Load, in electrical engineering, is the amount of current being drawn by all the components (appliances, motors, machines, etc.).
Load is further categorised as base load and peak load depending upon the nature of the electrical components connected. As you may be familiar, all electrical appliances at your home do not run at all times.
A toaster or microwave oven may be used for a few minutes,
A television or computer may be used for a few hours
Lighting in the house is only required during the evening and so on.
There are several appliances which keep running at all the times, no matter what. The refrigerator, for example, has to be plugged in at all the times. Another such example are the heating, ventilation and cooling systems in the house (HVAC system).
Peak Load and Base Load defined
Base load is the minimum level of electricity demand required over a period of 24 hours. It is needed to provide power to components that keep running at all times (also referred as continuous load).
Peak load is the time of high demand. These peaking demands are often for only shorter durations. In mathematical terms, peak demand could be understood as the difference between the base demand and the highest demand.
Now going back to the examples of household loads: microwave oven, toaster and television are examples of peak demand, whereas refrigerator and HVAC systems are examples of base demand.
A broader perspective of understanding these concepts
Now on a broader perspective, it could be assumed that the electrical grid is a big household. Under normal circumstances, the power required by the electrical grid is fairly constant during various period of the day.
This constant power, which is required at all times, is called the base loading. But during a special event, like the final match of World Cup, the demand will be more, as a lot of people will watch TV. This short, high demand period is considered to be a peak loading.
Base Load and Peak Load
Base Load and Peak Load power plants
Power plants are also categorised as base load and peak load power plants.
Base Load Power plants
Plants that are running continuously over extended periods of time are said to be base load power plant.
The power from these plants is used to cater the base demand of the grid. A power plant may run as a base load power plant due to various factors (long starting time requirement, fuel requirements, etc.).
Examples of base load power plants are:
Nuclear power plant
Coal power plant
Hydroelectric plant
Geothermal plant
Biogas plant
Biomass plant
Solar thermal with storage
Ocean thermal energy conversion
Peak Load Power plants
To cater the demand peaks, peak load power plants are used. They are started up whenever there is a spike in demand and stopped when the demand recedes.
Examples of gas load power plants are:
Gas plant
Solar power plants
Wind turbines
Diesel generators
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Rahul Panchal
on
07 Mar 2020
simple & easy to understand
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By
Kekeli
on
12 Sep 2018
A master piece ! Thanks for your crystal clear explanation
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Govt ITI HIRAKUD
on
05 Sep 2018
Thanks sir ,I understand that things
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Soumyarup chowdhury
on
26 Apr 2018
Nicely expressing thoughts .. Article...with easy xmples.... All the best for ur upcoming article...... 😊
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Dr. Ramana
on
13 Apr 2018
Very Nice Explanation . Examples are very good. Simple and more effective to understand. One can easily understand the whole concept from these few lines when we cant get clear information form 100 of pages,
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Khairul
on
08 Apr 2018
Thank you brother. it so helpful
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Vishal
on
09 Feb 2018
Easy to understand...great job.
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By
Peter
on
28 Nov 2017
While this provides a basic understanding, the examples of which powerplants are for base load and which are for peaking is incorrect. Peaking plants are controlled to provide power during maximum demand periods. Solar and wind are not used for peaking because they are not usually controlled, but are administered as "must-take" energy and run whenever environmental conditions are favorable. Generally, base-load generators are those with long process stability times, such as nuclear, bio-mass, or co-gen, and other generators which utilize processes which have quick response times are used to peak.
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By
Sahibzada Abdul Haseeb
on
11 Oct 2017
It's explained in a very simple, yet comprehensive way. Keep up the good work.
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Sunday Baduku
on
08 Sep 2017
nice explanation
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SAYAK PAL
on
19 Feb 2017
Good answers and easy to understand.
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Manoj Arora
on
05 Jan 2017
A significant fraction of the average wind power production is available with 95% or greater probability, and so may be used for baseload power.
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M rashid
on
04 Jan 2017
A brilliant piece of work.thanks
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bhagwat
on
28 Dec 2016
well understand your explanation
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Ashish
on
27 Nov 2016
Good explanation
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Aziaka D.S
on
19 Jul 2016
Good explanation, but would have been more professional if graphical representation was shown.
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Fagbemi Ademola
on
18 Jul 2016
These explosions are simplified and i assimilated the concepts so easily. Nice work
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sivaprakasam
on
13 Jul 2016
very nice explanation,now i understood.
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Elisha Akobueze .U
on
07 Jul 2016
my quest satisfied. thanks for nice explanation.
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sylvester Ossai
on
27 Jun 2016
thanks for this important piece of information. Is a light-bulb
Rahul Panchal
on 07 Mar 2020Kekeli
on 12 Sep 2018Govt ITI HIRAKUD
on 05 Sep 2018Soumyarup chowdhury
on 26 Apr 2018Dr. Ramana
on 13 Apr 2018Khairul
on 08 Apr 2018Vishal
on 09 Feb 2018Peter
on 28 Nov 2017Sahibzada Abdul Haseeb
on 11 Oct 2017Sunday Baduku
on 08 Sep 2017SAYAK PAL
on 19 Feb 2017Manoj Arora
on 05 Jan 2017M rashid
on 04 Jan 2017bhagwat
on 28 Dec 2016Ashish
on 27 Nov 2016Aziaka D.S
on 19 Jul 2016Fagbemi Ademola
on 18 Jul 2016sivaprakasam
on 13 Jul 2016Elisha Akobueze .U
on 07 Jul 2016sylvester Ossai
on 27 Jun 2016madhu
on 07 Jun 2016James
on 22 May 2016Austin
on 09 May 2016Sylvester Kemei
on 29 Apr 2016Sarojkumar
on 09 Feb 2018Jain k b
on 22 Jan 2017Bikash sharma
on 18 Sep 2022