Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that CAISO set a renewable energy generation record on Aug. 19. That is incorrect. The state's grid operator set a record for grid-scale solar generation.
Dive Brief:
- San Diego Gas & Electric on Wednesday of last week generated 1,042 MW of renewable power on its grid, setting a new record for clean generation across the Califonia utility's system.
- Ideal weather conditions in the San Diego and Imperial Valley helped best the previous record, and the utility said totals do not even include electricity generated by 61,000 customers with rooftop solar installations.
- The California ISO also set a grid-scale solar record the next day, logging 6,391 MW just before 2 p.m. on Aug. 19.
Dive Insight:
Last week the sun was bright, the wind blew, and Californian's got more renewable power than ever before.
SDG&E said that on Aug. 19, at 12:51 p.m., the utility hit a new record of 1,042 MW of renewable generation on its power grid. “A combination of bright sunshine and strong wind conditions in the San Diego and Imperial Valley helped to generate the record-setting amount of green energy for our customers,” Scott Drury, chief energy supply officer for SDG&E, said in a statement.
“We are proud to have delivered 33% renewable power over the last twelve months — the first utility in California to do so," Drury said.
The renewable generation also does not include the 61,000 SDG&E rooftop solar customers, the utility added.
The California ISO saw a new peak on the next day, reporting a statewide record for grid-scale solar generation of 6,341 MW on Aug. 20. The new CAISO mark topped the previous all-time statewide peak of 6,341 MW set a day earlier. Summertime peak demand in CAISO last year was nearly 45 GW.
California legislators are currently debating a 50% renewable energy standard, pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D). The bill, SB 350, has passed the state senate and is under consideration in the assembly, California's lower house.
