| Published | 2012 / 01 |
| Summary | This study has developed metrics to evaluate the impact of intermittent renewable generation on the electric load demand that must be balanced by dispatchable generation resources, allowing examination of the general impacts of accommodating high renewable penetration levels. The metrics focus on the sizing, utilization and coordination of load balancing resources to meet the load demand in time. Insights gained from increasing the renewable penetration level in California as an example indicated the following. The balancing generator fleet displayed low capacity factors at high penetration levels. At penetration levels above 45% with no uninterruptable base load, surplus generation occurred and increased exponentially. |
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| Keywords | intermittent renewables, excess electricity, curtailment, renewable integration, load balancing, California |
| File name | Tarroja et al._2012_Metrics for evaluating the impacts of intermittent renewable generation on utility load-balancing.pdf |