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“Integrating Renewables into the Generation Mix: Challenges and
Unknowns” will explore how green-energy requirements (aka
Renewable Portfolio Standards or RPS) may adversely affect
operation and maintenance of the nation’s electric power system
assets.
The one-day workshop will be presented by CTOTF, in cooperation
with NV Energy. The Combustion Turbine Operations Task Force is
an independent industry group, with roots to the Edison Electric
Institute and EPRI, that serves owners of generation assets.
Two-dozen expert speakers and panelists will dig down into the
challenges utilities, merchant generators, grid operators, and
others face in maintaining the level of electric reliability and
power quality, and cost of service, all customer classes have
come to expect.
State RPSs typically mandate that between 20 and 30 percent of a
utility’s kilowatt-hours must come from renewable resources by
about 2020—earlier in some states, later in others. The basis
for the standards sometimes is politically motivated and not
well defined, and the goals often are not supported by objective
research.
For example, to someone with limited experience in the operation
of electric power systems, a 20% RPS may not seem like the
challenge it really can be. Wind, the nation’s preferred
renewable, often does not blow when power is most needed.
Because utilities typically must send out all renewable power as
it is produced to meet RPS requirements, during the evening,
kilowatt-hours from renewables sometimes can be as much as 50%
of the total energy supplied.
Mother Nature may be somewhat predictable, but not entirely so.
This dictates the need for back-up generation resources, energy
from neighbors via the grid, load shedding, and/or other
immediate solutions to compensate for any decrease in
energy production from renewables.
Where fast-start/rapid-ramp assets are optimal for backing up
renewables, or at least part of the solution, gas turbines are
the likely generation option and the reason CTOTF is hosting
this workshop. Goals for the meeting include exploring the
limitations of existing assets in supporting the RPSs as well as
the steps believed necessary to achieve RPS goals. Latter
includes possible technology development required, cost,
timeframe for implementation, etc. |
