The Duck Curve: Solar Curtailment and Evening Demand |…

What is the Duck Curve?

The duck curve represents a graph of the net grid demand over time, showing how solar power generation affects overall electricity usage. The distinctive shape resembles a duck, with a pronounced midday belly and an evening ramp.

This phenomenon occurs when there's a significant amount of solar energy available during peak daylight hours, leading to reduced need for conventional power plants.

Why Does the Duck Curve Matter?

The duck curve highlights the challenges of managing grid stability and reliability with high levels of renewable energy integration.

It underscores the importance of storage solutions like batteries to manage excess solar generation during midday and meet evening demand peaks.

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How Does Solar Curtailment Work?

Solar curtailment occurs when solar power production exceeds immediate grid needs, forcing utilities to reduce or 'curtail' the amount of solar energy being fed into the grid.

This is typically done by disconnecting some solar panels from the grid or by using advanced control systems to manage the flow of electricity.

Battery Storage and the Duck Curve

Battery storage can help flatten the duck curve by storing excess solar energy during midday when generation is high, then releasing it back into the grid in the evening.

This not only helps manage demand but also provides ancillary services like frequency regulation.

Frequently asked questions

What causes the steep evening ramp on the duck curve?

The steep evening ramp is caused by a combination of reduced solar generation as the sun sets and increased electricity usage during peak hours, such as when people return home from work.

Can the duck curve be completely eliminated with battery storage?

While battery storage can help mitigate the steepness of the evening ramp and reduce curtailment, it may not fully eliminate the shape due to other factors like varying demand patterns and grid constraints.

How does solar curtailment affect renewable energy economics?

Curtailment reduces the overall value of solar power by decreasing the amount of electricity that can be sold, which can impact investment in solar technology and infrastructure.

Are there other solutions to manage the duck curve besides battery storage?

Other solutions include demand response programs, grid modernization, and integrating more flexible generation sources like natural gas peaker plants or pumped hydro storage.

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Duck Curve Simulator — Solar Curtailment & Evening Ramp and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.

▶ Open Duck Curve Simulator — Solar Curtailment & Evening Ramp simulation