Decatur Island Microgrid Project
Local, Renewable Power
The Decatur Island project is on 3.6 acres at the Decatur substation. The project constitutes Community Solar and Battery Storage. The Community Solar produces around 570,000 kWh annually. Approximately 270 OPALCO members own shares in this project.
Community Solar and Battery Project Stats
OPALCO’s first microgrid represents a major milestone in our commitment to local renewable energy, grid resilience, and community-driven innovation.
Located at OPALCO’s Decatur substation, the project combines community-owned solar generation with utility-scale battery storage.
The project began generating clean energy in July 2018 and has become a proven success story for cooperative-owned renewable energy. Approximately 270 OPALCO members invested directly in the project by purchasing shares in the solar array.
Through a combination of member investment, grant funding, and Washington State renewable energy incentives, members who purchased shares in the project have now received their full return on investment.
Community Solar
- Size: 504 kW DC
- Cost/unit: $126 (originally $150 w/ a $24 rebate upon receipt of REAP grant)
- Watts/unit: 75 watts
- Member Cost/watt: $1.68
- Straight-line payback: 6.5 years (due also to WA state production incentive of $0.16 per kWh)
- Total Cost: $1.054M ($847k member subscriptions, $207k REAP grant)
Battery Project Facts
- Size: one-megawatt, 2.6 MWh large scale battery storage
- CEF2 Grid Modernization Grant: $1.2M with matching funds from OPALCO
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been a key player in aiding in project management, research, and analysis
|
Array Size |
504 kW DC |
|
Cost/Unit |
$126 with REAP grant |
|
Cost/Unit |
$150 without REAP grant |
|
Watts/Unit |
75 watts |
|
Hardware Costs |
$418,374 |
|
Total Cost Paid for with Member Subscriptions |
$847,000 |
|
Total Cost |
$1.054M |
|
$/kWh LCOE 25-yr |
$0.0625/kWh |
|
Participant Net Cost/W-DC |
$1.69/Watt |
|
Credits for generation |
$0.1007/kWh |
|
REAP Grant |
$206,993 |
|
Sales Tax Rebate |
$40,405 |
|
WA State Incentives Total Paid to Members |
$500,392 |
|
Straight Line Payback/years |
18.2 years |
|
Payback/years with WA State Incentives ($0.16/kWh) |
9.2 years |
|
Payback with REAP Grant & IRS Sales Tax Rebate |
6.6 years |
Microgrid Tour
Real Time Production
Decatur Island Microgrid Celebration
Timelapse
Doty’s Marketplace Goes Solar!
Quick Fact: Decatur Island Battery Storage Project
These two pair nicely – Community Solar & Battery Storage
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