Dive Brief:

• Navasota Energy has proposed construction of three 543 megawatt simple-cycle natural gas peaking power plants for Texas grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
• Demand for electricity in ERCOT over the past several years, especially peak period power, has been growing faster than construction of new generating capacity.
• The proposed peaking plants would provide power only during peak demand periods and likely operate for less than 1,000 hours per year.

Dive Insight:

A recent Batelle Group study found the need for new generation capacity in Texas could be reduced if gas turbines were built at private manufacturing facilities and ERCOT expanded its demand response and energy efficiency resources.

Each Navasota plant will contain two or three 181-megawatt General Electric turbines. The use of the GE quick start, fast ramp turbines also facilitates the integration of more variable renewables into the ERCOT system, which leads the U.S. in wind capacity.

Preliminary state air permit applications were filed in June and, after all approvals come in, construction is expected to take about 12 months, so the plants should be in service by the spring of 2017. Construction will create up to 75 jobs and operations and maintenance will provide four direct full time jobs at each plant.