Review of the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study (WWSIS) by NREL and GE Energy

The WWSIS study area consists of land in 5 states in the U.S., the “West Connect” group of utilities, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada (WY, CO, NM, AZ, NV) which are in the Western Interconnection in the United States. The Western Interconnection includes nearly the western 1/3 of the U.S. from Washington down to California, and its eastern border includes the states from Montana to New Mexico (see figure below).

Posted by Stephen Balogh on December 6, 2010 - 10:21am

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7159

This post presents a critical review of the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study (WWSIS) published by NREL and GE Energy earlier this year. The goal of this multiyear study was to determine the feasibility of incorporating large amounts of wind and solar energy into the Western U.S. and determine the effects of doing so.[i] An earlier Department of Energy study, 20% Wind Energy by 2030, found that in order for the continental U.S. to achieve 20% as a whole for wind energy consumption, 25% would have to be produced in the Western Interconnection. The authors of the WWSIS study conclude that it is possible (with a few caveats) to absorb and manage highly variable production from high penetrations of wind and solar energy, up to 30% wind and 5% solar. This post provides an overview of the assumptions and models used in the study, reports major findings, and considers what may be flaws inherent in the NREL/GE Energy efforts. (An executive summary of their project, models, and findings can be found here, and the full study here.)