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Solar + Storage = Energy Resilience & Savings

Solar + Storage = Energy Resilience & Savings

By Kat Kobylt, Senior Environmental Planner, and Julia Nassar, Senior Clean Energy & Climate Planner

Introducing MAPC’s Municipal Solar + Storage Resource Guide

October 29, 2024 – As Massachusetts works to meet rising energy demand and the Commonwealth’s climate goals, the need to plan for and deploy renewables, storage, and electrical infrastructure is quickly growing. Solar energy alone will not always be able to meet peak demand due to the intermittency of generation (e.g., varying weather conditions, nighttime, etc.); however, solar paired with battery storage can provide a flexible and reliable way to ensure energy availability.

Many municipalities have started looking to solar + storage technologies to advance local clean energy goals and grid resilience, but the learning curve is steep. Barriers related to feasibility constraints, uncertainty around the changing landscape of federal and state incentives, limited technical training and guidance, and other challenges have all hindered progress. MAPC’s Municipal Solar + Storage Resource Guide is designed to support planners in navigating the complexities of solar + storage planning.

A solar + storage project is a combined system that integrates solar photovoltaics (PV) with energy storage, typically batteries. The inclusion of energy storage sets solar + storage apart by allowing users to store excess energy for later use, addressing the intermittent nature of solar power which results in increased energy resilience for our communities.

The Resource Guide includes foundational knowledge and essential tools such as:

  • an overview of the basics of energy storage,
  • an overview of related benefits and challenges,
  • sample stakeholder communication materials,
  • best practices for leading with equity,
  • guidance on selecting solar + storage locations,
  • funding opportunities and potential contract structures, and
  • local case studies and reflections.

To develop the Resource Guide, MAPC supplemented research and in-house expertise with conversations with practitioners across the Commonwealth. MAPC conducted interviews with municipal staff in the region who are in various stages of implementing solar + storage projects to learn about their experiences, successes, and challenges. As a result, the Resource Guide includes a summary of best practices, lessons learned, and practical advice from solar + storage project managers to streamline planning and overcome common roadblocks.

Sample Advice from Solar + Storage Project Managers

Cost Negotiation: While negotiating the price per kilowatt hour (kWhr) is not a commonly known process, it is worth exploring if capacity allows. In a PPA or lease agreement be aware of any escalators in the contract. 

Fire Safety Education: MassCEC has a Fire Safety Training available to help educate local fire departments about safely handling of lithium-ion batteries. Contact [email protected] to inquire about past and future trainings. A staff member at MassCEC can make additional resources available on request.

See more insights here.

Outdoor photo of a large white Enel A-B battery, located behind a fence next to a parking area at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
An Enel A-B battery located at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School.

Earlier this month, MAPC hosted a webinar to launch the guide and share more about ongoing solar + storage projects in Massachusetts. Practitioners working in Beverly, Wayland, Sharon, and Fairhaven shared their advice for other municipal staff just getting started, including their main challenges and biggest takeaways thus far. The webinar recording and corresponding resources can be found here: https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/acr-speaker-series/

The Municipal Solar + Storage Resource Guide was funded by Green Communities and the Barr Foundation and can be found here: https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/solar-storage-guide/. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions, comments, or if you have a solar + storage project you would like to highlight in our case studies. We’d like to hear from you and continue expanding this resource for our community of practice.