Texas Is Running Out Of Electricity

Ercot, the energy company that operates much of Texas’s electricity grid, announced there could be a problem on April 29. On the 27, it announced, “At 14:30, ERCOT has updated the AAN for a possible future Emergency Condition of reserve capacity deficiency beginning Monday, April 29, 2024, at HE 20:00 through Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at HE 21:00 based on changed conditions.” In layman’s terms, the grid could reach capacity, and some customers might not have service. And it is only April. The summer will be much worse.

Energy Challenge –Does US Need More Oil?

Energy Trouble –Not Enough Wind?

According to Bloomberg, August power prices were forecast to rise by 82% compared to last year. The news service also pointed out that the amount of sun and wind a day could affect electricity supply because of the use of renewable energy. This shows that, while renewables may be good for the environment, they create challenges that coal-powered electricity may not.

Renewables

The Texas grid problem is not just about renewables and coal. It is about the capacity of the infrastructure, which is a problem across much of the US. Although solutions may be driven by the use of different materials in wire, it will take decades to upgrade the entire system, if it is ever entirely upgraded at all. This means, among other things, that the most efficient use of renewables may not be possible. What can’t be delivered well restricts its benefits.

Texas gets hotter by the year. Ironically, it can get colder by the year in winter. Between the two, the strain on the grid is unsustainable.