Californian grid operator to address net imbalance
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is concerned that the shape of the famous load “duck” (see chart) — which illustrates the difference between total system load and the net load, after the addition of solar and other renewable energy sources — is changing shape, and at times is placing wider-ranging demands on utilities and operators. “California’s changing net load patterns are expected to create a greater need for flexible, dispatchable capacity to manage operational and reliability challenges,” reported a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) bulletin in December.
