In February 2021, Texas experienced an extreme cold snap causing a dramatic electricity blackout that left millions of households without electricity, resulting in over 200 fatalities and economic damages of approximately $100 billion. The Texas blackout has been used to support a variety of claims regarding renewable energy, electricity markets and climate change. We identify the blackout’s drivers and what has been learned since then. These lessons apply to power systems worldwide, including those of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.

Research Lead
Marie joined KAPSARC in 2021 as a research lead in the Utilities and Renewables program. Her current research focuses on…
Expertise
- Electricity Markets
- Energy Transition
- Energy and Climate Policy
- Renewables
- Reliability and Resiliency of Power Systems
- Power Systems Modeling
Publications See all Marie Petitet’s publications

How Can the European Energy Crisis Reshape the Power Sector Reform Endeavors of GCC Countries?
In February 2021, Texas experienced an extreme cold snap causing a dramatic electricity blackout that…
24th October 2023
Modeling of the Interconnected Middle East and North Africa Electricity System: Including Uncertainties to Better Inform Policymakers
In February 2021, Texas experienced an extreme cold snap causing a dramatic electricity blackout that…
26th September 2023