Solar-Plus for Electric Co-ops:
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This page offers a preview of the SPECs toolkit and other content developed for local distribution utilities that are planning or procuring a utility-side storage or solar-plus-storage project. Click on the page title for immediate access. Materials on this site are free, under the terms of site use.* For information on additional trainings and services, contact us here.
This page introduces baseline information for project planners, such as case studies, a webinar presentation on relevant aspects of the storage industry, and a factsheet listing key types of industry players. It also includes key reference materials from NRECA and other resources to help planners and decision makers understand the industry norms that affect solar-plus-storage procurement best practices.
This page covers key steps that apply to most local solar-plus-storage project planning and procurement processes. First, it provides our white paper on the policy and market landscape for development in this space. Second, it offers an adaptable procurement framework and a guidance brief to support its practical use. This page also offers three case study presentations, and additional presentations on storage acquisition trends, focused on the energy services (PPA/ESA) acquisition model. Finally, we offer a curated library of RFPs and other procurement documents, presented not necessarily as best practices, but as examples that document how others approach solar-plus-storage procurement today.
The Early-Stage Decision (ESD) model is central to the SPECs toolkit. Here, you may download the Excel-based ESD model, user’s manual, and a training webinar on features of the model. The ESD model supports early-stage project planning by screening economic results for various customized solar-plus-storage use cases, which tap multiple value streams suited to the utility's needs. This directly supports definition of the utility's use case, as well preparing the utility team to discuss options. The model provides specific outputs for preparation of the project RFP.
- This page is temporarily password protected, as it is under construction. It will include additional resources and news from the SPECs project and beyond. The page will be built out as solar-plus-storage opportunities for local utilities continue to evolve.
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SPECs is working with electric distribution co-ops that have been leaders in deploying storage and solar-plus-storage projects. The following presentations summarize their ongoing efforts. Watch this space for updates, as each of these co-ops continues to work through the process of planning, procuring, and operating solar-plus-storage systems to benefit their utilities and the communities they serve.
Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), Marietta, GA
Working with its subsidiary Gas South in the Atlanta area, Cobb initiated a solar microgrid project, with ~1.85 MW of solar and 1 MW/4 MWh of battery storage, sited on the co-op campus. The solar-charged battery is used for peak shaving, but with the incorporation of microgrid project, it will also provide resilience for the Cobb utility operations center. Remaining capacity may be used to demonstrate other, emerging use cases, such as distribution upgrade deferral or customer-side storage services, providing experience to inform future co-op solar-plus-storage projects.
Cobb delivers electricity to nearly 200,000 residential and commercial consumers in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fulton, and Paulding counties. Cobb EMC is one of the largest EMCs in the nation. For more information, visit www.cobbemc.com. The documents below track progress on the project, including an article, published in August 2021 on LinkedIn, which details technical aspects of developing the project microgrid.
Working with its subsidiary Gas South in the Atlanta area, Cobb initiated a solar microgrid project, with ~1.85 MW of solar and 1 MW/4 MWh of battery storage, sited on the co-op campus. The solar-charged battery is used for peak shaving, but with the incorporation of microgrid project, it will also provide resilience for the Cobb utility operations center. Remaining capacity may be used to demonstrate other, emerging use cases, such as distribution upgrade deferral or customer-side storage services, providing experience to inform future co-op solar-plus-storage projects.
Cobb delivers electricity to nearly 200,000 residential and commercial consumers in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fulton, and Paulding counties. Cobb EMC is one of the largest EMCs in the nation. For more information, visit www.cobbemc.com. The documents below track progress on the project, including an article, published in August 2021 on LinkedIn, which details technical aspects of developing the project microgrid.
| bess_workshop_-_cobb_emc.pdf |
| cobb_emc_3_21.pdf |
| 2021_cobb_microgrid_approach_to_technical_challenges.pdf |
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Taos, NM
To achieve its goal of 100% daytime renewables, KCEC has added 15 MW of utility-side battery energy storage to its system. Storage developer Torch Clean Energy helped to arrange the procurement, which uses Tesla battery storage technology. The project is divided between two sites, one providing 24 MWh and the other providing 3 MWh. Another component of the project involves utilizing new software from Camus Energy to support solar-plus-storage integration, potentially tapping multiple value streams over the life of each project. For updates, see the website for KCEC.
To achieve its goal of 100% daytime renewables, KCEC has added 15 MW of utility-side battery energy storage to its system. Storage developer Torch Clean Energy helped to arrange the procurement, which uses Tesla battery storage technology. The project is divided between two sites, one providing 24 MWh and the other providing 3 MWh. Another component of the project involves utilizing new software from Camus Energy to support solar-plus-storage integration, potentially tapping multiple value streams over the life of each project. For updates, see the website for KCEC.
| kcec_intro_4_15_20pdf.pdf |
| kcec_torch-press_4_21.pdf |
United Power, Brighton, CO
United Power installed its 4 MW/16 MWh battery system to achieve peak load reduction. As the market evolves, this project or possibly additional battery systems are likely to address other value streams, too, such as shared storage for commercial and industrial (C and I) customers or improved EV charging strategies. Initiated in 2018, the project was developed initially by SoCore Energy, and then by Engie Distributed Renewables, which acquired SoCore. United Power's work in energy storage exemplifies co-op innovation and also demonstrates the fast evolution of new co-op market strategies. The co-op's growing commitment to distribution-scale solar and storage helped lead United Power to reexamine its upstream relationships with Tri-State G&T and other market players, to meet the challenges of participating in the 21st-Century grid.
United Power installed its 4 MW/16 MWh battery system to achieve peak load reduction. As the market evolves, this project or possibly additional battery systems are likely to address other value streams, too, such as shared storage for commercial and industrial (C and I) customers or improved EV charging strategies. Initiated in 2018, the project was developed initially by SoCore Energy, and then by Engie Distributed Renewables, which acquired SoCore. United Power's work in energy storage exemplifies co-op innovation and also demonstrates the fast evolution of new co-op market strategies. The co-op's growing commitment to distribution-scale solar and storage helped lead United Power to reexamine its upstream relationships with Tri-State G&T and other market players, to meet the challenges of participating in the 21st-Century grid.
| specs_upi_slides.pdf |
| engie_cs_unitedpower_flyer_digital_0520.pdf |
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* Acknowledgements and a Disclaimer, which are required on the U.S. Department of Energy funded portion of this work, are included on under the About/Project tab of this website. Users of all resources and information on this site are cautioned to perform due diligence in adapting content to a specific local project or opportunity.