As California Develops More Clean Energy, Researchers Delve Into How to Store it
A Project commissioned by the California Energy Commission and led by UC Merced electrical engineering Professor Sarah Kurtz aims at evaluating solutions for long-duration energy storage.
Study Urges New Approach to Energy Planning
UC Merced electrical engineering Professor Sarah Kurtz took part in a study that showed how swiftly the needs and resources for electricity are shifting. The study, “How Demand-Side Management Can Shape Electricity Generation Capacity Planning,” was Published in April 2024.
Solar-paneled Canals Getting a Test Run in San Joaquin Valley
The project is a public-private-academic partnership among TID, the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Solar AquaGrid and UC Merced. McKuin, who studies the economic and environmental sustainability dimensions of the food-water-energy nexus and the integration of science in decision making to improve sustainable development outcomes, is now a postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz. She will return to UC Merced in April as a project scientist working with engineering Professor Sarah Kurtz , the principal investigator, to conduct several studies related to Project Nexus.
Study completed for the California Department of Transportation
In December 2020 we completed the study for the California Department of Transportation (DOT). You may read the final report here. Next, the California DOT will organize internally to prepare for supporting the state's efforts to install more solar plants.
Scholarship awarded to Joseph Bello
The Strauss Foundation has awarded Joseph Bello (a UC Merced undergraduate) $15,000 to expand an existing nonprofit's program which loans high-quality wheelchairs to newly injured individuals to bridge the time until the injured can obtain their own wheelchair. Congratulations, Joseph! It's great to have you part of our team!
CEC Award
Our team has won a CEC Award to study long-duration storage! We will model the expansion of the electrical grid in California to identify the role(s) that long-duration storage can play as California works toward zero-carbon energy.
Fast facts
On April 21, 2019, California obtained more than 62% of electricity from renewable sources (including large hydro).
That same day, for the hour at 15:00, renewables provided 92% of electricity. Check it out!
In the year ending Dec. 31, 2018, 20% of California’s electricity came from solar!
Upcoming events
Previous events
Jun. 20-25, 2021
The 48th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference is scheduled in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It is planned for both in-person and virtual presentations click here.
Nov. 15, 2019
UC Solar Thermal Symposium was held in Sacramento. The presentations can be found here.
A summary of this Symposium can be downloaded here.
Oct. 19, 2018
UC Solar Symposium was held in San Francisco. The presentations can be found here.
Oct. 13, 2017
UC Solar Symposium was held in San Francisco. The presentations can be found here.