Renewable and efficiency systems integration at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

As deployment rates for new energy technologies rapidly increase, there is growing emphasis on infrastructure and systems operations upgrades that will be needed to accommodate the unique operating characteristics of new renewable, efficiency, and end-use technologies. To meet these integration challenges, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is implementing a comprehensive systems approach to its R&D and engineering efforts on integration. As the centerpiece for these efforts, the U.S. Department of Energy has commissioned the design and construction of a state-of-the-art laboratory facility - the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF). The ESIF will be constructed to enable complex systems research and development that fully integrates the most advanced simulation, data analysis, engineering, and evaluation techniques to enable optimal deployment of advanced energy technologies. This paper will overview the ESIF's role in NREL's approach to addressing large-scale renewable and efficiency technology integration issues.