CAISO has long been a case study in managing an electricity grid with a high share of renewable energy. The rapid expansion of solar generation in the region has reshaped daily patterns of supply and demand, drawing attention to the “duck curve.” This concept describes net load—electricity demand minus wind and solar generation—which reflects the burden placed on conventional, flexible energy sources, such as natural gas. Named for its resemblance to a duck’s silhouette, the curve h...
