{"id":1517,"date":"2022-04-13T20:04:25","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catcreekenergy.com\/?page_id=1517"},"modified":"2022-06-03T00:14:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T00:14:18","slug":"how-ccew-keeps-the-lights-on","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.catcreekenergy.com\/how-ccew-keeps-the-lights-on\/","title":{"rendered":"How CCEW Keeps the Lights On"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Extensive new storage is necessary for the expansion of variable wind and solar (VRE) resources on which the transition to a net-zero carbon economy depends. California, for example, has more storage capacity than any other state in the country, and yet by 2030, as both its decarbonization mandates kick in and its fossil fuel facilities retired, a huge expansion of new capacity will be needed, namely, over 150 times the amount of storage that has been developed over the last decade. The longer the storage capacity to dispatch energy continuously, the less need and accelerated replacement for carbon-emitting and economically inefficient natural gas peaking plants. At the same time, long-duration storage reduces annual curtailment of VRE production, e.g., a 40% increase in MWh storage capacity reduces annual VRE curtailment across the 2045 base case year relative to a case without long-duration storage. Briefly put, CCEW is utility-scaled to allow for significant VRE expansion, drastically reducing VRE resource curtailment, and the ability to react quickly to blackout.\u00a0 Wind & solar vary constantly.\u00a0 CCEW reacts simultaneously to these levels of fluctuation and absorbs or load follows accordingly. \u00a0In four words, it will help \u201ckeep the lights on\u201d in the transition to an electricity-generating carbon-free environment as no comparable facility, in operation or in an advanced stage of development. CCEW acts much like a utility, supplying the needed service at the level required or requested.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In fact, \u201ckeeping the lights on\u201d requires more than the ability to compensate for the intermittent character of wind and solar generation resources. The three primary attributes:[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n