Golden State Today

California's battery storage capacity has seen significant growth, increasing by 3,012 megawatts (MW) over the past six months to reach a total of 13,391 MW. This represents a 30% increase since April 2024 and highlights the state's progress in enhancing its clean energy infrastructure during an exceptionally hot summer.

In the last five years, California's battery storage capacity has expanded more than fifteenfold from just 770 MW in 2019. It took nearly five years for the state to achieve 10,000 MW by early 2024, but only six months to add the latest 3,000 MW.

Governor Gavin Newsom stated, “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.”

Battery storage is crucial for California's climate and clean energy objectives. The state aims to have 52,000 MW of energy storage capacity by 2045 and is currently a quarter of the way there. Increasing storage enables California's grid to store daytime solar energy for use during peak evening demand.

The recent increase in battery storage has bolstered California's ability to maintain grid stability amid extreme weather conditions. During summer 2024, battery storage reliably supported the grid during net peak hours when solar resources decrease as the sun sets.

Battery discharge to the grid rose from 6,000 MW in spring to over 8,000 MW in summer. Programs such as the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) contribute significantly to grid reliability. This program reached a capacity of 515 MW this summer to alleviate grid stress under extreme conditions. It includes one of the largest virtual power plants globally with over 200 MW capacity.

From January through September, clean energy supply matched or exceeded demand within the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) service area for over 1,084 hours across 179 days—equivalent to more than 45 days meeting demand with entirely clean electricity. In August alone, solar energy peaked at serving the grid with a new high of 19,600 MW.

Governor Newsom has committed substantial funds towards accelerating clean energy infrastructure development statewide. His efforts aim at fast-tracking projects necessary for achieving California’s climate and energy goals.