Demonstrating Distributed Solar Plus Storage with Battery Backup Capability for Grid Resilience and Reliability

Changes the way storage is installed with solar by designing a smart passive thermal module that seamlessly integrates behind each photovoltaic (PV) panel, maximizing life and performance.

Yotta Energy, Inc.

Recipient

Austin, TX

Recipient Location

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$93,576

Amount Spent

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Active

Project Status

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Project Update

In 2023, Yotta began conducting Phase I testing at their headquarters facility related to grid-forming inverters, firmware, and their integration with the SolarLeaf (battery) technology. Yotta experienced technical challenges integrating the grid-forming inverters with the battery systems along with the firmware, but was able to resolve these issues. This project is now back on track and is scheduled to demonstrate their technology on an affordable housing building in 2024.

The Issue

Grid reliability has been problematic in California. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) have also negatively impacted California ratepayers. Today, many residential and commercial customers are purchasing diesel-fueled generators to ensure PSPS or grid outages do not restrict their operations. Commercial and residential customers do not install energy storage systems tied to solar photovoltaics (PV) because they are bulky, complex, and expensive. Commercial systems also require their own building with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, fire suppression systems, and other complex design elements. Additionally, many urban areas are at a standstill with respect to energy storage due to strict building and fire code regulations. Despite advancements in technology, installing energy storage is still cost prohibitive for most customers today due to the above reasons. Energy storage is a critical piece to solving climate change as it provides a way to store excess renewable energy and dispatch it at a time when it’s needed most.

Project Innovation

The purpose of this Agreement is to fund a grid-connected solar plus storage resiliency solution on an affordable housing building rooftop in Santa Ana, California. The recipient has developed its SolarLeaf technology, which is an energy storage solution that integrates directly behind conventional solar panels. The SolarLeaf has a patented thermal management system, leveraging phase change materials, which allows it to avoid needing to be installed indoors, reducing total installed system cost. The technology streamlines installation because the system fits behind solar PV modules, allowing for integration into standard PV racking assemblies. The project team plans to utilize the CEC BRIDGE funds for the applied research, design, testing, pilot demonstration, measurement, and verification of a solar plus storage resiliency solution to validate its performance, safety and economic feasibility for disadvantaged communities in California.

Project Goals

Enhance grid reliability by integrating a solar plus storage battery backup solution.

Validate the optimal battery backup configuration from a performance, safety, and code/standards perspective.

Advance the battery backup solution to at least TRL 6 through testing, development, iteration, and demonstration.

Validate the ability to lower energy prices for customers through demand charge management and time-of-use shifting.

Enhance grid reliability by integrating a solar plus storage battery backup solution.

Project Benefits

- Two hours benchmark of backup power provided for critical loads would make Yotta’s technology a leader in the industry. Roundtrip Efficiency - solar photovoltaic to AC 88% benchmark would make Yotta’s technology the industry leader.
- Islanding transfer time, on- and off-grid 2-4 minutes would verify a resiliency solution.
- Grid support functionality control response (i.e., response time and accuracy)180 seconds; 90% would further validate Yotta’s UL-certified product.
- Reliability and longevity 87,600 hours (10 years) - 175,200 hours (20 years) would prove the reliability and longevity of Yotta’s technology.
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would provide a measured amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduction, an industry first.
- UL-certified & tested product would be the first energy storage product to obtain the referenced UL certification and test to UL 9540A.

Affordability

Integrating a battery system with PV racking can reduce total system costs.

Reliability

This project will benefit demonstrate a simplified and affordable energy storage solution that provides greater grid reliability and grid resiliency during power outages.