If it walks like a Duck Curve… It must be California
14 hours ago David Middleton 56 Comments
Guest “What’s easier than picking on the Grauniad?” by David Middleton
Picking on California…
May 28, 2025
Solar and wind power curtailments are increasing in California
monthly solar and wind curtailments, California Independent System Operator
Data source: California Independent System Operator
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the grid operator for most of the state, is increasingly curtailing solar- and wind-powered electricity generation as it balances supply and demand amidst rapid renewables capacity growth.
Grid operators must balance supply and demand to maintain a stable electric system. The output of wind and solar generators is reduced either through price signals or, rarely, through an order to reduce output during periods of:
Congestion, when power lines don’t have enough capacity to deliver available energy
Oversupply, when generation exceeds customer electricity demand
In 2024, CAISO curtailed 3.4 million megawatthours (MWh) of utility-scale wind and solar output, a 29% increase from the amount of electricity curtailed in 2023.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/06/06/if-it-walks-like-a-duck-curve-it-must-be-california/
