Texas Power Grid: Renewables and Batteries Provide Resilience During Heat Wave

Despite the extreme heatwave in Texas, renewable energy generation from wind and solar has helped keep the lights on and electricity prices relatively low. The failure of methane gas- and coal-fired power plants due to the heat has been offset by the strong performance of wind and solar, providing a buffer against disruptions in the grid. However, the heatwave, exacerbated by climate change, has resulted in 14 deaths and affected over 60 million people in the US. Texas, which has not integrated its grid with the rest of the country, is doubling its solar energy capacity and currently generates 38% of its electricity from renewables.