Natural Gas Share Of ERCOT Generating Mix Increases
May 13, 2014
Natural gas’ share of the ERCOT generation mix made gains in April as nuclear’s share dropped, data from the grid operator showed. Energy consumption across the ERCOT footprint totaled 23.94 million MWh in April, compared with 23.34 million MWh in April 2013, a 2.6 percent increase. Coal-fired facilities generated 37 percent of the energy needed in April, down from 37.7 percent in March but up from 35.8 percent in April 2013. Gas-fired plants provided 38.9 percent of the power consumed in April, up from 34.6 percent in March but down slightly from 38.8 percent in April 2013. Nuclear plants provided 7.9 percent, a drop from 13 percent in March and down from 10 percent in April 2013. Wind farms provided 15 percent, a jump from 13.7 percent in March, but slightly less than15.1 percent in April 2013. ERCOT’s peak demand in April was 48,400 MW on April 28, a 6.1 percent increase from the peak demand of 45,602 MW on April 16, 2013.