Post #1238593

2026-04-14 08:42 UTC

This was always my understanding of how renewables make the concept of "base load" irrelevant, again, as a person with a literal degree in Electrical Engineering. But I was gaslit by so many people that I felt the need to research the current situation again today. This could just be people using out of date information, but I suspect this is anti-renewables propaganda. Otherwise I don't know why so many people would even know what a "base load" is.

Replies (4)

@notjustbikes@social.notjustbikes.com 2026-04-14 09:00

When I did some reading on the current situation, I found a lot of sites out of Australia that were repeating this "base load" idea, in the context of nuclear power. I suspect that this is fossil-fuel propaganda. Fossil fuel companies love promoting nuclear power because they know it takes decades to get a reactor built (if it gets built at all), and in the meantime, everyone keeps using fossil fuels. It's the perfect way to cripple renewables without being obvious about it.

Open ##1238594
@IcyPalm@toot.re 2026-04-14 08:50

@notjustbikes have not seen the video yet for context Can't it be a misunderstanding that they mean grid momentum and not baseload and get the two confused?

Open ##1238653
@sothach@mastodon.ie 2026-04-14 08:52

@notjustbikes I'd always understood generator base load to be something like having to keep all your lights in the house on at a low setting, just glowing, so then when you needed proper light, they'd be no delay in coming up to full brightness. Or is that an incorrect analogy?

Open ##1238671
@rood@aus.social 2026-04-14 08:59

@notjustbikes say more! Smart grids and smart devices that can operate at optimal times. Also, China had this problem with coal stations that couldn't stop despite needs being met. Is that still happening?

Open ##1238673