USA, California: Geothermal is #1 Renewable

Yesterday, Geothermal Energy Was the Number One Renewable in California

Geothermal energy in California supplies a steady 1,036 MW, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

The weather here in northern California has been turning increasingly cloudy the last few weeks as winter nears. The days are getting shorter. A large high pressure system remains in place bringing calm conditions.

This affects electricity generation especially wind and solar. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine these renewable energy providers suffer.

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) measures the output from renewable energy providers to the State grid. As you can see in the graph above it never got very windy in California yesterday. There was enough sun to energize solar panels for 10 hours. The weather isn't cooperating.

However, geothermal energy was still plugging away, supplying a constant supply of clean, dependable, renewable energy 24/7, 365 days a year.

In fact, yesterday in California, geothermal energy was the biggest provider of electricity to the CAISO grid, with almost 25,000 MWh. Solar energy (PV and thermal) peaked at noon and only supplied 24,200 MWh. Wind provided just 8,144 MWh.

Yesterday, geothermal energy was the number one renewable energy provider in the Golden State. This will continue to be the case if the weather continues to not cooperate. El Niño is coming........