California sets another solar record on the summer solstice

According to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), on Thursday, June 21st, large-scale solar power set a generation record for the day of 112,356 MWh.

This is equivalent to 16 percent of all electricity consumed during the day. All you have to do is have the longest day of the year and have a whole state without cloud cover, and the magic storm happens. This is also true because California has the most industrial-scale solar power and the state keeps building more each year.

This record is separate from two other records. The most recent was instantaneous solar generation record 10,539 MW at 1:40 pm on April 27, 2018. Just weeks earlier California set a record for peak percentage of demand that was served by solar. That occurred on March 4, 2018, when 49.95 percent of the peak demand was met with solar power.
 

Solar powered homes and businesses not counted

Another factor, not even included in the amazing statistic is how much residential and commercial solar was powering homes and businesses and the power wasn't measured, because it was all used before it even made it to the electrical meter, as CAISO does not have any visibility into solar power located at homes and businesses located behind a customer’s meter.

This means that the peak of 10.5 GW doesn’t account for as much as 6.5 GW of additional power being generated. And the percent demand served by solar increases as well when considered the significant electricity usage offset before the meter is even used. So when you see a record like 10.5 GW being generated, it is more like 17 GW.
 

Beginning to count residential and commercial solar

Even though grid operators in the United States typically do not include behind-the-meter solar power, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration has begun including estimates of such generation. One thing for sure is California will continue to break records, as the solar installations continue to grow.

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years.

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.