California’s Battery Storage Fleet Continues Record Growth, Strengthening Grid Reliability

For Immediate Release: Nov 13, 2025

SACRAMENTO - At the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has reached 16,942 megawatts (MW) of battery storage available - a massive buildout that's redefining grid reliability and accelerating the state's transition to 100% clean energy.

The new total marks an increase of about 1,200 MW in the past six months and a 2,100% surge in storage capacity since Gov. Newsom took office in 2019. California has now built one-third of the storage capacity estimated to be needed by 2045 to reach its clean energy goals.

Gov. Newsom also announced today that California is joining the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, a COP initiative now backed by more than 100 countries and organizations. California will be the first subnational to join the pledge, which sets global targets to deploy 1,500 gigawatts of energy storage, double worldwide grid investments, and build 25 million kilometers of new transmission infrastructure by 2030 - essential actions to deliver on the tripling of renewables agreed to at COP28.

"Donald Trump's reckless energy agenda puts China first and America last - letting Beijing seize the global clean energy economy and the good-paying jobs, manufacturing, and economic prosperity that come with it. California won't stand by and watch," Gov. Newsom said. "While Donald Trump is failing, the Golden State is leading. We're deploying more battery storage than any state in America, building a stronger grid, cutting pollution, and making abundant clean energy even more affordable."

Battery storage acts as a critical bridge between clean energy and reliability. By capturing excess solar and wind power when it's plentiful and releasing it when demand peaks, batteries keep the grid stable and make it possible to rely on renewable energy around the clock. California has now gone three years in a row without calling a Flex Alert for voluntary conservation - a testament to building the state's strong battery storage fleet.

Of California's total energy storage capacity, 13,880 MW come from large utility-scale projects, while the rest is from behind-the-meter battery systems installed on more than 200,000 homes (2,213 MW) and businesses, schools and local government facilities (849 MW). These smaller systems collectively account for a significant resource that can reduce demand during high-use periods, providing new ways to keep the grid balanced in real time.

California has more installed battery capacity than every other jurisdiction on the planet with the exception of China. Within the United States, California leads all states on installed storage capacity, followed by Texas with roughly 9,000 MW.

While the Trump administration has repeatedly dismissed clean energy as unreliable and too expensive, California is proving otherwise. Clean energy is now the cheapest source of electricitygeneration globally and the cost of battery storage has fallen by 93%since 2010.

"These systems are proving every day that a clean energy grid can be both clean and reliable, and that California's investments are delivering results," said California Energy CommissionChair David Hochschild.

"California is showcasing how to cost-effectively plan for and build our clean energy future," said California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)President Alice Reynolds. "The state is setting the standard for deploying storage resources to complement a grid increasingly powered by renewable energy. It's a smart way to manage electricity costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change."

Battery storage has already changed how California weathers extreme heat and demand surges. When unprecedented heatwaves hit the state in 2020 and 2022, it exposed the need for more flexible energy resources. State agencies, utilities and grid operators coordinated efforts to help procure and deploy more battery storage as quickly as possible.

Those investments are paying off. The state has not issued a Flex Alert - an emergency call for public electricity conservation - since 2022. Battery storage has allowed the grid to ride through record-breaking heat and extreme weather without outages. In fact, the summer of 2024 was California's hottest on record according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, yet the grid held strong with zero flex alerts issued.

Battery systems now provide enough capacity to meet the equivalent of roughly one-quarter of California's record peak demand for several hours.

Safe development and operation of battery storage systems has been, and remains, a top priority for California energy agencies. Last September, Gov. Newsom created a cross-agency collaborativeto improve safety as technology continues evolving. Key initiatives include an update to the California Fire Code happening this year, expected to include enhanced BESS safety standards. The (CPUC) voted in March to require new safety protocols for the maintenance and operation of BESS facilities. And the Governor recently signed Senate Bill 283, which will require battery storage developers to engage with local fire authorities to address facility design, assess risks, and integrate emergency response plans. These and other ongoing efforts are based on the latest studies and consultation with experts to keep California at the forefront of safe and reliable battery storage technology deployment.

Battery energy storage systems have an increasingly strong safety record. While a few high-profile fires have drawn attention, such incidents remain extremely rare compared to the thousands of systems deployed worldwide. Construction standards have evolved, with current battery storage units built outside with fireproof panels separating battery packs and robust heat sensing technology installed for early detection of potential fire risk.

The rapid expansion of California battery storage is central to its strategy for reaching the goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2045. Renewable energy already supplies nearly 67 percent of in-state retail electricity sales, and California continues to retire fossil-fuel plants and will eliminate coal power from its electricity mix by the end of this year. The California Independent System Operator - which serves roughly 80 percent of the state's electricity consumers - has, on average, met demand with 100 percent clean energy for nearly six hours every day so far this year.

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About the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, encouraging energy efficiency, certifying thermal power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.