Technology:

The Benefits of Baseload Renewables: A Misunderstood Energy Technology (The Electricity Journal)

Misinformation about baseload renewables has distorted the discussion about the least-cost future renewable energy mix. There are renewable baseload power sources with generation profiles that can economically replace other retiring electricity sources megawatt for megawatt, thereby avoiding incurring additional costs from purchasing and then balancing renewable intermittent power sources with storage or new transmission.

The graph above lists renewable energy technologies by their usage and cost. As this data from EIA shows, geothermal power, landfill gas, and other biomass are often used as baseload power, while conventional hydro power can be used as intermediate power or baseload power, depending on the resource. Additionally, according to EIA's data which is national average of levelized cost information, renewable baseload sources are usually cheaper or equivalent in price to intermittent power sources.

Before policymakers decide the nature of future electricity grids, some basic questions about the diversity of an electricity grid should be addressed and a re-examination of the role of baseload technologies appears in order.

Instead of assuming one technology is preferred, a range of renewable supply options should be considered. One approach might promote intermittent or variable power sources as a substitute for baseload power using demand-side management, electricity storage, and enhanced coordination or forecasting of power plants.

However, there is another option to further develop renewable baseload sources like geothermal, biomass, or hydro power and seek a more diverse supply. There are, of course, points in between as well.

The Benefits of Baseload Renewables: A Misunderstood Energy Technology, Benjamin Matek, Karl Gawell.

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