Multi-decadal timeseries of hourly wind and solar generation are generated at 1,723 locations across the continental United States using wind, temperature and irradiance data from the ERA5 reanalysis. The covariability of wind and solar generation are examined across the seasonal cycle to understand how collocated wind and solar facilities would behave in these locations, with a particular focus on rural locations. We identify regions where hourly and daily covariance tend to produce either large or small aggregate variability in the long-term mean for each month of the year and characterize the degree to which interannual variability of wind and solar generation tend to either combine or cancel as a function of season and location. Finally, we show how wind and solar generation covary with temperature as a function of location and season, giving insight into net-load variability and the need for storage to provide reliability.
To access the interactive story map click here: Climate-Driven Variability of Co-Located Wind and Solar Generation