California achieves major clean energy victory: 10,000 megawatts of battery storage

The state has increased its battery storage capacity over tenfold since the beginning of the Newsom Administration

By ONME Newswire

WINTERS – California has notched a major victory on its path to 100% clean electricity: surpassing 10,000 megawatts (MW) of battery storage capacity. Adding batteries is critical to achieving the state’s ambitious goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.

At 10,379 MW, the state has increased battery capacity by 1,250% since the beginning of the Newsom Administration – up from 770 MW in 2019. Ramping up battery storage is a key part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s energy roadmap, the state’s plan to achieve its ambitious goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.

More battery storage helps the state maintain a clean and reliable power grid – storing energy from renewable sources like solar during the day to use when solar drops off in the evening hours. Just last week, for the first time ever, battery storage discharge exceeded 6,000 MW and batteries were the largest source of supply to power the grid at one point during the day. That milestone demonstrates how batteries will be essential to powering the state’s clean energy future, according to Governor Gavin Newsom.

“In just five years, California has increased its battery storage capacity more than tenfold," said Governor Newsom. "Our energy storage revolution is here, and it couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment as we move from a grid powered by dirty fossil fuels to one powered by clean energy. We’re in the midst of one of the biggest transformations of our time – and California is once again leading the way.”

California’s power grid recently set a series of clean energy records:

• During 40 of the last 48 days, clean energy exceeded grid demand consumed at a point during the day; compared to only seven days all of last year.

• The amount of demand served by solar hit a new record this week, powering 97.5% of electricity demand.

• Solar projects served a new high of 17,170 MW, an increase of over a thousand MW from last year’s peak – enough to power millions of homes.

• 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.

• Earlier this month, Newsom Administration officials joined the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians at the groundbreaking of a large-scale solar and long-duration storage microgrid in Corning.

• The state is projected to need 52,000 MW of energy storage capacity by 2045 to meet its clean energy goals.