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Texas hits renewable energy targets 15 years early

Texas wind farms supplied almost all of its 10,000MW renewable energy output last year, such as this one at Green Mountain, Fluvanna

The State of Texas exceeded its 2025 renewable energy target 15 years early last year.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said on Friday that there was a record increase in voluntary participation in the state’s renewable energy certificate program in 2009.

Nearly 15 million renewable energy credits were retired last year, with just 6.79 million needed by retail electricity providers to satisfy the state’s renewable portfolio standard for the year.

A further 8.14 million RECs were voluntarily retired, surpassing 2008′s record of 6.77 million.

The figures came as ERCOT submitted its annual report on the scheme to the Texas Public Utility Commission.

With more than 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity on the Texas grid – mostly wind power – the state has reached its 2025 target 15 years early, and has doubled the target set for 2015.

The original mandate for 2009 was just 2,000MW, which was achieved three years early.

“Successful”

ERCOT interim CEO Trip Doggett said: “The Texas program was the first of its kind in the nation when it began in 2001, and it is now recognized as one of the most effective and successful in the nation.

“It’s also one of the biggest influences on the rapid growth of wind energy in Texas,” added Mr Doggett.

In terms of generating capacity, wind power provided 9,915MW during 2009, 80MW came from landfill gas projects, 40MW from other biomass schemes, 33MW from hydropower projects and 1MW from solar power facilities.

Texas wind farms generated very nearly 20.6 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy in 2009, with hydropower facilities providing 507,507MWh, 412,926MWh from landfill gass, 73,364MWh from biomass and 4,492MWh from solar power facilities.

RECs

The Texas program is now recognized as one of the most effective and successful in the nation” - Trip Doggett, ERCOT

Renewable energy credits (RECs) are stock-like certificates that correspond to actual megawatt-hours of generated renewable energy. Producers of renewable energy can sell RECs separately from their power for an added income that provides more market incentive to develop clean energy facilities.

The prices of RECs correspond to how much supply there is compared to market demand, although prices in Texas last year ranged from $1 to about $5 each during 2009.

Texas electricity suppliers must provide and retire RECs to show they have carried out their obligated purchase of renewable electricity under the state’s renewable portfolio standard.