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Sandy Lawrence · @swlawrence

35 followers · 187 posts · Server aus.social

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Utility Dive:"ERCOT expects record peak demand Wednesday [last wk] as Texas regulators continue work on reliability standard." The Electric Reliability Council of Texas or ERCOT faces triple-digit temperatures during the last several days of spring. 'Peak demand could reach 82,275 megawatts on Wednesday, the first day of summer, according to ERCOT estimates.' The current record 80.148 MW was set last July. In 2021 Winter Storm Uri led to widespread blackouts + the deaths of almost 250 people. "ERCOT’s reliability standard modeling has centered on a 2026 test year using a resource portfolio based on an assessment of the system’s anticipated capacity, demand and reserves." This modeling excludes incorporation of Uri, arguing that regulators subsequently passed new weatherization rules to address generator failure during that storm. Currently 'grid operator anticipates sufficient resources, but observers note coal and gas plant outages are higher than anticipated.' On a positive note, in the last 2 yrs a tremendous amount of solar generation has been installed [note the short lag time compared to new nuclear construction], also utility-scale battery backup. Efficiency measures can be installed even faster. Ideally, ERCOT should give up its reluctance to establish robust connections to the larger adjacent grids. For context, let me emphasize all this heat stress is occuring even before summertime. Let's hope Texas doesn't end up with the summertime blues. #ercot #gridreliability #heatwaves