California Sees 30% Increase in Battery Storage Capacity Since April

Battery storage capacity in California has surged over the past six months, increasing by 3,012 megawatts (MW) to a total of 13,391 MW; the growth indicates a 30% increase since April 2024. 

Over the past five years, the state has been steadily expanding its battery energy storage capacity by more than 15 times; in 2019, storage capacity was at 770 MW. While it took nearly five years to reach 10,000 MW, it only took a mere six months to add the recent 3,000 MW. 

The Golden State is projected to need 52,000 MW of battery energy storage capacity by 2045; today, it’s a quarter of the way there.  

The buildout and expansion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is part of Governor Newson’s energy roadmap for meeting the state’s climate goals and a 100% clean electric grid. 

California’s energy goals are being met through programs like the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS), which reached 515 MW of capacity to reduce strain on the grid during extreme conditions. The program includes one of the planet’s largest virtual power plants, with a capacity exceeding 200 MW.  

“We’re cutting pollution by adding more clean power to our grid. That means rapidly expanding battery storage to capture more of this clean energy that’s produced during the day, like solar, for when it’s needed when the sun goes down,” said Governor Gavin Newsom, in a statement. “These are the essential resources that we’ll continue needing more of as the climate crisis makes heat waves hotter and longer.” 

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