Photo by: Jon Shapley(Staff photographer)
Batteries are a small portion of the Texas power grid, representing about 2% of the grid operator's total set of resources. But battery companies and energy experts say the fast-growing technology has been pivotal to helping the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas avoid blackouts this summer as Texans cranked up air conditioning to stay cool.
That's because batteries are particularly well-suited to fill in potential shortfalls in the crucial hours after sunset, when solar power ramps down, wind power has yet to kick up and electricity demand remains high as people come home from work. When the grid needs power the most, batteries can step in almost instaneously.
Batteries store energy generated from both solar and wind resources. They also pull energy from the grid to charge, often earlier in the day when energy is cheap and plentiful, and sell that power back to the grid in the afternoon to evening transition when prices rise.
Still, it's not all sunny days for the Texas battery boom. The technology is mostly limited to short-duration uses such as contributing during emergencies and helping with smaller tune-ups to the grid. As more battery operators come to the state, they could see their returns diminish.
 | Claire Hao
Energy Reporter
claire.hao@houstonchronicle.com |
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Photo by: Courtesy Of The Public Utilities Commission Of Texas
An 11-page report offered the most detailed explanation yet of what happened to cause the Texas grid to enter emergency operations.
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What We're Reading
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