California has increased its battery storage capacity to 16,942 megawatts (MW), marking a significant milestone in the state’s clean energy transition. This figure represents an increase of about 1,200 MW over the past six months and a 2,100% rise since Governor Gavin Newsom took office in 2019. The state now possesses one-third of the storage capacity projected to be needed by 2045 to achieve its clean energy objectives.
Governor Newsom also announced that California will join the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, an initiative supported by more than 100 countries and organizations. California is the first subnational entity to join this pledge, which aims to deploy 1,500 gigawatts of energy storage globally, double grid investments worldwide, and construct 25 million kilometers of new transmission infrastructure by 2030.
“Donald Trump’s reckless energy agenda puts China first and America last — letting Beijing seize the global clean energy economy and the good-paying jobs, manufacturing, and economic prosperity that come with it. California won’t stand by and watch,” Gov. Newsom said. “While Donald Trump is failing, the Golden State is leading. We’re deploying more battery storage than any state in America, building a stronger grid, cutting pollution, and making abundant clean energy even more affordable.”
Battery storage plays a key role in stabilizing the electricity grid by storing excess solar and wind power for use during periods of high demand. As a result of these investments, California has not issued a Flex Alert—a call for voluntary conservation—for three consecutive years.
Of the total installed capacity in California, large utility-scale projects account for 13,880 MW. The remainder comes from behind-the-meter systems: over 200,000 homes contribute 2,213 MW through residential batteries while businesses, schools, and local government facilities add another 849 MW.
California leads all U.S. states in installed battery storage capacity; only China surpasses it globally. Texas follows as the second-highest state with approximately 9,000 MW.
Clean energy has become increasingly cost-effective worldwide; battery storage costs have dropped by approximately 93% since 2010 according to industry data (https://www.irena.org/publications/2023/Dec/Renewable-Power-Generation-Costs-in-2022).
“These systems are proving every day that a clean energy grid can be both clean and reliable, and that California’s investments are delivering results,” said California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild.
“California is showcasing how to cost-effectively plan for and build our clean energy future,” said California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Alice Reynolds. “The state is setting the standard for deploying storage resources to complement a grid increasingly powered by renewable energy. It’s a smart way to manage electricity costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.”
Extreme heat events in recent years have highlighted the importance of flexible resources like battery storage for maintaining grid reliability during surges in demand. After facing challenges during heatwaves in previous years—including blackouts—state agencies coordinated efforts with utilities to accelerate deployment of additional battery systems.
These measures have had tangible effects: no Flex Alerts have been called since summer 2022 despite record-breaking temperatures reported by NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/summer-2024-was-californias-hottest-on-record). Battery installations now provide enough power to cover about one-quarter of peak electricity demand for several hours at a time.
Safety remains central as battery technology expands across California’s electric system. In September last year Governor Newsom established an interagency group focused on improving safety standards as technology evolves. Efforts include updates to fire codes with enhanced safety requirements for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), new CPUC protocols adopted earlier this year governing maintenance practices at BESS sites (https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M526/K357/526357181.PDF), and Senate Bill 283 mandating engagement between developers and local fire authorities on risk assessment and emergency planning (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB283).
Despite some isolated incidents involving fires at battery facilities—which remain rare compared with overall deployments—modern construction techniques such as outdoor siting with fireproof barriers have improved safety outcomes across thousands of installations worldwide.
Battery expansion is part of California’s broader effort toward achieving carbon-free electricity statewide by mid-century; renewables already supply nearly two-thirds of retail sales within state borders while fossil fuel plants continue being retired from service.
The California Independent System Operator reports that so far this year it has met average daily demand using only clean sources for nearly six hours each day.
