A Modeling Framework for Equitable Deployment of Energy Storage in Disadvantaged Communities

Abstract

This paper provides an analytical framework to incorporate the deployment of behind-the-meter energy storage coupled with rooftop solar, and their associated revenue streams, in the context of equitable energy policy interventions. We propose an extension to the Justice40 optimization model by adding storage and incorporating more realistic solar compensation mechanisms, such as net-billing, which allows for temporal revenue differentiation and the economic viability of behind-the-meter energy storage devices. The extended model includes household-level PV plus storage co-deployment alongside existing interventions, such as weatherization, rooftop PV only, community solar, and community wind. From a modeling perspective, we propose a novel approximation method to represent storage operations and revenue streams without expanding the temporal dimension of model, thus maintaining its computational efficiency. The proposed model is validated using a case study in Wayne County, Michigan, involving 3,651 energy insecure households.