A Possible Solar/Wind Dominant Zero-Carbon Electricity Grid in Texas

In Texas, almost 60% of energy generation is through carbon emitting sources like natural gas and coal. Texas is improving on this fact by devoting more resources to solar and wind energy, and the dream of a zero-carbon emission grid is getting closer to becoming a reality. One of the most important aspects of a zero-carbon grid is storage to cover any shortage of generation. For example, a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) can provide energy whenever it is necessary, but solar does not generate electricity during the night–thus a storage is needed to discharge more energy and meet the demand. A high-level energy balance approach is used to estimate the required storage size and the most critical time of the year for inadequate electricity supply. This paper tackles the challenge of designing a model for a zero-carbon grid, implementing scaled-up renewable sources to determine the feasibility of a grid and storage system in the state of Texas.