Greater penetrations of variable renewable generation on electric grids have resulted in increased levels of curtailment in recent years. Studies of renewable energy grid integration have found that curtailment levels may grow as the penetration of wind and solar energy generation increases. This paper reviews international experience with curtailment of wind and solar energy on bulk power systems in recent years, with a focus on eleven countries in Europe, North America, and Asia. It examines levels of curtailment, the causes of curtailment, curtailment methods and use of market-based dispatch, as well as operational, institutional, and other changes that are being made to reduce renewable energy curtailment.

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The demand for low carbon energy calls for close to 100% renewable power systems, with decarbonization of other energy sectors adding to the anticipated paradigm shift. Rising levels of variable inverter-based renewable energy sources (VIBRES) are prompting questions about how such systems will be planned and operated when variable renewable generation becomes the dominant technology. Here, we examine the implications of this paradigm shift with respect to planning, operation and system stability, also addressing the need for integration with other energy vectors, including heat, transport and Power-to-X. We highlight the knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for improved methods and models needed as power systems transform towards 100% VIBRES.

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Hydro power is one of the most flexible sources of electricity production. Power systems with considerable amounts of flexible hydro power potentially offer easier integration of variable generation, e.g., wind and solar. However, there exist operational constraints to ensure mid-/long-term security of supply while keeping river flows and reservoirs levels within permitted limits. In order to properly assess the effective available hydro power flexibility and its value for storage, a detailed assessment of hydro power is essential. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the weather-dependent hydrological cycle, regulation constraints on the hydro system, and uncertainty of internal load as well as variable generation (wind and solar), this assessment is complex. Hence, it requires proper modeling of all the underlying interactions between hydro power and the power system, with a large share of other variable renewables. A summary of existing experience of wind integration in hydro-dominated power systems clearly points to strict simulation methodologies. Recommendations include requirements for techno-economic models to correctly assess strategies for hydro power and pumped storage dispatch. These models are based not only on seasonal water inflow variations but also on variable generation, and all these are in time horizons from very short term up to multiple years, depending on the studied system. Another important recommendation is to include a geographically detailed description of hydro power systems, rivers' flows, and reservoirs as well as grid topology and congestion.

The power system of Denmark is characterized by significant incorporation of wind power. Presently, more than 20% of the annual electricity consumption is covered by electricity‐producing wind turbines. The largest increase in grid‐incorporated wind power is expected to come from large (offshore) wind farms operating as large wind power plants with ride‐through solutions, connected to the high‐voltage transmission system and providing ancillary services to the system. In Denmark there are presently two offshore wind farms connected to the transmission system: Horns Rev A (160MW rated power in the western part of the country) and Nysted (165MW rated power at Rødsand in Eastern Denmark). The construction of two more offshore wind farms, totalling 400MW by the years 2008–2010, has been announced. This article presents the status, perspectives and technical challenges for wind power in the power system from the point of view of Energinet.dk, Transmission System Operator of Denmark. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd

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The Danish power system is characterised by a high share of wind power production. Most of the wind power has so far been distributed onshore and connected to the lower voltage levels. The recent tendency is to group it in large offshore wind farms. The wind farms are often connected directly to the high voltage network via long AC cable lines compensated by shunt reactors. These cable connections impose some additional challenges that should be considered in the planning stage. This paper presents the recent experience of the Danish TSO with long cable connections of wind farms and shows the results of selected simulation studies made of the planned Horns Rev B wind farm connection.