Empowering Disadvantaged Communities through University-Community Partnerships: Solar + Storage Design in Engineering Capstone Projects

In Washington State, 34 out of 39 counties host disadvantaged communities defined by the White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. Although federal and state climate policies prioritize clean energy investment to benefit these historically marginalized communities, many communities lack the technical capability to monitor and assess their energy usage data, diagnose their energy issues, and pursue clean energy resolutions. Limited technical resources hinder the communities from conceptualizing feasible projects and further competing effectively for funding opportunities. This paper presents a case study on the collaboration between University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute (UW CEI) with Beacon Hill Clean Energy and Climate Resiliency Task Force (BHCECRTF), where UW engineering seniors provide preliminary technical analysis to facilitate the community’s clean energy requirement through capstone projects. A Solar + Storage system is designed, aiming to lower the community's energy bills and carbon emission on normal operation days and protect residents’ well-being against extreme events through resilience enhancement. A technoleconomic analysis is incorporated to facilitate the budget planning and grant pursuing. The collaboration led to a grant award for the community. This study demonstrates a successful partnership between research institutions and local communities in Solar + Storage system deployment to achieve energy justice goals.