After the Fire: Is It Time to Rebuild Moss Landing the Right Way?
Grid-scale battery storage is quietly becoming one of the most critical upgrades to our energy infrastructure, ensuring that renewable power from solar and wind isn’t wasted. As detailed in a recent WIRED article, this transformation is changing how electricity is distributed, stored, and used—and the shift is gaining urgency.
One of the clearest examples comes from California, the nation’s leader in clean energy adoption. In 2022, over 2.4 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy—primarily solar—were curtailed, meaning it was generated but never used. This happens when the grid is overloaded or when there isn’t enough battery storage to save excess energy for later.
Fast forward to 2024, and the numbers are even more staggering. According to data from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the state curtailed 2,892 GWh of solar and 210 GWh of wind energy in just the first nine months of the year. That’s a 31.2% increase in solar curtailments and a 51.1% rise in wind curtailments compared to the same period in 2023. If these trends continue through the full year, California could waste well over 3,000 GWh of clean energy—enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
These losses aren't just environmental—they’re deeply economic. Billions of dollars have been invested in renewable infrastructure, but without sufficient storage capacity, much of that energy is discarded. Battery storage solutions are the key to closing that gap. By capturing energy when it’s abundant and releasing it when demand is high, batteries help flatten the peaks and valleys of renewable output.
Safety
However, the rise of battery energy storage systems (BESS) brings its own challenges—especially when it comes to safety. California’s Moss Landing energy storage facility, one of the largest in the world, suffered a series of overheating events and fires between 2021 and 2023. These incidents involved earlier-generation lithium-ion battery technologies, typically using nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistries, which are more prone to thermal runaway—a chain reaction that can cause fires or explosions.
“China now produces 80 percent of the world’s lithium-ion batteries.”
That’s where newer technologies come in. Many of today’s grid-scale batteries now rely on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is far more thermally stable and has a dramatically lower risk of combustion. Unlike older lithium-ion designs, LFP batteries don’t catch fire easily, even under stress or heat. Experts now describe them as having “near-zero risk” of thermal runaway.
In addition to safer chemistry, modern battery installations incorporate advanced monitoring systems, active cooling, gas detection, and automatic fire suppression. These systems work together to detect potential problems early and shut down affected modules before they pose a threat. Regulatory bodies have also stepped up, introducing stricter codes and safety testing protocols that are now standard for new deployments.
Opportunity
The economic benefits of investing in battery storage are compelling. Curtailment doesn’t just mean lost energy—it means lost opportunity, both for consumers and for utilities trying to meet clean energy targets. With battery storage in place, solar and wind installations can operate closer to their full potential, reducing the need for fossil fuel backup and enabling a more resilient grid.
In short, the future of energy isn’t just about generating clean power—it’s about making sure we can store it safely and use it efficiently. The dramatic rise in curtailment through 2024 is a warning sign: without rapid investment in energy storage, we’ll keep leaving massive amounts of clean energy on the table.
The good news? The technology is here. It’s safer. It’s smarter. And it’s essential to powering a reliable, sustainable, and economically sound energy future.