Last February’s energy crisis in Texas was an extreme example of what can happen when electricity demand outpaces the capacity of the grid to supply it: the elevated demand was met by peaker plants, which are powered by fossil fuels like natural gas, diesel, and coal. Designed only to operate intermittently—sometimes just a few days or weeks each year—peaker plants are less efficient and produce more emissions than plants that provide baseload power. The shift to these plants placed a strain on the grid that led to forced blackouts across the state and public outcry about stratospheric electricity bills.

There is a solution, though, for utilities preparing to meet future demand caused by high summer temperatures or frigid winter conditions. In this playbook, we examine how the adoption of mobile energy storage systems can:

• Replace dirty, permanent peaker plants
• Unlock clean energy for small utilities
• Promote environmental justice

​​