Utilization and service

Abstract

Statistical analyses of electricity generation productivity have focused on the capacity factor, i.e., the ratio of realized to potential output. Here, the capacity factor is decomposed into the capacity utilization rate (output when the reactor is operating) and the service factor (the percent of operating time). Elasticities of capacity factor, utilization rate, service factor, and the forced outage rate with respect to reactor size and age are estimated for fuel cycles of four reactor manufacturers, controlling for changes in the industry after the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979. While the service factor decreases with size for all reactor makes, the increase in the capacity utilization rate yields a positive relationship between size and the capacity factor for boiling water reactors. Age has no consistent influence. Only Babcock & Wilcox (the manufacturer of TMI) reactors experienced a significant decrease in productivity after 1979.