Should community energy storage be expanded?

An expansion of community energy storage will not necessarily lead to more equitable outcomes. Greater regulatory and financial support will be needed for these assets to be accessible to underrepresented communities. The “community” of community energy storage as a business model is broadly defined.

Are community energy storage systems a good investment?

As previously mentioned, most community energy storage projects in the United States are distribution sited and utility owned. The community indirectly benefits from cost-effective investments that reduce system costs. There is also the potential for distribution sited storage systems to improve local reliability and resiliency.

Are community energy storage projects community owned?

While this definition could enable several use cases, in practice most community energy storage projects feature direct utility ownership and control; they are not community owned. However, other models are emerging that tie the asset more directly to the community.

Will community storage grow in new markets?

With the deployment of new resources and lessons learned from existing projects and programs, the seeds of community energy storage may begin to grow in new markets over the coming years. Joseph “Seph” Petta and Erica McConnell are attorneys for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council through Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP.

Why is community ownership important in the energy sector?

Community ownership of assets is one way to deliver a more equitable distribution of benefits and control in the energy sector. Energy storage in particular can be adopted at the local level due to the flexible and scalable nature of the technology.

What is a community solar + storage project?

The community solar + storage project allows customers to buy electricity for a lower rate than the utility, while providing more valuable generation to the grid. Energy storage can also be installed in campuses or multifamily buildings and shared among the tenants.