Resources > Solar + storage in Florida

Solar + storage in Florida

• Factsheet

May 31, 2024

What is solar + battery storage?

Solar systems with battery backup can provide individuals and communities with much-needed resiliency in the face of natural disasters.

Progress in Florida

• The SunSmart E-Shelters Program, coordinated by the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center, has installed more than 115, 10-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic systems on emergency shelter schools throughout the state. These schools can provide electricity, lighting, heating and cooling, electric charging stations, and other amenities to the public if a natural disaster disables the electric grid. They do all this for less than $100,000 per school.
• Florida’s utilities are increasing their adoption of storage technologies. Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) uses utility-scale batteries to store solar production during low demand and deploy those resources during higher demand times. They have also partnered with Florida International University (FIU) on an innovative microgrid to power their engineering center. This is followed up by a microgrid partnership with the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and Tyndall Air Force Base as a part of DAF’s renewable energy goals and re-build efforts after Hurricane Michael. FPL is also home to the Manatee Energy Storage Center, one of the world’s largest solar-powered batteries. 
• Duke Energy Florida is also investing in battery technology to increase grid resilience. Duke Energy is leading the Southeast in rate design innovation for customer-owned battery deployment and demand-side management pilots. We are hopeful to see these pilots happening in other areas throughout Florida. 
• Tampa Electric (TECO) is piloting novel rate design through their sister company (same parent company) BlockEnergy. A BlockEnergy residential microgrid is a cutting-edge proof project for the resilience of residential microgrids.

Florida Resources

• SunSmart E-Shelters Program – In the face of a natural disaster, Florida has developed this program, a solar + storage emergency shelter program available in 115 public schools across the state.
• Florida public power entities to participate in solar, storage research effort – The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative awarded Florida Alliance for Accelerating Solar and Storage Technology Readiness, FMEA, Nhu Energy, and the Florida Energy Office a $1.75 million grant to increase the growth of solar energy in Florida by developing new ways to use it in combination with energy storage and other resources
• Battery Storage 101 webinar – Learn the basics of solar combined with battery storage. If you want power when the grid goes down, this is the webinar for you.