California Wind Resources - Draft Staff White Paper

Publication Number:    CEC-500-2005-071-D

Abstract:
California has one of the most diverse electricity supply systems in the nation with a large potential to generate electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric and solar. With the recently adopted Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), the challenge facing the state will be how best to integrate and manage renewable energy resources with traditional generation while ensuring a reliable electrical system.  Renewable technologies are continuously improving. Although many of the power qualities with existing wind technology have been address, issues related to increasing intermittent wind resources are introducing new challenges. Though new technologies are on the horizon, several barriers combine to limit the number of areas to generate power form renewable resources such as wind. These barriers include transmission capacity constraints, intermittency management issues, and occasionally perceptions, which combine to limit available areas of renewable resources like wind.

California continues to be a leader in installed wind capacity with just over 2000 megawatts (MW), and the potential exists to double this amount in the next 5 years. In the future, renewable resources will play an even larger role in providing bulk electricity for the state.

Author(s):  Dora Yen-Nakafuji

Commission Division:    Technology Systems Division - R&D, PIER (500)

Office/Program:    PIER: Public Interest Energy Research

PIER Program Area:    Renewable Energy Technologies

Date Published:    April 2005

Date On Line:    04/22/2005

Acrobat PDF File Size: 31 pages, 2,850 kilobytes**