The Golden State has long been a leader in clean energy, and its latest innovation – battery storage – is revolutionizing the way power is generated and distributed. With two of the largest battery storage plants in the world located in Monterey County, California is poised to continue its quest for a carbon-free future.
A Strategic Location – California Batery Storage
The old PG&E Moss Landing Power Plant, built in 1950, has been repurposed into a 750-megawatt battery storage plant owned by Vistra, a Texas company. This strategic location allows the facility to connect directly to the grid and provide enough electricity for 136,000 homes. “This is a strategic location to connect to the grid,” said PG&E spokesman Paul Doherty. “All of the wires and substations are here. And there’s room to expand.”
Tesla’s Megapack Technology – California Batery Storage
The PG&E plant features 256 Tesla “Megapack” units, each about the size of a shipping container and weighing 56,000 pounds. These gleaming white steel boxes are cooled by fans that hum in the background, providing enough electricity for 136,000 homes. The battery storage plant opened in 2022 and is one of two largest such plants in the world.
Controversy and Safety Measures – California Batery Storage
While the technology has been hailed as a game-changer, it’s not without controversy. Fires broke out at the Vistra plant in September 2021 and February 2022, and another fire occurred at the PG&E Elkhorn battery plant in September 2022. Investigations showed that the fires were caused by malfunctions in fire sprinkler systems or improperly installed vent shields. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring battery storage plants to draw up emergency response plans with local fire departments and increase fire safety.
Increasing State’s Battery Storage
State Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, who wrote the bill, emphasized the importance of increasing California’s battery storage to reach its clean energy goals. “We also have to ensure that these facilities have safety systems in place to protect the health and well-being of workers and surrounding communities.”
California’s Commitment to Clean Energy – California Batery Storage
In 2018, former Governor Jerry Brown signed a law requiring that 100% of the state’s electricity come from carbon-free power like solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and nuclear by 2045. Today, California is at 61%. To make renewable energy more reliable, state regulators have required utilities to build battery storage or sign contracts with companies for it.
A Record-Breaking Day – California Batery Storage
On Wednesday, a record 8,320 megawatts of battery power was on the grid at 7:35 p.m., equivalent to 16 natural-gas-fired power plants running full power or four nuclear power plants the size of Diablo Canyon running at peak capacity. “It’s happened so fast,” Jacobson said. “Only a couple of years ago nobody was talking about batteries on the grid. California really demonstrated for the first time how beneficial they can be.”
