is a measure of the percentage time a power generator produces its design maximum compared to what is possible.
Two years ago the capacity factor for wind turbines was round about 30%. Now, thanks to improved blade and generator design, plus better siting, the off-shore wind capacity factor has just hit 50%. Not as high as nuclear – which runs at a steady 90% – nor even as high as a coal-fired power station, which runs at about 85%, but without the drawbacks.
This is very good news for the environment and also for the UK, which will soon be benefitting from massive wind power investment arranged and facilitated by Liberal Democrat Ed Davey, former Environment Minister in the Coalition Government.
To be constructed on the Dogger Bank about 80 miles off-shore, the turbines will benefit from wind speeds and conditions very similar to the sites off Denmark, which have just produced these record operating figures.
Meanwhile, a further piece of good news is that over the past 3 years a key cost (the LCoE*) has fallen by 11% and this indicates that the government’s target of an LCoE of £100/MWh by 2020.
* LCoE = “Levelised Cost of Energy” and is a standardised cost of energy in MWh taking into account all of the whole life costs of the production unit including eventual decomissioning.