Utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) met 2.08% of annual electricity demand, and concentrating solar power (CSP) another 0.28%.
Renewable energy consultant Bernard Chabot has released his latest analysis of electricity production from solar and wind in California, finding that utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) met 2.08% of annual electricity demand, and concentrating solar power (CSP) another 0.28%.
This analysis does not include the estimated 2 GW of “behind-the-meter” PV that the state has installed, as California's grid operator does not track the output of these systems. Overall, utility-scale renewable energy including hydropower meet 21.3% of California's demand during 2013.
This analysis does not include the estimated 2 GW of “behind-the-meter” PV that the state has installed, as California's grid operator does not track the output of these systems. Overall, utility-scale renewable energy including hydropower meet 21.3% of California's demand during 2013.
Without the contribution of distributed PV, California's portion of demand met by solar cannot be compared exactly to European nations. However, the state met less of its demand with solar than Germany or Italy, and likely slightly less than Spain.
And as California is a major importer of electricity, solar and other renewable energy sources represent a larger portion of the state's production at nearly 30%. The maximum hourly utility-scale PV output during the year was 2.83 GW and the maximum CSP output was 385 MW, however these occurred during different hours.
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