Notes: Added capacity includes only primary and secondary generation technologies due to the increasing popularity of hybrid projects, especially solar and energy storage
Source: California ISO Generator Interconnection
Analysis by CEC Economics
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- The CAISO interconnected queue, the backlog of projects seeking to connect to the California grid, increased from 2,837 MW in 2022 to 3,482 MW in 2023—the highest amount since 2013.96 In the past, natural gas and solar dominated the interconnection queue. In 2023, solar (1,628 MW) and battery storage (1,854 MW) made up the entire interconnection queue. By primary generation technology, the interconnection queue totaled 2,170 MW, with 1,628 MW from solar and 542 MW from battery storage. This is a decrease of 3.8% from 2022, which had 2,255 MW of capacity in interconnection queue. However, due to the increased popularity of pairing solar PV projects with battery storage, by secondary generation technology, battery storage (1,312 MW) alone accounted for all capacity in interconnection queue, up 125% from 2022. CAISO is currently undergoing Phase 1 of the interconnection process enhancement that began in 2023, with a focus on enhancing coordination of resource procurement and interconnection, resource planning and transmission planning to achieve state reliability and policy needs.97
96 The previous version of the Green Innovation Index only considered the primary generation unit and its associated capacity. In this version, secondary and tertiary generating technologies and capacities are included as well. Due to the existence of hybrid projects, which are becoming increasingly popular (e.g., solar PV paired with battery storage), the calculation has been revised from the previous version.
97 California Independent System Operator. INITIATIVE: Interconnection process enhancements 2023. February 27, 2023. Accessed November 1, 2024. Available at: https://stakeholdercenter.caiso.com/StakeholderInitiatives/Interconnection-process-enhancements-2023
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