Renewables Prove Reliable
April 01, 2024
Despite what some critics think, wind and solar are leading the way regarding reliability in extreme winter weather conditions. Analysis from three significant winter storms paints a positive picture for planet-friendly power.
A Wood Mackenzie look at Winter Storm Uri reports that although some wind turbines did freeze, wind power exceeded the grid operator’s expectations.
FERC and the North American Electric Reliability Corp. have found that gas, coal, and other fossil fuel generation accounted for 90% of the prolonged power outages during Winter Storm Elliott in 2022.
During Winter Storm Heather in January, wind and solar once again proved to be reliable. Wind and solar reportedly operated above expectations in the Midwest and Northeast, and Texas benefited from 25% more wind and triple the levels of storage and solar compared to Uri.
