Dive Brief:
- High levels of variable renewable generation combined with coal plant retirements may challenge grid operators over the next decade, according to an assessment released Monday by the North American Electric Reliability Corp.
- Fossil-fueled retirements – expected to total 85 GW by 2023 – and coordination of outages to install pollution control equipment “present challenges,” NERC said.
- Also, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Texas/Electric Reliability Council of Texas footprints do not have enough resources to meet planning reserve margin targets. Texas remains under reserve targets over the next 10 years.
Dive Insight:
The NERC report highlights the challenges facing utilities, grid operators and others as they deal with changes to the utility system.
“Growth in flexible resources such as demand response and quick-start natural gas-powered generators is an encouraging trend, as are transmission plans to integrate renewable resources distant from load centers,” NERC said.
NERC also notes that it expects the annual growth rate for summer peak demand to fall for the eleventh consecutive year to an all-time low of 1.23% from 2014 to 2023. The winter demand growth rate has dropped since 2003.