Outstanding questions around increasing variable generation penetration in the ERCOT system

Over the last several years, the ERCOT ISO has been experiencing an ever increasing penetration of variable generation resources in the system, a majority being Wind-powered Generation Resources. Although the ERCOT ISO continues to reliably maintain and operate the grid, additional tools and training will be needed in order to successfully integrate more variable generation resources into the system. This includes both improving the System Operators' understanding of how variable generation resources affect their system, and pursuing the development of useful support tools. This paper will discuss some of the outstanding questions and challenges that the ERCOT Interconnection is still facing surrounding the increased penetration of variable generation resources and will attempt to focus on those issues which may have received less attention in academic research thus far.