California is home to a large amount of renewable energy. California is a leading producer of solar, wind and geothermal electricity. The state also ranks fourth in traditional hydroelectric power. This is a result of decades-long investment in renewable power projects. Fortunately for Californians, renewable energy projects are now more affordable and more widely available than ever before. There are many options to choose from, including solar panels or heat pumps.
Biomass
As the five-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change approaches, many countries are reassessing their energy strategies and including the use of renewable energy. The fourth largest source of energy in the world, biomass can provide a great solution to many different needs. Biomass was responsible for 14.4% world primary energy consumption in 2016.
Wind
California can increase its renewable energy by installing more wind turbines. According to the U.S. Department of Energy California has currently 4,656 megawatts of utility scale wind. California is fifth in the country for small-scale, distributed wind energy systems. According to California Energy Commission, wind makes up 36 percent of California’s renewable energy resources. The state is ahead of solar power.
Solar
California offers two types solar renewable energy options: solar thermal or solar photovoltaic. A license is required for solar thermal plants from the Energy Commission. The Renewables Portfolio Standard, as well building efficiency standards, encourage solar photovoltaic installation. In addition to the solar industry, the state is a leader in developing wind and solar technologies, and California is a key market for these new energy sources. The state has installed more than 500,000 solar power systems. This makes it one of the fastest growing renewable energy sectors.
Battery storage
California leads the country in battery storage. The state will have 1.391 gigawatts connected to the grid by 2021's second quarter, which is a 50-percent increase on Q1 2018. As the state continues to move towards a zero-carbon power system, more battery storage facilities are needed to help meet the state's goals. Because it can offset the cost of installing solar- and wind energy systems, battery storage is attractive to developers.
Natural gas
California must shift its energy mix so that renewable energy can become a major source for electricity. Without changes, the state would have to rely on climate-warming fossil fuels like coal. Recent research from the University of California Berkeley shows that it is possible, by 2035, to produce all of the nation’s electricity while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. Utilities would have to substantially increase their storage of renewable energy in order to reach this goal. They would also need to reduce their use of natural gas by about 70 percent.