SOLAR PRIZE

Utility-Owned Battery, LLC

AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 5/31/2019 11
 Voltage Optimizers (Note: Blue = Customer-Owned, Black= Utility-Owned)

Customer-Owned Solar Array Electric

Utility Grid
Meter Socket
Utility-Owned Battery & Inverter Adapter w/ Built-In
Solar Transfer Switch
Production
AC-to-DC Charger Meter
“Touch Safe” Grid AC In
High Voltage
DC Solar
Plug & DC-to-AC Inverter Off
Disconnect
Utility Controlled Customer
Battery Grid AC Out Switch Consumption
Management Meter
System Emergency AC Out

Battery Bank
Electrical Panel
AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 2
 Touch-Safe High Voltage
DC Plug

Pacific Northwest
National
Laboratory
Worked with Rick Pratt at
PNNL to adapt electric vehicle
plug to connect/disconnect solar
PV to Utility-Owned Battery.

AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 3

 Voltage Optimizers (Note: Blue = Customer-Owned, Black= Utility-Owned)

Customer-Owned Solar Array Electric

Utility Grid
Meter Socket
Utility-Owned Battery & Inverter Adapter w/ Built-In
Solar Transfer Switch
Production
AC-to-DC Charger Meter
“Touch Safe” Grid AC In
High Voltage
DC Solar
Plug & DC-to-AC Inverter Off
Disconnect
Utility Controlled Customer
Battery Grid AC Out Switch Consumption
Management Meter
System Emergency AC Out

Battery Bank
Electrical Panel
AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 4
 Sandia National Laboratories

Develop Utility Control & Data

Acquisition
• Have same inverter as Utility-Owned Battery,
LLC
• Already established communication protocols
w/ same inverter
• Experience with communication and control of
behind-the-meter battery systems in Vermont
• Communication & control experience using
existing utility’s automatic meter infrastructure
(AMI)

AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 5

 Transfer Switch Before Meter

Advantages
• No wires or conduit coming
out of meter socket
• Greater flexibility to locate
Replace this box with
utility-owned battery
image or chart

Disadvantages
• Installation can take one to
four hours longer

AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 6

 Meter Socket Transfer Switch

Advantages
• Very fast installation
• Plug and play

Disadvantages
• Not as pretty
• Utility-owned battery must be
located near customer’s meter

AMERICAN MADE CHALLENGES: SOLAR PRIZE |. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 7