Capacity Factor
The ratio of actual energy output to the maximum possible output, measuring how consistently a WTE plant operates.
Capacity factor indicates operational reliability. WTE plants typically achieve capacity factors of 85-92%, significantly higher than solar (20-25%) or wind (30-45%), because waste is a consistent fuel supply unaffected by weather. High capacity factors make WTE plants valuable baseload power sources. Planned maintenance outages of 2-4 weeks annually are the primary factor reducing capacity below 100%.