Providing members with safe, reliable and affordable power is the mantra for electric cooperatives across the nation. Co-op members can see the work necessary to maintain reliable electricity at the local level, such as lineworkers maintaining utility poles and wires and repairing them after major storms. At the regional and national levels, a diverse mix of power generation resources, transmission lines and pipeline infrastructure are essential cornerstones of maintaining reliable and affordable electricity.
The U.S. electric grid has undergone major changes over the last decade. The share of electricity generated from coal plants has declined significantly, while the share from natural gas and intermittent wind and solar generation has grown. Fuel diversity means that your electricity is supplied by a variety of generation technologies, each with their own characteristics and performance capabilities in different weather and seasonal conditions.
Dispatchable technologies can be turned on and off as needed. Large steam generation plants (most commonly using coal or nuclear fuels) are generally considered “baseload,” meaning they are designed to run efficiently 24/7 to serve as the base of the electricity mix. However, steam plants are less capable of ramping output up or down to meet the various peaks and dips as grid conditions change.
Natural gas is the most versatile fuel, powering large combined-cycle plants that can operate as baseload but are also more flexible ramping up and down. These capabilities are essential for meeting demand on the hottest and coldest days, and for balancing intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.
Over the last decade, the share of electricity generated from wind and solar plants has increased dramatically. These beneficial, “no-fuel-required” plants can deliver low-cost electricity — but they only generate electricity when the wind blows and the sun shines.
The production patterns of solar and wind technologies are complimentary to one another. Solar generates during the day, and wind tends to generate more at night. Across seasons, wind output is typically higher during the colder months when there is less sunshine. Deployed together, wind and solar technologies can balance each other.
While battery energy storage technology is growing rapidly to allow some control of when renewable energy sources can be dispatched, natural gas plants remain the primary method for “firming” renewable generation resources.
Ultimately, our electric grid is most reliable when a wide range of technologies is available. When conditions lead to lower generation from one type of source, others can help compensate. When there is an imbalance, such as a major winter storm when electricity use skyrockets, grid operators are forced to rely on purposefully reducing demand and occasionally plan rolling blackouts to keep the grid operating.
While there is variation across regions in what types of power plants can be built based on weather and infrastructure, America’s electric cooperatives work diligently to ensure a diverse and reliable power supply for the communities they serve.
Left and center: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind provide many benefits and can deliver low-cost electricity — but they only generate electricity when the sun shines or the wind blows.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NRECA
Right: The electric grid is most reliable when a wide range of technologies, is available. Pictured is a natural gas plant.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENT WALLACE, COOPERATIVE ENERGY
