Wind, Solar Power CO2-Cycling Impact Negligible-NREL Study

摘要

A new study by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has found that the often-cited fossil-fuel power-plant cycling proble caused by intermittent wind and solar power would not cause a jump in net carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions. “To accommodate higher amounts of wind and solar power on the electric grid, utilities must ramp down and ramp up or stop and start conventional [fossil-fueled] generators more frequently to provide reliable power for their customers – a practice called cycling,” the NREL noted.