As Texas recovers, report warns grid operators to plan better for extreme weather
Grid planning fails to consider extreme climate scenarios that a resilient grid needs to handle, said EPRI’s president and CEO. “Traditional planning processes do not represent how resources actually perform under extreme conditions.”
3 graphs that shed light on the ERCOT power crisis
Data firm Lium concluded that ERCOT “probably needed at least another 17 GW of generation” to meet demand as cold winter weather settled in over the state.
Probes launched as Texas works to get the lights back on
For many Texans, this week’s blackouts seem a lot like a 2011 winter storm that was supposed to have ushered in a host of reforms.
Belltown sold 750 MW of ERCOT solar capacity during 2020
Belltown said it is currently working to sell another 870 MW of projects, all of which are expected to close in the first half of this year.
Total adds to its U.S. utility-scale solar and storage portfolio
The French energy giant acquired a development pipeline of 2.2 GW of solar and 600 MW of co-located storage assets.
Former Houston landfill set to become the country’s largest urban solar project
The 50 MW Sunnyside solar project is set to be constructed on 240 acres of former landfill land just outside of downtown Houston.
Invenergy completes construction financing for Texas solar giant
The 1.3 GW Samson Solar Energy Center will have five phases and supply power to some big-name buyers.
An innovative offtake contract makes its solar sector debut
First used with wind projects, a pgPPA manages weather-related risk by settling a facility’s energy transfer based on a proxy generation index, rather than on actual metered generation. Operational risk shifts from buyer to seller.
Urban land and aerosols could accelerate hail storm formation
Research from the U.S. Department of Energy has found that urban landscapes and man-made aerosols have the potential to accelerate hail storm formation, make their winds harsher and direct these storms toward cities.
Morning Brief: Which US state produces the most carbon-free power?
Also in the brief: FERC and CAISO drama. Plus, U.S. solar PV system costs fell across all market segments from 2019 to 2020. And — the solar boom arrives in Ohio.
