Reply to Texas increased its power supply by 35% over the last four years, 90% met with solar, wind and batteries.

Forum Index » Political Discussion

Reply to "Texas increased its power supply by 35% over the last four years, 90% met with solar, wind and batteries."

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote] Solar and wind keep ERCOT’s grid steady
The biggest growth story in Texas power generation is solar. Utility-scale solar plants produced 45 TWh from January through September, up 50% from 2024 and nearly four times what they generated in 2021 (11 TWh). Wind power also continued to climb, producing 87 TWh through September – a 4% increase from last year and 36% more than in 2021.
Together, wind and solar supplied 36% of ERCOT’s total electricity over those nine months. Solar, in particular, has transformed Texas’s daytime energy mix. From June to September, ERCOT solar farms generated an average of 24 gigawatts (GW) between noon and 1 pm – double the midday output from 2023. That growth has pushed down natural gas use at midday from 50% of the mix in 2023 to 37% this year.

Battery storage is filling in the gaps
Batteries charge during the day when wind and solar generation are the highest, and they produce electricity when generation from wind and solar slows down. ERCOT began reporting battery output separately in October 2024 in its hourly grid data, and it’s clear that batteries are now helping to smooth out evening peaks. This past summer, batteries supplied an average of 4 GW of power around 8 pm, right as solar production dropped off.[/quote]
https://electrek.co/2025/10/24/texas-power-demand-surges-solar-wind-and-storage-carry-the-load/

The interesting thing is solar, wind and batteries are eating in to the natural gas generation. Most of the projected growth(14%) next year is being driven by data centers and bitcoin mining. The tariffs are killing farmers in Texas. Many farmers are losing $800 an acre with farming but can sign a 20 year lease for $200 an acre for solar.

Of course the Texas legislature is pushing bills to outlaw solar and wind but the lobbying money is not having it. [/quote]
Yes, T Boone Pickens got Texas government to implement massive subsidies for solar and wind.  It is why the grid is not as reliable as before.  At least Texas still has low gas prices.[/quote]

False - the grid in Texas is MORE reliable than it was, thanks to wind and solar.  https://communityimpact.com/austin/north-central-austin/government/2025/11/13/ercot-forecasts-stable-texas-power-grid-this-january/[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics