One Year After the Texas Blackout: Lessons for Reliable and Resilient Power Systems

Initiative Electricity Sector Transitions
Type Discussion paper
Date 14 June 2022

Abstract

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.

Authors

Marie Petitet

Research Lead Marie joined KAPSARC in 2021 as a research lead in the Utilities and Renewables program. Her current research focuses on…

Marie joined KAPSARC in 2021 as a research lead in the Utilities and Renewables program. Her current research focuses on power system modeling, market designs for energy transitions and framework analysis for reliable and resilient power systems.

Prior to joining KAPSARC, Marie worked as a research engineer within the Research and Development unit of the utility group EDF in Paris, France. During her EDF journey, she worked on long-term and short-term electricity market design, European transmission grids, and smart charging opportunities for electric vehicles. Marie also worked as a researcher within the market department of the French transmission system operator, RTE.

Marie holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Dauphine University, PSL (France), an M.Sc. in Environmental and Energy Economics from École des Ponts ParisTech (France), and an M.Sc. in Engineering from ENSTA Institut Polytechnique de Paris (France).

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 Firm Capacity and Forced Outage Rate Assumptions of Renewables Impact Capacity Expansion Model Results

In February 2021, Texas experienced an extreme cold snap causing a dramatic electricity blackout that…

9th March 2023

Lessons From the European Electricity Crisis

In February 2021, Texas experienced an extreme cold snap causing a dramatic electricity blackout that…

20th February 2023

Frank Felder

Program Director Frank is an engineer, energy policy analyst, and Program Director for Energy Transitions and Electric Power. Prior to joining KAPSARC,… Frank is an engineer, energy policy analyst, and Program Director for Energy Transitions and Electric Power. Prior to joining KAPSARC, Frank was a Research Professor at the School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, Director of the Rutgers Energy Institute, and Director of the Center for Energy, Economics and Environmental Policy. In those roles, he conducted original and applied research in the areas of electric power system modeling, clean energy policies, and climate change for academic foundations, government agencies, and energy utilities. He has also worked as an economic consultant and nuclear engineer.

Expertise