AUSTIN, Texas — The power grid manager for the majority of Texas shows a new all-time record for renewable generation this week.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages most of the power grid in Texas and defines “renewable” as the sum of wind and solar power generation.
Reports from June 28, 2023, show that renewable generation peaked at 31,498 megawatts. According to ERCOT, one megawatt could power 200 homes during peak demand.
The record was set at 1:16 p.m. and showed actual output for that hour was 56% of the total installed renewable capacity on the ERCOT grid. Demand at that time was more than twice the renewable generation. Texas makes most electricity from natural gas and coal plants.
The U.S. Department of Energy shows industrial use makes up 53.9% of Texas energy consumption, and residential consumption is 11.7%.
KVUE told you how ERCOT leaders said it would rely on renewable energy to help keep up with the power demands in the summer.
“The assessment of resource adequacy for high-demand days is going to be very dependent on wind, and that's just the reality of where we are. Every day, we'll have to look at what the wind is doing,” said Woody Rickerson, vice president of system planning and weatherization for ERCOT in an ERCOT Board of Directors meeting on June 20, 2023.
On June 25, solar power generation hit more than 1,300 megawatts setting a new all-time record.