New York City Housing Authority

At a Glance

Industry

Public Housing Authority

Project Types

Clean and Renewable Energy, Climate Justice/Energy Equity, Data Analysis

Year

2021

Location

New York, NY

Summary

Patrick Varuzza helped the New York City Housing Authority with a study to assess pairing solar with battery storage systems for resilience or peak load shaving at NYCHA developments.

Goals

As part of its Sustainability Agenda, NYCHA is interested in implementing solar plus storage projects at its developments, both for financial (demand response) purposes as well as resilience in the face of grid outages due to climate change. Understanding where and how to proceed with these projects will help NYCHA protect its residents, limit the Authority’s dependence on electricity generated from fossil fuels, and make progress towards achieving its ambitious GHG reduction targets.

Solutions

First, Patrick developed criteria to help determine which NYCHA developments have the highest need and greatest suitability for battery storage projects. Second, Patrick researched battery technologies allowable under current regulations in New York City and identified which technologies would best serve NYCHA’s various needs. Third, Patrick investigated the existing risks that NYCHA residents face without access to backup power and created a modelling tool that NYCHA can use to calculate critical loads and battery sizing at any development. Finally, Patrick reviewed potential funding models, demand response revenue opportunities, and NYCHA’s current electricity costs and utility rates to develop cashflow and NPV projections for solar plus storage projects.

Potential Impact

NYCHA will use the data and modeling tools compiled in this project to develop solar plus storage projects at their developments across the city. Where these projects are implemented, NYCHA developments would be supplied with backup power from energy generated by rooftop solar arrays and on-site battery storage in the event of a grid outage. This backup power can be used to power critical loads such as hallway lighting, and elevators, and “resilience hub” community centers. When not providing backup power, the solar plus storage system would be able to generate economic value for NYCHA through peak load reduction and demand management. 


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