Thermal Impact Assessment on Power Plant Performance: A Simulation-Based Statistical Analysis

Abstract

Elevated global temperatures have imposed additional stress on energy infrastructure, particularly thermal power plants. The present work is a data simulation study of the influence of ambient temperature on operational efficiency and power output of a typical fossil-fuel-based power plant. On the basis of synthetic data in the range 25°C to 50°C, the results show an unequivocal inverse relationship between temperature and efficiency and electricity output. Linear regression analysis indicates that for every 5°C rise in temperature, plant efficiency falls by approximately 2.5%, and power output falls as much as 21% across the range examined. Correlation analysis confirms very high negative correlation (R² > 0.95) between temperature and the two performance parameters. These findings emphasize the necessity to implement thermal resilience measures, such as high-end cooling systems or dual energy sources, to provide grid stability during heat extremes.