The SFPUC recently completed its first solar plus storage installation at the SFPD Academy in Diamond Heights. While the SFPUC owns and operates numerous solar arrays across the city that provide energy to Hetch Hetchy Power and CleanPowerSF customers, this new installation includes a storage component to help build resiliency into our power grid. The project is located atop a carport and is sized to meet the site’s typical daily energy use in the summertime.

Including battery storage with our solar arrays is an important step in the transition to a resilient, clean energy future for San Francisco. Without battery storage, excess generated energy can go to waste. Battery storage ensures that excess energy can be stored to use at times when there is more energy demand but generation is low, or in the case of an emergency. For example, stored energy can be used at nighttime when solar panels are not producing energy.

In addition to the SFPD Academy solar plus storage project, the SFPUC will also install a solar plus storage project on the roof of the San Francisco Public Library site at 190 9th Street. The project is currently in the design phase with construction expected to begin in 2022.