Is the energy output of a megawatt of solar production capacity equal to the energy output of a megawatt of coal or gas turbine production capacity?
It is not. Solar production operates at about 24.5% capacity factor, meaning 100MW of installed solar would only average about 24.5 MWh of average energy output over the course of the year. On the other hand, 100 MW of installed gas or coal-fired capacity generates 80-90 MWh of average energy output over the course of the year.
Another important factor is intermittency. A solar farm can only produce energy when the sun is shining, unless expensive battery systems are included. A gas or coal-fired unity can be dispatched as needed to serve customer load any time of day and any time of year.
