The Performance of U.S. Wind and Solar Generating Units

Richard Schmalensee

No 19509, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Government subsidies have driven rapid growth in U.S. wind and solar generation. Using data on hourly outputs and prices for 25 wind and nine solar generating plants, some results of those subsidies are studied in detail: the value of these plants' outputs, the variability of output at plant and regional levels, and the variation in performance among plants and regions. Output from solar plants was about 32% more valuable on average than output from wind plants. Output variability differs substantially among plants and, on some dimensions, among regions. Policy implications of high generation when prices are negative and dramatic differences in capacity factors are discussed.

JEL-codes: D24 L94 Q42 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-reg
Note: EEE IO
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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