Understanding the Texas Energy MixBy Javier Loya
Natural gas, wind, solar, coal and nuclear each play a different part in powering Texas. A guide to what each resource does well.
Texas produces and consumes a large amount of electricity, and it draws on a wide range of resources to do it. Each resource has its own strengths, and the mix shifts by season, by hour and over the years.
Natural gas
Natural gas plants can ramp output up and down relatively quickly, which makes them valuable for following demand through the day. In 2024, natural gas produced 45.1% of the energy used on the ERCOT grid, followed by wind at 24.3%, coal at 12.6%, solar at 10.4% and nuclear at 8.4%, according to ERCOT.
Wind
West Texas and the Panhandle have strong, steady winds, and the state has built extensive wind capacity there. Wind output often rises at night, and new transmission lines have connected those resources to population centers in the east.
Solar
Solar generation has grown quickly across the state. It produces the most during sunny midday hours, which overlap with part of the summer demand peak. Battery storage is increasingly paired with solar to carry some of that energy into the evening.
Coal and nuclear
Coal and nuclear plants have traditionally provided steady output around the clock. Nuclear plants in particular run at high levels for long stretches between refueling outages.
Why diversity helps
A varied mix means the grid is not dependent on a single fuel or weather pattern. Understanding the role of each resource helps explain why prices and reliability conditions change from one season to the next.