Back to Blog

These two pair nicely – Community Solar & Battery Storage

The battery storage project on Decatur is located in the center of the island on 3.6 acres within our main transmission substation and in proximity to our community solar project. The community solar project is a 504 kW DC array that produces approximately 570,000 kWh per year and began producing energy in 2018.

Some of our goals with this project are:

  • enhanced safety
  • reduce operating costs (through efficiencies and peak shaving)
  • improve reliability of the current infrastructure while speeding the transition to locally produced renewable energy.

OPALCO’s storage system improves the output of the Decatur Island Community Solar project. As energy costs rise with carbon legislation and fees, OPALCO plans to decrease our reliance on mainland resources through a system of microgrids. This investment today will help manage energy costs for members into the future.

Check out our quick fact on this project as well as our whole library of quick facts about the co-op! https://www.opalco.com/newsroom/quick-facts/

You may also like...

YR 2024 capitol

Youth Scholarship Winners

Each year, OPALCO selects five San Juan County students to represent OPALCO at the Youth Rally and to receive $1000 for their post high school education. This year’s winners are: … Read more
IR Board

Driving Change: A Local Non-profit Provides EV Rides to Communities in Need

In 2013, two San Juan Islanders, Bob Reilly and Curt VanHyning, saw a desperate need for free or affordable transportation services in Friday Harbor for disabled and elderly members of … Read more
map

Quick Fact: Northwest Resource Adequacy in a Rapidly Decarbonizing World

Northwest regional load is projected to double by 2050 due to the electrification of transportation and heating, which account for most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the region. This has … Read more