Berkeley Lab Study Supports Rapid-Response Options for Grid Stability

As grid-connected solar and wind resources become more prevalent, fifteen-minute resources—energy technologies that can be brought online quickly to cover dips in generation—become more important for grid stability. A recent study by Andrew Mills and Joachim Seel of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that batteries, demand response, and quick-start generators provide this service much more effectively than large, fossil-fueled power plants. The flexibility of these options enables them to react quickly, and at full capacity, to imminent, short-term needs. The results support policies that reward grid resources that can move quickly to mitigate grid disruptions.