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Solar PV Capacity Factor

  • hsteimer
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20 Jul 2020 21:44 #8453 by hsteimer
Solar PV Capacity Factor was created by hsteimer
Hello,

How would one increase the capacity factor for a solar PV plant? Currently, mine is at 17.5% which is fairly low (should be around 23%). Is it based on weather data or system design or financial factors? Thank you very much for any help you can provide!

Best,
Hamilton 

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  • pgilman
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20 Jul 2020 23:43 #8454 by pgilman
Replied by pgilman on topic Solar PV Capacity Factor
Hi Hamilton,

The capacity factor is a measure of the system's performance, so financial assumptions do not affect its value.

Some examples of things that might cause the capacity factor to be low for a photovoltaic system are: the array is oriented away from the sun, or modules are spaced too closely together, or the inverter is too small for the array.

Best regards,
Paul.

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