Brattle Economists Identify Key Attributes For Ensuring Electric Grid Reliability With Increased Variable Energy

A report by Brattle economists outlines the key reliability challenges and defines the attributes in which electric grid operators should focus on in order to maintain and strengthen system reliability.

The transformation of the U.S. electric industry, driven by technological innovation, changes in the industry's cost structure, and environmental concerns, is leading to a greater share of electric generation from variable energy. To ensure reliability as variable energy resources' share of total generation grows, grid operators will need access to more flexible power plants, storage, and demand response resources that have a diverse set of reliability attributes that can meet these requirements.