Battery energy storage powers California reliably & affordably

Battery energy storage systems store electricity when it’s cheap and deliver it affordably when communities need it most.

21 Million

Homes can be powered by California's battery energy storage

21,000+

MW of battery energy storage operating across California

4 Years

without a call for energy conservation – California has tripled its battery energy storage since the last Flex Alert in 2022

20%

Electricity supplied by battery energy storage during CA's highest-demand hours in 2025

Battery energy storage helps keep California’s power affordable and reliable

Battery energy storage systems store electricity when clean energy is abundant and deliver it when homes, businesses, and critical services need it most. By capturing excess solar and wind energy for later use, energy storage helps keep electricity reliable and affordable, strengthens community resilience, and supports California’s transition to a cleaner energy future.

Explore how battery energy storage works, the benefits it provides to California communities, and the safety standards that guide every project.

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) and the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) have partnered together to provide resources and information about the role of energy storage in California’s energy future.

About battery energy storage in California

About

What is a battery energy storage system?

Battery energy storage systems resemble large-scale, rechargeable versions of the batteries that power everyday electronics. They’re charged with energy from the electric grid and function as local power banks, delivering electricity to homes, businesses and critical services.

California generates a lot of solar and wind power. When there’s more supply than there is demand, electricity prices drop. Battery energy storage systems bank renewables when prices are low and dispatch them later, often beating out natural gas on price and enabling California to run on renewables later into the evening. The systems serve as a critical backstop on the hottest days when demand is highest, ensuring power is available when Californians need it most.

Download the fact sheet to learn more about battery energy storage in California.

Download Fact Sheet

What the experts are saying

“

Just a few years ago, extreme heat pushed the grid to its limits. Today, cleaner energy, battery storage, and better planning are helping California maintain reliable power during increasingly severe climate events.

– Vice Chair Siva Gunda, California Energy Commission

“

These [battery storage] systems are proving every day that a clean energy grid can be both clean and reliable, and that California’s investments are delivering results.

– Chair David Hochschild, California Energy Commission

“

Battery storage offers a range of financial, environmental and reliability benefits for residential customers. These systems store excess renewable energy when it is abundant and energy costs are lower, and release energy during times of peak demand, keeping costs down and electricity flowing.

– Orange County Power Authority

“

Battery energy storage projects help communities throughout California receive safe, reliable, clean, and affordable energy while ensuring modern energy infrastructure adheres to rigorous safety standards. Public safety officials, environmental protection protocols, and smart infrastructure must all work together to protect and provide safe, reliable power for our communities.

– Ruben Grijalva, former State Fire Marshal and director of CAL FIRE

See All Testimonials

How California's communities benefit from battery energy storage

Benefits

Battery energy storage helps keep California’s power affordable and reliable by storing electricity when energy is abundant and delivering it when homes, businesses, and critical services need it most. By balancing energy supply and demand, battery energy storage supports grid reliability, helps reduce energy costs, and ensures power is available during periods of high demand.

Battery energy storage projects also create jobs, generate local tax revenue, support emergency preparedness, and help make renewable energy available whenever Californians need electricity, even after the sun sets.

Battery energy storage projects help:

Lower electricity prices by banking clean energy when it’s cheapest and delivering it when it’s needed.
Reduce reliance on more expensive more polluting energy sources.
Stabilize electricity costs for families and businesses.
Create good-paying local construction and skilled trades jobs.
Generate tax revenue that supports schools and essential public services.
Prevent blackouts by providing reliable energy during times when the electric grid is most stressed.

Download the Benefits Fact Sheet to learn more about the benefits of battery energy storage in California.

Download Benefits Fact Sheet

Reliable power when it matters most

Stores energy until communities need it

Helps prevent outages

Supports hospitals, schools and emergency services

Delivers renewable energy after sunset

Battery energy storage is smart, safe, and regulated

Safety

Battery energy storage systems are designed, tested, and operated according to rigorous safety standards. Modern design and construction standards ensure the technology is safe and clean for all Californians. Facilities use advanced monitoring technology to continuously track system performance and temperature conditions, allowing operators to identify and respond to potential issues quickly.

Battery energy storage projects in California must comply with state and local permitting, zoning, environmental, and safety requirements. Developers work closely with fire departments and emergency response agencies, maintain site-specific emergency response plans, and support ongoing training and preparedness efforts. Facilities are also subject to inspection, testing, and oversight to help ensure safe and reliable operation throughout their lifecycle.

Safe & smart technology

	Meets rigorous safety and environmental standards Energy storage systems undergo rigorous testing and certification to meet California safety standards
	Advanced 24/7 monitoring and detection systems Real-time monitoring sensors to track temperature and system performance
	Emergency response plans developed with local first responders Approved by local fire departments according to state law
	Independently tested and inspected by state and local authorities Subject to independent inspections by the California Public Utilities Commission

Download the Safety Fact Sheet to learn more about battery energy storage safety and regulations in California.

Download Safety Fact Sheet

Read the latest news and updates

News

Read about battery energy storage in the news

Los Angeles Times

The surprising reason California survived record summer heat without blackouts

“Californians just made it through the hottest August on record without having to endure any rolling power outages. And, as the Southland continues to sweat its way through record-setting heat and humidity this week, there have been no widespread calls to reduce energy. In fact, the state has not issued a Flex Alert since 2022, and it has not implemented rotating outages since 2020. Over the last few years, California has quietly but dramatically increased the resiliency of its electrical grid through a significant expansion in battery energy storage.”

Read Article →

Energy-Storage.News

CESA’s Scott Murtishaw on safety and California BESS milestones

“We need energy storage regardless of policies around renewable energy or clean energy targets. Energy storage is what’s keeping the lights on in California and many other jurisdictions, and playing a larger role in doing so. That helps the public understand that the technology is needed. There’s no question that it’s needed.”

Read Article →

Daily Republic

Guest Column: Battery storage: Clean, inexpensive power when needed

“The newest battery storage facilities are built not just to store power, but also to ensure your safety. Breaks between batteries, better cooling systems, and smarter construction standards ensure you and your family’s safety.”

Read Article →

Los Angeles Times

California produced over half its May electricity from solar, a world record

“Battery storage has transformed California’s power system. Batteries now shift huge amounts of solar power from midday into the evening peak, which is what allows this level of solar penetration in the system.”

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Canary Media

This spring, clean energy in the US set record after record

“The batteries active in California typically can sustain maximum discharge for four hours. This is visible in the daily pattern of grid activity: Batteries surge around sunset to become the single biggest power source in the CAISO grid.”

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Los Angeles Times

New commercial battery maker sets up shop in Sacramento

Peak Energy’s new Sacramento-area operation reflects the continued growth and evolution of grid-scale battery storage, with systems designed to store large amounts of electricity and deliver it back to the grid when it is needed most.

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abc7

California hasn’t issued a Flex Alert in nearly 4 years. Here’s why

“Rapid growth of battery energy storage is helping California keep the lights on when electricity demand is highest.”

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Los Angeles Times

Big batteries meant to stabilize the grid are stuck in limbo

“The whole process of interconnecting these new power plants got really log-jammed and bottlenecked,” said Joseph Rand, an energy policy researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “It in some ways broke this historic process of the way transmission grid operators have been operating for almost 20 years.”

Read Article →

Press Releases

September 1, 2026

CEC Staff Assessment Supports Path Forward for Solano County Battery Storage Facility

August 28, 2026

Battery Energy Storage Helped Keep the Lights on During Recent Heat Wave in Los Angeles County

August 7, 2026

California’s 21 GW of Battery Storage Is Delivering Reliable Power and Jobs