California demonstrates renewable energy’s reliability through recent advancements, according to a new study.

The research, published in the prominent peer-reviewed journal Renewable Energy, reveals that for 98 out of 116 days from late winter to early summer last year, renewable energy sources met 100% of the state’s electricity demand for up to 10 hours daily.

Lead author Mark Z. Jacobson of Stanford University stated, “This study really finds that we can keep the grid stable with more and more renewables.” He added that major renewable sources are now more cost-effective than fossil fuels.

The study compared data from 2023 and 2024, showing significant increases in solar and wind output. Battery capacity in California doubled during this period, now equivalent to the power produced by over four nuclear plants. This expansion helped reduce fossil fuel consumption for electricity by 40%.

Mark Rothleder, COO of California’s grid operator, explained, “Now we’re seeing the batteries get charged up in the middle of the day, and then meet the portion of the demand in the evening, especially during those hot summer days.”

Related Story: Progress Is Made on a Huge Fire North of Los Angeles While New Fires Erupt in ...

Declining Grid Demand Despite Rising EV Use

Despite concerns about rising demand from electric vehicles and appliances, California’s grid demand fell by 1% between 2023 and 2024. This decline is partly due to more customers installing solar panels with battery storage.

Despite these advancements, Californians continue to face high electricity rates, driven largely by wildfire-related costs rather than the expenses of renewable energy.

The California Public Utilities Commission authorized $27 billion in wildfire prevention and insurance costs to be collected from ratepayers between 2019 and 2023.

While challenges remain, California’s progress in renewable energy and storage has proven that clean energy sources can be both reliable and effective.

Read more at Grist