.
The Reason – California Has Enough Solar Installed To Replace It
It’s been the driest winter ever with the smallest snow pack in written history which means the water available for hydro just isn’t there.
Not only that but this is the fourth drought year in a row for California.
The good news is that more and more solar capacity has been installed over those years to meet the demand.
Demand in the state, which uses more power than Mexico, is expected to reach 47,188 megawatts when rising temperatures in the summer boost air-conditioner use, the California Independent System Operator Corp. said in an assessment on Thursday. While the lowest snowpack in 65 years may shrink hydropower by 2,733 megawatts, the system will have 54,322 megawatts available, largely because of new solar resources.
Renewable power has surged onto California’s grid at such a rapid pace that the ISO has said the state’s lack of hydro may have a negligible impact on wholesale markets. Spot electricity in Los Angeles averaged $26.74 a megawatt-hour last month, the lowest ever for April, as solar and wind generation surpassed transmission line capacity.
“It is always a challenge to operate the grid under the high loads produced by sweltering summer temperatures, but our analysis shows we have the resources available to meet California’s need this year,” Steve Berberich, the ISO’s chief executive officer, said.
Read More details about California’s power in the original article.
Feature Image Souce
.
.
