It’s wild that this isn’t getting more news coverage. For nearly two weeks, the largest state (California) in the largest economy in the world (America) has hit 100% renewable electricity generation (#solar, #wind, #hydro) for several hours. This has never happened before in history. Yes, California has briefly hit this milestone before on a few very sunny days since 2022. But never so consistently over a two week stretch. And what makes it even better is that California has the largest grid-connected battery storage facility in the world (came online in January, link in comments), meaning those batteries were filling up with excess energy from the sun all afternoon today and are now deploying as we speak to offset a good chunk of the methane gas generation that California still uses overnight. The big question now: how do we plug more of the machines in our daily lives (our cars, stoves, water heaters, etc) into this increasingly clean electric grid?
Professor-Civil & Environ Eng, Director-Atmos/Energy Program at Stanford U; Co-founder-Solutions Project & 100% Movement
This is getting so easy, it's almost boring. California reached 113.2% Wind-Water-Solar supply as a percent of state grid demand today (Tue, Mar 19, 2024). CA has exceeded 100% WWS for 0.25-6 hours per day on 11 out of the past 12 days now. And today is only the first day of spring.
Update -- CA's clean electricity "hot streak" continues: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mark-jacobson-1b58b38_weve-never-seen-anything-like-this-13-activity-7176682378969436160-zYLK?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Update: finally getting some news coverage! https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/california-renewable-energy-100-percent-grid/
I'm travelling in California this week and was onsite with clients at a Solar Asset during these very hours ☀ . It's happening...
Think of the storage capacity that could be added to the grid if every cell phone and computer charger were actually a two way charger as being discussed for EV's on the grid. Distributed charge storage and being able to return power to the grid to support other more critical needs would largely solve the grid stability issue. We have a lot of devices plugged into an outlet.
Soooo good.
What is the cost of discarding the batteries once depleted (environmentally speaking, not just replacement) and what is the average lifespan ? I never think of batteries as being “clean” energy - I assume there is some toxicity to the materials used - (honest question)
Now if we could only get our rates back to reasonable. PG&E is criminal at best.
On the Vernal Equinox! Is this a coincidence or a true change in season?
Phenomenal news! California's achievements serve as a beacon of progress for innovation in the RE infrastructure and technology; 100% renewable is definitely possible! 👏
Partnerships and Engagement, Rewiring America
1moLargest grid battery storage facility in the world (Kern County, CA) had a very good today with all of the sun it soaked up: https://www.energy-storage.news/edwards-sanborn-california-solar-storage-project-world-largest-bess-battery-system-fully-online/