Editor’s note: This study is significant because it provides a contrast between the cost variability of conventional fuels and its uncertainty, with the zero cost of fuel to drive a wind turbine, the great advantage wind critics continuously ignore. ICF International, a provider of consulting services and technology solutions to government and commercial clients, has…
Distributed generation’s future Impact on the U.S. capacity markets
Editor’s note: This is the executive summary from a report by Samir Succar of ICF International The impact of distributed generation on market operations and system reliability becomes increasingly dire as penetration levels increase in those regions where capacity market mechanisms provide the primary vehicle maintaining resource adequacy. The variability of the resource and its…
How and where distributed energy resources will reduce the need for transmission
By Kiran Kumaraswamy, ICF International The following is the executive summary and first few paragraphs from a five-page white paper from ICF International. The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DER), a non-transmission alternative, is raising concerns over the viability and necessity of new transmission lines. ICF International’s review and analysis of case studies concludes…