Baseload Power Plants Are Not Essential for Future Power Systems

Abstract

The transition to decarbonized energy systems has fueled a controversial debate over the necessity of traditional ‘‘baseload’’ power. Skepticism remains regarding the reliability and economic feasibility of power systems relying mainly on cheap variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. Addressing this, the German Academies’ project ‘‘Energy Systems of the Future’’ (ESYS) analyzed the role of baseload power plants within a decarbonized, continental-scale energy system. Their findings indicate that a secure, net-zero European electricity system is technically robust and economically viable when based on VRE paired with extensive flexibility, storage, and grid interconnections, without requiring new baseload capacity. The integration of new low-carbon baseload technologies, such as nuclear fission or fusion, natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS), or geothermal energy, has a marginal impact on overall system costs. While low-cost baseload technologies could be efficiently integrated to achieve high utilization, their future role is contingent on achieving cost reductions beyond current realities.