CAISO solar generation rose 21% in early 2026 while natural gas output fell 60%, marking a historic shift in power sources.
Utility-scale solar generation in California’s grid surpassed natural gas for the first five months of 2026, driven by a 21% year-over-year increase in solar output and a 60% decline in gas-fired generation. Solar produced more daily electricity than gas on 82% of days, up from 21% in 2024 and 2025.
Solar capacity in CAISO grew 19% to 25 GW over the past two years, while battery storage surged 79% to 16 GW. Natural gas capacity remained flat at 29 GW. Battery storage, often paired with solar, tripled its discharge volume in early 2026 compared to 2024, helping balance supply during low-sun periods.
Despite a 7% rise in demand, the shift contributed to a 19% reduction in unspecified grid metrics, highlighting the transition’s broader impact on California’s energy landscape.