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Thursday, May 1, 2014

California Solar Generation Offsets Hydro Shortage

The well publicized hydro power shortage in California this year, owing to the historic drought, has reduced hydro power output by about 50% so far this year over last year (which was also lower than normal).  But so much new solar has been installed in California in the last 12 months, that the increase in solar output has nearly offset the losses in hydro.

Here are the two in comparison.  On top, the daily increase in solar output vs 2013.  On bottom, the daily shortfall in hydro output.  Both are on the same scale (0-40 GWh per day).