02-16-2021 , 09:47 PM
https://www.foxbusiness.com/energy/texas...put-report Texas electric grid operator says frozen wind turbines are hampering state's power output: report
Over 2.5 million people in Texas have been left without power from the storm's frigid temperatures
By Lucas Manfredi FOX Business About half of Texas' wind power generation capacity has been put on ice amid the state's historic winter storm, according to a report.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) told the Austin American Statesman that roughly 12,000 megawatts of Texas' wind generation capacity had been hampered as of Sunday due to frozen wind turbines. However, they also noted that unfrozen wind turbines are spinning at a higher rate than expected, helping to offset the losses.
ERCOT operates Texas' electric grid and manages the deregulated energy market for 75% of the state,
"This is a unique winter storm that's more widespread with lots of moisture in West Texas, where there's a lot of times not a lot of moisture," ERCOT senior director of system operations Dan Woodfin told the outlet. "It's certainly more than what we would typically assume."
It is estimated between 2.5 and 3.5 million people in Texas have been left without power amid the storm's frigid temperatures. An ERCOT spokesperson did not immediately return FOX Business' request for comment.
According to the Energy Information Administration, renewable energy contributes nearly 1/5th of the net electricity generated in Texas. The state leads the nation in wind-powered electricity generation, producing almost three-tenths of the United State's total output.
Reuters reported that wind generation ranks as the second-largest source of energy in Texas, accounting for 23% of state power supplies last year, behind natural gas, which represented 45%, citing ERCOT figures.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas first adopted rules for the state's renewable energy mandate in 1999 and amended them in 2005 to require that 5,880 megawatts, or about 5% of the state's electricity generating capacity, come from renewable sources by 2015 and 10,000 megawatts of renewable capacity by 2025, including 500 megawatts from resources other than wind. Texas surpassed the 2025 goal in 2009, predominantly because of the generating capacity provided by the state's wind farms.
On Monday, ERCOT warned of rotating outages as thousands of megawatts of power in the state has been lost due to the storm's "sub-freezing conditions," resulting in record-breaking electric demand.
"About 10,500 [megawatts] of customer load was shed at the highest point. This is enough power to serve approximately two million homes," the agency said in a statement. "Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units – across fuel types – to trip offline and become unavailable. There is now over 30,000 [megwatt} of generation forced off the system."
The rotating outages are expected to continue through at least Tuesday morning, Woodfin said during an ERCOT briefing Monday.
According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the state's Public Utilities Commission was working to have about 500,000 residential customer's power restored as of 4 p.m., with more customers expected to have power restored late Monday evening.
Over 2.5 million people in Texas have been left without power from the storm's frigid temperatures
By Lucas Manfredi FOX Business About half of Texas' wind power generation capacity has been put on ice amid the state's historic winter storm, according to a report.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) told the Austin American Statesman that roughly 12,000 megawatts of Texas' wind generation capacity had been hampered as of Sunday due to frozen wind turbines. However, they also noted that unfrozen wind turbines are spinning at a higher rate than expected, helping to offset the losses.
ERCOT operates Texas' electric grid and manages the deregulated energy market for 75% of the state,
"This is a unique winter storm that's more widespread with lots of moisture in West Texas, where there's a lot of times not a lot of moisture," ERCOT senior director of system operations Dan Woodfin told the outlet. "It's certainly more than what we would typically assume."
It is estimated between 2.5 and 3.5 million people in Texas have been left without power amid the storm's frigid temperatures. An ERCOT spokesperson did not immediately return FOX Business' request for comment.
According to the Energy Information Administration, renewable energy contributes nearly 1/5th of the net electricity generated in Texas. The state leads the nation in wind-powered electricity generation, producing almost three-tenths of the United State's total output.
Reuters reported that wind generation ranks as the second-largest source of energy in Texas, accounting for 23% of state power supplies last year, behind natural gas, which represented 45%, citing ERCOT figures.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas first adopted rules for the state's renewable energy mandate in 1999 and amended them in 2005 to require that 5,880 megawatts, or about 5% of the state's electricity generating capacity, come from renewable sources by 2015 and 10,000 megawatts of renewable capacity by 2025, including 500 megawatts from resources other than wind. Texas surpassed the 2025 goal in 2009, predominantly because of the generating capacity provided by the state's wind farms.
On Monday, ERCOT warned of rotating outages as thousands of megawatts of power in the state has been lost due to the storm's "sub-freezing conditions," resulting in record-breaking electric demand.
"About 10,500 [megawatts] of customer load was shed at the highest point. This is enough power to serve approximately two million homes," the agency said in a statement. "Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units – across fuel types – to trip offline and become unavailable. There is now over 30,000 [megwatt} of generation forced off the system."
The rotating outages are expected to continue through at least Tuesday morning, Woodfin said during an ERCOT briefing Monday.
According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the state's Public Utilities Commission was working to have about 500,000 residential customer's power restored as of 4 p.m., with more customers expected to have power restored late Monday evening.
