In California, 29% of the housing today is multi-family, and so is 50% of new housing construction. Decarbonizing more than 13 million homes is a massive undertaking, but retrofitting older multifamily housing stock with undersized electrical infrastructure is a real challenge.  We’re demonstrating a technology and design approach that expands capacity in multifamily units without expensive panel and system upgrades, and enables an otherwise impossible full electrification of each dwelling. Using distributed plug-in batteries, smart electrical panels, and thoughtfully designed controls, we’ll demonstrate how units with 60A panels and circuitry can behave like a 100+A system, and manage a set of all electric resources such as heat pumps, induction stoves, dryers, and other appliances. In grid events, we’ll demonstrate how the units will go into emergency mode, offering extended battery support without sacrificing access to HVAC, cooking, and other critical needs, for up to 5 days.  We’ll demonstrate this approach in two housing communities located 15 miles apart in Arcata and Willow Creek, CA with partners Danco Communities and Redwood Energy, and manage the systems via a centralized controller system developed by Berkeley Lab. Battery and smart panels are provided thanks to EcoFlow Technology, and system design is provided by IDeAs Consulting.

For any questions about the project, please email Ilse Villacorta.