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Title: Geophysical constraints on the reliability of solar and wind power in the United States
We analyze 36 years of global, hourly weather data (1980–2015) to quantify the covariability of solar and wind resources as a function of time and location, over multi-decadal time scales and up to continental length scales. Assuming minimal excess generation, lossless transmission, and no other generation sources, the analysis indicates that wind-heavy or solar-heavy U.S.-scale power generation portfolios could in principle provide ∼80% of recent total annual U.S. electricity demand. However, to reliably meet 100% of total annual electricity demand, seasonal cycles and unpredictable weather events require several weeks’ worth of energy storage and/or the installation of much more capacity of solar and wind power than is routinely necessary to meet peak demand. To obtain ∼80% reliability, solar-heavy wind/solar generation mixes require sufficient energy storage to overcome the daily solar cycle, whereas wind-heavy wind/solar generation mixes require continental-scale transmission to exploit the geographic diversity of wind. Policy and planning aimed at providing a reliable electricity supply must therefore rigorously consider constraints associated with the geophysical variability of the solar and wind resource—even over continental scales.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1639318
NSF-PAR ID:
10075908
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Energy & Environmental Science
Volume:
11
Issue:
4
ISSN:
1754-5692
Page Range / eLocation ID:
914 to 925
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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