Adam RollinsTop Texas officials have banded together to launch a group dedicated to advancing and innovating development on the Texas energy grid. The Houston-based Texas Reliability Coalition (TRC) is a public-private partnership determined to implement cutting-edge technologies, policies and strategies to improve and strengthen the grid’s infrastructure and reliability.
On Feb. 13, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) released the 2025-2029 Capacity, Demand and Reserves report. According to the agency’s findings, Texas is likely to face significant challenges meeting energy demands by 2027. As the state’s population grows, the demand on the ERCOT grid will only worsen unless action is taken.
The TRC was established to find sustainable solutions to strengthen the state’s grid and bolster its resiliency in the face of inclement weather, extreme temperatures and other foreseeable risks. The group is promoting Utility-Scale Microgrid (USM) technologies as its preferred solution, using microgrids composed of a group of interconnected power loads and distributed energy sources to supplement the grid during catastrophic events.
USMs are dynamic systems designed to scale with the needs of Texas regions, offering immediate power to communities when the ERCOT grid is strained or can’t provide energy.
They use clean natural gas to power their systems and can distribute power more easily to critical city centers such as hospitals and emergency services facilities, providing greater flexibility and reducing risks to the public.
As part of its efforts to enhance the state’s power grid, the TRC is working to build awareness of the USM model and support legislation designed to protect water systems and define specific uses for emergency power generation. A Houston-based energy company will be testing a microgrid pilot program from 2026 to 2028 as a testament to the efficacy of integrating these technologies into the grid.
Image by u_2kql2q3z8l from Pixabay
