The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) recently held its inaugural Innovation Summit, focusing on the role of innovation in transforming the energy sector. The conference, which took place on May 21, explored ways to address the implications of the rapid growth of renewable energy in Texas.
Various panels at the summit scrutinized issues such as managing uncertainty in the grid, transmission planning, and maintaining reliability. Among the speakers were Pablo Vegas, President and CEO of ERCOT; Dr. Steven Ashby, Director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; and Dr. Thomas Overbye, a Professor at Texas A&M University.
In response to the swift expansion of renewable energy on the Texas grid, ERCOT stated that wind generation capacity now constitutes 25% of the grid's total capacity, while solar capacity stands at 13%. This marks a significant increase from a decade ago when wind accounted for just 14% and solar less than 1%.
The summit occurred a week after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) implemented a new rule obliging states to cater to transmission reliability needs arising from an increased reliance on renewable energy sources. The rule stipulates "requirements addressing how transmission providers must conduct long-term planning for regional transmission."
However, according to KTRH News Radio in Houston, the summit offered few concrete solutions for dealing with near-term reliability issues plaguing the Texas grid. They reported that "there was a lot of talk about the future at the inaugural event, but no real answers or comments about this upcoming summer." When queried by KTRH about whether Texas might experience rolling blackouts similar to those narrowly avoided last September, Doug Lewin - author of 'Texas Energy and Power' - said: "It is a real possibility. There's every reason to believe that we probably will find ourselves in that situation again this summer."
ERCOT, under the mandate of the Texas Legislature, is responsible for managing the electricity that serves approximately 90 percent of the state of Texas. The Public Utility Commission of Texas exercises regulatory oversight over ERCOT.
