Solar Lattice

Concept

Power vs energy

ID
concept:power-vs-energy
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/concept/power-vs-energy
Status
active
Also known as
kW vs kWh, Energy vs. Power, Power vs. Capacity
Category
Storage
Concept kind
electrical

Power is the rate at which an electric circuit transfers electrical energy. Its unit is the watt, which equals one joule per second, and 1,000 watts is one kilowatt (kW). Energy is power added up over a period of time. It is usually measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and one kWh equals a steady load of one kilowatt running for one hour. A meter shows power as an instantaneous reading of the watts flowing right now, though many digital meters calculate it over about one second. Energy, by contrast, always covers a defined span of time. For example, a 4,000 watt load running for one hour uses four kWh. The same load running for 15 minutes uses one kWh. In solar, kW usually describes the size or output of a system, and a plant is rated by its maximum power output. kWh describes how much energy a home or device uses, and electricity is billed by the kWh. A battery has two separate ratings. Its power rating is the most it can deliver at any instant, and its capacity is the energy it can store. Capacity is then split into total energy and usable energy, which depends on depth of discharge and reserve. Demand is also given in kW, but it is not instantaneous power. It is the average rate of energy use over an interval, and the peak demand sets the demand charge on the utility bill.

<!-- review notes

Claims

related_to

c1 drafted · lead Demand charge

Demand is an average rate of energy use over an interval, given in kW. The peak demand value sets the demand charge on the utility bill.

c2 drafted · lead Usable energy capacity

A battery's capacity is an energy quantity, while its power rating is the most it can deliver at any instant. Capacity is further split into total energy and usable energy.

c3 drafted · lead Depth of discharge

Usable energy is shown as the depth of discharge, with a reserve held back from the total energy.

c4 drafted · lead Nameplate rating

Plant size is usually given as maximum power capacity in kW or MW, not as energy.

review note: support check: partial - Plant size is stated as maximum power capacity in MW, but kW and 'not as energy' are not explicitly stated, and nameplate rating isn't named.

Referenced by

Data