A new microgrid community has opened in California by KB Homes, as reported by Electrek. This serves as the first all-electric, solar-and-battery-powered microgrid community in the state.
The new community is located at Oak Shade and Durango, which is part of KB Homes Shadow Mountain master plan in Menifee, California. KB Homes partnered with the US Department of Energy (DOE), SunPower, Scheider Electric, and Kia to test the new energy-efficient homes.
Not Your Typical Solar Homes
These new solar homes are not your usual because they are equipped with backup battery storage, bidirectional electric vehicle charging capabilities, and are interconnected, which results in a resilient energy network. When combined, these technologies establish a self-supporting energy network that can power a neighborhood during a power outage.
How It Works
So, how does an all-electric community works? First off, each home is fitted with a SunPower Equinox solar system, 13 kWh SunVault battery storage, Rheem ProTerra hybrid electric pump water heater, Carrier high-efficiency two-stage heat pump, Schneider Electric D Energy Center Smart Panel.
The solar panels will gather energy from the sun and store it in the batteries as backup. Moreover, the community solar panels are connected to a 2.3 MW battery to complement the network's power supply.
In addition, the homes will come with electric wiring for EV charging, while some will have Wallbox chargers. Homeowners can also enroll in SunPower's Virtual Power Plan (VPP) program, which allows them to use their EV chargers, battery storage, and other energy solutions to balance the grid load even during peak times.
Over 200 homes will be all-electric and solar-powered with additional battery storage while connected to a community microgrid. Therefore, the communities will not be inconvenienced by power-outage, and will also be more fully self-sufficient.
Also Read: Tesla Deploys Solar Roofs, Powerwalls in Austin: First Solar Community in the World?
The Rise of Microgrid Communities
Presently, the US solar industry is enjoying enormous growth. The growth can be contributed to a shift in residential solar installation, which is motivated by the increasing demand for solar-and-battery-powered homes.
With the rapid rise in the demand for more sustainable communities, as well as the drive for more eco-friendly housing and lifestyles, the residential microgrid industry will continue to grow. Solar-and-battery-powered communities are the future of sustainable energy.
KB Homes, SunPower, and other partners of this project joined forces to build a resilient community with an energy-efficient infrastructure. Microgrid communities like this one have the potential to save customers money and energy.
Hopefully, the proliferation of microgrids will help push for greener and more sustainable communities. Moreover, it will enable more efficient grid management, as well as enable homeowners to have more control over their energy. As sustainable communities grow and as more people become aware of the benefits of self-sufficient homes, we can expect that the push for microgrids will continue to grow as well.
Related Article: U.S. Demand For Electricity From Renewable Sources Taking Off
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Written by April Fowell
