Harnessing variable renewables

Written for decision makers, this book looks at the management of power systems with large shares of variable renewables and presents a new, step-by-step approach developed by the IEA to assess the flexibility of power systemsto help meet both variability and uncertainty. Power systems must be actively managed to maintain a steady balance between supply and demand; a complex task as demand varies continually, especially so if supply becomes more variable and less certain, as with some renewable sources of electricity like wind and solar PV that fluctuate with the weather. The ways electricity is produced, transported and consumed around the world exhibit great diversity. Grids can cross borders, requiring co-ordinated international policy, or can be distinct within a single country or region. And whether found in dispatchable power plants, storage facilities, interconnections for trade or on the demand side, the flexible resource that ensures the provision of reliable power in the face of uncertainty likewise differs enormously.