Southwest Power Pool real-time prices turned negative Monday afternoon as wind generation picked up.
South Hub real-time was negative $15.25/MWh around 1:25 pm CDT Monday as wind generation increased in the SPP footprint.
Wind generation was more than 43% of the SPP fuel mix at that same time, with wind farms generating more than 13,000 MW, more than double the average of 6,200 MW on Sunday and above the average of 8,450 MW for March 11-17.
Wind generation has averaged 8,425 MW year to date, accounting for 27.8% of the overall fuel mix, above the 2017 average of 6,725 MW and 23.3% of the fuel mix, according to SPP data.
SPP South Hub on-peak day-ahead has averaged roughly $21.25/MWh so far this month, 25% lower than last March, as month to date wind generation has averaged 15% higher than it did in March 2017.
The current SPP wind penetration record is 58.1% reached March 5 when wind generation was 13,251 MW. The all-time high for wind generation is 15,690 MW reached December 15, serving 51% of total load at that time.
