Solar Causing Three Times the Power Plant Cycling of Wind

Littleton, CO, November 16, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Renewable Impacts announced today that its research of historical CAISO power plant cycling causality indicates that solar generation is causing substantially more power plant cycling causality than wind. While a 1 percentage point increase in wind energy penetration was found to increase wind cycling causality by 1 percentage point, a similar increase in solar energy penetration was found to increase solar cycling causality by 3 percentage points.

This finding suggests that as CAISO solar penetration grows it will increase power plant wear and tear at CAISO power plants more than a similar increase in wind penetration. The new research covers over 100 specific California power plants in the CAISO balancing authority including the sub-categories of combustion turbines, steam turbines, combined cycles and cogenerators and plant specific reports can be found at www.renewableimpacts.com.

"All indications point to much higher levels of solar generation in the future but this may come at a substantial cost to existing generators and increased system reliability issues," said James R. Schetter, President of Renewable Impacts LLC. Mr. Schetter added, "Our cycling causality studies of CAISO clearly identify that when compared to wind, solar caused much higher levels of power plant cycling causality. Any planned expansion of renewables should be evaluated for this impact."

Mr. Schetter wil be presenting these research findings at the upcoming Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo North America 2015 in Las Vegas, NV, USA on December 9th during panel discussion REW NA 14B titled "Talking Policy" Putting Renewables at the System's Core." A free copy of Mr. Schetter's presentation "Should Renewables Pay for Increased Conventional Plant Flexibility?" can be obtained at the Renewable Impacts website: www.renewableimpacts.com.