Renewable Energy Integration
NREL is developing the technologies and tools to enable the integration of high levels of renewable energy resources onto power systems.
In 2023, clean energy resources provided about 41% of electricity in the United States. More than 16% of the total generation came from wind and solar, which are called “variable” renewable energy sources because of their daily and seasonal fluctuations in availability.
Because these renewable sources of electricity depend on weather conditions and they do not all use standard synchronous generators, a variety of technical challenges must be overcome to safely connect them to the grid while maintaining stability and reliability. Over the past two decades, NREL has examined the effect of increased wind and solar power deployment on grid reliability, including studies on variability, resource adequacy, and frequency stability.
Renewable Energy Basics
Learn more about the types of renewable energy, including solar power, wind power, hydropower, and geothermal.
NREL has studied power systems with 30% to 100% renewable energy generation and learned these systems can achieve high levels of reliability if appropriate measures are taken to change how the grid is planned and operated. In 2023, the U.S. bulk power system demonstrated this by maintaining high reliability levels throughout the year with its 41% clean electricity. Maintaining reliability while incorporating clean energy resources is a top priority for electric grid planners, operators, and regulators.
The table below outlines the key findings from NREL research related to each technical challenge with integrating variable renewable energy onto the grid. This research is iterative in nature to reflect new technologies and emerging questions.
| Technical Challenge | Lessons Learned | Related Research |
|---|---|---|
| Responding to short-term variability of wind and solar power generation | Short-term variability and uncertainty in renewable generation can be managed cost-effectively by increasing grid flexibility. Many grid flexibility options have been deployed, including how the power system is scheduled, balancing supply and demand over larger regions, using energy storage and other quick-ramping resources, and employing new operating reserve approaches. | |
| Ensuring enough electricity generation to meet demand during all hours of the year | Demand for electricity during all hours of the year can be met through a portfolio approach that aggregates variable renewable deployment with dispatchable resources. | |
| Recovering from a grid disturbance | Increased use of power electronics supports frequency stability. This might include flexible loads that are paid to disconnect for very short periods of time or inverter-based resources that can rapidly increase output (fast frequency response). |
Protection coordination of inverter-based resources |
| Maintaining reliability on the distribution grid | New grid-enhancing technologies, advanced communications systems, and grid-forming inverters support reliability and resilience of distribution systems with increasing electrification and extreme weather events. |
Real-time optimization and control of next-generation distribution infrastructure Demand response and controllable loads |
Learn more about the basics of planning and operating the future power grid. This research aligns with one of NREL's critical objectives, Integrated Energy Pathways.
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