Solar power and batteries achieved a record-breaking, grid-supporting summer in Texas.
A new report from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) details a significant shift in the Lone Star State's energy landscape, as solar power continues to make a mark on the national grid.
On September 9, solar produced a record 29.9 gigawatts of power in Texas, surpassing all previous records. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on that day, solar provided over 40% of Texas' power. This milestone comes amidst Texas' summer temperatures, which traditionally put a strain on the power grid, but did not lead to power conservation requests this year.
The extensive deployment of solar panels and battery storage systems in Texas has been under scrutiny by various institutions. A recent study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis highlights the potential of these renewable energy sources.
However, the Trump administration's stance on clean energy seems to be at odds with these developments. The administration is rolling back federal clean energy tax credits and solar-boosting programs, which could potentially slow down the growth of renewable energy in Texas.
Despite these challenges, solar and batteries remain among the cheapest and quickest ways to add power generation to the national grid. Battery storage often charges up on solar power in the mornings and puts it back into the system when the sun sets. In fact, this month, battery storage has set four discharge records in Texas.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration anticipates a surge in demand in ERCOT from 2024 to 2026. To meet this increasing demand, developers have proposed building more than 100 new gas power plants in the next few years. However, seven projects have been pulled from consideration due to high costs and supply chain challenges.
Interestingly, one oil and gas lobbyist mentioned that the industry actually pushed for modifications to the $7.2 billion loan program launched in Texas, rather than a full repeal. As of now, just two facilities have been approved for loans under this program.
Despite the EPA's proposed rule change to end the collection of data from 46 sources, including power plants, Texas' extreme summer temperatures and record-breaking solar power output this month underscore the importance of accurate and comprehensive data in understanding and managing the state's energy future.
In conclusion, Texas' summertime stability was attributed to its nation-leading deployment of solar and batteries. As the state continues to break solar power records, the future of Texas' energy landscape seems to be increasingly renewable.
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