Which term best describes energy sources such as solar and wind whose output depends on weather conditions and is not constant?

• A. Baseload power
• B. Variable generation
• C. Dispatchable generation
• D. Stable output

Answer: (B)

Variable generation describes energy sources whose output changes with weather and isn’t constant. Solar and wind depend directly on conditions like sunlight, cloud cover, and wind speeds, so their contributed power rises and falls rather than staying steady. This variability is what makes them non-dispatchable in the sense of not providing a fixed, controllable output unless paired with storage or backup capacity. Baseload power refers to a steady, always-on level of output from plants designed to run continuously, so it doesn’t describe renewables. Dispatchable generation can be ramped up or down on demand, which isn’t inherent to solar or wind because you can’t force more sun or wind to generate more electricity. Stable output isn’t a standard term for this concept and doesn’t capture the fluctuating nature of these sources. So the best descriptor is variable generation.