ClimateJune 30, 2026
peaker
/ˈpiːkər/
Definition
A power plant designed to operate only during times of peak energy demand when standard power sources are insufficient.
Etymology
Derived from the verb 'peak' (to reach a high point), combined with the agent suffix '-er'. It emerged in the energy sector to describe plants that only run during peak hours of electricity consumption.
In the news
In the article, the author mentions that a utility wants to build a gas peaker plant to supply power specifically for energy-intensive data centers during spikes in demand.
Why states are walking back their own climate and energy laws, and what they might do instead
Read the full article ↗The Conversation