We need so many batteries.
Ryan McEntush 7 3 0 44 3.2K 8
Jesse Peltan
@JessePeltan
On a mission to build Type 1 Civilization and restore the biosphere
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The entire U.S. is 500 GW (average).
That's how crazy these numbers are.
That's how crazy these numbers are.
a16z@a16z · Oct 7Texas just froze new data center permits:
- Its queue went from 63 GW to 474 GW in 18 months, more than 5x record peak demand
- Only 9.5 GW is approved and about 4.3 GW is actually running
- The rest is duplicates, speculation, and developers who have never plugged in a GPU
a16z's @rmcentush on why the grid can't build for that many maybes: a16z.news/p/why-texas-is…
- Its queue went from 63 GW to 474 GW in 18 months, more than 5x record peak demand
- Only 9.5 GW is approved and about 4.3 GW is actually running
- The rest is duplicates, speculation, and developers who have never plugged in a GPU
a16z's @rmcentush on why the grid can't build for that many maybes: a16z.news/p/why-texas-is…
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This is a HUGE deal for energy resilience.
It doesn't matter how many generators are on the grid when power lines go down or substations get attacked.
A giant battery on wheels is super useful in an emergency.
It doesn't matter how many generators are on the grid when power lines go down or substations get attacked.
A giant battery on wheels is super useful in an emergency.
Tesla Energy@teslaenergy · Oct 6Powershare Home Backup is now available for new Model 3 & Model Y with Powerwall 3
Extend your home backup by over 2 days with your vehicle
Extend your home backup by over 2 days with your vehicle
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Solar now generates half as much electricity as combined cycle gas in Texas.
80% of growth in the last year was solar.
Batteries are starting to take off, now providing 20% as much electricity as gas peakers.
80% of growth in the last year was solar.
Batteries are starting to take off, now providing 20% as much electricity as gas peakers.
Jesse Peltan@JessePeltan · Sep 15Solar passed nuclear in Texas 2 years ago.
Now it's double.
Now it's double.
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Solar passed nuclear in Texas 2 years ago.
Now it's double.
Now it's double.
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The step change in growth is solar.
Alec Stapp@AlecStapp · Sep 14Texas produces nearly twice as much electricity as any other state in the US.
And the gap is growing...
And the gap is growing...
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2/3 of new cars in China can run on electricity
Jaan of EVwire.com ⚡ 11 33 4 265 15.7K 12
Americans collectively spend ~100 billion hours driving every year.
Cheap electric transportation is already a huge deal, but the opportunity cost of driving is trillions in GDP.
Cheap electric transportation is already a huge deal, but the opportunity cost of driving is trillions in GDP.
Sawyer Merritt@SawyerMerritt · Sep 4Cybercab decibel level cruising at 40 MPH.
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34% of all electricity on Earth is generated in China.
Solar is the 2nd largest source so far this year at 13% of China's total supply.
Solar is the 2nd largest source so far this year at 13% of China's total supply.
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Texas is building a lot of generation.
Solar is the fastest growing source.
Solar is the fastest growing source.
Senator John Cornyn@JohnCornyn · Aug 24For electricity generation in Texas (primarily the ERCOT grid, which covers ~90% of the state’s load), the most recent complete full-year figures are for 2025. Natural gas remained the largest source, followed by wind, with solar surpassing coal as the third-largest source for the first time.10
Approximate full-year 2025 shares of energy supplied on the ERCOT grid (percentages of total generation; minor variations exist depending on exact categorization of gas plants and inclusion of small-scale/other sources):
•Natural gas: ~41% (often broken out as combined-cycle ~33% + other natural gas ~8%)
•Wind: ~23%
•Solar: ~14%
•Coal: ~13%
•Nuclear: ~8%
•Other (hydro, biomass, storage net, etc.): ~1%
Renewables (wind + solar) together supplied about 37%. Natural gas is the primary dispatchable resource.0
Statewide utility-scale figures for 2025 (including non-ERCOT areas) show a somewhat higher natural gas share: natural gas ~48.7%, wind ~21.9%, coal ~11.6%, solar ~9.9%, nuclear ~7%, with the rest under 1% (other gases, hydro, biomass, petroleum). Small-scale solar added further generation.7
Context and more recent trends
Texas generates more electricity than any other U.S. state. Shares fluctuate significantly by season, time of day, and weather (higher solar in summer afternoons; higher wind at night or in spring; thermal plants cover more during high demand or low renewable output). Battery storage capacity has grown substantially but contributes modestly on a net-energy basis.
Partial 2026 data (e.g., early months or specific periods like July) show continued solar growth (sometimes averaging higher shares around 18% in periods), wind varying widely (e.g., lower in summer), and natural gas adjusting accordingly (often in the 40%+ range during peaks). Real-time mixes can be checked on the ERCOT Fuel Mix dashboard or EIA grid monitors; a sample mid-August 2026 daily mix for the Texas region showed roughly natural gas 35%, wind 30%, solar 18%, coal 11%, and nuclear 7% (with battery storage net negative as it charged).33
Note that these are generation (energy production) shares, not installed capacity. Renewables have lower capacity factors than thermal or nuclear plants, so capacity mixes differ (more wind/solar capacity relative to their energy output). Primary energy production in Texas is dominated by oil and natural gas extraction (Texas leads the U.S. in both), but the question’s reference to a “mix” with figures aligns with electricity generation sources.
Open quoted post →Approximate full-year 2025 shares of energy supplied on the ERCOT grid (percentages of total generation; minor variations exist depending on exact categorization of gas plants and inclusion of small-scale/other sources):
•Natural gas: ~41% (often broken out as combined-cycle ~33% + other natural gas ~8%)
•Wind: ~23%
•Solar: ~14%
•Coal: ~13%
•Nuclear: ~8%
•Other (hydro, biomass, storage net, etc.): ~1%
Renewables (wind + solar) together supplied about 37%. Natural gas is the primary dispatchable resource.0
Statewide utility-scale figures for 2025 (including non-ERCOT areas) show a somewhat higher natural gas share: natural gas ~48.7%, wind ~21.9%, coal ~11.6%, solar ~9.9%, nuclear ~7%, with the rest under 1% (other gases, hydro, biomass, petroleum). Small-scale solar added further generation.7
Context and more recent trends
Texas generates more electricity than any other U.S. state. Shares fluctuate significantly by season, time of day, and weather (higher solar in summer afternoons; higher wind at night or in spring; thermal plants cover more during high demand or low renewable output). Battery storage capacity has grown substantially but contributes modestly on a net-energy basis.
Partial 2026 data (e.g., early months or specific periods like July) show continued solar growth (sometimes averaging higher shares around 18% in periods), wind varying widely (e.g., lower in summer), and natural gas adjusting accordingly (often in the 40%+ range during peaks). Real-time mixes can be checked on the ERCOT Fuel Mix dashboard or EIA grid monitors; a sample mid-August 2026 daily mix for the Texas region showed roughly natural gas 35%, wind 30%, solar 18%, coal 11%, and nuclear 7% (with battery storage net negative as it charged).33
Note that these are generation (energy production) shares, not installed capacity. Renewables have lower capacity factors than thermal or nuclear plants, so capacity mixes differ (more wind/solar capacity relative to their energy output). Primary energy production in Texas is dominated by oil and natural gas extraction (Texas leads the U.S. in both), but the question’s reference to a “mix” with figures aligns with electricity generation sources.
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You are not taking solar seriously enough.
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This may sound crazy but it’s not.
Prices should reflect real costs, and the real cost of electricity during solar hours is a lot closer to zero than $0.40/kWh.
Current rates disincentivize consumption when power is cheap, and subsidize it when it’s expensive.
That distortion disincentivizes load shifting and battery storage.
Simply making power free for 2 hours every day isn’t the best way to go about it, but it would still be way better than what we have now.
With accurate price signals, electrification would skyrocket and prices would plummet.
Prices should reflect real costs, and the real cost of electricity during solar hours is a lot closer to zero than $0.40/kWh.
Current rates disincentivize consumption when power is cheap, and subsidize it when it’s expensive.
That distortion disincentivizes load shifting and battery storage.
Simply making power free for 2 hours every day isn’t the best way to go about it, but it would still be way better than what we have now.
With accurate price signals, electrification would skyrocket and prices would plummet.
Xavier Becerra@XavierBecerra · Aug 12Listen up: free electricity.
It’s called Power Hour - providing up to two hours of free electricity for millions of California households.
Working families could save approximately $1,000 a year on their electricity bills.
I’m looking forward to getting this done for California families when I’m in office.
It’s called Power Hour - providing up to two hours of free electricity for millions of California households.
Working families could save approximately $1,000 a year on their electricity bills.
I’m looking forward to getting this done for California families when I’m in office.
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Batteries are growing very quickly despite the mess of red tape.
If we allow flexible interconnections, these numbers will skyrocket.
Grid capacity is extremely underutilized. Batteries can turn capacity that’s available most of the time into capacity that’s available all of the time.
That spreads costs out over more demand, and makes everyone better off.
If we allow flexible interconnections, these numbers will skyrocket.
Grid capacity is extremely underutilized. Batteries can turn capacity that’s available most of the time into capacity that’s available all of the time.
That spreads costs out over more demand, and makes everyone better off.
EIA@EIAgov · Aug 10Battery storage capacity averaged 70% growth over the last three years. #TodayInEnergy bit.ly/45jvo3C
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EVs are coming for oil demand, regardless of policy in the west.
Plan accordingly.
Plan accordingly.
Brad Setser@Brad_Setser · Aug 7The total vehicle export numbers for China are a bit crazy right now; a 12m annual pace in the last 3ms -- so China is on track to export well over 11m more vehicle that it imports in 2026 ...
Something has to give; pace of change here is unsustainable
4/
Something has to give; pace of change here is unsustainable
4/
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Batteries let generators run more consistently and serve more demand.
This improves utilization and lowers prices for consumers.
This improves utilization and lowers prices for consumers.
Ed Porter@edcporter · Aug 7Batteries now make up 7% of peak demand across 7 key ISOs in the US.
Once a tech gets good enough, it’ll get everywhere.
Once a tech gets good enough, it’ll get everywhere.
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Solar and batteries are making a massive, indisputably positive impact on the Texas grid.
Doug Lewin@douglewinenergy · Jul 30When PJM neared its peak demand record, they declared an energy emergency.
Texas has blown past its pre-2026 record 7 times this month, incl. today. No emergencies, not even close.
The difference? Solar. New record in Texas today: 1st time >35,000 megawatts #txlege #txenergy
Texas has blown past its pre-2026 record 7 times this month, incl. today. No emergencies, not even close.
The difference? Solar. New record in Texas today: 1st time >35,000 megawatts #txlege #txenergy
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he really is reinventing Mormonism from first principles
Bryan Johnson@bryan_johnson · Jul 30Looks like 396 children would secure me immortality. I’ve gotta get to work.
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Solar + batteries is the cheapest way to serve air conditioning demand.
Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada all have electricity that's cheaper than the national average. (and went up less)
California fumbled a slam dunk.
Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada all have electricity that's cheaper than the national average. (and went up less)
California fumbled a slam dunk.
Nicolas Fulghum@nicolasfulghum · Jul 28California and Texas are the largest solar power producers in the US, but on a per capita basis, New Mexico and Nevada are far ahead.
In Nevada, solar produced ~5,000 kWh per capita in 2025.
That' enough to drive an electric car over 15,000 miles, more than the average American drives per year.
In Nevada, solar produced ~5,000 kWh per capita in 2025.
That' enough to drive an electric car over 15,000 miles, more than the average American drives per year.
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ATTN: Japanese car companies
Elon Musk@elonmusk · Jul 24Just as Tesla made the original Roadster design & software open source, we plan to do the same with Model S & X
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The entire point of Uber was vetting drivers enough for you to trust a stranger to give you a ride.
That’s irrelevant with self driving cars.
That’s irrelevant with self driving cars.
Sawyer Merritt@SawyerMerritt · Jul 22Elon says Tesla will not partner with ride-share providers such as Uber or Lyft for their robotaxis
"We will have enough demand." People will just book rides directly through the Tesla Robotaxi app.
"We will have enough demand." People will just book rides directly through the Tesla Robotaxi app.
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