🔋 Solar power and batteries help Texas handle record-high energy consumption during heat waves

• Texas power grid has broken new records for electricity consumption during the summer of 2024.
• Solar power has met record-high demand during the day, and batteries have covered the need in the evening.
• Renewable energy accounted for 47 percent of electricity in Texas during the first quarter of 2024.

Record-high electricity consumption during heat wave

Texas has experienced an intense summer with temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius in large parts of the state. On August 20, 2024, the power grid, operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), set a new record for electricity consumption at 85,931 megawatts, reports Canary Media.

Solar power has played a crucial role in meeting the high demand. On August 20, solar energy production nearly reached a record of 20,799 megawatts. This helped keep the electricity supply balanced during the hottest hours of the day.

As the sun began to set and solar energy production decreased, electricity consumption continued to rise due to ongoing air conditioning use. At 7:50 PM, ERCOT reached a new peak for "net load" at 70,900 megawatts.

In this critical situation, batteries came to the rescue. Energy storage in batteries set a new record of 3,927 megawatts at 7:35 PM. This helped stabilize the power grid and avoid emergency measures such as rolling blackouts.

Texas leads the development in renewable energy

Texas has become a leader in wind power, solar energy, and now batteries, without state mandates for clean energy. During the first quarter of 2024, carbon-free electricity from wind, solar, and nuclear power accounted for 47 percent of the electricity delivered in Texas, compared to 40 percent throughout 2023.

The increase is primarily driven by utility-scale solar energy and batteries economically outcompeting fossil-fueled power plants. Texas surpassed California as the leading state for utility-scale solar energy in 2023 and may outperform California in terms of utility-scale battery systems this year.

Solar power and batteries prove reliable

Doug Lewin, president of energy consultancy Stoic Energy, points out that solar energy and energy storage have been crucial in keeping ERCOT's power grid stable during this year's heat waves. He notes that Texas has increased its solar production from 13 gigawatts to 21 gigawatts and nearly doubled its battery capacity over the past 12 months.

Lewin adds that thermal power plants (coal, gas, and nuclear) had 20 percent higher outages than ERCOT's forecasts during last week's heat wave, and 30 percent higher on August 20.

Although gas-fired power plants are still the largest energy source in ERCOT's power grid, the combination of solar energy and batteries has proven to be a reliable and cheaper alternative for handling the hottest afternoons and evenings in Texas.

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