A theme throughout the conference was the need for substantial policy and market advances for Texas to meet its promising market projections. Texas has one of the strongest growth forecasts for solar in the country, with nearly 8 GW of solar expected to come online over the next 5 years.
The event started with Bill Magness, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), setting the stage. Magness outlined his big task of keeping the lights on across the state, even as record electricity demand strains power supplies and tests ERCOT’s grid each summer. He discussed just how important solar will be to meeting peak demand and maintaining a reliable grid.
Another highlight was a talk that featured SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper and Texas Public Utilities Commissioner Arthur D’Andrea. Their conversation focused on the massive growth of solar in Texas and how well solar pairs with other technologies like energy storage in the complex and interrelated world of markets, customers and electricity systems.
One session focused on how US solar manufacturing is a vibrant part of the broader solar industry, employing over 35 000 individuals who make inverters, modules, racking and other components. SEIA recently formed a new membership division for manufacturing to increase collaboration and build a strong solar supply chain in the United States.
