Analyzing major challenges of wind and solar variability in power systems. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ueckerdt, Falko; Brecha, Robert; Luderer, Gunnar
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 81(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Variable renewables -- Wind -- Solar -- Integration -- Residual load duration curves -- Capacity credit; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.03.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Ambitious policy targets together with current and projected high growth rates indicate that future power systems will likely show substantially increased generation from renewable energy sources. A large share will come from the variable renewable energy (VRE) sources wind and solar photovoltaics (PV); however, integrating wind and solar causes challenges for existing power systems. In this paper we analyze three major integration challenges related to the structural matching of demand with the supply of wind and solar power: low capacity credit, reduced utilization of dispatchable plants, and over-produced generation. Based on residual load duration curves we define corresponding challenge variables and estimate their dependence on region (US Indiana and Germany), penetration and mix of wind and solar generation. Results show that the impacts of increasing wind and solar shares can become substantial, and increase with penetration, independently of mix and region. Solar PV at low penetrations is much easier to integrate in many areas of the US than in Germany; however, some impacts (e.g. over-production) increase significantly with higher shares. For wind power, the impacts increase rather moderately and are fairly similar in US Indiana and Germany. Highlights: We analyze three major challenges of integrating wind and solar PV into power systems. These are a low capacity credit, reduced utilization of dispatchable plants and over-production. All integration challenges increase with penetration, irrespective of mix and region. At low penetrations, solar PV is much easier to integrate in US Indiana than in Germany. For wind, the challenges increase more modestly with penetration than for solar.