Wind turbines: the whole truth.
II1. The production factor (More often called the capacity factor.):
The total number of kilowatt-hours produced by a wind turbine in a year, including all the power variations between maximum and zero or almost zero, as a percentage of the production that would result from full and continuous power, is called the "production factor".
Over a year's time, because of all those variations, a modern windturbine with a maximum power of 3,000 kW (3MW) will generate electricity within the range of 18% to 30% of that power,.The taller the turbine and the windier its location, the higher its production factor will be. 30% is practically never reached anywhere onshore. On sea, on very windy locations, 38% is sometimes reached.
For more information on the "Capacity Factor" please visit: LIGHTBUCKET
As a consequence of these variations of the wind speed, from year to year the constructors of Wind turbines will never be able to guarantee a production factor. It can only be measured for each year at its ending. This is why these constructors will never accept a penalty for not reaching the production factor they have estimated. The production factor they promise can only be guesswork, as they have no way of finding out how strong the wind will blow in a given year. The production factor is entirely dependent on the unpredictable wind variations.
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