Load shifting

Load shifting, also known as demand shifting, is about using energy evenly throughout the day. This means making changes in the way we live and the appliances we use so that we use electricity at times when it's most affordable. Right now, we usually generate electricity when we need it, like running a city's lights at night. But with load shifting, we do the opposite and use more electricity when it's cheapest to produce.

For example, a smart water heater might turn on at 4 pm when there's less demand for power, instead of 7 pm. Or you can charge your electric car when you get home, but it'll wait until 4 am to start charging when electricity is cheapest because not many people are using it. On a larger scale, industries that use a lot of energy, like making hydrogen fuel, could operate during times when power is readily available.

To make load shifting successful, we'll need support from both technology and policy. Utility companies need to adjust the cost of electricity based on supply and demand, and our appliances need to be smart enough to respond to these changes. In extreme situations when power is scarce, we need to be able to control demand by prioritizing essential needs, like hospitals, and shutting down non-essential activities.

Gates, Bill. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (pp. 96-97). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.