base load

American  

noun

Chiefly British.

1. the constant or permanent load on a power supply.

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base load British  

noun

1. the more or less constant part of the total load on an electrical power-supply system Compare peak load

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Etymology

Origin of base load

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

PG&E and nuclear advocates say the value the plant provides the entire state — including low carbon electricity and a reliable, nearly continuous base load of electricity — far outweighs the cost.

From Los Angeles Times

UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei, speaking on the same panel, agreed that "for a very long time, gas will be there" and that while more renewable energy would be installed, more investment was needed in gas as a base load.

From Reuters

Mehmet Dogan, Managing Director at GazDay Energy Consultancy, said Turkey could not meet its base load solely through solar and wind energy.

From Reuters

"The energy market has been hit by a perfect storm of rising demand, a reduction in output from coal fired base load generation plus record high coal and gas prices," says Justin Smirk, a senior economist at Westpac.

From Reuters

Paradise was built to provide so-called base load power, meaning once its coal-burning units were running, they rarely shut off.

From Seattle Times