California has expanded its battery storage capacity to 16,942 megawatts (MW), an increase of about 1,200 MW over the past six months and a 2,100% rise since Governor Gavin Newsom took office in 2019. This milestone means the state has now achieved one-third of the storage capacity it estimates will be needed by 2045 to meet clean energy targets.
Governor Newsom also announced that California is joining the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, an initiative supported by more than 100 countries and organizations. The state becomes the first subnational entity to join this pledge, which aims to deploy 1,500 gigawatts of energy storage worldwide, double global grid investments, and build 25 million kilometers of new transmission infrastructure by 2030.
“Donald Trump’s reckless energy agenda puts China first and America last — letting Beijing seize the global clean energy economy and the good-paying jobs, manufacturing, and economic prosperity that come with it. California won’t stand by and watch,” Gov. Newsom said. “While Donald Trump is failing, the Golden State is leading. We’re deploying more battery storage than any state in America, building a stronger grid, cutting pollution, and making abundant clean energy even more affordable.”
Battery storage plays a key role in stabilizing California’s electric grid by storing excess solar and wind power for use during periods of high demand. As a result of these efforts, California has not issued a Flex Alert—an emergency request for voluntary electricity conservation—for three consecutive years.
Of the state’s total battery storage capacity, large utility-scale projects account for 13,880 MW. Behind-the-meter systems installed on over 200,000 homes contribute another 2,213 MW; businesses, schools and local government facilities add an additional 849 MW. These distributed systems help reduce peak demand on the grid.
California currently leads all U.S. states in installed battery capacity—second only to China globally—with Texas following at around 9,000 MW.
The cost of clean energy generation continues to fall worldwide; according to industry data cited in reports from the International Renewable Energy Agency, renewable sources are now often cheaper than fossil fuels for electricity generation. Battery costs have dropped by approximately 93% since 2010.
“These systems are proving every day that a clean energy grid can be both clean and reliable, and that California’s investments are delivering results,” said California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild.
“California is showcasing how to cost-effectively plan for and build our clean energy future,” said California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Alice Reynolds. “The state is setting the standard for deploying storage resources to complement a grid increasingly powered by renewable energy. It’s a smart way to manage electricity costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.”
Extreme heat events in recent years highlighted the need for flexible resources like batteries; coordinated efforts among agencies helped accelerate deployment after heatwaves exposed vulnerabilities in summer peaks during both 2020 and 2022. Since then—and despite record temperatures reported during summer 2024—no Flex Alerts have been called due largely to increased battery reserves supporting reliability through extreme weather without outages.
Currently deployed batteries can provide enough power for several hours at about one-quarter of California’s record peak demand levels.
Safety remains central as technology evolves: In September last year Governor Newsom created a cross-agency group focused on improving safety standards as new systems are developed; updates include revisions expected this year to enhance fire code standards specifically related to battery installations. The CPUC voted earlier this year requiring new safety protocols at BESS sites; Senate Bill 283 now mandates coordination between developers and local fire authorities regarding design risk assessment and emergency planning.
Incidents involving fires remain rare compared with thousands of operational units globally; newer construction includes fireproofing measures such as separated panels between packs plus advanced heat sensors for early detection risks.
Battery expansion supports progress toward reaching California’s goal of sourcing all electricity from carbon-free sources by mid-century. Renewables already supply nearly two-thirds of retail sales statewide while fossil-fuel plants continue being retired—a transition set to eliminate coal-generated power from California’s mix entirely this year.The state’s main system operator reports meeting demand with fully renewable sources on average nearly six hours daily so far this year.
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