ISO Minute: ‘Duck Curve’ days increase amid growing solar power generation  

ISO Minute is a video series featuring ISO New England employees speaking about their experiences working for the region’s independent system operator and supporting the safe and reliable transition to clean energy.

In 2023, there were 73 days when demand on the regional power grid was lower during the day than it was at night. This phenomenon, caused by homes and businesses consuming electricity from solar panels instead of from the grid, has earned a unique moniker: “duck curve.” On these days, a line chart representing grid demand has a pronounced dip in the middle, resembling the silhouette of a duck.

In this ISO Minute, Mike Knowland, manager, Forecast and Scheduling, discusses why duck curve days will likely become more common in the years to come.