Environments by Design

Abstract

SimpliPhi recently collaborated on two innovative solar+storage projects in Washington, DC that demonstrate how DERs benefit multiple stakeholders, with important lessons on serving diverse communities with clean energy when incorporated effectively into development planning.

Maycroft Apartments is a multifamily housing complex for those making <30% of area median income. Referred to as ‘justice housing,’ it is critical to keeping low-income people housed in a rapidly gentrifying community. Maycroft is also a low-income community center, with programs and resources for families, teens, food poverty, and early childhood education.

Ludlow-Taylor is an elementary school in a rapidly changing neighborhood with rising housing prices. With the installation of solar panels in 2019, the school was ready to enjoy clean energy savings – but then COVID struck. School was suspended and energy consumption onsite was significantly reduced, erasing anticipated economic savings. By adding PHI HV energy storage, DC now has its first energy resilient school with the ESS capturing excess solar to use on-site and realize planned savings, instead of net metering without financial compensation. 

Both solar microgrids were designed to meet the interests of multiple stakeholders and demonstrate DER’s positive community impact, each serving low-income and disadvantaged populations through clean energy, batteries and economic resilience.