Calif. renewable energy production only 14% of total, and variable

clustered-percentages-of-demand

Wind is by far the biggest producer of renewable energy in California. Sort of. Big hydropower is bigger but Califonia doesn’t count it as renewable, for reasons that are probably more political than related to energy. Also, look at the variability in wind power during the year. Such fluctuations make balancing the grid increasingly difficult. All forms of renewables in California are still just 14% of total energy produced.

Geothermal is the second biggest renewable energy source in California. This generally surprises people. Solar, both PV and thermal, trail geothermal.

California has mandated 33% renewables produced in-state by 2020 and has a long way to go to meet that goal.

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