The Texas power grid is facing several days of supply strain, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (Ercot). The grid operator has warned of potential emergency conditions early next week due to low power reserves. This comes as a result of a large number of power plants being down for seasonal maintenance.

Ercot may need to call on generators that are scheduled for maintenance from Monday, May 20 at 8pm through Wednesday, May 22 at 10 pm to bolster backup supplies. The grid operator has been issuing notices to address the tight grid conditions caused by power-plant outages exceeding the five-year average by more than 20,000 megawatts.

Adam Sinn, owner of power-trading firm Aspire Commodities LLC, highlighted that the available thermal fleet, including nuclear, coal, and natural gas plants, is currently at around 75,000 megawatts. Sinn emphasized the strain on the system when renewables underperform, leading to potential public calls for reduced power consumption.

Over the past two years, the Texas grid has faced challenges with electricity supplies due to extreme weather conditions and high power demand. With the state’s increasing reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources, concerns about electric scarcity during times of low solar-power supply have escalated. This situation often requires natural gas-fired plants and batteries to ramp up quickly to maintain power flow.

The ongoing issues in the Texas power grid underscore the importance of addressing aging infrastructure and ensuring a reliable and resilient energy supply for the state. As the energy landscape evolves with a greater emphasis on renewable sources, balancing supply and demand becomes crucial to prevent future power shortages.