Feb 11, 2020 - Energy & Climate

California power crisis charges up battery sales

Ben Geman

Close-up of solar battery — Close-up of screen terminal with wires on the negative terminal of a 12 volt solar photovoltaic battery bank. Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Sales of residential batteries in California are expected to quadruple this year to over 50,000 storage systems, the research firm BloombergNEF said in a short new analysis.

Why it matters: It adds specifics to the expectation that power outages — notably widespread blackouts by utilities seeking to cut wildfire risk — will juice sales.

"[C]ustomers installing solar are willing to pay a premium to add storage for backup," they said in the short report.

The big picture: They note it's an opportunity for solar companies that also offer batteries.

"Storage sales have been increasing quickly due to generous subsidies, time-of-use tariffs and solar companies eager to upsell," it states.

Go deeper: California is on track to miss its 2030 greenhouse gas target

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California power crisis charges up battery sales

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