Energy experts attribute the absence of widespread brownouts or major grid failures this summer in Texas to the inclusion of solar and wind energy in the grid.
Due to an exceptionally scorching summer heatwave, ERCOT urged Texans to conserve power on Thursday.
Doug Lewin, an energy analyst and author of the Texas Energy and Power Newsletter, credits solar and wind energy for bolstering grid reliability during Houston’s triple-digit temperature months.
“These renewable energy sources have not only contributed to enhanced reliability but also lowered energy prices compared to what they would have been without,” he stated. “I understand that Texans might find this hard to grasp, given the current high bills, but it is primarily a consequence of the increased power consumption due to the extreme heat.”
According to a study conducted by the University of Texas, solar energy alone has saved Texas approximately $30 billion in the past decade.
However, energy analysts still view the power grid as burdened with inefficiencies. Ed Hirs, an energy fellow at the University of Houston with almost 50 years of experience analyzing energy markets, asserts that the grid’s inadequacies result in financial losses for Texans.
“The remedies implemented so far can only be considered as temporary solutions,” Hirs explained. “For instance, the ERCOT contingency reserve service acts as a stopgap measure by paying certain power generators to remain offline during the day, with the intention of activating them during periods of high demand.”
Hirs cautioned that this strategy could ultimately lead to consistently higher electricity bills. Some bills from the previous month have already tripled in comparison to the same period in previous years.
“ERCOT services 85% of the state’s population, and in that regard, they have performed commendably,” Hirs acknowledged. “However, the economic model underlying the grid has been flawed from the very beginning and has shown no signs of improvement, particularly during periods of stress.”
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