The Duck Curve Is Solar Energy S Greatest Challenge

California researchers discovered a peculiarity in their state s electric load curves that started to look more and more like a duck.

The duck curve is solar energy s greatest challenge.

But as utilities started to produce more energy from renewable sources like solar the models started to shift as well. This duck curve is solar energy s greatest challenge renewables require a change in the how we supply electricity. And that duck shaped chart highlights the greatest challenge to solar energy growth in. Duck curve in california.

The effects of the duck curve have happened faster than anticipated. Most of solar energy production occurs during the day but the greatest demand for energy is at night. The energy can then be dispatched when it s needed and would almost definitely flatten the curve. Since its discovery the duck curve has become an emblem of the challenges faced by power system operators when integrating variable renewables on the grid.

The duck curve was discovered by researchers at california independent system operator who modelled what large scale solar generation would look like back in 2010. The duck curve represents a transition point for solar energy. And that duck shaped chart highlights the greatest challenge to solar energy growth in. Fast forward nine years and their projections have become reality the duck curve is the biggest challenge that renewable energy is facing.

It highlights concerns that the conventional power system will be unable to accommodate the ramp rate and range needed to fully utilize solar energy. But as utilities started to produce more energy from renewable sources like solar the models started to shift as well. A major challenge is deploying mitigating capacity at a rate that keeps up with the growth of solar energy production. By carlos waters may 9 2018 4 40pm edt.

The duck curve is a snapshot of a 24 hour period in california during springtime when this effect is most extreme because it s sunny but temperatures remain cool so demand for electricity is low since people aren t using electricity for air conditioning or heating. The second method of smoothing out the duck curve is committing to the storage of energy generated by solar and wind instead of immediately sending that energy directly to the grid.