REopt Models Solar, Storage, and Utility-Scale Wind Farms for GE

Turbines at Swauk Creek Ranch in Washington generate community-scale power. Photo from McKinstry, NREL 26777

NREL worked with General Electric Co. (GE) to evaluate whether adding solar photovoltaics (PV) or energy storage to utility-scale wind farms could improve power plant economics across several markets. NREL used the REopt^® model to evaluate several use cases, including using PV and storage to:

• Firm wind generation to meet the day-ahead forecast
• Maximize locational marginal price revenues by selling power at the highest price hours
• Meet 100% of a load at a specific node or distribution feeder, or for a specific customer.

GE will use the REopt analysis to identify potential market opportunities for hybrid solar or storage wind systems.