Tech giant Google, Tesla, utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), and distributed energy resource (DER)-focused company Sunrun are launching a new virtual power plant (VPP) in California, US.

Two VPP bills are awaiting California Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature, meanwhile, Octopus Energy US has completed its investment in Uplight.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved a 400MW/3,200MWh grid-scale battery storage project through the state planning agency’s Opt-In Certification Program.

With the final deadline for this year’s California legislative session having passed, now is a good time to analyse the outcomes of several bills that were first introduced earlier this year pertaining to BESS.

Utility-scale developer SB Energy has received a US$25 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to purchase BESS units for one of its solar and storage hybrid complexes located in Riverside County, California. 

Energy-Storage.news Premium speaks with Ryan Hledik, Principal at the Brattle Group, and Lauren Nevitt, Senior Director of Public Policy at Sunrun, on the shaky future of California’s Demand Side Grid Support distributed storage programme.

After imposing a moratorium on the development of new battery storage projects in January 2024, officials in Solano County, California, have adopted new zoning standards for the technology.

Installed battery storage capacity in California, US has grown from 771MW in 2019 to more than 15,500MW as of 31 January, 2025.

California governor Gavin Newsom has taken steps to accelerate the 300MW Cornucopia Hybrid Project in Fresno County, California, US.

The government of California has approved a US$42 million grant to Pennsylvania-based IPP International Electric Power (IEP) for a long-duration energy storage project at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, in San Diego County.