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Rafe Champion's avatar

Coal is more reliable than gas under extremely cold conditions, especially if the gas system has not been winterised to the highest level.

Gas underperformed in Texas Feb 2021 and the state nearly went black, but hung on by a thread, possibly coal and nuclear that can contribute up to 20% demand and 10% respectively.

Right now at 2,15am in Texas, the score is Gas 65%, Coal 19%, Nuclear 11%, Wind 6% Solar 0.

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Rafe Champion's avatar

Sorry, forgot the ERCOT link https://www.gridstatus.io/live/ercot

Keep running down coal and they would approach the tipping point to the red zone where wind droughts are potentially lethal.

https://newcatallaxy.blog/2023/07/11/approaching-the-tipping-point/

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dave walker's avatar

Coal, the original super power!

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