During Infocast’s Storage Week 2018, ScottMadden director, Kevin Hernandez, and senior associate, Scott Roulston, served as panel moderators for sessions geared toward behind-the-meter and grid-connected energy storage systems. The following provides a summary of the insights shared during those discussions related to:

Bright Outlook: Solar Trifecta Is Key to Integrating Smart Utility-Scale Solar

Utility-scale solar has become an important and growing part of the electric generation portfolio in the Unites States. Existing or “traditional” utility-scale solar is designed and operated to generate and deliver the maximum amount of electricity in real time. Operational challenges are becoming evident in markets with high penetrations of traditional utility-scale solar. These challenges include variable output, lack of robust ancillary services, and dispatch limitations.

In 2013, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) introduced the iconic “duck curve” chart depicting the expected effects of variable renewable resources – primarily utility-scale solar – on grid conditions. Since then, the conditions predicted have come to pass: meaningful midday overproduction and late-day ramps. Yet, when measured as a percentage of net generation or total installed capacity, the penetration of solar in the U.S. remains very small, even in California.