Diesel power plant are generally used as___________?
A. peak load plant
B. base load plant
C. standby plant
D. none of the above
Base Load and Peak Load power plants
Power plants are categorized 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 Peak load power plants are:
Gas plant
Solar power plants
Wind turbines
Diesel generators