The impact of variable renewable energy resources on power system reliability

Amanda J. Harker Steele, James Burnett and John C. Bergstrom

Energy Policy, 2021, vol. 151, issue C

Abstract: Transitioning the electric power sector to rely more on wind and solar photovoltaics (WPV) has long been cited as a potential solution to reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuel electricity production. An under-explored implication of this transition, however, is whether increasing the amount of net generation supplied by WPV negatively impacts power system reliability? In this paper, we empirically investigate the preceding question using an unbalanced panel dataset of utility-scale operations between 2013 and 2017. Disruptions in power system reliability are measured by the frequency and duration of power system disruptions experienced by end-consumers. Results suggest net generation from WPV, on average, has a significant positive impact on the length of power system disruptions experienced, but only at low levels of net generation from WPV. As net generation from WPV increases, the duration of power system disruptions decreases. To provide insight into the policy implications of these results, we forecast disruptions in power system reliability, assuming different renewable energy policy scenarios for states across the United States with active renewable support policies in place. We estimate the economic costs of forecasted disruptions using an open-source, interruption cost estimate calculator.

Keywords: Electricity reliability; Power system disruptions; Variable energy resources; Reliability metrics; Interruption costs estimates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q42 Q47 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:151:y:2021:i:c:s0301421520306583

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111947

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