Hot, humid weather put the squeeze on the Texas grid, but another challenge looms next month: a solar eclipse that could slash renewables output and create an...
in coming weeks and lowers air conditioning demand, the grid may still face more trials as power plants shut down for seasonal maintenance. A major one coming up is an Oct. 14 solar eclipse, which will force almost all of Texas’ abundant solar farms to stop generating electricity in the middle of the day.
At its peak, 76% to 90% of the sun will be obscured depending on the location. That will result in solar panels having only 13% of “clear sky capability” at the height of the eclipse at 11:50 a.m., an ERCOT executive said during a stakeholder presentation Thursday. This week’s near-miss was the most serious grid emergency since the February 2021 winter storm that left millions of people in the dark for days and more than 200 dead. Those February days as well as some this summer have seen power plants tripping offline, creating tight conditions. The cause for Wednesday evening’s near-miss, however, was a lot more complicated and shows the challenges of handling a grid in transition.
The heat continued into Thursday and Friday, prompting more concerns about the grid. Those concerned include the Biden administration, which declared a power emergency for the state that lasts until Friday night. The move will allow ERCOT to waive some limits on air pollution in an effort to get more power online.What does a Kroger groundbreaking look like in 103 degrees?Power prices will likely be volatile, though it’ll depend on how hot and humid Texas still is in mid-October.
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