Availability of utility-scale photovoltaic power plants

Understanding the current state of availability of Utility-Scale photovoltaic power plants is essential for developing and financing these projects. An energy based availability metric suitable for Utility-Scale Photovoltaic power plants termed “Effective Availability” is described. The calculation methodology is discussed along with the merits of the metric. The Effective Availability of a fleet of 27 utility scale power plants is presented for a 5 year period. The factors affecting availability are discussed.