Solar accounted for 16% of California’s electricity sales in 2021

May 26, 2023
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Solar accounts for 15.9% of the state’s retail electricity sales, the highest among all renewable energy sources. Image: CAISO

Solar became California’s biggest non-fossil fuel source of electricity sales in 2021, according to the latest data from the California Energy Commission.

In total, solar accounted for 15.9% of the state’s retail electricity sales, the highest among all renewable energy sources, followed by wind (11.5%) and geothermal (5.8%). In addition, 37.2% of the state’s retail electricity sales were from RPS-eligible (Renewables Portfolio Standard) sources in 2021, leading nuclear (10.8%) and large hydro (10.7%).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Together, non-fossil fuel sources contributed to about 59% of California’s retail electricity sales. This amount remained unchanged from 2020 despite the jump in renewables and drought-related declines in hydroelectric generation.

California’s RPS programme requires load-serving entities in the state to procure a portion of their electricity sales from eligible renewable resources. Established in 2002, the programme requires that 33% of electricity retail sales are served by renewable resources. 

Looking forward, the RPS goal will increase to 60% by 2030. Senate Bill 100 also requires RPS-eligible sources and zero-carbon resources to supply 100% of California’s retail electricity sales and electricity procured to serve state agencies by 2045.

The study also examined the state’s battery storage capacity, which increased by about 2,000% from 250MW in 2019 to about 5GW in 2023. By mid century, the capacity is projected to reach 52GW.

Solar is gaining traction in the US. PV Tech reported that solar power is to dominate new electric-generating capacity additions in the US this year, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. The report stated that a total of 54.5GW of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity will be added to the US power grid in 2023.

Read Next

October 15, 2025
The Australian government has approved the 141MW Forbes Solar Farm Project in New South Wales in just 19 days, marking one of the fastest environmental approvals on record in the country.
October 10, 2025
Australia's renewable energy sector recorded its slowest month of the year for additions in September, with 5.8GW of new projects added to development pipelines, according to data from Rystad Energy.
September 29, 2025
Australia's CER has disclosed that 1.5GW of new renewable energy capacity in the NEM received authorisation in the second quarter of 2025.
September 25, 2025
Developer ACE Power and Osaka Gas Energy Australia have submitted plans for a 100MW solar-plus-storage project to Australia’s EPBC Act.
September 23, 2025
Australia’s NEM set a new instantaneous renewables share record of 78.6% on 22 September, surpassing the previous day's record of 77.9%.
September 21, 2025
Lightsource bp has commenced work on a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) at a 585MWdc solar PV plant in Australia.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK