FERC releases final report on Texas power outages (2021)

[Sean Donelan <sean () donelan com>]

"Those Who Do Not Learn History Are Doomed To Repeat It."


Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published its final 
report on the Texas 2021 power outages.  According to FERC during the last 
10 years, there have been four extreme cold weather events which have 
threatened the Texas power grid.  That includes the 2011 Texas power outage 
during which hundreds of people died.

https://www.ferc.gov/media/february-2021-cold-weather-outages-texas-and-south-central-united-states-ferc-nerc-and


As found after past weather events, investigators determined that most of 
the power outages could have been avoided if power plants and wind 
turbines had been better protected against the cold and ice.

Eighty-one percent of freeze-related generating unit outages occurred at 
temperatures above the units' stated ambient design temperature.

Eighty-seven percent of unplanned generation outages were due to fuel 
issues related to natural gas.

Natural gas fuel supply issues were caused by natural gas production 
declines.



Some recommendations by FERC include:

Generator owners should retrofit existing generating units, and when 
building new units account for weather events including extreme 
temperatures.

Generator owners and operators should perform annual training on 
winterization plans.

Develop corrective action plans should freeze-related outages occur.


However, Texas maintains its electric grid as an isolated island, and 
hasn't followed past recommendations to avoid electric grid outages.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Federal-report-warns-Texas-power-outages-16628257.php