noun
- the minimum amount of electrical power that a power grid must supply at all times, or the power plants that provide this continuous supply
Usage: technical; energy industry
Examples
- Coal and nuclear plants are traditionally used to provide baseload power because they run continuously.
- The utility company relies on baseload generation to meet minimum demand throughout the day and night.
- Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are intermittent and cannot reliably supply baseload electricity.
- Increasing baseload capacity requires investment in large power plants with high upfront costs.
- The grid operator must balance baseload supply with variable peak demand during peak hours.