Reliability of Baseload Electricity Generation from Fossil and Renewable Energy Sources

With expanding environmental and climate change regulatory frameworks, the fossil-based baseload generation is forced to decline, thus making room for more and more generation based on renewable and other carbon-free energy sources. This paper deals with a number of controversial issues and open questions concerning the growing penetration of renewable energy sources into power generation systems, often without due care of the impacts of variable as compared to conventional generation on the reliability of electricity supply. Particular attention is paid to baseload generation, power market design, system operation under extreme weather conditions, energy storage, back-up, and reserve power, as well as to the role of mechanical inertia and reliability of on-site fuel supply, demonstrated on an example of coal excavation and delivery to a power plant.