SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 25: San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom talks with reporters before test driving a plug-in version of the popular Toyota Prius that is one of four on loan to the city for evaluation August 25, 2010 in San Francisco, California. With sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars expected to increase in the coming years, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has set aside $5 million to increase the number of electric car charging stations to 5,000 around the Bay Area. There are currently 120 stations in the area. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – California is rapidly transforming the way it stores and uses energy, adding 2,300 megawatts (MW) of battery storage capacity since last September, bringing its total to a staggering 15,763 MW. This wattage marks a nearly 2,000% increase since 2019, when the state had just 770 MW of storage.
Battery storage has quickly become a cornerstone of California’s energy infrastructure. These systems store excess electricity generated by solar panels and wind farms, then discharge that power back to the grid when demand spikes—like during heatwaves or evening hours. The result is a more stable, reliable grid less reliant on fossil fuels.
“No other place in the world, outside of China, is deploying battery storage at this scale and speed,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. The surge is part of the state’s broader strategy to modernize its grid and meet ambitious clean energy goals, all while improving reliability and safety.
The push isn’t just about massive industrial projects. About 2,500 MW of the state’s storage capacity—roughly 16%—comes from residential and commercial systems. Thousands of homes, schools, and businesses have installed battery backups to keep the lights on during outages and help manage their energy use.
Looking ahead, California has even bigger plans. State energy models project that 48,000 MW of battery and 4,000 MW of long-duration storage will be needed by 2045 to fully transition to clean energy. Long-duration systems, capable of providing up to 10 hours of electricity, are vital in balancing supply and demand over longer periods.
But rapid growth comes with risks, and state regulators are increasingly focused on safety. Last month, the California Public Utilities Commission rolled out new safety standards for battery storage facilities. Updates to the state fire code, expected later this year, aim to strengthen oversight of large-scale battery installations.
Governor Newsom has also launched a statewide collaboration to examine ways to improve safety as storage technology evolves.
Despite the challenges, California’s clean energy transformation is showing results. Greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 20% since 2000, even as the state’s economy has grown by 78%. And clean energy milestones keep stacking up—last year, the state ran on 100% clean electricity for the equivalent of 51 full days.
California is betting big on batteries, and so far, the investment appears to be paying off.
