Residential Solar Installation in Portland, OR
This residential solar installation in Portland’s Ladd’s Addition neighborhood resulted in a net-positive energy offset, allowing the family to maximize their savings and reduce reliance on Portland General Electric (PGE). Beginning in April 2023 and ending in October 2023, the project included structural upgrades to the house and seismic retrofitting of the garage before adding a solar array and battery system.
Project Objectives
The family requested the design of a solar energy system aimed at going beyond net zero to achieve a net-positive energy offset of over 100%. They also wanted to incorporate battery storage to enhance their savings through self-consumption, allowing them to store and utilize their clean energy at night and on days with lower solar production. Their goal was to reduce their reliance on electricity purchases from PGE. Additionally, utilizing a battery system would help mitigate the impact of future rate changes and Net Energy Metering (NEM) policy adjustments and maximize their savings.
Furthermore, the family sought a reliable battery solution that would provide coverage during short and long-term grid outages. They requested the option to integrate a standby or portable generator for enhanced resilience during extended outages caused by natural events. To achieve this, we implemented the generator and smart circuit modules to manage larger load appliances during outages and optimize battery usage.
This comprehensive solution was made possible by the FranklinWH battery system, which includes both smart circuits and generator modules.
Project Size:
- 12.2kW Solar PV array consisting of (33) Silfab 370-Wattsolar panels, and (33) Enphase IQ8M microinverters.
- (1) Franklin WH 13.6kw Battery with smart circuits and back-up and generator module.
- Structural upgrades to the house and seismic retrofit of the garage.
- Nine rafters in the house
- Eight rafters in the garage (four to five needing joist upgrades)
- Sheer wall sheathing on all walls and sill plate support Simpson HDUs, four per side, and doubling up the studs in those spots
Looking for more info on solar power? Here are 5 things you should know about the cost of a solar energy system.
Design Challenges and Solutions
The client is an engineer and also requested to have the garage structurally retrofitted and ready for the Cascadia earthquake with seismic retrofitting. To achieve this, we collaborated with our trade partner NW Seismic for the seismic retrofitting and worked as the General Contractor to ensure the work was backed for warranty and liability. The Neil Kelly solar team did the structural upgrades in-house.
Special Features
Franklin Home Power (FHP) is an innovative home energy management system with storage. It allows customers to manage their energy sources more efficiently and take full advantage of their solar power system. The three primary components of the FHP are aGate, aPower, and FranklinWH App.
The aGate is a smart energy management system that integrates all power sources to maximize efficient supply and automatically detects grid outages to seamlessly transition to backup power within 16 milliseconds.
The aGate has two optional accessories:
- Smart Circuits Module: manual and scheduled control for unique electric circuits, managed via the FranklinWH App.
- Generator Module: standby generator integration into the power supply, alongside aPower, solar systems, and the grid.
The FranklinWH App allows clients to have:
- Data visualization charts of real-time and historical loads and energy conditions
- Electricity plan customization to match household needs
- Real-time notification for intelligent recognition of events
- Remote control of energy management anytime and anywhere
- Prediction of available backup time based on battery state of charge (SoC) and household consumption
These special features provided the client with the battery system and standby generator integration they requested, as well as comprehensive data on the go via the Franklin WH App.
Choose Neil Kelly for Your Solar Energy Installation
Neil Kelly’s seasoned solar energy professionals have the resources and expertise to tailor a system to the unique requirements of your home or business. We’ll help evaluate the solar energy system potential of your building or property, plus, we can help you access tax credits and incentives that can offset the cost of installing the system in many areas.
Schedule your complimentary 30-minute assessment via phone or video with a Neil Kelly Solar Consultant today.
