More than 10 percent of the electricity used in Texas’
primary electric grid, the
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), was
generated using wind power in 2014. According to the U.S.
Energy Information Administration (eia), the share of
wind-generated power in ERCOT’s mix grew from 6.2 percent in
2009 to 10.6 percent in 2014. The growth in wind generation
is the result of new wind plants coming online and grid
expansions that have allowed more wind power to flow through
the system to consumers.
Wind generation in ERCOT nearly doubled from 18.8
million megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2009 to 36.1 million MWh in
2014. Wind generation grew at a faster pace than wind
capacity partly because transmission constraints that
previously prevented wind generators from operating at their
maximum capability were gradually removed through a
state-directed transmission expansion program. As these
transmission constraints were removed, more generation from
wind plants concentrated in the northwestern part of the
state was able reach population centers farther east.
Wind contribution to ERCOT generation is not evenly
distributed throughout the year. In Texas, peak wind season
occurs during the spring—March to June—before significantly
dropping off during the summer—July to September. Based on
data for the past six years, the four months from March
through June account for on average about 40 percent of
annual wind generation in ERCOT.
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