by the numbers

Report: Solar tops coal in Texas for energy generation for the first time

In Texas last month, coal use dropped and solar energy soared, according to a new report. Photo via Pexels

For the first time in Texas, according to a recent report, solar energy generation surpassed the output by coal.

The report — from the Institute For Energy Economics and Financial Analysis — sourced the Energy Information Administration’s hourly grid monitor for March 2024. This shift in a predominantly oil and gas dominated history of Texas energy output, was due to solar power’s 3.26 million megawatt-hours to Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid, compared to coal’s 2.96 million MWh.

In addition, coal’s market share fell below 10 percent to 9 percent for the first time ever, to just over 9 percent. The increase in solar energy pushed solar’s share of ERCOT generation to more than 10 percent for the month, which was also a first.

Due to its sheer size, Texas is the No.1 state for solar capacity. According to the report from SmartAsset, the Lone Star State has the most clean energy capacity at 56,405 megawatts, but continues to trail states with similar geographic characteristics in overall clean energy prevalence.

Texas only 38 percent of the state’s electricity capacity comes from clean electricity, and it has the second-largest solar capacity, which means Texas has the most means, space, and potential to accommodate cleaner electricity. Texas as a whole, ranked No. 22 on the list for states with the most clean energy in the SmartAsset report.

In Texas, generation in March 2024 was 1.17 million MWh more year-over-year, which is a 56 percent increase. ERCOT data shows that the system currently has 22,710 megawatts (MW) of operational solar capacity according to IEEFA, and is expected to expand by almost one-third by the end of 2024 with an additional 7,168 MW of capacity added. The number just considers Texas solar projects that have set aside the financing required to get onto the ERCOT grid and that have a signed interconnection agreement.

Texas burned 50.7 million tons of coal for electricity, which was 13 percent of the U.S. total in 2023 according to the EIA grid monitor. Coal's annual share of ERCOT demand ranged from 36 percent to 40 percent from 2003 through 2014. The last year percent. In 2020, coal was under 20 percent in 2020; and was less than 15 percent in 2023 supplying just 13.9 percent of the system’s total demand.

The IEEFA notes coal’s low March production is important because in recent years it has been the moderate temperatures of April and May and steady winds that have affected the usage and the market share.

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A View From HETI

Cemvita has named a new leader in Brazil. Photo via cemvita.com

Houston industrial biotech company Cemvita has announced two strategic moves to advance its operations in Brazil.

The company, which utilizes synthetic biology to transform carbon emissions into valuable bio-based chemicals, acquired a complementary technology that expands its IP and execution of scale-up capacity, according to a news release. The acquisition will bring additional synthetic biology toolsets that Cemvita believes will assist with compressing and commercializing timelines.

The company also appointed Luciano Zamberlan as vice president of operations based in Brazil.

Zamberlan will lead operational execution, site readiness and early commissioning activities in Brazil. He brings more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology to the role. He recently served as director of engineering at Raízen, Brazil’s largest ethanol producer and the world’s largest producer of sugarcane ethanol. At Raízen, he coordinated the implementation of four greenfield plants and oversaw operational teams and process optimization for second-generation ethanol (E2G) and biogas.

“I am very pleased to join Cemvita, a company at the forefront of transforming waste into valuable, sustainable resources,” Zamberlan said in the release. “My expertise in scaling-up innovation, coupled with my experience in structuring and commissioning greenfield industrial operations, is perfectly aligned with Cemvita's mission and I'm eager to bring my energy and drive to accelerate Cemvita's industrial performance and contribute for a circular future.”

Cemvita expanded to Brazil in January to help capitalize on the country’s progressive regulatory framework, including Brazil’s Fuel of the Future Law, enacted in 2024. The law mandates an increase in the biodiesel content of diesel fuel, starting from 15 percent in March and increasing to 20 percent by 2030. It also requires the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and for domestic flights to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 percent starting in 2027, growing to 10 percent reduction by 2037.

“These steps enable us to augment Brazil’s longstanding bioindustrial ecosystem with next-generation capabilities, reducing early commercialization risk and expanding optionality for future product platforms,” Marcio Silva, CTO of Cemvita, said in the news release. “Together, they strengthen our ability to move from proof-of-concept to industrial reality.”

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