Low Carbon Grid Study: Analysis of a 50% Emission Reduction in California
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, Sacramento, CA (United States)
The California 2030 Low Carbon Grid Study (LCGS) analyzes the grid impacts of a variety of scenarios that achieve 50% carbon emission reductions from California's electric power sector. Impacts are characterized based on several key operational and economic metrics, including production costs, emissions, curtailment, and impacts on the operation of gas generation and imports. The modeling results indicate that achieving a low-carbon grid (with emissions 50% below 2012 levels) is possible by 2030 with relatively limited curtailment (less than 1%) if institutional frameworks are flexible. Less flexible institutional frameworks and a less diverse generation portfolio could lead to higher curtailment (up to 10%), operational costs (up to $800 million higher), and carbon emissions (up to 14% higher).
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (Work for Others)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1235548
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-6A20-64884
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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