{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"climate_tags":["economic dispatch"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'economic dispatch' for facet 'climate_tags' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":4,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?climate_tags=economic+dispatch","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"ember-000491","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ember-000491","title":"Discussion - Unleashing coal’s flexible potential while easing the transition to cleaner solutions","publisher":{"name":"Ember","organization":"ember"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2026-02-10","source_url":"https://ember-energy.org/chapter/discussion/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"China is shifting its power system flexibility from coal retrofits to clean alternatives like battery energy storage. While coal retrofits are nearing exhaustion by 2027, the document argues that market reforms and updated dispatch practices are essential to prevent a reliance on new coal capacity and to meet 2030 emission goals.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000491#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"China's capacity for retrofitting existing coal plants to provide flexibility is expected to be largely exhausted by 2027, necessitating a shift toward clean flexibility solutions such as battery energy storage to sustain gains without increasing coal capacity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000491#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Battery energy storage is expanding rapidly in China, with 144.7 GW of 'new energy storage' installed by the end of 2025. The China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA) projects this capacity will reach between 371.2 GW and 450.7 GW by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000491#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The underutilisation of flexibility capacity in China is driven by structural issues in power market design, administrative dispatch practices, and inflexible inter-provincial contracts rather than physical capacity limits.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000491#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"China is moving toward a unified national power market by 2030, with significant progress in 2025 including the expansion of market-based trading, which covered 64.0% of electricity consumption in 2025 compared to 16.9% in 2016.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000491#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that non-fossil resources could meet nearly 60% of China's flexibility requirements by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000491#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal power","battery energy storage system","demand response","economic dispatch","energy transition"],"geography_discussed":["Heilongjiang","Jilin","Liaoning","Inner Mongolia"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","technical assessment"]},{"id":"climstra-000060","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climstra-000060","title":"Power sector futures in China","publisher":{"name":"Climate Strategies","organization":"climate-strategies"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2023","source_url":"https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2023IIB072-EEIST-D5-China-Country-Report-ONLINE-SINGLE-PAGES-1.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report utilizes the REPO and E3ME-FTT:Power models to project China's power sector transition. Both models predict the eventual dominance of wind and solar power, though they differ on the specific technology mix and cost trajectories. The analysis emphasizes that market-based pricing and a robust Emission Trading System (ETS) are critical for supporting carbon neutrality goals, while highlighting the essential role of large-scale energy storage and carbon capture technologies to maintain system stability and reach net-zero emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"China's long-term climate goals include achieving carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, with non-fossil energy consumption expected to exceed 80% by 2060.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The REPO model projects that wind and solar power will be the primary drivers of capacity growth, with solar capacity reaching approximately 2,750 GW and wind capacity reaching about 2,000 GW by 2060.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"According to REPO, the power sector's carbon emissions will peak around 2025 at approximately 4,350 Mt, potentially reaching negative emissions by 2060 with a total carbon absorption of about 750 Mt due to the application of BECCS.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The REPO model estimates that the unit cost of electricity will rise gradually from 2020 to 2060, reaching 0.41 yuan/kWh by 2060, a 6% increase from 2020 levels, driven by system balance costs for renewables.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Energy storage is projected to reach a total installed capacity of around 1,500 GW by 2060 in the REPO model, with compressed air storage expected to scale significantly to around 640 GW by 2060 for inter-seasonal needs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The E3ME-FTT:Power model indicates that electricity prices are lower in high-renewable (HighVRE) scenarios and under a Weighted Average Levelised Cost (WALC) pricing mechanism compared to the Merit Order Approach (MOA).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"High-renewable scenarios in the E3ME-FTT:Power model are associated with positive GDP impacts due to lower electricity prices and investment stimuli, whereas high-fossil fuel scenarios may constrain consumption and GDP.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The two models diverge on the 2060 generation mix: FTT:Power predicts solar PV will provide 50% or more of total generation, while REPO projects solar at 22% and wind at 32%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report argues that a transition from an output-based ETS to a cap-and-trade based ETS in the medium to long term would be more technologically neutral and cost-effective for achieving absolute emission reductions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Market reform toward economic dispatch is deemed essential to remove 'unreasonable protection' for inefficient coal-fired units and lower the cost of emission reductions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climstra-000060#insight-10","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["carbon neutrality","solar energy","wind power","energy storage","battery energy storage system","carbon capture and storage","bio-energy with carbon capture and storage","electricity price","economic dispatch","nuclear power","bioenergy","natural gas","coal-fired power station"],"geography_discussed":["Brazil","India","United Kingdom","European Union"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["comparative model analysis","scenario forecasting","policy assessment"]},{"id":"ucs-001234","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-001234","title":"Used, But How Useful?","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-05","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/Used%20but%20How%20Useful%20May%202020.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report argues that rate-regulated utilities use 'self-commitment' to bypass market merit order, running coal plants that are objectively uneconomic and passing the resulting losses to captive customers through state fuel-cost-recovery processes. Using PLEXOS modeling for the MISO region in 2018, the authors find that this practice cost customers $350 million and suppressed regional market clearing prices by 2.4%. The report identifies Cleco and DTE Energy as significant contributors to these distortions and recommends that state regulators disallow the recovery of imprudent, above-market costs to incentivize efficient dispatch.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"In 2018, the uneconomic self-commitment of coal plants in the MISO region resulted in costs of $350 million for customers, which equates to an average annual increase of approximately $60 on residential electric bills.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The practice of self-committing coal plants artificially lowers market clearing prices across all MISO transmission zones, reducing the regional average by $0.63 per MWh, or 2.4%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While most coal resources in MISO are self-committed, a small group of companies and plants drive the majority of market distortion; Cleco (co-owner of Dolet Hills) and DTE Energy are identified as the worst actors.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Eliminating uneconomic self-commitment in MISO would have increased the system's market surplus by 66%, rising from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion, thereby improving overall market efficiency and profitability for power plants.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Rate-regulated utilities can exploit the self-commitment loophole because they can recover market losses through state fuel-cost-recovery processes, a financial cushion not available to independent power providers (IPPs).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The traditional view of coal as a 'baseload resource' is outdated; current MISO data shows coal plants often cycle to follow load patterns and frequently operate when the cost to burn coal exceeds the market price.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Some utilities, such as Xcel Energy and Cleco, have begun reducing uneconomic dispatch by converting coal plants to seasonal operations, which the report suggests can save customers tens of millions of dollars.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report concludes that market rule reforms alone are unlikely to stop the behavior; instead, state regulators must disallow the recovery of imprudent, above-market costs to create a real incentive for utilities to operate economically.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal-fired power station","electricity market","energy transition","economic dispatch"],"geography_discussed":["PJM Interconnection","Southwest Power Pool","Electric Reliability Council of Texas","Louisiana","Texas","North Dakota","Michigan","Minnesota","Illinois","Iowa","Arkansas","Missouri","Mississippi","Kentucky","Indiana","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic modeling","policy analysis"]},{"id":"eninnova-000186","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eninnova-000186","title":"A ROADMAP FOR FINDING FLEXIBILITY IN WHOLESALE MARKETS","publisher":{"name":"Energy Innovation","organization":"energy-innovation"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2017-10","source_url":"https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Roadmap-For-Finding-Flexibility-In-Wholesale-Power-Markets_FINAL.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document examines the challenges RTOs face as the U.S. grid shifts from large central generators to variable renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs). It argues that 'flexibility'—the ability to respond to changes in supply and demand across various timeframes—is essential for reliability and cost minimization. The authors recommend eliminating self-scheduling for all generators and imports, preserving negative pricing, and improving the coordination between natural gas and electricity markets. It also suggests creating technology-neutral products that value specific capabilities, such as ramping and frequency response, and highlights successful examples like MISO's Dispatchable Intermittent Resource category and CAISO's Flexi-Ramp product.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Self-scheduling by power plants reduces the amount of flexibility available to grid operators because these resources do not respond to market price signals. For example, a CAISO study indicated that making all resources dispatchable could increase down ramp capability from 0-3,000 MW to 2,000-5,000 MW on most days.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"MISO's Dispatchable Intermittent Resource (DIR) category successfully integrated variable wind resources into economic dispatch, virtually eliminating manual curtailments by requiring wind plants to follow dispatch signals and bid into markets.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"High levels of self-scheduled imports can lead to over-generation and the curtailment of renewable energy. In CAISO, reducing self-scheduled imports from 100% to 75% resulted in nearly a 75% reduction in over-generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Negative pricing in energy markets is critical for efficient dispatch and provides a necessary investment signal for energy storage to manage over-generation and ramping.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Poor coordination between natural gas and electricity markets limits flexibility. Many RTOs post day-ahead electricity commitments too close to or after the natural gas nomination deadline, leaving generators insufficient time to optimize gas purchases.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Arbitrary restrictions on resource participation, such as PJM's rules for behind-the-meter battery storage or ERCOT's minimum load requirements for demand response, prevent the grid from utilizing available flexibility.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Market products should be technology-neutral and focused on the desired service rather than the technology. PJM's Regulation D (RegD) product initially succeeded by accommodating fast-responding resources like batteries, but later changes that forced them to behave like thermal units undermined its value.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"ERCOT uses high scarcity pricing (up to $9,000/MWh) and an Operating Reserve Demand Curve (ORDC) adder to create strong financial incentives for flexible resources to be available during system stress.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"CAISO's Flexi-Ramp product ensures adequate ramping capability to handle deviations from forecasted load and compensates resources for the opportunity cost of providing that ramping.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The growth of inverter-based generators (wind and solar) reduces the amount of endogenous frequency response (inertia) on the grid, creating a need for new market products to pay for these reliability services.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000186#insight-10","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["electricity market","grid flexibility","distributed generation","energy storage","demand response","economic dispatch"],"geography_discussed":["California","Texas","New York","Midwestern United States","New England","Mid-Atlantic","Southwest"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy recommendation","market design analysis"]}]}