Longer Duration Storage Coming To Texas

AI generated summary

Texas has recently surpassed California in battery installations, achieving over 14 gigawatts compared to California's 13 gigawatts. However, California still leads in total energy storage capacity with 47 GWh compared to Texas's 23.5 GWh. The Padua project in San Antonio is set to enhance Texas's energy storage capabilities significantly, adding 350 megawatts and 1.7 gigawatt-hours, bringing the total capacity of the project to 400 MW and 1.8 GWh. This development is expected to increase Texas's gigawatt-hour capacity by over 7%, highlighting the state's commitment to expanding its energy infrastructure under Governor Abbott's leadership.

Despite the progress in battery storage, concerns remain regarding the future of longer-duration energy storage, particularly with the Dispatchable Reliability Reserve Service (DRRS) legislation. The Texas legislature's decision to amend the bill to allow for a four-hour run time instead of ten hours raises questions about the inclusion of batteries in the DRRS framework. Additionally, utilities in Texas have collected substantial bonuses from efficiency programs, despite a significant drop in energy savings, which has led to calls for more effective demand-side management to mitigate risks of outages during peak demand periods.