A plant having load factor of 0.6 has a peak load of 100 MW. The

SOLUTION

Concept:

Load factor: The ratio of average load to the maximum demand during a given period is known as the load factor.

Load factor = average load/maximum demand

Energy generated = Average load x Time (T)

If the plant is in operation of T hours

\(Load\;factor = \frac{{Avearge\;load \times T}}{{Maximum\;demand \times T}}\)

\(= \frac{{Units\;generated\;in\;T\;hours}}{{Maximum\;demand \times T}}\)

• The load factor may be daily load factor, monthly or annually if the period considered is a day or month or year
• Load factor is always less than 1 because the average load is smaller than the maximum demand
• It plays a key role in determining the overall cost per unit generated
• Higher the load factor of the power station, lesser will be the cost per unit generated, it is because higher load factor means lesser maximum demand
• The station capacity is so selected that it must meet the maximum demand
• Now, lower maximum demand means a lower capacity of the plant which reduces the cost of the plant.

Calculation:

Given that, maximum demand or peak load = 100 MW

Time = 30 days = 30 x 24 hours

load factor = 60% = 0.6

\(\Rightarrow 0.6 = \frac{E}{{100 \times 30 \times 24}}\)

\(\Rightarrow E = 60 \times {720}\;MWh \)

E = 432 x 10⁵ kWh or units