Interactive Tool Allows Users to Build Texas as a Carbon Neutral State
ScottMadden, Inc., one of North America’s leading management consulting firms specializing in energy, has launched a new interactive tool that allows users to model a what-if carbon-neutral generation mix using historical information from Texas.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the Texas electricity grid since Winter Storm Uri swept through the state in late February. Recent demand response requests from Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) have focused attention on reliability as summer heat tests the grid again. This tool allows users to see the impact of a different generation mix for the Texas grid using historical demand and different capacities of generation resources. Users can adjust today’s generation resources to see the impact on carbon emissions while still meeting the state’s actual electricity demand over the past 15 months.
A few key questions to consider when interacting with this tool:
- What would be the “least cost” answer in terms of renewables and storage?
- Can SMRs be constructed economically to be a carbon-free source?
- Is there generation mix that can significantly reduce coal and gas and minimize carbon emissions to near zero?
- What is the impact of your changes on the cost of energy, as measured by Levelized Cost of Energy?
- What is the impact on any change of the generation mix on carbon emissions?
This is the first installment of a series; episodes will be released periodically in the coming months.
“We are thrilled to launch this tool and series. Users can directly see the impact of a different generation mix on the ERCOT grid. If you’ve ever wondered what Texas could have looked like as a carbon-neutral state, now is your chance to build it,” says Sean Lawrie, partner at ScottMadden.
About ScottMadden’s Energy Practice
We know energy from the ground up. Since 1983, we have served as energy consultants for hundreds of utilities, large and small, including all of the top 20. We focus on Transmission & Distribution, the Grid Edge, Generation, Energy Markets, Rates & Regulation, Enterprise Sustainability, and Corporate Services. Our broad, deep utility expertise is not theoretical—it is experience based. We have helped our clients develop and implement strategies, improve critical operations, reorganize departments and entire companies, and implement myriad initiatives.