Baseload in the Net-Zero Grid of the Future

Baseload refers to the minimum demand on a grid over an extended period. With the advent of the energy transition, it has become the subject of heated disputes over generation reliability and sustainability. At the heart of these debates is the fact that zero-carbon energy sources such as solar and wind are intermittent and thus cannot be relied upon to deliver power whenever it is needed. But since baseload today mostly comes from fossil fuel generation, what will be the source of baseload in the future?

Analyzing this question is a complex affair, as it has become clear that tomorrow’s grids will need to look different than the energy networks of today. This paper from Bloom Energy looks at the changing role of baseload generation and describes the options for providing basic electricity supply in a low-carbon grid.