California is leading the renewable energy revolution by generating surpluses

California and the state have reached a groundbreaking milestone in the transition to renewable energy reporting excess production of electricity from renewable sources over demand over the last 45 days. This surplus, stored in batteries or exported to neighboring countries, underlines the state’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.

Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, provides real-time updates on California’s power grid via the X Network (formerly Twitter). In his latest update on May 21, 2024, Jacobson revealed that for 45 consecutive days, California’s solar, wind and hydropower supply has partially exceeded demand each day. Only on May 20, this surplus lasted for 7.58 hours, reaching a maximum of 135.4% of demand.

The impressive performance of renewable energy sources is the result of California’s investments in solar, wind and water infrastructure. Heavy rains in recent months have increased hydropower production to unprecedented levels. However, analysts caution against complacency, noting that future droughts could pose a challenge to maintaining this surplus without additional energy storage solutions.

Jacobson emphasizes that although supply exceeds demand at different times each day, this consistency represents a significant achievement. Renewables now play a key role in meeting California’s daily energy needs, with excess energy stored in batteries during the day and distributed back to the grid in the evenings and at night.

California’s deployment of the world’s largest battery-powered energy storage network, operational since January 2024, has played a key role in managing excess energy. These batteries absorb excess solar energy during the day, feeding it back to the grid during periods of high demand. The state plans to expand similar projects and invest in new solar and wind farms, unveiling proposals for 26 new “green” projects worth a total of $6.1 billion, mainly focused on offshore wind farms.

California’s commitment to renewable energy is further underscored by its legislative efforts. The state has passed a law requiring a complete transition to zero-emission electricity generation by 2045. However, Jacobson predicts that California will achieve this goal even earlier, by 2035.

The economic implications of California’s renewable energy revolution are significant. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, California’s GDP will reach a record $3.9 trillion by the end of 2023, a growth rate of 6.1% from the previous year. If California were a sovereign nation, it would be the world’s fifth-largest economy, behind only the United States, China, Japan and Germany. On a per capita basis, California boasts the second largest economy in the world.