Peaking power plant facts for kids
A peaking power plant (or peaker) is a power station that only runs during peak hours of demand of electricity. Because of that, the price of electricity it generates is generally higher than the electricity generated by base load power plant, which operates continuously throughout the year. Peak hours may include hot afternoons when air conditioners are working.
Examples of peaking power plants are a hydropower plant, pumped-storage hydro power plant, and gas-fired power plant. Nuclear and solar power are not used in this way.
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Images for kids
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Kearny Generating Station, a former coal-fired base load power plant, now a gas-fired peaker, on the Hackensack River in New Jersey
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Power production in Germany during a day in 2005, without any solar and wind power
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BPA Daily peak load with large hydro/base load thermal generation and intermittent wind power. Hydro is managing the peaks, with some response from thermal.
