In an analysis published Friday by the website The National Interest, authors Matthew Sawoski and Max Pyziur of the Energy Policy Research Foundation say that the extra power needed by PJM Interconnection during this summer’s heat emergencies was provided by gas and coal generation, while the output from other energy sources such as nuclear, solar, and wind remained static.
Furthermore, they write, even more energy demand for PJM through 2030 will come almost entirely from data centers, not heat waves, and that growth is “outpacing the current buildout of new generation.”
During the heat waves, gas generation rose from 44 gigawatts to 55 and coal generation increased from 14 gigawatts to 24. The authors say nuclear held steady at 32 gigawatts and solar and wind both produced seven gigawatts, both during the emergency and the week before.
The findings shine another spotlight on the importance of Indiana and Armstrong counties’ electricity generation, fueled by the coal-fired power plants in Shelocta and Seward and the natural gas plant currently in development by Homer City Redevelopment, which is intended for use by data centers but will also provide juice to the grid.
Sawoski and Pyziur write that “When the grid needed power most, it was gas and coal that stepped up, because they were the only resources that could be dispatched on demand. As data centers multiply and summers grow hotter, PJM will need more 24-hour power, particularly gas, coal, and nuclear, built faster and financed sensibly.”
Comments