USA, California: Geothermal is #1 Renewable Energy in the State - Again

Yesterday, Geothermal Energy Was the Number One Renewable in California

Geothermal energy in California supplies a steady 1,096 MW, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

El Niño seems to be affecting the weather in California more and more this first week of the new year. There is a series of storms lined up out in the Pacific and it is increasingly cloudy with just a little wind.

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 14 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 over 26,000 MWh. Solar energy (PV and thermal) peaked at noon and supplied 21,079 MWh. Wind provided 17,555 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.