Energy analyst interviewed by Bloomberg news affirms what we know – Solar is the cheapest form of energy generation.
He points out that solar is intermittent, so has different characteristics than other generation. (all generators are intermittent, for different reasons and with a different frequency)
Below, graph compares California grid from 2022, top, to current, 2026.
The green line shows renewable generation, with the big solar bump during the day. In 2022, the purple wavy line, batteries, is not doing a whole lot – but much has changed.
This year, a new build of batteries is soaking up that solar during the day, and doling it out at night, especially during the peaky parts of the evening – but take a look, it’s providing energy all night long.
States like California and Texas with significant battery buildout are seeing a phase change in how the grids work.
Mark Jacobson of Stanford is doing a yeoman’s job on social media continually pointing this out, and that California gas consumption is being directly replaced by stored sunshine.