By Stem, Inc.
March 22, 2019
California has the technical potential to build 9.2 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar + storage projects, but for regulatory and other barriers that are preventing these assets from being built and used for the good of the consumer, the ratepayer, and the grid.
Stem recently partnered with SunRun and Station A to model California’s technical potential of these assets, in order to start a conversation on why the state is not maximizing its reliance on consumer-driven investments that have broad energy and capacity benefits for the state—and are key to the state meeting its 100% emissions-free grid plans by 2045.
Our joint modeling shows that distributed residential and non-residential solar + storage projects have the technical potential to contribute 9.2 GW of the state’s 48 GW Resource Adequacy needs. Resource Adequacy requirements are procurement directives by the state regulators to investor-owned utilities that ensure the utilities have enough capacity to keep the grid stable during peak demand, which typically occurs in the late summer when hot weather drives the maximum amount of air conditioning units to run.
For more information, see our joint white paper and Station A’s description of the methodology behind the modeling.