[Epoch Times, May 9, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Zhou Fenglin comprehensive report) California officials said on Friday (May 6) that the state is still facing about 1.3 million households during the peak power consumption in the dry and hot summer. The gap in power supply needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
California officials say California’s energy stability will be challenged this summer in response to severe weather such as drought, extreme heat and wildfires, as well as supply chain and regulatory issues affecting the solar industry.
The agencies responsible for California’s energy include the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, and the California Independent System Operator, which manages California’s energy grid.
According to California estimates, the state could have an energy shortfall of 1,700 megawatts at its peak electricity consumption, which usually occurs in the evening sundown of the hottest months, when air conditioners are running at full capacity.
The California Energy Commission calculates that 1 megawatt of electricity powers 750 to 1,000 homes, and under the most extreme conditions, the power shortfall could be even greater, reaching 5,000 megawatts, enough to power 3.75 million homes.
The chairman of the “California Public Utilities Commission”, which is responsible for the supervision of California electric utilities, is Alice. Reynolds (Alice Reynolds) said that due to the possibility of new and unexpected conditions, it is necessary to prepare for these in advance.
California still faces the threat of extreme drought, having just experienced its wettest January to March on record. The drought has also affected hydropower, and in the summer of 2021, California had to shut down the Oroville dam hydroelectric unit for the first time due to a lack of water. While the plant has now resumed operation, the shutdown cost California 600 megawatts of electricity.
According to data from the California Electric Power Dispatch Bureau, in 2020, California’s large hydropower plants will generate nearly 14% of the total electricity; renewable energy, dominated by solar energy, will account for 34.5%; and nuclear power will account for 10%.
In response to expected summer power shortages, California, and its residents, can take several steps to avoid power outages. Officials said, first, California can purchase some power supplies from out of state, in addition, residents try to find ways to reduce power use during peak power consumption, and also avoid power outages as much as possible.
Reynolds urged residents to turn on the air conditioners in advance to cool down their rooms and turn them off when the sun goes down, which can effectively spread and reduce peak electricity demand.
In August 2020, under the extreme heat wave, the California Power Dispatch Bureau had to order power outages in different areas in response to the wave of peak electricity consumption.
California Electric Dispatching Authority senior vice president Mark. If the entire West is hit by a heatwave at the same time, then California is likely to experience another blackout this year, Mark Rothleder said. Rosslade explained that because if the western states are facing power shortages, then there will be no way to dispatch their surplus power from other states; in addition, the occurrence of wildfires can also cause power outages.
California is facing power shortages such as those encountered in 2020, which have to lead to power outages. One of the reasons is that California is abandoning traditional energy sources and turning to so-called green energy sources with no greenhouse gas emissions, including solar and wind energy. With the closure of traditional power plants, there are fewer and fewer energy options in California, and solar energy, wind energy, etc., lack the same continuous supply capacity as traditional energy sources, and it is difficult to meet stable supply during peak energy demand periods.
A further 6,000 megawatts of energy from conventional power plants will continue to be cut by 2025, according to California’s green energy goals.
In the face of the “San Jose Mercury News” inquiries, California Governor Gavin Newsom (Gavin Newsom’s cabinet secretary) Anna. Ana Matosantos declined to share details on what measures Newsom would take to ensure energy stability, saying only that Newsom was considering multiple options.
Newsom recently said he may keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operating until it officially shuts down in 2025, as planned.
At the same time, due to the continuous supply chain problems caused by the epidemic, California cannot obtain solar panels in a timely and stable manner to accelerate the deployment of solar power plants, nor can it increase the battery packs required for the stability of solar energy supply in a timely manner.
California officials also said the US Department of Commerce had launched an investigation into the possibility of importing solar panels from Southeast Asia.
According to California’s plan, 100% carbon-free electricity will be achieved by 2045, and the process requires a 60% ratio by 2030. However, at present, due to the unstable supply of emerging energy sources, it may be possible to achieve the set target with sufficient sunlight during the day, but it is difficult to ensure that the percentage of renewable energy at night can be achieved.
For example, the California Electric Power Dispatch Bureau recently stated that at around 3 p.m., the proportion of carbon-free energy can reach more than 99%, but only for a few minutes.
Due to the ebb and flow of solar as the primary renewable energy source, Pacific Watt Electric (PG&E), which powers Northern California’s 16 million people following a blackout in 2020, began to gradually add more battery storage, the company’s statement said. Lindsay. Lynsey Paolo said.
Southern California electricity provider Edison has taken a similar approach. ◇
Responsible editor: Wang Xi
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