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Capacity Factor Calculator

Work out capacity factor instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Capacity Factor Calculator

Capacity factor is actual generation divided by what the plant would produce running flat out for the whole period. Equivalent full-load hours is the same information expressed in hours. Dividing capacity factor by technical availability separates resource or dispatch limitation from plant reliability.

Formulas

Capacity factor

CF % = actual generation x 100 / (capacity x period hours)

Full-load hours

Full-load hours = generation / capacity

Worked example

With the default values below, Capacity Factor Calculator returns Capacity Factor of 23.973%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Actual Generationminimum 0 MWh
210,000 MWh
Installed Capacityminimum 0 MW
100 MW
Period Lengthminimum 0 hours
8,760 hours
Technical Availabilityaccepts 0.01–100 %
96 %

Results

Capacity Factor
23.973%
Equivalent Full-Load Hours
2,100.0
Theoretical Maximum Generation
876,000
Utilisation When Available
24.971%

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Capacity factor
  3. 3Full-load hours
  4. 4Capacity Factor= 23.973
  5. 5Equivalent Full-Load Hours= 2,100.0
  6. 6Theoretical Maximum Generation= 876,000
  7. 7Utilisation When Available= 24.971

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What capacity factors are typical?

Nuclear 85-93%, combined cycle gas 40-60% depending on dispatch, onshore wind 25-40%, offshore wind 40-55%, and solar photovoltaic 12-25% depending on latitude.

Is a low capacity factor a problem?

Not necessarily. For solar it reflects the resource, not a fault. For a dispatchable plant it reflects market position. Only compare capacity factors within the same technology.

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