Solar power in Texas

Solar array in Austin[1]

Solar power in Texas, along with wind power, have the potential to allow Texas to remain an energy-exporting state. Texas has the largest solar and wind potential in the country.[2][3] The state has natural gas and oil resources, but their finite nature brings uncertainty as to how long they can be relied on.

Texas is in a separate electrical grid from the rest of the country, but there is a proposal to connect ERCOT to the Eastern Grid and the Western Grid through the Tres Amigas SuperStation, located near Clovis, New Mexico, to allow up to 30,000 MW to be transferred.

Solar farms

The largest solar farm in Texas is the 95 MW(AC) Alamo 5 near San Antonio which came online in April 2016. Others include the 40 MW Alamo 4, which came online in September 2014; the 41 MW Alamo 1 solar farm, which came online in December 2013;[4] the 35 MW Webberville Solar Farm, near Austin, which began operation in December, 2011[5] and the 16.6 MW[6] Blue Wing Solar Project, at the intersection of I37 and US 181, southeast of San Antonio, which began operation in November, 2010.[7] Top solar contractors in Texas include Meridian Solar, Longhorn Solar, Axium Solar and Native.[8]

Summary table: Solar farms in Texas
Solar farm Installed
capacity (MWAC) 		Year City County
Alamo 1 40.7 2013 San Antonio Bexar
Alamo 2[9] 4.4 2014 Bexar
Alamo 3[10] 5.5 2015 Converse Bexar
Alamo 4[11] 39.6 2014 Brackettville Kinney
Alamo 5[12] 95 2016
Alamo 7 100 2016
Barilla Solar Phase 1[13] 18 2014 Pecos
Barilla Solar Phase 2[14] 12 2015 Pecos
Blue Wing Solar Project[15] 14.4 2010 San Antonio Bexar
Bryan Solar[16] 10 2013 Presidio
Sinkin 1[17] 9.9 2012 San Antonio Bexar
Sinkin 2 9.9 2012 San Antonio Bexar
Somerset Solar Farm[18] 10.6 2012 Bexar
Webberville Solar Farm[19] 30 2011 Webberville Travis

Statistics

Average solar insolation

Installed capacity

Texas Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[20][21][22][23][24][25]
Year Capacity Change % Change
2007 3.2
2008 4.4 1.2 38%
2009 8.6 4.2 95%
2010 34.5 25.9 301%
2011 85.6 51.1 148%
2012 140.3 54.7 64%
2013 215.9 75.6 74%
2014 387 129 79%
2015 534 207 38%

Potential generation

Covering half of the roof with 10% efficient photovoltaics is sufficient to generate all of the electricity used by an average family in Texas. Solar farms are more cost effective in West Texas, where insolation levels are greater.[26] The US uses about 100 quads of energy each year.[27] This number is expected to be reduced by 50% by 2050, due to efficiency increases.[28] Texas has the potential to generate 22,786,750 million kWh/year, more than any other state, from 7,743,000 MW of concentrated solar power plants, using 34% of Texas,[29] and 131,200 million kWh/year from 97,800 MW of rooftop photovoltaic panels, 34.6% of the electricity used in the state in 2013.[30]

Texas electricity consumption in 2010 was 358,458 million kWh, more than any other state, and 9.5% of the US total.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Output data
  2. ↑ Texas Solar Energy
  3. ↑ Estimates of Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential, by State
  4. ↑ , OCI Solar Power
  5. ↑ City of Austin Activates Largest Texas Solar Farm
  6. ↑ FAQ
  7. ↑ Blue Wing Solar Farm
  8. ↑ Solar Power World
  9. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2014/03/oci-s-alamo-2-solar-farm-begings-generating-energy.html
  10. ↑ http://cleantechnica.com/2015/02/27/phase-3-400-mw-alamo-solar-project-texas-now-online/
  11. ↑ http://www.mortenson.com/solar/projects/alamo-4-solar
  12. ↑ http://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/11210-2/
  13. ↑ http://investor.firstsolar.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=869379
  14. ↑ http://www.wsj.com/articles/next-texas-energy-boom-solar-1440149400
  15. ↑ http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/the-blue-wing-solar-project1
  16. ↑ http://wtaw.com/2013/04/04/btu-adds-sunshine-to-energy-sources/
  17. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-energy-economy-project-boosts-cps-energys-solar-power-and-area-education-166009046.html
  18. ↑ http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/CPS-dedicates-solar-complex-3642965.php
  19. ↑ http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Webberville-The-Biggest-Solar-PV-Installation-in-Texas
  20. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  21. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  22. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  23. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  24. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  25. ↑ "Texas Solar". SEIA. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  26. ↑ Texas' renewable energy resources
  27. ↑ US Energy Consumption
  28. ↑ Makhijani, Arjun Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free, A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy 2007 ISBN 978-1-57143-173-8
  29. ↑ Renewable Energy Technical Potential
  30. ↑ Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States: A Detailed Assessment
  31. ↑ Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2015-03-12). "Electric Power and Renewable Energy in Texas". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
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