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Renewable electricity is not the root cause of California's blackouts.
While California leads in #solar penetration, other states have higher shares of renewable electricity without suffering rolling blackouts.
Here's a comparison with 2018 data for US & European states (EU+).
While California leads in #solar penetration, other states have higher shares of renewable electricity without suffering rolling blackouts.
Here's a comparison with 2018 data for US & European states (EU+).
California was the 26th region with most renewable electricity generation in the US and EU+ comparison, including hydropower, solar thermal and PV, and wind.
Far ahead of California, Albania, Norway, Georgia (EU+), and Vermont boasted >80% of renewable electricity.
Far ahead of California, Albania, Norway, Georgia (EU+), and Vermont boasted >80% of renewable electricity.
California had the most #solar electricity generation in 2018 among the US and EU+ jurisdictions in this comparison with 13.8%.
Following it was Nevada (US), and at below 10% Malta, Italy, and Germany.
Following it was Nevada (US), and at below 10% Malta, Italy, and Germany.
California was the 16th jurisdiction in the US and EU+ comparison by #wind electricity generation in 2018.
Denmark led the chart with nearly 46%, followed by Kansas (US), Lithuania, Iowa (US), and Oklahoma (US).
Denmark led the chart with nearly 46%, followed by Kansas (US), Lithuania, Iowa (US), and Oklahoma (US).
Looking at the share of electricity generation from wind+solar, California ranked 16th in 2018, in the comparison of US, EU+ states.
Relying on wind, Denmark, Lithuania, Kansas (US), Iowa (US), and Oklahoma (US) all generated over 30% of their electricity from wind and solar.
Relying on wind, Denmark, Lithuania, Kansas (US), Iowa (US), and Oklahoma (US) all generated over 30% of their electricity from wind and solar.
These figures are based on publicly available data for the US from @EIAgov and for European countries from @EU_Eurostat. You can view it in this Google spreadsheet if you want: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10I5G5y9IGhZbKc6bMHf6WOGwVGDDHO5P7Hdsc8FEByA/edit?usp=sharing
The large share of solar electricity in California's generation mix plays a key role in the blackouts the state is experiencing. However, that other power systems can deal with much larger shares of intermittent renewable power reveals the root of the problem lies elsewhere.
In my non-expert view of California's energy system, I concur with arguments that the key problem has been failing to keep sufficient reserve margins. A challenge that we all at #EnergyTwitter have long been reading about. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/how-californias-shift-from-natural-gas-to-solar-is-playing-a-role-in-rolling-blackouts
I don't know what the solution is. Smarter people, like my colleague @mschwarz_tw have researched how battery storage and smart policies could help California reduce the need for fast ramping of power generation: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aaf934
Also, @mschwarz_tw has showed how tapping into vehicle-to-grid could help California deal with increasing shares of renewable electricity generation via changes in electricity pricing: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115548
What I take away is that California's electricity system needs to complement its bet on renewable electricity with a more flexible and resourceful grid. It probably means strengthening the grid and adding storage, short term, and adding firm low-carbon power, long term./end
PS: I could not find 2019 data for electricity generation easily.
