California Embraces BESS as Lights Stay on Amid Record Heat

August 20, 2024--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--California is no stranger to massive heat waves and resulting power shortages. But record temperatures this summer--sometimes exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit--are not resulting in rolling blackouts, voluntary power reductions, or even text-message warnings from the state. The reason? Battery energy-storage system (BESS) technology, which has skyrocketed from 1,474 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity in 2020 to 10,383 MW so far in 2024.