How much electricity does a new 700 MW combined-cycle gas power plant generate per year?
Calculating Electricity Generation
To calculate the amount of electricity generated per year by the new 700 MW combined-cycle gas power plant, we need to consider its efficiency and capacity factor.
The power plant is 60% efficient, meaning 60% of the energy from the natural gas is converted into electricity.
Capacity Factor:The capacity factor of the power plant is 80%, indicating the percentage of time it operates at full capacity throughout the year.
Solution:
First, let's calculate the maximum amount of electricity the power plant can generate in a year:
700 MW × 24 hours/day × 365 days/year = 6,132,000,000 kWh
Next, we consider the capacity factor:
6,132,000,000 kWh × 80% = 4,905,600,000 kWh
Therefore, the new 700 MW combined-cycle gas power plant generates 4,905,600,000 kWh of electricity per year. What factors are important in determining the amount of electricity generated by a power plant per year? The efficiency and capacity factor of a power plant are crucial in calculating the amount of electricity it can generate per year. Efficiency dictates how well the plant converts fuel into electricity, while the capacity factor reflects how often the plant operates at full capacity. By considering these factors, we can accurately estimate the annual electricity production of a power plant.