PG&E Corp. plans to replace three natural gas-fired power plants in California
Contrary to the naysayers on this board - batteries ARE replacing natural gas plants in the grid.
PG&E Corp. plans to replace three natural gas-fired power plants in California with battery-storage systems as the state continues its push to squeeze fossil fuels out of the electricity mix.
The California Public Utilities Commission approved Thursday four PG&E energy-storage contracts to support Northern Californias electric grid, including a project by Tesla Inc. The commission in January ordered the states biggest utility to find a way to replace the power it gets from three Calpine Corp. gas plants that are at risk of retirement, and to consider battery systems.
California has mandated that utilities add about 1.3 gigawatts of energy storage to the grid by 2020 to help integrate the increasing amount of intermittent wind and solar power. Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation in September requiring the state to get all of its power from carbon-free sources by 2045.
Commissioner Liane Randolph called Thursdays 4-1 vote only one step in the broader challenge we face in managing the states fossil fuel fleet. Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen was the lone opposing vote. California relies on gas for about 34 percent of its electricity, according to the California Energy Commission.
The four battery projects include a 183-megawatt facility south of San Jose, California, that will be designed and built by Tesla and owned by PG&E. Vistra Energy Corp. is planning a 300-megawatt installation; Hummingbird Energy Storage LLC is developing a 75-megawatt project; and Micronoc Inc. plans to install 10 megawatts of capacity at customer locations.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/california-moves-replace-gas-plants-203919935.html