The maximum demand on a steam power station is 480 MW. If the annual load factor is 40%, then the total energy generated annually is

Concept:Load factor: The ratio of average load to the maximum demand during a given period is known as the load factor.Load factor = average load/maximum demandIf the plant is in operation of T hours\(Load\;factor = \frac{{Avearge\;load \times T}}{{Maximum\;demand \times T}}\)\(= \frac{{Units\;generated\;in\;T\;hours}}{{Maximum\;demand \times T}}\)The load factor may be daily load factor, monthly or annually if the period considered is a day or month or yearLoad factor is always LESS than 1 because the average load is smaller than the maximum demandIt plays a key role in DETERMINING the overall cost per unit generatedHigher the load factor of the power station, lesser will be the cost per unit generated, it is because higher load factor means lesser maximum demandThe station CAPACITY is so selected that it must meet the maximum demandNow, lower maximum demand means a lower capacity of the plant which reduces the cost of the plant Calculation:Given that, maximum demand = 480 MWAnnual load factor = 40% = 0.4\(\Rightarrow 0.4 = \frac{E}{{480 \times 365 \times 24}}\)\(\Rightarrow E = 1681920~MWh = 16819.2 \times {10^5}\;kWh\)