The AWEA Blog: Into the Wind


Wind helps meet new Texas record for electricity demand

Posted: 2011-08-04 Tom Gray

Texas set a new record for electricity demand yesterday as the state continued to broil in a heat wave, and as it had a day before, wind helped keep the lights on and the air conditioning running.

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the state utility system, said demand topped out at 68,294 megawatts (MW) between 4 and 5 p.m., and that Texas wind turbines contributed 2,000 MW during that hour.

The 2,000 MW were more than double the 800 MW that ERCOT counts on from wind during periods of peak summer demand for its long-term planning purposes, and enough to power about 400,000 homes under the very high electricity demand conditions seen yesterday.

Commented AWEA Manager of Transmission Policy Michael Goggin, "At a time when the extreme heat prevailing in Texas is pushing the utility system close to its limits, wind generation is making a valuable and much-needed contribution to system reliability."

 

More reading:

 

As Texas utility system is stressed, wind generation shows up on schedule, August 3, 2011

Wind energy helps save day, February 4, 2011

How Wind Energy Is Reliably Integrated on the Grid, fact sheet


 


3 responses

  1. Alan August 9, 2011 09:59PM
    I blogged about this. See: http://neutroneconomy.blogspot.com/2011/08/record-electricity-demand-in-texas.html
  2. Willett Kempton August 6, 2011 06:58AM
    This post by "inlovewithwind" has all the hallmarks of a paid professional p.r. person doing negative blogging. First time I've seen it on the AWEA site. Indirectly, this is a positive indicators because it means that fossil fuel power suppliers are finally realizing that wind is a serious competitor for large scale generation. Previously opposition blogs have been from local opponents due to NIMBY motivations, or ideologues who somehow think wind energy has a political party affiliation. This is a different breed of opponent. But to answer this point. No, honest analysts do not claim that the cost of wind is the cost per kW nameplate capacity of a wind farm. That would be like saying that a thermal plant should be costed on the basis of kW thermal input rating. Each yields about 30% of that quantity (30%-40% of wind nameplate, or 30%-50% of thermal input). Yes that percentage is typically lower during heat waves, the point here is that it was higher than ERCOT expected. Wind cost comparisons with other power sources are on the basis of $/kWh of power output and in very windily areas like West Texas, yes, that can often be cheaper than thermal power plants. BUT, analysts should note, this species of paid professional is not going to be convinced by any logic or arguments. They are cynical paid propagandists. The only reason to post responses with correct analysis is to alert readers who may not understand the obfuscations. Oh, and if there are any "wind supporters" who are reading this exchange and who actually do claim that wind is cheaper because the nameplate $/kW is less, get your act together. The best antidote for lies is the truth, not countervailing exaggerations. It just takes a while. Wind industry, welcome to Gandhi's stage three: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
  3. Inlovewithwind August 6, 2011 05:23AM
    I'm curious about something. The cost figures that we wind supporters trumpet are based on installed nameplate capacity per KWh. It would seem to me that if we were generating 8% of the nameplate - and we supported that result by publicizing it as a 'good outcome' as seen here - these cost figures would be a complete lie, and we should stop saying that our source is cheaper. Whaddya say? Room in the wind movement for a little rationality?

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