18 April 2012: The Clean Energy Solutions Center, in cooperation with the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis, and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), has released a report analyzing effective policies, regulations, planning, and practices for integrating high levels of variable renewable energy into large-scale electricity grid systems.

The report summarizes best practices regarding the co-evolution of electricity markets and power systems with increasing penetrations of variable renewable energy, including from wind and solar energy. The report draws from experience in six countries – Australia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the US – which have different geographies, markets, and institutional structures.

The report identifies five areas of intervention and actions for decision makers and stakeholders to accommodate high renewable energy penetration, including: lead public engagement, particularly for new transmission; coordinated and integrated planning; the development of rules for market evolution that enable system flexibility; the expansion of access to diverse resources by enlarging effective balancing areas and diversifying the location and types of renewable energy generation; and improved system operations by adopting advanced forecasting techniques and changes to grid codes. While acknowledging that these areas of intervention are distinct, the report highlights that they are interrelated, and that taking a system-wide approach will ensure more effective individual interventions and create a more robust overall system. [Clean Energy Solutions Center Press Release] [Publication: Integrating Variable Renewable Energy in Electric Power Markets] [Publication: Summary for Policymakers]