Question

Describe the challenge that rooftop solar energy presents to electric grid operators in California.

Answer 1

California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard is one of the most ambitious renewable energy policies in the nation, requiring load serving entities (LSEs) to increase their procurement of eligible renewable energy resources to 33 percent of retail sales by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030.California’s LSEs are ahead of schedule based on an approximation of generation from RPS-eligible1 sources divided by retail sales. The Energy Commission estimates that 32 percent of 2017 retail electricity sales in California were served by renewable energy facilities, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and small hydroelectric.

Capacity refers to the maximum electric output a generator can produce under specific conditions, while generation
refers to the amount of electricity a generator actually produces over a specific period.

As California’s renewable energy capacity continues to grow, the State is experiencing new
challenges and opportunities associated with integrating the rising amount of renewable
generation. The growth in community choice aggregators (CCA), alternative procurement
mechanisms for large entities, and the emergence of distributed energy resources are providing
customers with more options to choose how and from where they obtain electric services.