Tommy Ogden’s Post

WHY THE TEXAS POWER GRID IS STILL FACING CHALLENGES https://hubs.la/Q02gMssZ0 #texas #powergrid #power #energyindustry #energy #oilandgasindustry #oilandgas

"During the past few days, renewable energy was a small but meaningful part of the energy mix that delivered electricity to Texans. But starting on Sunday, as wind chills dipped below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in some Texas cities and demand surged, especially in morning hours when residents awakened, the grid leaned heavily on gas, according to data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid operator." #ercot #energy #electricity #energytransition #energypolicy #infastructure #reliability #resiliency #energysecurity

The recent low temperatures across the state of Texas caused a surge in demand which challenged the energy grid, but the current energy mix and infrastructure was able to withstand the freeze, notably because of natural gas. Even through this success, the Texas energy grid is not fully reliable in weather below freezing due to intermittency of renewable energy sources and lack of winterization to fossil fuel power plants. #pge301

🔥 Here are the hot top 9 trends for 2024 in the US Power Sector from Utility Dive. Do you agree? What would you add to this list? 🤔 1️⃣🔌 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission focuses on transmission planning and grid reliability, with former FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee highlighting the urgency for a new rule in 2024. 🌐 2️⃣🌍 The U.S. might see a significant transmission system buildout, with projects like TransWest Express, SunZia Energy and GRAIN BELT EXPRESS CLEAN LINE LLC showing progress and DOE support enhancing development. ⚡ 3️⃣☀️ Renewable energy momentum continues, driven by federal and corporate decarbonization goals, with industry leaders like Eric Pollock and Marlene Motyka emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches and federal investments. 🌿 4️⃣🔋 Energy storage sector expected to grow, facing permitting challenges and a shift towards longer-duration technologies, as noted by industry experts like John Hensley and Vanessa Witte. 📈 5️⃣🏠 Virtual Power Plants gain focus as distributed energy resources expand, with Ryan Katofsky highlighting their potential in grid reliability and flexibility. 💡 6️⃣☢️ Nuclear sector to see advancements in reactor deployment and licensing, with Judi Greenwald and Edwin Lyman pointing out trends in new reactor progress and license renewals. 🔄 7️⃣💧 Hydrogen industry may experience a slowdown due to tax credit uncertainties, as Frank Wolak and Nick Connell discuss the potential impact on project timelines and state incentives. 🛑 8️⃣🛡️ Cybersecurity remains a priority, with experts like Katherine DiEmidio Ledesma and David Chaddock emphasizing the need for updated policies and collaborative governance to protect the grid. 🔒 9️⃣🚗 Electrification trends to strain the grid, with Mike Henchen and Steven Nadel recognizing the challenges in interconnection and the potential of efficiency measures, while Ryan McKinnon addresses the growing EV market. 🔌 #USPowerSector #FERC #Transmission #RenewableEnergy #EnergyStorage #VirtualPowerPlants #NuclearEnergy #Hydrogen #Cybersecurity #Electrification #GridReliability #Decarbonization #EnergyTransition #PowerIndustry #CleanEnergy #UtilityTrends #EnergyPolicy #GridResilience #SustainablePower #FutureOfEnergy

“Renewable energy was a small but meaningful part of the energy mix that delivered electricity to Texans” during the latest winter storm, notes the New York Times. These storms are only becoming more common, which is why more and more Texans are turning to solar energy to stay free and safe from high bills and bad weather. Texans want energy independence—that requires solar power and batteries. Read more from The New York Times: https://lnkd.in/gTU9rvnk #txlege #txenergy #renewableenergy #resiliency #WinterStormHeather

In the face of intense winter conditions across the U.S., the Texas energy grid has exhibited a level of resilience that counters a decade-long trend of instability and substantial utility failures. #RenewableEnergy storage, including Energy Vault's battery and gravity energy storage solutions currently under development in the state, are integral to this shift, providing essential support and reliability.   Texas' decision to operate its own regionally isolated power grid has been difficult, however despite freezing temperatures posing a challenge to grids nationwide, the state's investment in renewable energy, including wind and solar, has paid off. #EnergyStorage technology has been crucial in stabilizing this mix, offering reliable energy storage options that keep the grid stable and costs manageable.   The state's approach to energy resilience demonstrates an impressive turn-around from just a few short years ago. As renewable energy resources become increasingly vital, the ability to store and deploy this energy effectively is paramount.   #EnergyVault is proud to be developing energy storage across Texas with partners like Jupiter Power. Read more from The New York Times on how Texas is fighting the #freezingtemperatures: https://lnkd.in/dJ--mJn4 #TexasWeather #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #ClimateAction

My guess is that batteries, along with similar mechanical power storage and generation systems such as Liquid Air Energy Storage, will soon compete with the traditional energy storage capacity and transportability now provided by oil and gas.

So anyone who thinks that energy produced from wind/solar is cheaper than energy produced from fossil fuels needs to read this article. This article points out the following costs that have to be factored in with wind/solar. Additional transmission expenses to connect wind and solar to the grid; Additional costs associated with Green Plating the grid; Additional property taxes because there is more property to tax; “Load balancing costs,” which include the cost of backup generators and batteries; Overbuilding and curtailment costs incurred when wind and solar are overbuilt to meet demand during periods of low wind and solar generation and are turned off during periods of higher output to avoid overloading the grid; These comparisons also ignore the cost differential between low-cost, existing power plants and new power plants. My question is this. Why does wind/solar need subsidies to exist if they power they produce is so cheap? No one has ever answered that question for me. Here is the article. https://lnkd.in/eUn4iiNd

Startling. . . "PJM projects that 20% of its existing capacity will retire between now and 2030. Previously, officials testified that at the current course, PJM is not going to have sufficient power to meet the demands of consumers. The legislators agree this will likely result in increased prices, risks of blackouts, and restrictions on when and how we can use electricity." #energy #naturalgas #oil #coal #ngls #utilities #publicutility #midstream #pipelines #power #electricity #environment #climate #climatechange #reliability #intermittent  #renewableenergy #renewables #cleanenergy #green #nuclear #solar #wind #netzero #FERC #PSC #LNG #Russia #ESG #Hydrogen #unleashUSLNG #Ukraine #Russia #EU #PJM #lawandpolicy #theemporerhasnoclothes #dunkelflaute #blackout #IRA #offshorewind #NewEngland #cleanpower #IPCC #UN #gasstoves #dishwashers #washingmachines https://lnkd.in/gQKhP2ZP

𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧 80% 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙣-𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙐𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 On Sunday, Texas set a new record for its state power grid, with over 70% of its energy coming from wind and solar power, and an impressive 83% of electricity being generated from non-carbon-emitting sources when including nuclear power. This landmark achievement signals a positive shift towards combating climate change and highlights the growing impact of renewable energy sources on the state's energy landscape. Industry experts see this as a step towards a future where renewable energy, supported by federal tax incentives, could lead to significantly lower electricity costs for consumers. The challenge remains in integrating renewable power while ensuring reliability, especially during less favorable weather conditions. Solutions such as building more natural gas plants, enhancing grid connectivity, and investing in energy efficiency and storage technologies are being explored to maintain this momentum. This development not only showcases Texas's potential in leading the transition to renewable energy but also sets a positive outlook for the state's economy and environmental sustainability efforts." #RenewableEnergy #TexasPowerGrid #Ercot #Sustainability #ClimateChange https://lnkd.in/gcEUfSWZ