Yes it is. It is very very different. Other power plants have different limitations on how fast you can set the output*, but the key thing is you CAN actually set it. Not just cross your fingers and boil some hot water you don't need. *I've read different things about nuclear in that regard, but even if nuclear is slow I'm sure you've heard the word baseload, something Random Power™ can't provide. And hydroelectric is an excellent fast power source for fast surges. Yes, wind and solar place thermal stress on other plants, and other parts of the grid, because they are uncontrollable. Lots of batteries? Where? Do you mean that power banks in peoples' homes should pick up the slack? Or you you mean grid-level batteries? i think you'll find that that is both economically and ecologically not viable.