Energy Systems Integration R&D at NREL

1. Energy Systems Integration R&D at NREL David Mooney September 10, 2010

2. Outline • NREL Overview • NREL’s Approach to Renewable Systems Integration • Project Examples • The Energy Systems Integration Facility

4. Economy Security • Economic Development • Energy price volatility •Affordability • Secure supply • Reliable Infrastructure All three imperatives must be simultaneously addressed Environment • Carbon mitigation • Land and water use

5. FY10 (Est.) Total NREL Funding in Millions $455.4M by Source Updated 9/10

6. NREL Funding and Staffing History

7. Enable maximum renewable energy and energy efficiency technology adoption Maintain and enhance grid reliability by advancing critical science and engineering in electrical systems and resource assessment. Transfer knowledge and innovations in these areas in a manner that accelerates commercial deployment and addresses the nation’s energy, security, and environmental goals. Integration Mission

8. Electricity, Resources, and Building Systems Integration Center Commercial Building R&D (34 Staff) Thermal Systems (25 Staff) Transmission and Grid Integration (13 Staff) Residential Building R&D (26 Staff) Resource Information and Forecasting (13 Staff) Distributed Energy Systems Integration (15 Staff)

9. Transmission and Grid Integration Project Examples

10. Goal - To assess the operating impacts and economics of wind and solar on the WestConnect grid Can we integrate 35% wind and solarin the West? • How do local resources compare to remote, higher quality resources via long distance transmission? • Can balancing area cooperation help manage variability? • Do we need more reserves? • Do we need more storage? • How does geographic diversity help? • What is the value of forecasting?

11. Not a transmission planning study Not a cost-benefit analysis Capital costs for wind, solar, or conventional generation build-out not included in operational cost impacts Not a reliability study Does not address dynamic stability Not an optimization study What WWSIS is Not

12. Develop high temporal and spatial resolution wind and solar datasets “Site” wind and solar plants and interconnect them into the transmission and distribution system Conduct operational analysis for system with high penetration wind and solar Quantify operational challenges and benefits Study Methodology

13. Scenarios ~75GW Wind ~15GW Solar Penetration levels are by energy, not capacity. Solar is 70% concentrating solar power with thermal storage and 30% rooftop photovoltaics

14. In-Area- each state meets target from sources within that state Mega Project - concentrated projects in best resource areas Local Priority- Balance of best resource and In-Area sites 30% Wind/5% Solar Scenarios

15. How does the system operate with 35% wind and solar? Mid-July Load The operator now manages to load but would have to manage to net load Net Load = Load - Wind - Solar

16. How does the system operate with 35% wind and solar? Mid-July Mid-April Mid-April shows the challenges of operating the grid with 35% wind and solar. This was the worst week of the 3 years studied.

17. Operations during mid-April No Wind/Solar 35% Wind/Solar

18. Feeder Level Engineering Studies (SMUD) Data acquisition and monitoring on distribution feeder at the Anatolia Subdevelopment in Rancho Cordova, CA Over 600 homes will have 2kW of PV Monitoring on Distribution Transformer

19. Renewable Technology Integration SMUD Distribution Transformer