Overview of Renewable Energy Portfolio in CAISO - Operational and Market Challenges

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of renewable resources in California and future goals, along with issues and challenges. California established ambitious environmental and energy policy goals, including reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and providing 33 percent of energy consumption in 2020 from renewable resources and 50 percent by 2030. Energy support policies, environmental concerns, and also significant reduction in the cost of energy from renewable resources were the main driver in renewable energy growth in California and nationwide. These paper details the renewable energy developments and major changes in resource portfolio in California and illustrates issues and challenges to reach their goals. Special focus is put on the following topics: Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Greenhouse Gas (GHG).