What is grid firming?

GRID FIRMING 101

Why do we need grid firming?

Grid firming (also known as capacity firming or renewable firming) is the addition of another energy resource to a renewable power plant to balance the intermittent variation of renewable resources.

Renewables are here to stay, and while going green is important worldwide, it can introduce intermittency issues. Let’s take a look at a typical net load curve that shows power demand in California, a place with many renewable energy generation sources.

California “Duck Curve”

Demand increasesby ~13 GW in the late afternoonRenewable generation

kicks in

The sun provides energy when it’s directly overhead— but not if it’s cloudy…and none after it sets.

Similarly, the wind isn’t always blowing hard enough for turbines to produce their rated capacity.

This creates a gap between

energy supply and demand.

But there’s a solution…

and GE can help.

But with renewable energy’s intermittent nature,we see a challenge for grid operators.

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ts in

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2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

…peaking in the late afternoon.As the day starts, energy needs begin to ramp up…

Renewable generationramps down