GATE EE 2015 Set 1 — Question 27

MCQ+1 / -0.33EasyPower Generation MethodsGeneration & TransmissionPower Systems

Power Systems → Generation & Transmission → Power Generation Methods

Last updated 5 September 2026

Question

Base load power plants are P: wind farms. Q: run-of-river plants. R: nuclear power plants. S: diesel power plants.

Correct answer (C) P, Q and R only Solution Base load plants run continuously, close to their rated output, to supply the minimum (base) part of the load curve. A plant is used for base load when its running (fuel) cost is very low, or when its energy cannot be stored and must be used as it becomes available. P: Wind farms. They have practically zero fuel cost and their energy cannot be stored, so whatever they generate is always taken by the grid as must-run generation. They therefore serve the base load. Q: Run-of-river plants. They have no (or very little) pondage, so the river flow has to be used as it comes or it is wasted. They run continuously and serve the base load. R: Nuclear power plants. They have high capital cost, very low fuel cost and cannot easily be ramped up or down, so they are run continuously at high load factor as base load plants. S: Diesel power plants. They have high fuel (running) cost but start quickly, so they are used as peak-load or standby plants, not base load. So the base load plants are P, Q and R, which is option (C). Answer: (C) P, Q and R only Turn this into a strength. Explore AI-powered practice and doubt support with Success Tracker.

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Correct answer (C) P, Q and R only Solution Base load plants run continuously, close to their rated output, to supply the minimum (base) part of the load curve. A plant is used for base load when its running (fuel) cost is very low, or when its energy cannot be stored and must be used as it becomes available. P: Wind farms. They have practically zero fuel cost and their energy cannot be stored, so whatever they generate is always taken by the grid as must-run generation. They therefore serve the base load. Q: Run-of-river plants. They have no (or very little) pondage, so the river flow has to be used as it comes or it is wasted. They run continuously and serve the base load. R: Nuclear power plants. They have high capital cost, very low fuel cost and cannot easily be ramped up or down, so they are run continuously at high load factor as base load plants. S: Diesel power plants. They have high fuel (running) cost but start quickly, so they are used as peak-load or standby plants, not base load. So the base load plants are P, Q and R, which is option (C). Answer: (C) P, Q and R only

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