The Importance of Base Load and Intermittent Power Sources

Electricity demand is neither constant nor predictable. Demand is lowest in the overnight period when people are sleeping and relatively little energy is demanded. In summertime, air conditioning usually demands the most electricity during the afternoon hours - but that demand doesn't exist in winter. Some energy sources are best suited to supplying base load power, and others are only suited to supplying intermittent power. We're going to need all wind and solar energy we can realistically expect to deploy in the next 20 years just to meet daytime demand.