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Texas Still on Top in Renewable Power Generation

Published Feb 09, 2023 by Taylor Tatum

Photovoltaic installation

For the second year in a row, Texas is leading the nation in solar capacity growth, and is also expected to become a leader in adding battery storage in 2023. 

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that Texas will be adding more utility-scale solar power in 2023 than any other state. The nation's solar capacity has been increasing rapidly since 2010, and this year will be a continuation of that upward trend; of the 54,500 megawatts of electricity generating capacity planned in the U.S., over half is expected to be solar, with 7,700 megawatts planned for Texas alone. 

This is in line with Texas’ emerging status as a leader in renewable energy. According to the Energy Information Administration, Texas has grown from just under 1,900 megawatts of solar power to around 15,000 megawatts over the span of just a few years. Already leading the nation in wind power generation, Texas is expected to add another 2,000 megawatts in 2023.  

In support of these wind and solar power projects, battery storage capacity is also showing rapid growth, with the U.S. planning to add 9.4 GW of battery storage this year. Battery storage systems store excess electricity from wind and solar generators for later use, as both wind and solar are only intermittent sources of electricity generation. The EIA reports that Texas and California will account for 71 percent of the new battery storage capacity planned for this year. 

Known for its strong ties with oil and gas, Texas and Houston in particular are changing the narrative on their relationships with energy, with new innovations and initiatives being created to combat the effects of climate change and to create better, more efficient energy systems for years to come. As part of this commitment to more sustainable sources of energy, the Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) is leveraging Houston’s energy leadership to accelerate global solutions for an energy-abundant, low-carbon future.  

To learn more about HETI and the global energy transition, click here

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