Do you actually know what you are talking about
A solar 400MW plant means that is the instantaneous power which means if it ran for 1 hour it produces 400MWh
If it runs for 10-12 hours a day it's 10 x 400MW which is 4000MWh per day and so on you can calculate the yearly production
Quaid Azam solar park in Bahawalpur is actually a really efficient and effective project when it reaches full capacity to 1000MW
But this is not a comparison we need both nuclear and solar
Honourable Sir,
It is not the question of whether I know what I am talking about or not. I do not make up the numbers from the ‘Air’ nor am I a clairvoyant. My info comes from the published sources such as:
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NEWS ARTICLE
Quaid-e-Azam solar park fails to achieve its objectives
The Quaid-e-Azam solar park has failed to achieve its objectives as electricity is being generated just 18 MW against the capacity of 100 MW.
According to details, the government of PML-N has launched the Quaid-e-Azam solar park project with the cost of billions of rupees to end the power cuts in the country. This project planned to generate approximately 1000 MW of electricity and 100 MW in first phase.
Now the government has decided to sale this project.
When PM Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated this project, it was being generated about 50 MW of power on daily basis and the government sources claimed that approximately 80 MW electricity would be generated soon. But after sometimes, the project did not show remarkable performance and now its generating only 18 MW.
Sources said that this problem has created due to solar plates used in this project, which are of low quality. Some researchers have the view that mercury of the area should be 45 centigrade for the best performance of the solar power.
If mercury has increased as its performance would be affected, the researcher added.
The government has planned to sale out this project to facilitate its blue-eyed persons, sources concluded.
http://www.energycentral.com/news/quaid-e-azam-solar-park-fails-achieve-its-objectives
Unquote
A 400 MW solar panel plant would only produce 400 MW at the maximum sunlight time. It would produce zero at night less in the morning & evening. When calculated for the whole year running 24 hours a day ( annualized) basis 400 MW plant would only produce 72 MW whereas one 100 MW nuclear plant would produce 90 MW.
Nuclear plants have the highest capacity factor of about 90%, no other plant come close to it. For example Hydel power plant would only produce its maximum when the Dam is full as the water level drops, the power production drops as well.
I admit that I am not very bright and my understanding of the capacity factor comes from reading articles such as the following. If you think that my understanding is incorrect I would appreciate to know how one should calculate actual production efficiency of a power plant.
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POWER PLANTS EFFICIENCY – CAPACITY UTILIZATION FACTOR
Power Plant life span can be calculated using Capacity Factor. Plant Capacity Factor is the key factor to estimate costing structure for the whole plant. This Article gives clarity on the Capacity Factor for the different power plant segments.
To calculate the capacity factor, take the total amount of energy the plant produced during a period of time and divide by the amount of energy the plant would have produced at full capacity.
Capacity factors vary greatly depending on the type of fuel that is used and the design of the plant. The capacity factor should not be confused with the availability factor, capacity credit (firm capacity) or with efficiency.
Conventional Power Plant
Thermal Power Plant Efficiency normally 60 - 65% [i.e Capacity Factor].
Example:
Thermal Power Plant capacity 4000MW [4 x 1000MW Units] produces energy yield as 2,17,24,800 MWh units [As an annual average generation], Now Calculate Plant Capacity Factor?
Formula :
Energy Estimated (Plant Generator Name plate capacity x 24 Hours x 365 Days )
For the above Project Capacity Factor as:
2,17,24,800 MW-h (4000 MW x 24 Hours x 365 Days)
2,
17,24,800 MW-h x 100 3,50,40,000 MW-h
Capacity Factor as = 62 %.
2. Hydro Electric Power Plant
Hydro Electric Power Plant Efficiency normally 38 - 50% [i.e Capacity Factor].
Example:
Hydro Electric Power Plant capacity as 200MW [4 x 50MW Units] produces energy yield as 7,00,800 MWh units [As an annual average generation], Now Calculate Plant Capacity Factor?
Formula :
Energy Estimated (Plant Generator Name plate capacity x 24 Hours x 365 Days )
For the above Project Capacity Factor as:
7,00,800 MW-h (200 MW x 24 Hours x 365 Days)
7,00,800 MW-h x 100 17,52,000 MW-h
Capacity Factor as = 40 %.
3. Nuclear Power Plant
Nuclear Power Plant Efficiency normally 80 - 93% [i.e Capacity Factor].
Example:
Nuclear Power Plant capacity as 2400MW [3 x 800MW Units] produces energy yield as 1,68,19,200 MWh units [As an annual average generation], Now Calculate Plant Capacity Factor?
Formula :
Energy Estimated (Plant Generator Name plate capacity x 24 Hours x 365 Days )
For the above Project Capacity Factor as:
1,68,19,200 MW-h (2400 MW x 24 Hours x 365 Days)
1,68,19,200 MW-h x 100 2,10,24,000 MW-h
Capacity Factor as = 80 %.
Non- Conventional Power Plants:
1. Solar PV Plant
Solar PV Power Plant Efficiency normally 13 - 19% [i.e Capacity Factor].
Example:
Solar Power Plant capacity as 4MW produces energy yield as 5326.08 MWh units [As an annual average generation], Now Calculate Plant Capacity Factor?
Formula :
Energy Estimated (Plant Generator Name plate capacity x 24 Hours x 365 Days )
For the above Project Capacity Factor as:
5326.08 MW-h (4 MW x 24 Hours x 365 Days)
5326.08 MW-h x 100 35,040 MW-h
Capacity Factor as = 15.2 %.
2. Concentrated Solar Power Plant & Solar Thermal Power Plant
Solar Thermal Power Plant Efficiency normally 25 - 35% [i.e Capacity Factor].
Example:
Solar thermal Power Plant capacity as 400MW produces energy yield as 10,51,200 MWh units [As an annual average generation], Now Calculate Plant Capacity Factor?
Formula :
Energy Estimated (Plant Generator Name plate capacity x 24 Hours x 365 Days )
For the above Project Capacity Factor as:
10,51,200 MW-h (400 MW x 24 Hours x 365 Days)
10,51,200 MW-h x 100 35,04,000 MW-h
Capacity Factor as = 30 %.
3. Wind Power Plant
Wind Power Plant Efficiency normally 20 - 40% [i.e Capacity Factor].
Example:
Wind Farm capacity as 50MW [50 x 1MW] produces energy yield as 1,10,595 MWh units [As an annual average generation], Now Calculate Plant Capacity Factor?
Formula :
Energy Estimated (Plant Generator Name plate capacity x 24 Hours x 365 Days )
For the above Project Capacity Factor as:
1,10,595 MW-h (50 MW x 24 Hours x 365 Days)
1,10,595 MW-h x 100 4,38,000 MW-h
Capacity Factor as = 25.25 %.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-plants-efficiency-capacity-utilization-factor-v-r-v
Unquote.
Yes we do need both the solar & nuclear power but instead of large solar parks, emphasis should be on the Photo Voltaic Panels installed on the individual houses.
