Yes, theoretically 1 kW * 1 hour = 1 kWh. However, capacity is maximal potential. For example, solar or wind power generator output depends not only on power capacity (max output per unit of time) but also on solar intensity and wind speed.  If your biogas installation guarantees that all hours the production is at the maximal capacity, then this formula is correct. Any deviation will make this output smaller.

Hi Mirjam,

As Yuri rightly said, the calculation you mention is simply a sort of ideal maximum. It won't include variability or the effect of capacity factor issues.

-Sanjay

Is there any data available on the capacity factor of biogas installations? I googled it, but most articles and websites use FLH divided by the total amount of hours in a year as the capacity factor. I want to know what percentage of the operating time (i.e. FLH) a biogas installation is producing at full power capacity. Is this data available?

I guess it's different from wind or solar power, because then wind speed and solar intensity play a role. For biogas installations, I can imagine that the amount of feedstock in a digester plays a role in the power output and therefore capacity factor (e.g. if a digester is filled only half, than it's producing biogas and therefore electricity at half the potential rate). Unfortunately I can't find data on this.

Hi Mirjam,

80% is a good assumption, if you have nothing better to go by.

But I must add that it depends on a few scenario specific factors:

By the way, you may want to consult the free book available online:

Alternatives to the Indian Point Energy Center for Meeting New York Electric Power Needs, the National Academic Press, 2006.

Cheers !

-Sanjay