Market structures to enable efficient wind and solar power integration

The development of large amounts of wind and/or solar energy will have an impact on bulk electricity markets. These variable generation sources increase the level of variability and uncertainty that the power system operator must manage. In this paper we discuss the impact that electricity markets have on the wind producer, using examples from the Nordic system. We also describe two market structures that will help induce both the needed flexibility, whether from generation or load, and sufficient capacity. We also provide some general guidelines for market design and simple tests that can help identify how a proposed market would function. We close with suggestions for future research.