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Summary
A recent study published in the journal Renewable Energy highlights California’s achievement of running its main electric grid on 100% renewable energy for a historic 98 out of 116 days from late winter to early summer 2024. During this period, the state successfully met its electricity demand without any blackouts and saw no increase in costs. Key contributors to this success were significant increases in solar (31%), wind (8%), and battery storage (105%) capacities compared to the previous year.
Highlights
- 🌞 Record Renewable Achievement: California ran on 100% renewable energy for 98 days without blackouts.
- 📈 Significant Capacity Increases: Solar output increased by 31%, wind by 8%, and battery storage capacity surged by 105%.
- ⛽ Reduced Fossil Fuel Dependency: Fossil gas usage dropped by 40% during the study period, demonstrating a shift towards cleaner energy.
- 💸 Electricity Prices Drop: Spot electricity prices fell over 50% compared to the previous year, contradicting claims that renewables drive up costs.
- 🏛️ Support from Research Institutions: The study involved researchers from Stanford, Berkeley Lab, and UC Berkeley, solidifying its scientific credibility.
- 🔋 Batteries as Key Players: Batteries supplied up to 12% of nighttime demand, showcasing their crucial role in renewable energy management.
- ⚡ Confidence in Renewable Reliability: The data supports the notion that high penetration of renewables does not compromise grid reliability.
A new study published in the journal Renewable Energy uses data from the state of California to demonstrate that no blackouts occurred when wind-water-solar electricity supply exceeded 100% of demand on the state’s main grid for a record 98 of 116 days from late winter to early summer 2024 for an average (maximum) of 4.84 (10.1) hours per day.
Compared to the same period in 2023, solar output in California is up 31%, wind power is up 8%, and batteries are up a staggering 105%. Batteries supplied up to 12% of nighttime demand by storing and redistributing excess solar energy.
And here’s the kicker: California’s high electricity prices aren’t because of wind, water, and solar energy. (That issue is primarily caused by utilities recovering the cost of wildfire mitigation, transmission and distribution investments, and net energy metering.)
In fact, researchers from Stanford, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of California, Berkeley found that states with higher shares of renewable energy tend to see lower electricity prices. The takeaway – and the data backs it up – is that a large grid dominated by wind, water, and solar is not only feasible, it’s also reliable.
