What is Clean Electricity?
What is Clean Electricity?
Clean electricity comes from renewable sources, such as wind or solar, as opposed to from the burning of fossil fuels. As electricity use increases due to electrification of transportation and buildings, the City will support more distributed energy resources, like rooftop solar and energy storage within the community as well as supporting more renewable sources in our electricity supply mix.
UNIT | A megawatt hour (Mwh) is equal to 1,000 Kilowatt hours (Kwh). It is equal to 1,000 kilowatts of electricity used continuously for one hour. It is about equivalent to the amount of electricity used by about 330 homes during one hour. In the following graph, we'll be reporting on Million Megawatt Hours (Mil MWh) | MWhMegawatt Hour |
| A megawatt hour (Mwh) is equal to 1,000 Kilowatt hours (Kwh). It is equal to 1,000 kilowatts of electricity used continuously for one hour. It is about equivalent to the amount of electricity used by about 330 homes during one hour. In the following graph, we'll be reporting on Million Megawatt Hours (Mil MWh) | MWhMegawatt Hour |
GHG Emissions from Electricity
Sunnyvale has made tremendous progress in reducing emissions in the electricity sector, and with the launch of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) in 2017, 98% of Sunnyvale’s residential and commercial accounts received carbon-free electricity, which resulted in a 76% reduction of GHG emissions from electricity generation.
While SVCE has taken us a long way to reducing the emissions associated with our electricity use, some of our residents and businesses still get their electricity from Pacific Gas and Electricity (PG&E). In 2019, PG&E reported their electricity was carbon-free and therefore their emissions were nearly zero.* This was largely due to a change in how utilities count their emissions. In 2020, PG&E reported that they did not supply 100% carbon-free electricity. Which resulted in a 913% increase in the sector.
While it is unclear when PG&E will be able to provide 100% carbon-free electricity in the future, there is more that can be done. Maximizing local solar production and investing in local storage to use the clean energy we produce will help Sunnyvale build a resilient and clean energy network.
Play 1.1: Promote 100% Clean Electricity
Increasing Clean Electricity
Sunnyvale, like many other communities, has been able to speed the transition of our electricity supply to clean renewable energy through our participation with Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) and their community choice aggregation program. SVCE is a community-owned electricity provider for the majority of Silicon Valley and Sunnyvale has the largest participation by total electric load. In 2019, we reached our goal of providing 100% clean electricity to all Sunnyvale businesses and residents.
In addition to managing our electric supply, SVCE supports a variety of programs to eliminate all fossil fuels from our buildings and transportation sector. You can find out more about what we're doing in this area under Decarbonizing Buildings and Decarbonizing Transportation.
Play 1.1: Promote 100% Clean Electricity
Community Choice Aggregation
Community-wide electricity can be supplied by different providers, including investor-owned utilities (like PG&E), wholesale electricity markets (used by some businesses), and by local building-scale projects, such as rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV). Sunnyvale has made tremendous progress in reducing emissions in this key sector by launching a community choice aggregation program. Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is a community choice aggregator that provides carbon-free electricity to most of our community.
UNIT | We track renewable energy by measuring the proportion of electricity generation we as a community use that is supplied from renewable energy resources vs. fossil fuel-based sources. | % Renewable EnergyPercent of Renewable Energy |
| We track renewable energy by measuring the proportion of electricity generation we as a community use that is supplied from renewable energy resources vs. fossil fuel-based sources. | % Renewable EnergyPercent of Renewable Energy |
Play 1.1: Promote 100% Clean Electricity
What is Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)?
CCA is an alternative energy supply system that allows local governments to collectively buy energy, offering lower costs for consumers and greener energy supply opportunities. This has become a popular strategy throughout California with 25 CCAs serving the energy needs of more than 14 million customers in more than 200+ cities as of 2023. (source)
Play 1.2 Increase Solar PV
Our Targets
The City is exploring the feasibility of a local ordinance requiring solar installations on new commercial buildings built in 2020 or later. By ensuring that every new building is contributing to our goals instead of just adding energy demand, we'll be much better positioned to achieve our targets.
Play 1.2: Increase Local Solar Photovoltaics (PV).
Solar Installation
Year over year, we've seen consistent growth in the amount of solar installed across Sunnyvale. On average every year we add enough solar capacity to generate about 3.5 million kWh of electricity, which equals the energy demand of around 245 homes.
There is ample roof space in the community for more solar, so let's keep this trend going!
Play 1.2: Increase Local Solar Photovoltaics (PV).
Local Solar Targets
We're racing towards our targets well ahead of schedule. Just a year ago, we were just fractions of a percent away from meeting our target of 3% of our electricity supplied with local solar by 2030. Now we're just fractions of a percent away from our 2050 target of 5% of our electricity supplied with local solar! How'd we do it? Not only has solar continued to expand but we're using far less energy too. Our conservation efforts are like lowering the basketball hoop making this an easy shot to sink!
Ready to go solar? Maybe your home will be the one that pulls us over the finish line!
Play 1.3 Increased Distributed Electricity Storage
Our Targets
Our targets for energy storage will enable us to meet other community goals by ensuring more locally produced clean energy is available for serving high demand times of day.
Sunnyvale estimates that approximately 0.55% of our current electricity demand could be met with locally installed batteries. We will continue to work with community partners like SVCE to track progress on this goal.
Play 1.3 Increased Distributed Electricity Storage
Why is Storage Important?
Energy storage plays a growing role in ensuring a resilient power grid as it allows for individual home owners with solar the ability to store clean energy when the sun is shining. That stored energy can then displace more expensive and often dirtier power sources.
Not only does community-scale energy storage maximize local solar supply it also helps to support a resilient power grid.
Be Part of the Solution!
Check out these resources for maximizing clean energy!
There are so many things you can do today to make a big difference for our future. Use clean energy to power your home and car.
