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As Texans endure yet another grueling heat wave, their apprehensive gaze remains fixated on the state’s power grid, desperately hoping for its endurance amidst the ongoing triple-digit temperatures. Despite the scorching sun, Texas has successfully generated substantial electricity from solar panels, strategically mitigating any potential shortages.
The heat pushed demand to a new record — topping 81,000 megawatts on Tuesday — but the state’s grid operator has only requested that residents lower their power use one day during the heat wave, when electricity from wind and power plants that use coal, nuclear or natural gas fell short of their past output.
Before demand reached a new peak, solar power accounted for nearly 20% of the power requirements of the Texas grid on Tuesday.
A so-called “heat dome” has settled over the state, meaning an area of high pressure sits above while the area bakes, Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza said. This means June hasn’t been very windy.
The heat has been punishing. Local officials have opened cooling centers while people working outside struggle to avoid heat-related illness. A postal worker died in Dallas last week as the heat index reached 115 degrees, and a teenager died while hiking in Big Bend National Park on a day when the temperature hit 119 degrees, according to news reports.
The state’s ability to maintain a stable power supply is attributed to its diverse range of energy sources. Texas, which operates its grid relatively independently from the rest of the country, has seen a substantial rise in solar power generation in recent years. This increase has effectively met the increasing electricity demand in the region.
According to data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state grid has the potential to generate approximately 16,800 megawatts of solar power as of May, which is a significant increase from the 2,600 megawatts recorded in 2019.
According to Michael Webber, an energy resources professor at the University of Texas at Austin, the solar installations made in the past year have brought tremendous benefits, and the upcoming solar additions will also be advantageous. Professor Webber believes that solar power is highly beneficial for grid reliability and serves as a great asset for us.
Solar power is closely linked to Texas’ scorching and sunny days, as mentioned by Aaron Zubaty, the CEO of Eolian, a clean energy investment firm. However, similar to any other energy source, solar power possesses constraints – it is unable to generate electricity constantly throughout the day and night.
The electric grid frequently experiences its most challenging conditions when individuals return home from work, increasing their air conditioner usage, powering up televisions, engaging in laundry activities, or cooking meals. This typically coincides with the sun setting and solar power generation declining.
During the crucial hours before wind power gains momentum, batteries and natural gas plants provide assistance.
Zubaty stated that currently, every resource within the system is utilizing its unique characteristics and collaborating continuously throughout the day. He further emphasized that the grid would face significant challenges during midday hours if it weren’t for the inclusion of these additional solar resources.
The ‘solar surge’
Experts predict Texas will add more large-scale solar power infrastructure in the coming years than any other state. A recent Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie report forecasts that Texas will install enough infrastructure to produce nearly twice as much new solar power as California between 2024 and 2028.
This growth could catapult Texas closer to challenging California’s rank as the nation’s top solar producer. Texas is currently second.
According to Doug Lewin, an energy consultant based in Austin, solar farms offer affordable electricity without emissions. On the other hand, fossil fuel-based power plants tend to charge higher prices as they incur fuel costs and contribute to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases, thus leading to rising global temperatures.
According to Susan Sloan, the head of government affairs and market strategy onshore for clean energy company Ørsted, solar development in Texas has flourished due to a range of factors. Ørsted has successfully constructed a solar farm in West Texas and currently has three more projects in progress within the state.
Landowners wanted to lease property to solar companies and communities agreed to tax breaks. The state planned for building critical transmission lines to move power from sunny, windy West Texas to other parts of the state. Meanwhile, energy demand has grown with the population.
According to Sloan, the solar surge and Texas becoming a dominant force in solar energy is a significant accomplishment.
Hardly any solar power flowed on the Texas grid 10 years ago, when wind energy had already begun its steady rise. Natural gas has held steady over the past decade, providing about 50% of the state’s power needs, while renewable power has become an increasing percentage of the state’s overall power generation and coal-powered plants have closed.
Around 30% of the state grid’s electricity requirements were fulfilled by wind and solar power in 2022.
According to Rob Minter, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs for ENGIE North America, the electricity market in the state has facilitated a smooth process for renewable energy companies to acquire the required permits and access the grid. ENGIE currently has 1,700 megawatts of solar power either operational or in the construction phase in Texas.
According to Minter, this design is undeniably better than the majority of designs seen elsewhere in the country.
Lawmakers passed laws to help natural gas power
Lawmakers expressed concerns about the increasing reliance on wind and solar power during the recently concluded legislative session. They emphasized the need to address the perceived unreliability of renewables due to their inability to generate power consistently throughout the day.
According to Mike Greene, a former chair of ERCOT, it is crucial to maintain a sufficient supply of natural gas-fueled power on the system. These power plants are capable of generating electricity whenever needed, independent of wind or solar availability. They play a vital role in stabilizing the grid by compensating for the constant variations in power supply and demand. While batteries can also contribute to this stability, their operational duration is limited compared to natural gas plants.
Politicians focused on boosting natural-gas-fueled power. They threatened to impose strict regulation on renewable energy projects, decided no longer to allow solar or wind projects to qualify for school tax breaks and established new ways to support natural-gas-fueled power financially.
Lawmakers’ intention to establish a less favorable atmosphere for renewable energy was evident, according to Mona Tierney-Lloyd, the head of U.S. state public policy at Enel North America. Enel, a company dedicated to clean energy, currently operates or is in the process of constructing over 3,500 megawatts of large-scale solar power within the Texas grid.
Tierney-Lloyd expressed that the objective of this legislative session was unmistakably to promote the establishment of new fossil fuel power generation and, in my opinion, hinder the progress of new renewable development in the state.
It is still uncertain what consequences their choices will have on the development of power.
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