Report: Renewables at the heart of Texas grid failure

A new report from the Energy Alliance has highlighted that the Texas grid was on the brink of failure due to its heavy reliance on renewable energy sources. Over the past 18 years, Texas has received $29 billion in federal, state, and local subsidies for renewables, leaving the state vulnerable to power shortages during times of high demand.

The report comes after the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) declared an Energy Emergency Alert 2 on September 6, the first time since Winter Storm Uri. ERCOT had issued a Conservation Appeal earlier in the day, urging Texans to conserve electricity due to low wind and declining solar generation into the evening hours.

Throughout the day, wind generation had been below expectations, peaking at midnight. Solar energy started to produce as the sun rose, but the total output from renewables peaked at around 9 a.m., while demand was still rising. As air conditioning ramped up in the late afternoon, demand for electricity peaked, but solar generation was performing at high levels at this point.

However, as the sun started to set, conditions on the grid worsened. Solar generation plummeted to just 11.6 percent of expected summer capacity, down from 86.9 percent a few hours earlier. Wind generation, already operating below expectations, did not increase to compensate. Despite declining demand for electricity as temperatures cooled, the generation from renewables was falling even faster.

The report suggests that the rapid growth of renewables in Texas, driven by substantial subsidies, is the root cause of the problem. Wind generation requests in 2009 were significantly higher than those from natural gas, and renewables have accounted for 85 percent of all new generation from 2018 to 2021. A commissioned study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas predicts that renewables will make up 98.7 percent of all new generation between 2022 and 2026.

To address this issue, the Energy Alliance calls for an end to subsidies for renewables and for renewable generators to bear the costs they have imposed on Texas consumers. The report urges Governor Greg Abbott to declare an energy emergency and convene a special session of the Texas Legislature to eliminate all subsidies for renewable energy.

The findings of this report shed light on the challenges posed by relying heavily on renewables for grid stability. It highlights the importance of a balanced energy mix and the need to carefully consider the impact of subsidies on the long-term reliability of the grid.