Modeling and Comparing the Effectiveness of Combinations of Solutions to Renewable-Caused Instability

Public project summary

Electricity production is the single largest source of global carbon emissions, making the transition from dirty energy sources, such as coal and natural gas, an essential step in averting the worst consequences of climate change. However, renewables such as wind and solar power, currently the most promising sources of clean energy, destabilize the grid, making it harder for grid operators to react to sudden incidents, such as a generator failing, in time to prevent blackouts. The proposal and development of various technologies to counter this destabilizing effect have unsubstantial literature on a quantitative comparison of the effectiveness of these technologies and often focus on the impacts of a single technology, ignoring how several different solution technologies may interact with each other. This research project seeks to resolve this gap and help guide public policy. Using ETAP’s transient stability software with varying amounts of 5 solution technologies will simulate an electric grid’s response to a loss of power generation to identify the gap. Data analysis of results will aid in resolving this gap and help guide the direction of public policy.