 | ||
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.
Contents
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; the 35 MW Webberville Solar Farm, near Austin, which began operation in December, 2011 and the 16.6 MW Blue Wing Solar Project, at the intersection of I37 and US 181, southeast of San Antonio, which began operation in November, 2010. Top solar contractors in Texas include Meridian Solar, Longhorn Solar, Axium Solar and Native.
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. The US uses about 100 quads of energy each year. This number is expected to be reduced by 50% by 2050, due to efficiency increases. 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, 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.
Texas electricity consumption in 2010 was 358,458 million kWh, more than any other state, and 9.5% of the US total.