Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Genscape Reports: Renewable generation up 30% (mid Feb) as gas consumption drops 35%

By Paul Dvorak | March 6, 2014

11,982 GWh is second highest total weekly generation figure in the past five years, with wind & hydro as significant drivers

Renewable generation was up 30% for the week ending 2/20/14, according to recent estimates from Genscape’s Generation Fuel Monitor Report. The total weekly generation of 11,982 GWh was the second highest weekly number in the past five years.

Renewable generation was up 30% for the week ending 2/20/14, according to recent estimates from Genscape’s Generation Fuel Monitor Report. The total weekly generation of 11,982 GWh was the second highest weekly number in the past five years.

Renewable generation was up 30% for the week ending 2/20/14, according to recent estimates from Genscape’s Generation Fuel Monitor Report. The total weekly generation of 11,982 GWh was the second highest weekly number in the past five years.

Wind generation in the Midwest appears to be a significant driver of the increase week-over-week.  Midcontinent ISO wind was up 31% (+220 GWh), Southwest Power Pool wind was up 117% (+299 GWh), and ERCOT wind was up 129% (+469 GWh). It was a very active week for wind, with gusty southerly winds early in the period and strong northerlies on the back side of a very strong cold front to end the week.  Genscape’s monitored hydro generation in the Pacific Northwest was also up 39% (612 GWh), despite the ongoing drought conditions.

As a result of the increase in renewables and weaker power demand, gas consumption plummeted 35% (-7,847 GWh). This drop was particularly evident in Texas and the surrounding states. After strong output in recent weeks, many units in ERCOT, such as Midlothian, Freestone, and Kiamichi, did not run. The additional culprits appeared to be a combination of weaker demand (ERCOT was down 25% week-over-week), higher gas prices, and gas units on outage. For much of the week, the ERCOT day-ahead markets were trading below an 8,000 Btu/kWh heat rate, which was likely not enough to clear this generation. ERCOT was also reporting ~16 GW of generation on outage. Genscape monitors the vast majority of coal and nuclear generation in this region, which appeared to be running, leaving the bulk of this outage number to the remaining gas-fired units.

Genscape’s Generation Fuel Monitor Report offers daily views of fuel consumption at U.S. power plants for all power sector fuels:  coal, gas, hydro, wind, nuclear, and oil. The report takes advantage of Genscape’s thousands of patented and high-tech in-the-field energy monitors and proprietary models built by Genscape’s analysts and developers. Learn more or register for a free trial here: info.genscape.com/generation-fuel-monitor-feb

Genscape
www.genscape.com


Filed Under: News
Tagged With: Genscape, genscapereports
 

About The Author

Paul Dvorak

Related Articles Read More >

US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe