Addressing the Duck Curve and Helping California Breathe Easier

By: Jim Gordon, CEO of SmartFlower Solar

When I first entered the clean energy field decades ago, my vision was to find a way to generate power that doesn’t poison the air we breathe or destabilize the climate we depend on. Back then, solar was seen as a niche technology. Today, it’s everywhere and powering homes, businesses, and communities around the world.

However, in California a paradox has emerged. Despite being a global leader in solar adoption, their success with solar power has created the duck curve.

The Duck Curve Dilemma

During the middle of the day, California generates more solar electricity than the grid can use, creating a surplus. The surplus forces a curtailment of energy generation, and therefore, reduces the solar’s effectiveness.

The real problem comes in the late afternoon and evening when the sun is setting but people are still running air conditioners, cooking, and living their lives. This is when California leans on natural gas “peaker plants”, which are among the dirtiest, least efficient sources of electricity. These plants release nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases into the air and disproportionately harm disadvantaged communities.

SmartFlower: Solar Power that Works When it Matters Most

This is where SmartFlower is different. Unlike fixed rooftop solar panels that peak at noon and fade out before dinner time, SmartFlower’s dual-axis tracking system follows the across the sky at the optimal ninety degree angle to the sun. It continues producing clean, high-output power into the late afternoon – exactly when Californians need it most. By producing generation into these high-value hours, SmartFlower can help flatten the duck curve.

Every kilowatt-hour generated in those late hours doesn’t just save money, it avoids emissions from fossil fuel peakers. Rather, it translates directly into cleaner air, healthier lungs, and fewer hospital visits.

Air, Health, and Climate Benefits

What can this mean for communities?

1. Cleaner Air: Fewer pollutants like nitrogen oxides and asthma-triggering particulates.
2. Healthier Communities: Children and seniors in neighborhoods near peaker plants breathe easier.
3. Stronger Climate Action: Each SmartFlower displaces disproportionately higher amounts of CO₂, helping California meet its ambitious 100% clean energy by 2045 goal.

This is why I see SmartFlower not just as an energy innovation, but as a public health and climate solution.

Why Architects and Builders Should Care

For architects and developers in California, SmartFlower isn’t only about meeting Title 24 energy codes or achieving LEED credits. It’s about designing projects that make a statement: sustainability isn’t concealed on a rooftop, but showcased in a sculptural form. It’s about delivering real cost savings when utility rates are highest, while also delivering social value that extends far beyond the property line.

A Future Worth Building

California has always been at the forefront of clean energy leadership. By embracing solar solutions like SmartFlower that align with the grid’s needs, we can clean the air, protect public health, and accelerate our fight against climate change.

For me, that’s what this work has always been about. SmartFlower is proof that innovation, design, and sustainability can come together to build not just smarter projects – but a better future for all Californians. See the marvel that is a SmartFlower at the Net Zero Conference 2025 on October 1st at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. Come visit our booth, connect with our experts, and catch a SmartFlower bloom before your very own eyes at the convention’s entrance. This event will feature global sustainability experts in Climate, Net Zero, ESG, Equity, Carbon, and Resilience.

Jim Gordon is a global clean energy pioneer and the founder of SmartFlower Solar. He has dedicated his career to developing innovative solutions that accelerate the transition to clean energy worldwide.