Demand-side flexibility: helping solve solar’s curtailment conundrum
This op-ed by WattTime takes a look at solutions to solar curtailment, including new software to enable greater demand-side flexibility.
Operating solar with reserve capacity enables more solar on the grid
A solar plant can increase its output by starting from a curtailment status and then reducing curtailment. If grid operators schedule in advance both solar curtailment and increased solar output, the cost-saving level of solar increases substantially.
DOE seeks solar power situational awareness
The DOE has launched a program to find unique and innovative solutions that increase grid operators’ situational awareness of solar PV systems deployed throughout the grid at strategic locations – and that are seek to go beyond pure R&D, seeking field validation.
Your appliances can save the grid (and allow more solar)
A new report by Wood Mackenzie finds a surprising amount of potential demand flexibility in U.S. homes, which can make the job of integrating more solar and wind easier.
SunCast: Grid integration of high levels of renewable energy
In this special edition, SunCast host Nico Johnson talks with pv magazine Americas editor about grid integration of high levels of renewable energy, and what’s going on at SPI
SunCast: Andrea Luecke and John Berger on the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria
As part of the collaboration between pv magazine USA and SunCast, we bring you an audio special edition marking the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria and looking at the role that solar and energy storage has played in the recovery of Puerto Rico.
The solar sponge: shifting demand to soak up production
A new report by the Smart Electric Power Association argues that a process called reverse demand response can allow utilities to minimize curtailment of solar while simultaneously lowering power prices.
California grid operator opens doors for behind-the-meter batteries, distributed resources
A measure allowing behind-the-meter batteries to get paid during periods of electricity oversupply was among the measures approved by CAISO last week. Several of the changes are expected to assist with the integration of higher levels of renewable energy.
Employee owned engineering firm installing advanced electric vehicle charging on campus
Burns & McDonnell, a 6,000-strong engineering firm, is installing a Greenlots EV charging network and integrating it into the company’s campus network. The engineers hope to offer EV related services to their many electric utility customers.
Up to 10 GW more solar, 2-2.5 GW of batteries coming in California
The state’s recent passage of SB 100 and SB 700 is expected to spur a boom in solar and behind-the-meter battery deployment, and pv magazine has done the math on what we can expect.
