A fire recently broke out at one of the world’s largest battery plants in Northern California. This plant stores power from renewable energy sources like wind and solar, using lithium batteries. California and Texas are leading the U.S. in opening large-scale battery projects, which help improve power reliability in these states. Extreme weather, caused by climate change, has led to electricity shortages and blackouts in both states.
The fire started at the Vistra Energy battery plant in Moss Landing, located about 80 miles south of San Francisco. The fire forced 1,700 people to evacuate and caused significant smoke and flames. The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated. Despite this, experts say lithium batteries are a safe and important technology for reducing carbon emissions and improving the stability of power grids. However, some residents near the fire are worried about the impact of the incident.
In Texas, which is bracing for more extreme winter weather next week, officials say batteries have helped stabilize the state’s independent power grid. This grid nearly collapsed during a deadly winter storm in 2021.
Why Batteries Are Growing in Popularity in Texas and California
Both Texas and California face challenges with blackouts while trying to meet the energy needs of millions of people and industries. Batteries store extra energy from wind and solar for later use. This stored energy helps when demand is high, such as during heatwaves when many people use air conditioning.
The price of lithium batteries has dropped significantly, making them more popular. For example, the cost of lithium batteries for electric vehicles fell by around 90% between 2008 and 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This lower cost has made large-scale batteries more affordable compared to some natural gas options. Batteries can also release power in seconds.
Texas Expands Battery Use Quickly
Texas has been adding more large-scale batteries to its power grid. In the past year, Texas added 5 gigawatts of storage, which helps meet demand and avoid blackouts. The 2021 winter blackout and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 have driven this expansion. Texas’ lack of strict regulations has also made it easier for wind and solar projects to grow, which increases the need for batteries.
Joshua Rhodes, an energy researcher at The University of Texas at Austin, says, “There’s a lot less red tape in Texas,” making it easier for power plants to develop. Experts also say the decreasing cost of batteries is the main reason behind their rapid adoption.
California Leads in Clean Energy
California has long pushed for sustainable energy. In 2002, the state set ambitious clean energy standards that are among the toughest in the U.S. As solar and wind energy became more popular, there were concerns about how to integrate this energy into the grid because it’s not always consistent.
Sally Benson, a professor of energy science at Stanford University, remembers how people thought it would be impossible to have more than 15% renewable energy on the grid back in 2005. But last year, California had more than 11 gigawatts of battery storage on its grid.
California’s motivation for boosting battery storage comes from electricity shortages. In 2020, the state’s grid was overwhelmed during a heatwave, and officials had to order rotating power outages. Since then, several gigawatts of battery storage have been added, which has helped avoid these outages. According to Denise Grab, an energy researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, California hasn’t had to order rotating outages in almost four years because of these improvements.
