CA Sets World Record By Getting More Than Half Its Electricity From Solar: Report

California generated more than half of its electricity from solar power in May, marking what analysts believe is a global first, according to a report.

The Los Angeles Times reported that this likely marks the first time a large-scale power system has surpassed 50% solar for an entire month.

The milestone was aided by rapid growth in battery storage, which allows excess daytime solar power to be used after sunset, according to the report, which is based on a new analysis from the entry think tank Ember.

“Battery storage has transformed California’s power system,” Ember analyst Nicolas Fulghum wrote. “Batteries now shift huge amounts of solar power from midday into the evening peak, which is what allows this level of solar penetration in the system.”

California was able to achieve the milestone in May because of its mild temperatures — there's less demand for heat and air conditioning. Additionally, a massive wind project began sending energy to the state in April, reducing the need to burn natural gas at night. That helped increase solar's share in the mix, according to the report.

This is the second major milestone California has reached recently.

Solar also generated more electricity than natural gas in California during the first five months of 2026, raising the possibility that it could overtake gas for the full year.

Read more about California’s record-setting solar power generation in the Los Angeles Times.