Texas power market adds almost 1.7 GW of capacity in November: report

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas approved almost 1.7 GW of generation capacity for commercial operation, led by solar and battery storage, and another 1.1 GW neared commercial operation status, the independent system operator's latest Grid Interconnection Status Report showed.

However, developers canceled 2.3 GW of capacity in November, and ERCOT deemed projects totaling another 2.3 GW of capacity inactive because they failed to meet certain milestones toward completion.

In all, ERCOT's generation interconnection queue had more than 435 GW of capacity in various stages of completion, led by 174.4 GW of battery storage, 159.5 GW of solar, 52.7 GW of natural gas-fired generation and almost 44.8 GW of wind capacity, according to the report, released late Dec. 1.

As of the end of October, ERCOT had operational capacity totaling 179.8 GW, including the following:

• 68.6 GW of gas generation
• 40.6 GW of wind
• 36.1 GW of solar
• 15.7 GW of battery storage
• 13.7 GW of coal generation
• 5.1 GW of nuclear

Operational capacity includes projects approved for commercial operation and those approved for synchronization, the last stage before commercial operation, meaning capacity that can supply power to the grid, for which it is paid, but without making price-and-quantity offers into the market. ERCOT usually releases a report on its operational capacity after the first week of each month.

With almost 952 MW, solar resources led ERCOT's capacity approved in November for commercial operation, followed by storage's 447 MW, wind's 163 MW and fuel-oil-fired capacity totaling 136.5 MW.

Nearing commercial operation

Battery storage dominated the capacity approved for synchronization at 574 MW, followed by solar at 405.5 MW and wind at 148 MW.

The last stage before synchronization is energization, and solar dominated this category in November at more than 1 GW, followed by natural gas-fired generation at 456 MW and battery storage at almost 70 MW.

The last stage before energization is capacity that has all appropriate studies completed, signed interconnection agreements and financial security posted. As of the end of November, this category in the overall queue totaled more than 57 GW, including the following types:

• Solar: 26.3 GW
• Battery storage: 20.4 GW
• Wind: 5.9 GW
• Gas: 4.5 GW

Enverus Intelligence Research released an analysis Nov. 19 showing that battery storage profitability has plunged in 2025, largely because of a steep decline in ancillary service revenue, which may be affecting battery storage development. Battery projects totaling almost 1.2 GW of capacity were canceled in November, ERCOT reported, and the grid operator deemed another 565 MW of battery projects inactive.

Ongoing transmission constraints in West and South Texas may also be affecting wind project development. Wind capacity totaling almost 524 MW was canceled in November, and ERCOT deemed wind projects totaling almost 1.5 GW inactive.

Developers also canceled 566 MW of solar, and almost 565 MW of solar was deemed inactive in November.