Archive:000/Baseload - Revision history

Elie: Elie moved page Baseload to Archive:000/Baseload without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

2024-10-26T20:29:26Z

Elie moved page Baseload to Archive:000/Baseload without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:29, 26 October 2024
(No difference)

Elie: /* How much baseload power do we need? */

2023-01-03T07:06:06Z

How much baseload power do we need?

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:06, 3 January 2023
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	==How much baseload power do we need?==		==How much baseload power do we need?==
	Most optimistically, only about 10% of global energy has to be baseload. The other 90% consists of ''industry'', ''road vehicles'', ''[[heating]]'', etc. In principle, these could run entirely on energy from peak-supply times of day. For example in a mostly-[[solar]] scenario, [[factories]] could run entirely during daytime (and maybe even slow down production during cloudy days). [[Electric vehicles]] could also be charged during daytime.		Most optimistically, only about 10% of global [[energy demand]] has to be baseload. The other 90% consists of ''industry'', ''road vehicles'', ''[[heating]]'', etc. In principle, these could run entirely on energy from peak-supply times of day. For example in a mostly-[[solar]] scenario, [[factories]] could run entirely during daytime (and maybe even slow down production during cloudy days). [[Electric vehicles]] could also be charged during daytime.

	Things that truely need baseload power include:		Things that truely need baseload power include:

Elie: /* Which energy sources can provide baseload power? */

2023-01-03T02:56:09Z

Which energy sources can provide baseload power?

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:56, 2 January 2023
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	* [[Hydropower]] - a greener energy source overall, but only viable in ''some'' parts of the world. Most hydro power plants that can be built, already have been - [[new hydro\|with some exceptions]].		* [[Hydropower]] - a greener energy source overall, but only viable in ''some'' parts of the world. Most hydro power plants that can be built, already have been - [[new hydro\|with some exceptions]].
	* [[Nuclear]] - currently depends on uranium-235, which is quite scarce. There might ''just barely'' be enough if nuclear power is used ''only'' for baseloads.		* [[Nuclear]] - currently depends on uranium-235, which is quite scarce. There might ''just barely'' be enough if nuclear power is used ''only'' for baseloads.
			* With enough [[energy storage]], even [[solar]] and [[wind]] could be converted to baseload power. This is its own challenge.

	==Adjustability of power plants==		==Adjustability of power plants==

Elie: Created page with "The term "baseload" refers to electricity that has to be available 24/7. This is a challenge for intermittent energy sources like solar and wind. ==How much baseload power do we need?== Most optimistically, only about 10% of global energy has to be baseload. The other 90% consists of ''industry'', ''road vehicles'', ''heating'', etc. In principle, these could run entirely on energy from peak-supply times of day. For example in a mostly-solar scenario..."

2023-01-03T02:51:53Z

Created page with "The term "baseload" refers to electricity that has to be available 24/7. This is a challenge for intermittent energy sources like solar and wind. ==How much baseload power do we need?== Most optimistically, only about 10% of global energy has to be baseload. The other 90% consists of ''industry'', ''road vehicles'', ''heating'', etc. In principle, these could run entirely on energy from peak-supply times of day. For example in a mostly-solar scenario..."

New page

The term "baseload" refers to electricity that has to be available 24/7. This is a challenge for intermittent [[energy]] sources like [[solar]] and [[wind]].

==How much baseload power do we need?==
Most optimistically, only about 10% of global energy has to be baseload. The other 90% consists of ''industry'', ''road vehicles'', ''[[heating]]'', etc. In principle, these could run entirely on energy from peak-supply times of day. For example in a mostly-[[solar]] scenario, [[factories]] could run entirely during daytime (and maybe even slow down production during cloudy days). [[Electric vehicles]] could also be charged during daytime.

Things that truely need baseload power include:
* Lights in homes, buildings, and on city streets
* Computers, TVs, and most home appliances
* Web servers
* Electric [[trains]]

==Which energy sources can provide baseload power?==
* [[fossil fuels|Coal and natural gas power plants]] - these currently provide most baseload electricity around the world.
* [[Hydropower]] - a greener energy source overall, but only viable in ''some'' parts of the world. Most hydro power plants that can be built, already have been - [[new hydro|with some exceptions]].
* [[Nuclear]] - currently depends on uranium-235, which is quite scarce. There might ''just barely'' be enough if nuclear power is used ''only'' for baseloads.

==Adjustability of power plants==
[[Energy demand]] fluctuates throughout the day, and the [[energy supply]] has to adjust to accommodate this.
* Coal and natural gas power plants are the easiest to ramp up or ramp down on-the-fly - although the most efficient natural gas plants (the "combined cycle" type) can't respond quite as quickly.
* Some nuclear power plants can also be ramped up or down; others can't.
* Hydropower can be ramped up and ramped down by controlling the extra reservoirs of water. However, if demand stays high for long enough (perhaps several days), the reservoirs run out and the power plant can't keep up with demand. This isn't generally an issue because demand usually stays high only for a few hours at a time.