Texas Clean Energy 2026

The launch of Real-Time Co-optimization Plus Batteries (RTC+B) in the ERCOT market marks a significant shift, enabling more dynamic dispatch of energy and ancillary services (AS) while introducing new block products to improve efficiency and reliability. Early results are being closely watched to assess impacts on pricing, ancillary service costs, and convergence between real-time and day-ahead markets. At the same time, evolving trading dynamics, liquidity considerations, and battery operational constraints, such as state-of-charge requirements, are creating both challenges and opportunities for market participants. This panel will explore initial outcomes of RTC+B and examine whether it is delivering on expectations while shaping the future of grid stability and market performance.

• Is RTC+B creating cost reductions, lowering power and AS prices, or is it still too early to tell? Are expectations being met? Any certainty in its long-term impact for BOC assets?
• Real-time and day-ahead markets: How interchangeable is dispatch to energy and AS service markets in practice? Is ERCOT having an easier time managing dispatch? What about transparency and more granular information? What uncertainties have emerged?
• How are ERCOT power traders being impacted by the introduction of block products? Is better price convergence seen between the real-time and day-ahead markets?
• How are liquidity and risk management practices being affected? Are new opportunities emerging? Is investment in dispatchable assets supported under the RTC+B?
• What BESS operational impacts are seen with state of charge requirements? Are AS costs reduced? Are new models needed to capture relationships between energy, ancillary, and transmission congestion? Any impacts on future storage siting and revenue flows?
• Firming intermittent resources: Are state-of-charge requirements, pricing, and tax incentives sending the right signals for financing new storage? Are ancillary economics better?