get power when your nuclear powerplant is offline for maintenance?
- ClumsyPilot 5y agoIf you have 10 plants, 1 is fown for maintenance at the time, obviously all wind turbined are affected simultaneously