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Also known as: PLF, Plant Load Factor, Capacity Utilisation Factor, capacity factor
Capacity Utilisation Factor — the ratio of actual annual energy output to the maximum possible output at full rated capacity for all 8,760 hours. India's standard KPI for grid-scale solar, also called PLF (Plant Load Factor).
Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF) — also written Plant Load Factor (PLF) — measures how efficiently a solar plant converts its installed capacity into actual annual generation.
CUF (%) = Actual annual generation (kWh) ÷ (Installed capacity (kW) × 8,760 h) × 100
Example: A 10 MW plant generating 16,000,000 kWh/year → CUF = 16,000,000 ÷ (10,000 × 8,760) = 18.3%.
Most Indian solar PPAs specify a minimum annual CUF guarantee (typically 17–19%) with penalties for shortfall. CERC uses CUF projections to set tariff benchmarks.
CUF reflects both resource availability and plant performance; PR isolates only equipment performance relative to available irradiation.