Texas Sets Record for Solar and Wind Power Generation

Strategic Insights -

In a significant milestone, solar and wind farms in Texas generated a record-setting quantity of power in May, with nearly 39 percent of the state's electricity coming from zero-emission wind, solar, and nuclear plants. The state's solar output in May alone exceeded the total amount of solar power generated in Texas in all of 2017. Wind turbines generated about a third of the state's power last month, with a significant 37 percent increase from the same time a year ago. Meanwhile, natural-gas fired generation remained the biggest source of power in ERCOT, but at a much higher cost due to skyrocketing prices.

Key Takeaways:

  • Solar farms in Texas generated 2,390 gigawatt hours of power last month, a 70 percent increase from the same time a year ago.
  • Wind turbines generated about a third of the state's power last month, with an all-time high of over 12,000 gigawatt hours, up 37 percent from a year ago.
  • Nuclear plants generated 8 percent of Texas electricity in May, a consistent trend.
  • Natural-gas fired generation contributed 39 percent of the power in Texas last month, up from 36 percent a year earlier, despite being the most expensive option due to high prices.
  • Coal plants generated 13 percent of the power in Texas last month, down from nearly 19 percent last May.
  • The benchmark price for U.S. natural gas has nearly tripled in the past year, from less than $3 per unit a year ago to nearly $8.50 last week.
  • The average residential CPS customers bill for gas and electric service topped $136 in April, up nearly 20 percent from the same month a year ago.
  • CPS is gradually shifting to more renewable sources of power, with the utility signing a deal to purchase electricity from a 300 megawatt solar farm in Goliad County.
  • The city-owned utility is also expected to contract for another 600 megawatts of solar generation in the coming months.

Statistics:

  • 39 percent: The percentage of power generated from zero-emission wind, solar, and nuclear plants in Texas in May.
  • 2,390 gigawatt hours: The amount of solar power generated in Texas last month, a 70 percent increase from the same time a year ago.
  • 12,000 gigawatt hours: The all-time high of wind power generated in Texas, up 37 percent from a year ago.
  • $8.50: The current benchmark price for U.S. natural gas, up nearly threefold from last year's price.
  • $136: The average residential CPS customers bill for gas and electric service in April, up nearly 20 percent from the same month a year ago.
  • 300 megawatts: The size of the solar farm that CPS will purchase electricity from in Goliad County.
  • 600 megawatts: The amount of solar generation that CPS is expected to contract for in the coming months.

Sources:

  • Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
  • ExpressNews.com
  • Global Data Point
  • SyndiGate Media Inc.