Why Storage
About Energy Storage:
The power grid is a complex system in which electricity supply and demand must be equal at any given moment. Constant adjustments to the electricity supply are needed for changes in demand. In California, demand changes happen daily between times of high usage (evenings) and low usage (very early morning), as well as seasonally, for example demand spikes from air conditioning load in hot summers. Energy storage can play an important role in this balancing act of matching supply and demand and help to create a more flexible and reliable grid system.
As California procures increasing amounts of renewable energy to reach its SB 100 goal of 100% GHG-free electricity by 2045, the state will need significant deployment of energy storage. Renewable power such as wind and solar is intermittent, meaning it is not able to continuously generate power all the time, such as when the air is still or the sun sets. Energy storage allows renewable power to be captured when it is produced, and dispatched later when it is needed.