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As I simply reported (due to Daniel Miller for sending within the information), solar power provided the second-most electricity in the United States for 5 hours last week. An enormous portion of that’s in California. There’s way more solar energy put in in California than wherever else within the USA, and it’s additionally fairly sunny in California. Properly, now we now have one other enjoyable stat to share on solar energy’s progress.
Mark Z. Jacobsonprofessor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford College and writer of seven books, together with “No Miracles Needed,” shared on BlueSky final night time that in 50 of the primary 82 days of 2025, wind, water, and solar energy mixed for better than 100% of California’s electrical energy demand for a minimum of a part of the day.
Actually, on that fiftieth day, Sunday, at their peak, wind, water, and solar energy vegetation offered 149% of electrical energy demand within the state. Solar energy alone offered 122%.
Not too shabbyThe fiftieth (of 82 days) of 2025 with > 100% Wind-Water-Photo voltaic for a part of the day boasted a peak of 149% WWS and 122% photo voltaic alone as a % of demand on California’s principal grid Sunday.
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T00: 39: 30.853z
Briefly, renewable vitality is hovering.
Some may even see going above 100% of electrical energy demand as an issue. Nonetheless, take into account that the surplus electrical energy will be put into batteries, after which launched at instances when it’s extra helpful. You’ll be able to already see batteries offering electrical energy for vital chunks of the day in these graphs above (darkish blue).
With thousands and thousands of electrical automobiles on the highway, there’s additionally monumental potential to shift demand round by way of sensible charging packages, however these are simply getting rolled out in small pilot packages for the second. In a number of years or so, I’m positive we’ll have the ability to see EVs absorbing rather more of that electrical energy throughout peak technology, and sending a few of it again in instances of upper demand and decrease provide.
In any case, having renewable vitality attain 100% of electrical energy demand for a part of the day in 50 out of 82 days is a large accomplishment. And provided that we’re heading into sunnier months, I’m assured the ratio will get even higher. Keep tuned.
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