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To view the Fossil Plant page, click Fossil Plant on the main window's navigation menu. Note that for the generic fossil system input pages to be available, the technology option in the Technology and Market window must be Generic Fossil System.
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The parameters for the generic fossil system are for a simple model of a fossil fuel power plant. Unlike the photovoltaic and concentrating solar power models, the generic model is not based on an hourly simulation engine. The first year annual energy output of the generic plant is based on a simple equation using the four System variables: Nameplate Capacity, Capacity Factor, Availability, and Derate.
The First Year Annual Generation is calculated using the following equation:
Where,
EFirstYearOutput (kW)
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First Year Annual Generation: The generic system's total output in the first year, before annual degradation applies.
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ENamePlate (%)
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Nameplate Capacity: The rated capacity of the generic system.
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FCapacityFactor (%)
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Capacity Factor: The expected net generated electricity over one year (8760 hours) divided by the electricity that could have been generated at continuous full rated power over the year. Base load plants typically operate at capacity factors of about 90%, with capacity factors of less than 100% due to curtailed output. Load following plants and peaking plants will have lower capacity factors.
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FAvailability (%)
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The Availability factor from the Annual Performance page: the number of hours per year that the generic system is able to produce electricity divided by the number of hours in one year (8760 hours). Availability factors of less than 100% are typically due to plant down time for maintenance and repair.
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FDerate (%)
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A derating factor applied to the generic system rated capacity to account for output reductions caused by inefficiencies in the system from wiring losses or other causes.
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Solar Advisor also applies the system degradation factor from the Annual Performance page to represent an annual reduction in system output due to equipment aging that applies to year two and subsequent years.
The heat rate determines the cost of fuel reported as Fuel O&M Expense in year one of the project cash flow, and accounted for in the output metrics reported on the Results page. Solar Advisor uses the heat rate to calculate the first year fuel cost as follows:
Where,
CFirstYearFuel ($/yr)
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The total cost of fuel for year one of the project cash flow, shown as the Fuel O&M Expense reported for Year 1 in the project cash flow.
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CCostOfFuel ($/MMBtu)
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Cost of Fuel from the Fossil System Costs page.
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FHeatRate (MMBtu/MWh)
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The generic system's heat rate, or conversion efficiency, equivalent to the number of MMBtu of heat required to produce one MWh of electricity.
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EFirstYearOutput ()
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The generic system's total electricity output in the first year.
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