Berkeley Lab Report: Smart Grid Key To Renewable Energy Penetration

[kristopher]

Berkeley Lab Report: Smart Grid Key To Renewable Energy Penetration
by NAW Staff on Thursday 13 October 2011

The penetration of renewable energy technology in the U.S. is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade, as many states are implementing policies to expand this sector. However, the variable - and oftentimes, unpredictable - production of certain renewable energy resources - such as wind and solar - poses integration challenges for bulk-power system operators.

...Key findings of the Berkeley study include the following:
- The largest variability and uncertainty in renewable energy generation and power production are from wind and solar resources over time periods of one to12 hours - time scales that are in synch with the operation of most DR opportunities for mass-market customers.
- Among time-based rates, real-time pricing, coupled with automation/control technology, has the most potential for managing several variable generation integration issues, although the current lack of regulatory and stakeholder support is a key challenge.
- Incentive-based DR programs have significant potential to manage many variable generation integration issues if residential customers are willing to participate in programs whose designs feature short-duration and frequent DR events. Program designs that allow load aggregators to participate effectively and customer acceptance of control and/or automation technology are key factors that will determine the efficacy of these DR programs in managing variable generation integration issues....

http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8734


Full report can be downloaded here:
http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/sg-pubs.html


Explanation of DR (demand response) here:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/demand-response.htm