ERCOT says new battery storage and other systems set in place after 2021’s devastating winter storm will help prevent an energy emergency this winter.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is guarding against winter power outages with battery storage systems. According to an article by Arcelia Martin in Inside Climate News, “The battery systems allow for more availability in the early morning, when it’s harder to meet electricity demand, ERCOT reported.”
ERCOT has implemented a number of reforms since a winter storm in 2021 caused catastrophic power losses across the state. “The operators are required to show preparation records, or how they’ve implemented and maintained weather emergency measures. They also must conduct walkthroughs during which they show inspectors how they’ve implemented physical protections to the batteries, including waterproofing, wind-proofing and freeze-proofing.”
However, “There’s no guarantee that batteries within ERCOT can quickly recharge during winter storms as solar underperforms and ice could lead to wind projects going offline.” And because the Texas power grid is isolated from the rest of the country, it can’t easily import power during an emergency. ERCOT says the battery storage systems and other reforms make it less likely that the state will experience an energy emergency this winter.
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