"Texas problem with wind and solar generation has been growing for years.
In 2022, wind farms generated 25% of the electricity used in ERCOT. Solar farms generated 5.65%. Ten years earlier, wind's market share was 12.25% and solar's 0.03%. This has placed a great strain on the grid because neither of these generation sources can be counted on when needed.
In addition to the heavy demand for cooling, the Texas grid is also under strain from a recent dip in power generation from wind sources, which if sustained may deprive the ERCOT system of a key source of clean power when it is needed most.
Wind power is Texas' second largest source of electricity behind natural gas, so any prolonged drop in wind generation may leave the ERCOT system under strain just as the peak demand season kicks off.
Wind's market share is far higher in temperate months than in the hot summer months or the cold winter months when loads are heavy and generation is needed.
The simple truth is that the more Texas relies on wind generation, the less reliable the Texas electric grid will be; the more Texans need electricity to protect themselves from weather extremes and keep their lights on the less electricity wind and solar will provide.
Beyond the problems of intermittency and unreliability, wind and solar generation is vastly more expensive than natural gas, coal, and nuclear generation.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2023/06/27/wind-fails-texas-again/
No comments:
Post a Comment