Building Grid Resiliency

During my internship with Menlo Labs, I worked on two climate tech projects, one of which focused on developing a solution to address the growing concerns over power outtages and grid resiliency.

The resulting concept was a battery-as-a-service subscription that provides affordable and reliable access to renewable energy, enabling consumers to gain independence from utilities and prepare for frequent extreme weather events. By sharing cost-prohibitive assets such as batteries, residents can power critical loads such as medical devices and EVs while minimizing their environmental impact. The solution is designed to address service outages and offers consumers the security of having backup energy that is both sustainable and affordable.

The aging U.S. energy infrastructure has become increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as power grid exhaustion in Texas and power shut-offs in California to prevent wildfires. This has made the availability of electricity less dependable and predictable. The rising demand for electricity due to climate-linked extreme weather events has outpaced power generation, delivery, and storage. In fact, the number of significant power failures in the US has doubled from 2015 to 2020. Although backup power options like generators, portable power stations, and solar energy systems exist, few consumers have adopted them due to high upfront investments, unfamiliarity with evolving technology, and the complexities of incentives, technical specifications, and utility bill savings. Only 3% of US homes have backup generators installed, and 3.2% of detached single-family homes have installed solar panels with even fewer having batteries for 24/7 outage protection. Additionally, only 25-33% of the US housing supply is compatible with residential solar projects. Renters and condo owners also want reliable energy without the permanence and hassle of generators or solar panels.

The proposed solution is to provide reliable distribution of renewable energy to consumers who have limited access to residential solar projects, allowing them to become independent from utilities and prepare for frequent extreme weather events. This will be achieved through cost-effective sharing of assets such as batteries, which will enable residents to power essential equipment such as medical devices and EVs while minimizing their environmental impact. The solution will offer a battery-as-a-service subscription for homeowners, renters, and business owners, similar to insurance, with the aim of addressing service outages.

Our team undertook a thorough process in developing a new backup energy solution. To start, we examined decarbonization policy and emerging regulations related to diesel generators. We also researched market dynamics and current trends in the energy industry to inform our approach. As we considered the catalysts for this project, we interviewed industry experts to gain iterative concept feedback and a deeper understanding of the overall energy landscape. In addition, we reached out to current customers of diesel generators to understand their pain points with existing backup energy solutions. By using a comprehensive approach, we were able to develop a solution that addressed the needs of the market while also being mindful of policy and regulatory concerns.