en.Wedoany.com Reported - Since last summer, Texas has added over 10.8 GW of new generation capacity to the grid, with energy storage and solar accounting for the vast majority.
According to the latest report from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the new capacity includes 4,942 MW of energy storage, 4,243 MW of solar, 1,515 MW of natural gas and diesel, and 148 MW of onshore wind. The continued influx of energy storage systems is considered effective in smoothing peak loads and avoiding potential power outages. Between September 2025 and the end of March 2026 alone, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) added 2,127 MW of grid-connected capacity and expects an additional 6,194 MW to be connected by the end of the month, including a 3,167 MW share from the SunZia wind project in New Mexico.
ERCOT employs a "connect and manage" interconnection approach, allowing generation projects to achieve first power more quickly when local capacity permits, though they may face curtailment risks. Since the ERCOT grid is entirely within Texas and not regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), it operates with greater flexibility. Texas is currently grappling with significant load growth forecasts. ERCOT filings show that potential peak demand could rise from the current 85,508 MW to approximately 278,003 MW by 2029 and 367,790 MW by 2032, a high-growth scenario driven primarily by load demands from numerous large industrial and data center projects.
ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) are working to develop more realistic forecasts to reflect growing demand. Even the achievement of adding 10.8 GW in seven months may struggle to keep pace with growth.
Sodium-ion battery pioneer Alsym Energy is advancing its commercialization in the U.S. This month, Alsym signed a memorandum of understanding with domestic manufacturer Re:Build Manufacturing to develop commercial-scale sodium-ion battery cell manufacturing capacity in the U.S. In April, Alsym expressed interest in partnering with long-duration energy storage system manufacturer ESS Tech, a deal that would add 8.5 GWh of cell and module capacity for the latter. Additionally, Alsym is collaborating with renewable energy developer Juniper Energy to deploy a 500 MWh battery energy storage system in California, aiming to use Alsym's Na series technology to eliminate fire risks associated with traditional lithium-ion batteries in high-temperature areas.
Mukesh Chatter, co-founder and CEO of Alsym Energy, stated that the company's sodium-ion batteries are inherently non-flammable and do not undergo thermal runaway, enabling deployment in dense urban environments. He believes the stationary energy storage sector will see a major shift from lithium-ion to sodium-ion solutions, with sodium-ion becoming the preferred choice within five years.
Large independent power producer DESRI and new investment platform Tierra Adentro Growth Capital have begun construction on two co-located solar and battery storage projects in San Juan County, New Mexico. The Foxtail Flats project includes 170 MW of solar and 80 MW/320 MWh of storage, with a long-term power purchase agreement signed with Los Alamos County. The Four Mile Mesa project includes 100 MW of solar and 100 MW/400 MWh of storage, supporting Meta's data center operations through PNM's tariff plan. The two projects together represent 270 MW of solar and 180 MW/720 MWh of storage, located on Ute Mountain Ute Tribe land, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2027.
EDF power solutions has signed a 30-year power purchase agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority covering the output of the Utah Solar 1 project for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The project, located in Millard County, Utah, has a capacity of 400 MW DC/300 MW AC and is expected to begin supplying power in mid-2027, generating approximately 766,000 MWh of clean energy annually. Construction will employ about 400 workers at its peak, and the PPA is expected to generate over $40 million in tax revenue and $27 million in land lease income for the local community over its term. Meanwhile, EDF power solutions also announced a five-year framework agreement with Ford Motor Company's battery manufacturing subsidiary, Ford Energy, allowing EDF to purchase up to 4 GWh of Ford Energy's DC Block battery energy storage systems annually. The DC Block is a standardized 20-foot containerized system using 512 Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, designed for utility-scale applications.
Bitdeer Technologies Group, focused on AI and Bitcoin mining infrastructure, has broken ground on a vertically integrated energy and high-performance computing facility in Fox Creek, Alberta. The facility pairs a 101 MW natural gas power plant with an approximately 100 MW data center. Under Alberta's "behind-the-fence" framework, the data center will be directly powered by the plant. The plant will remain connected to the grid, allowing it to reduce computing load or feed power back to the grid during peak demand. The project is scheduled to be energized in the second quarter of 2027.
Clean energy company Avangrid has completed construction of its Tower Solar project in Morrow County, Oregon, and connected it to the regional grid, with commercial operations expected this summer. The project has a capacity of 166 MW DC/120 MW AC and uses over 250,000 solar panels. Once commissioned, it will supply power to Portland General Electric and support QTS's operations in the region. Avangrid CEO José Antonio Miranda stated that the project is crucial for achieving new generation capacity and demonstrates the contribution of power infrastructure investment to the domestic economy. The project created approximately 200 jobs during construction and is expected to pay about $20 million in payments in lieu of taxes and property taxes to support the local community.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
