Two New Berkeley Lab Reports Detail Renewable Energy Impacts on Wholesale Power Markets and Assets

Nov. 29, 2017

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory announced the publication of two reports: Impacts of Variable Renewable Energy on Bulk Power System Assets, Pricing, and Costs; and Power Plant Retirements: Trends and Possible Drivers. Both studies were prepared as input into the August 2017 DOE Staff Report to the Secretary on Electricity Markets and Reliability. The first study, conducted in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, is a synthesis of literature, data, and analysis on the degree to which growth in variable renewable energy like wind and solar power has impacted to date or might in the future impact bulk power system assets, pricing, and costs. The second study is a compilation and assessment of available data on historical and planned thermal power plant retirements. The Energy Department's Office of Electricity provided funding support for the two reports.