Renewable Energy Portfolio Planning
A diversified renewable portfolio reduces intermittency risk. Solar and wind are complementary: solar peaks midday while wind often peaks at night. Capacity factor represents actual output versus nameplate capacity: solar averages 15-25%, onshore wind 25-45%, hydro 30-60%, biomass 70-90%, and geothermal 80-95%. Baseload renewables (biomass, geothermal) provide stability while variable renewables (solar, wind) offer lower costs.