Climate, the Texas grid, and solar + batteries to the rescue – pv magazine USA

In 2021, winter storm Uri became a landmark example of the unpredictability of climate, and its harsh impact on the legally mandated core requirements of electric utility companies: to provide electricity reliably, and to furnish just and reasonable prices to customers.The electric grid’s functional collapse during the storm was an example of the Texas ERCOT grid’s failure of achieving those mandated goals. By some estimates, the storm caused $130 billion in near-term economic damages, and the long-term consequences have not yet been fully assessed.The sudden spike in unplanned-for energy demand caused by extreme weather led to wholesale market spot prices skyrocketing up to $9,000/MW, and that price held for over three days. Historically, the price cap is only hit momentarily, and pressures are relieved quickly, but this storm was described as a “tail event” that caused…

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