Tag Archive for: californiagrid

Amid 100°F heat, California avoided emergencies, thanks to a battery boom that now bolsters the nation's top solar power producer.

Batteries power California’s newly reliable grid

California has long been an easy mark for Republicans eager to criticize clean energy policies.

The nation’s most populous state struggled with rolling blackouts in a 2020 heat wave, handing political fodder to opponents of California’s ongoing transition to a carbon-free grid. Then-President Donald Trump accused Democrats of “forcing Americans in the dark.”

But four years later, how the tables turn.

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Source: POLITICO

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California's power grid remained largely unscathed by a nearly 3-week record-setting heat wave thanks to renewable energy and giant batteries

California’s grid passed the reliability test this heat wave. It’s all about giant batteries

California’s power grid emerged from a nearly three-weeklong record-setting heat wave relatively unscathed, and officials are crediting years of investment in renewable energy — particularly giant batteries that store solar power for use when the sun stops shining.

“This was a good early test that we passed in very good shape,” said Elliot Mainzer, president and CEO of California Independent System Operator (CAISO), on Monday. “Investments in new clean energy and in dispatchable battery storage played a major role.”

CAISO last issued calls for voluntary conservation two years ago, during a 2022 bout of extreme heat. Since then, roughly 11,600 megawatts of new renewable energy sources have come onto California’s electricity grid.

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Source: The Sacramento Bee

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For 55 days in a row, electricity from solar, wind, and water power exceeded 100% of power demand on CA’s main grid for part of the day.

Solar passes 100% of power demand in California

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California has been a leader in the installation of solar power plants and wind power plants for many years now (despite its recent anti-rooftop solar shift via “Net Metering 3.0”). That has led to more and more of its electricity generation coming from renewables. The trend has been going on for years, but there are a couple of recent developments that should really get people’s attention.

Record Solar Power in California Passes 100% of Power Demand

For 55 days in a row, electricity from solar, wind, and water (hydro) power exceeded 100% of power demand on California’s main grid for part of the day. Also, going back further, that has been achieved in 80 out of the last 87 days. That is since early March (International Women’s Day), late winter.

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Source: Clean Technica

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California expects to avoid rolling blackouts this summer as new solar plants and large batteries plug into the state’s grid at a rapid clip.

Battery-powered California faces lower blackout risk this summer

California expects to avoid rolling blackouts this summer as new solar plants and large batteries plug into the state’s grid at a rapid clip.

The state’s electricity system has been strained by years of drought, wildfires that knock out transmission lines and record-setting heat waves. But officials forecast Wednesday new resources added to the grid in the last four years would give California ample supplies for typical summer weather.

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Source: Bloomberg

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Sunrun has networked more than 16,200 customers’ solar+storage systems to support California’s electrical grid during the hot summer months.

Largest VPP in USA supports California’s grid with 16,200 home solar-plus-storage systems

Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN), the nation’s leading provider of clean energy as a subscription service, has networked more than 16,200 customers’ solar-plus-storage systems to support California’s electrical grid during the hot summer months. Sunrun’s CalReady power plant will reduce strain on the grid by supplying critical energy to communities that need it throughout California in order to reduce costs and help prevent power emergencies.

For the second year in a row, Sunrun is demonstrating how uniquely capable, reliable and readily available its solar-plus-storage systems are as an essential grid solution. In the summer of 2023, Sunrun’s Peak Power Rewards program supplied Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) up to 32 megawatts of power during evening peak hours from 8,500 customers’ batteries. This summer, Sunrun is expected to roughly double that capacity and participant number for the statewide Demand Side Grid Support program.

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Source: Clean Technica

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Giant batteries are delivering solar power after dark in California and helping to stabilize grids in other states.

Giant batteries are transforming the way the US uses electricity

California draws more electricity from the sun than any other state. It also has a timing problem: Solar power is plentiful during the day but disappears by evening, just as people get home from work and electricity demand spikes. To fill the gap, power companies typically burn more fossil fuels like natural gas.

That’s now changing. Since 2020, California has installed more giant batteries than anywhere in the world apart from China. They can soak up excess solar power during the day and store it for use when it gets dark.

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Source: New York Times

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CA is being powered by more clean energy than ever before, breaking records & accelerating our progress towards a 100% clean electric grid.

California’s grid keeps setting new clean energy records

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WHAT TO KNOW: California is being powered by more clean energy than ever before, breaking records and accelerating our progress towards a 100% clean electric grid.

SACRAMENTO – Heading into Earth Week, the state’s electric grid racked up a series of accomplishments never before seen in California history. By bringing on more sources of clean electricity and diversifying the state’s energy portfolio, clean energy has been exceeding the demands of nearly 40 million people and the world’s 5th-largest economy.

EXCEEDING DEMAND WITH 100% CLEAN ELECTRICITY: During 31 of the past 43 days, clean energy exceeded grid demand consumed at a point during the day; that’s compared to only seven days all of last year. And, it was only two years ago in May that California first even momentarily met demand with 100% clean energy.

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Source: CA.gov

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California’s grid operator proposes $6.1B in transmission projects aimed at increasing reliability and providing access to solar, geothermal & wind resources in AZ, NV, NM and offshore.

California grid operator proposes $6.1 billion in transmission projects

California’s grid operator proposes $6.1 billion in transmission projects aimed at increasing reliability and providing access to solar, geothermal and wind resources in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and offshore. (Utility Dive)

ALSO:

The Southwest Power Pool formally proposes a day-ahead power market for Western utilities, setting up a competition with the California grid operator’s rival plan. (Utility Dive)
Federal investigators offer a $25,000 reward for information regarding a 2023 attack on an electrical substation in southern California. (Press-Telegram)

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Source: Energy News Network

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Representatives from Gov. Newsom’s administration will attend and speak on the Golden State’s progress toward clean energy goals, zero-emission vehicles and nature-based solutions.

From decarbonization to electric cars, California hopes to showcase climate leadership at COP28

World leaders are gearing up for COP28, an annual U.N. climate conference that will begin this week in Dubai, and California is expected to play a sizable role in the proceedings.

Representatives from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration will attend and speak on the Golden State’s progress toward clean energy goals, zero-emission vehicles and nature-based solutions, officials said. California will also engage in continued diplomacy at the subnational level after Newsom’s recent trip to China, where he engaged in climate talks with local leaders.

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Source: Los Angeles Time

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CA’s grid isn’t growing fast enough to hook up EV chargers or electrify buildings. SB 410 law aimed at speeding up the state’s grid buildout.

California’s grid is hindering its climate goals. Can a new law fix it?

California may be one of the first states to face the risk of its power grid growing too slowly to support the surging adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps and more — but it won’t be the last.

That’s why Colleen Quinn, co-administrator of the National EV Charging Initiative, is excited about SB 410, a new California law aimed at speeding up the state’s grid buildout. In fact, she’d like to see it serve as a model for other states across the country.

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Source: Canary Media

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