California solar production soars

FOLSOM

July 14, 2016

•  New record of 8,030 Megawatts

•  “California is making significant strides forward in connecting low carbon resources to the grid”

Solar power production in California hit a new record of 8,030 megawatts at 1:06 p.m. Tuesday, the managers of the state’s power grid say.

This is nearly twice the amount of solar energy produced in mid-2014 and nearly 2,000 megawatts higher than in May 2015.

"This solar production record demonstrates that California is making significant strides forward in connecting low carbon resources to the grid in meeting the state's goal of reaching 33 percent renewables by 2020," says Cal-ISO President and CEO Steve Berberich. "California continues to lead the nation in adding clean resources to the system and writing a playbook for operating a low carbon grid."

Solar and wind combined with the other Renewables Portfolio Standard resources to provide nearly 29 percent of the electricity needs at Tuesday's system peak, which occurred at 5:54 p.m. For short periods of time on May 14 and 15, 2016, renewables were serving 54 percent and 56 percent of demand, respectively.

California has about about 18,718 megawatts in renewable resources. Solar resources make up nearly 8,600 megawatts while wind resources total about 6,000 megawatts, which compose one-third of all renewables on the grid. Geothermal, biofuels, small hydro-electricity and energy storage round out California's renewables portfolio standard resources.

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