California produces 194 GWh renewable power on Thursday thanks to wind

Apr 29, 2016 15:24 CEST by John Smith

April 29 – Renewable power generation in California, excluding large hydro, grew to 194,432 MWh on April 28 from 185,644 MWh in the previous day, thanks to a rise in wind power output.

According to data by the California Independent System Operator Corp (ISO), wind farm produced 96,247 MWh yeaterday, a 12.65% day-on-day increase. Generation peaked at 4,413 MW at 2000 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

Solar photovoltaic (PV) farms, on the other hand, produced 54,666 MWh, compared to 55,501 MWh on April 27. At 1300 PDT they recorded a daily peak of 5,858 MW. Solar thermal power plants added 1,705 MWh to the solar total.

Environmental and industrial measurement firm Vaisala yesterday said in a statement that in 2015 energy from grid-connected, utility-scale solar plants has surpassed wind for the first time in California. It has studies ISO figures, showing that grid-connected, utility-scale solar generation in California increased fifteen-fold in five years. Generation grew from 1,000 GWh in 2011 to 15,592 GWh in 2015, equal to 6.7% of the system total. Thus, solar parks beat wind, which accounted for 5.3% of the system total.

The table below shows renewable energy generation in the US state for April 28.