Texas has the potential to replace nearly all its coal output with wind and solar, as the state has unique climates that can work at complementary times to power its entire electric grid. The transition would not only provide major strides in climate change efforts but also stands to be a cheaper energy source.
New research conducted at Rice University used optimization modeling to identify the least-cost combination of proposed wind and solar projects, all with the potential to replace coal-fired power generation in Texas. The results found that wind and solar could replace nearly all of Texas’ coal output, especially if wind and solar projects are placed in locations that provide complementary output.
“Simply put, it’s not always windy and not always sunny, but it’s almost always windy or sunny somewhere in Texas,” said the authors of the study, published in Renewables: Wind, Water and Solar.
If wind power plants are set up in West Texas, where wind power tends to peak overnight, and South Texas, where wind peaks with sea breezes on summer afternoons and evenings, together both opposing plants could power most hours of the year.
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Daniel Cohan, senior computer major at Rice and a co-author of the study, noted that wind power plants in combination with solar could cover most but not all hours, leaving a small need for other energy sources at times.
“Even with complementary siting, there will still be hours when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Historically, the main challenge has been summer afternoons when air conditioners are running full blast, and the occasional deep freeze. Solar and coastal winds perform well during summer peaks, but can have lulls on some evenings when we’ll need something else to kick in,” said Cohan, in a statement.
The U.S. Environmental Information Administration (EIA) has also flagged that wind energy resources can vary hourly and seasonally throughout the country—like in Tehachapi, Calif., home to many wind turbines, where wind tends to blow more frequently from April through October than it does in the winter.</…….