The Office of the Governor of the State of California
10/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/15/2024 14:59
California exceeds another clean energy milestone
Oct 15, 2024
California exceeds another clean energy milestone
What you need to know: California's battery storage capacity has surged by more than 3,000 MW in the last six months alone, now exceeding 13,000 MW total - a 30% increase as the state endured its hottest summer on record.
SACRAMENTO - California's battery storage capacity has expanded rapidly, increasing by 3,012 megawatts (MW) in just six months to reach a total of 13,391 MW. This growth marks a 30% increase since April 2024, underscoring the state's swift progress in building out clean energy infrastructure, especially during a summer marked by record-breaking heat.
Within the past five years, California has grown its battery storage capacity by more than 15 times, up from just 770 MW in 2019. To put this progress into perspective, it took the state nearly five years to reach 10,000 MW in early 2024 but just six months to add the most recent 3,000 MW.
"We're cutting pollution by adding more clean power to our grid. That means rapidly expanding battery storage to capture more of this clean energy that's produced during the day, like solar, for when it's needed when the sun goes down. These are the essential resources that we'll continue needing more of as the climate crisis makes heat waves hotter and longer."
Governor Gavin Newsom
Deploying battery storage is a critical component of the state's climate and clean energy goals. The state is projected to need 52,000 MW of energy storage capacity by 2045. Today, it's a quarter of the way there.
Increasing storage allows California's grid to store energy from clean energy sources like solar during the day and use it during peak demand in the evening. Ramping up battery storage is a key part of Governor Newsom's energy roadmap for achieving the state's ambitious climate goals and a 100% clean electric grid.
Strengthening grid stability and clean energy resources
The recent surge in battery storage has significantly enhanced California's ability to maintain grid stability during extreme weather. Throughout the summer of 2024, battery storage reliably discharged to support the grid during the net peak hours - a critical stretch of the day when the sun sets and solar resources rapidly go offline.
Battery storage discharge to the grid increased from 6,000 MW this spring to more than 8,000 MW this summer.
Programs like the California Energy Commission's Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) are also playing a crucial role in grid reliability. This summer the program reached 515 MW of capacity to reduce grid stress during extreme conditions. The program includes one of the largest storage virtual power plants in the world with a capacity exceeding 200 MW. The virtual power plant works by tapping into a network of customer-owned battery storage systems which are typically paired with solar. Together, the individual devices provide power back to the grid. By leveraging energy assets, DSGS helps reduce the use of fossil-fuel power and supports California's transition to a 100% clean electric grid.
California's clean energy leadership
The state continues to set clean energy records. From January through September, clean energy supply equaled or exceeded demand in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) service area for 1,084 hours over 179 different days. That's equivalent to more than 45 days of meeting demand with 100% clean electricity. In August, solar energy serving the grid reached a new peak of 19,600 MW.
Governor Newsom has committed billions of dollars to accelerate clean energy infrastructure development across the state and it is making an impact, helping to fast-track projects needed to meet California's climate and energy goals.
Governor Newsom has taken unprecedented action to streamline clean energy infrastructure and invest billions of dollars to build more faster. Find clean energy projects in your community at build.ca.gov.
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