The difference between baseload and intermittent power 

August 2024

Renewable power sources such as solar and wind farms are increasingly used to supply electricity.

by Scott Flood, Contributing Columnist

It’s one of those incredibly hot days when even the air becomes unbearable. You crank up the air conditioner on the way home from work, and the first thing you do when you get home is turn the thermostat down a couple of degrees.

Throughout your area and the entire region, thousands of other people are responding the same way. Every air conditioner and fan starts working at full speed to keep everyone cool and comfortable. The end of the workday creates a massive surge in the amount of electricity needed to meet the demand, and it’s up to the people who oversee the operation of North America’s power grid to make sure there’s an adequate amount to keep you comfortable.

The national electric grid gathers and distributes power from many sources, including power plants that convert fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil into electricity; nuclear power plants; and renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, solar farms, hydroelectric dams and even landfills. The electricity supplied from all of these sources is categorized as baseload, peaking or intermediate power.

When the demand for electricity shifts — either gradually or suddenly — grid operators turn to either intermediate or peaking power plants. These plants are designed to start up quickly and adapt their power output to meet the varying demand. In most cases, peaking plants supply more frequent and sudden changes, whereas intermediate plants supply more gradual or slower changes.

Because intermittent power sources like wind and solar depend on unpredictable weather conditions, they can’t be relied upon to deliver predictable and constant baseload power. This is why changes in electricity demand are usually met with intermediate or peaking generation powered by more traditional sources like natural gas. If co-ops and other electric utilities switched completely to intermittent sources, they likely wouldn’t be able to meet consumers’ needs for reliable power.

Renewable energy technologies are always improving, however. One promising technology involves the development of energy-storage devices such as batteries that can be used to store excess power generated by wind and solar so it’s available even when the weather isn’t cooperating. While that technology is advancing, it’s still evolving, and large-scale use of such batteries is many years away. Batteries also require large amounts of elements such as lithium that must be mined, creating additional environmental concerns.

While electric co-ops are working hard to shift to environmentally friendlier sources, the realities of differing power needs are why most maintain a diverse mix of energy sources and fuels. Electric co-op members can help by taking steps to reduce their own energy use. For example, switching to more efficient lighting and appliances will not only reduce your monthly electric bill, but also reduce the amount of electricity that’s needed.

Contact your local electric co-op to learn more about practical ways you can use less electricity without sacrificing comfort and convenience. The less power we all use, the less the power producers will have to generate.

Scott Flood writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.