Solar + Battery Storage — A Better Option to Improve Power Resilience?

Florida is on to something that Texas may want to start looking into. There is current legislation (HB 1133) going through the Florida State House to create a pilot solar + battery storage program to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure. It’s a small pilot, only about $10 million dollars, but it is focused on determining the feasibility of providing solar + battery storage to provide backup power at hospitals, emergency shelters and emergency response units. The systems must provide at least 24 hours of backup power to the site’s electrical load or at least five hours of average daily use.

Florida is realizing, along with some other states on the east and west coast that more options must be

made available for emergency backup power. Diesel and gas generators are not a great option, due to fuel supply issues, air pollution and the uncertainty as to whether they will work when called upon. What this Floridian effort is doing is helping to identify better alternatives to standard practices that can improve the resilience of its power infrastructure, particularly critical assets.

Solar + Battery Storage Market

Florida is not alone. Several states are way ahead. California, Hawaii and New York have been the leaders in solar + battery storage deployment to improve resilience. Systems are largely being installed for back-up power, as well as to reduce demand charges and overall power costs.

The installation of solar + battery storage is growing. A GTM research report finds that in Q2 2017 saw 443 systems installed, about 32 MW. The report shows a significant increase in deployment over the next several years. Approximately 7,000 MWh projected to be deployed in 2022.

The Old Way to Do Things…

Traditionally for commercial, as well as some residential buildings, the backup power option is for diesel or natural gas-fired generation. These systems typically only run when there is a power outage and sit idle at other times.