Environmental

TVA system hits highest ever summer peak

The heat drove power demand on the system to the highest levels this summer.
TVA system hits highest ever summer peak
TVA, Origis Energy help Google get to 100% renewable energy for its data centers with 100-MW solar farm in Obion County. (Courtesy: Origis)

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) said its power system remained reliable and resilient during the latest heat wave that saw temperatures as high as 100 degrees in some locations across TVA’s seven-state region.

The heat drove power demand on the system to the highest levels this summer, 31,096 MW at 3 p.m. CT on Thursday, because more electricity was needed to cool homes and operate businesses, TVA said.

In June, TVA experienced 13 total days with a daily peak over 28,000 MW, including a seven-day consecutive streak. Based on the past 10 years, it is only typical for TVA to experience an average of around three total days over 28,000 MW in June.

“We started summer preparations this spring, learning from the record power loads set during Winter Storm Heather last January,” Aaron Melda, TVA senior vice president of power supply operations, said.  “We invested in 75 major reliability projects at our coal, gas and hydro units this spring to make sure we were ready for summer.  Our focus was on making the critical investments needed to ensure energy security for the people of the region – this means providing reliable energy to meet growing electricity demand at the most affordable cost.

“We are grateful to our employees, and our local power company partners, who worked around the clock to ensure we were able to successfully supply power to keep everyone cool and safe during these extreme heat conditions.”

Because the region’s population is growing three times faster than the national average, TVA is investing nearly $16 billion through FY27 to build additional generation and infrastructure while also aiming to enhance reliability. TVA is building about 3,500 MW of additional generation and has made great progress by completing 1,400 MW and securing 800 MW of solar just this year. 

The electricity TVA delivers is nearly 60% carbon-free through its 29 hydroelectric projects, nuclear fleet and other renewables such as solar. TVA owns four fossil plants, three nuclear plants, 29 hydro plants, one pumped storage hydroelectric plant, nine natural gas combustion turbine gas plants, eight natural gas combined cycle gas plants, one diesel generator site and 13 solar energy sites.

Earlier this year, TVA received attention for moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn’t comply with federal law. The utility announced in April that it would replace the aging coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant with gas amid growing calls for the agency’s new board of directors to invest in renewables.

Decommissioning the Kingston plant, the site of a massive 2008 coal ash spill, is part of TVA’s overall plan to reduce its reliance on coal. In analyzing alternatives to replace the plant, the utility considered either a new 1,500 MW gas plant or 1,500 MW of solar combined with 2,200 MW of battery storage. TVA concluded that a 2027 deadline for retiring the current plant does not give it enough time to develop the renewables alternative.

This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.