1. Solar generation surpassed coal output in ERCOT for the first time in March
2. Coal’s market share fell below 10% for the first time
3. Solar’s share of ERCOT generation reached over 10% in March, representing a significant increase from the previous year.
In March, significant developments occurred in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) with solar generation surpassing coal’s output for the first time in history. Solar provided 3.26 million MWh compared to coal’s 2.96 million MWh, while coal’s market share also dropped below 10% for the first time ever to just over 9%. This marks a significant decline for coal, which has been on a long-term downward trend since 2016-17.
While solar energy has been steadily growing, there has been a notable increase in generation recently, with a 56% jump compared to the previous year. ERCOT data shows that operational solar capacity is expected to expand by almost one-third by the end of the year, with more growth projected for 2025 as well. On the other hand, coal’s market share in ERCOT has been steadily declining, with significant drops in recent years.
The decline of coal in ERCOT has implications for the U.S. as a whole, as Texas has been the largest user of coal for power generation. In 2023, Texas burned 50.7 million tons of coal, representing 13% of the U.S. total. The shift towards solar energy and the decline of coal in Texas demonstrate the substantial changes occurring in the energy transition.