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Duck curve — Energy Glossary | Pilot Energy

Written by Pilot Energy | May 26, 2026 4:21:38 PM

Duck curve

Category: Grid Ops

A graph of net load (total demand minus renewable generation) over the course of a day that resembles a duck. Most pronounced in high-solar markets like CAISO, where midday solar depresses net load, then demand ramps steeply as solar drops in the late afternoon — requiring fast-ramping resources.

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