North American Windpower: Texas Sets New Wind Energy Output Record

Texas Sets New Wind Energy Output Record

by NAW Staff Wednesday November 21 2012

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the grid operator for most of the state, says it set a new wind energy record on Nov. 10.

Wind power output in ERCOT's territory reached 8.521 GW at 10:21 a.m., representing nearly 26% of system load at the time. This surpasses the previous instantaneous record, set the evening of June 19, 2012, by more than 150 MW.

"While added capacity is one reason for this growth, experience and improved tools also are enabling ERCOT to integrate this resource into the grid more effectively than ever before,” notes Kent Saathoff, ERCOT’s vice president of grid operations and system planning.

Nearly 7 GW of the new record included wind power from West Texas wind farms, followed by more than 1.1 GW from wind farms along the Texas coast.

ERCOT has more than 10 GW of wind power capacity, with nearly 21 GW of additional wind generation under review. Moreover, the completion of high-voltage transmission projects in Competitive Renewable Energy Zones by the end of 2013 will improve ERCOT’s ability to move wind power from West Texas to metropolitan areas, where demand on the grid is highest, the grid operator says.

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