The report labels this «zero
emission load balancing» (ZELB) and suggests load balancing should be required to reduce emissions just like any other energy technology.
In California's relatively clean system, new zero -
emission load balancing technologies are needed much sooner to achieve the same percentage emission reductions.
Not exact matches
But when you go to the extreme of 80 % cuts, it may be that the general conclusions are robust: We should be factoring in
emission - free, acceptable base
load power, we need to worry about
load balancing, AND fuel needs will persist and will most likely not be completely met by biomass derived fuels.
But there could be 50 % renewables with no significant reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions [GHGs] if we have to build a bunch of gas plants to
balance the
load.»
Nuclear power can provide constant, reliable
emission - free energy with a much lower and more easily met requirement for
load balancing.
The report recommends a
balanced portfolio that uses some of each of these sources - renewables, nuclear and fossil fuel with carbon capture and storage - and a strong commitment to eliminating
emissions from
load balancing.