Seattle City Light Miller Community Center - Solar Microgrid Presentation

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Join us for a presentation by Seattle City Light's Bianca Smith on Miller Community Center Solar Microgrid Presentation

Seattle City Light is partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to implement a microgrid project at Miller Community Center, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The project will include the installation of a battery energy storage system, solar panels and microgrid controls.

The microgrid will provide backup power storage for the community center during emergency events, such as a windstorm or unplanned power outage. When the electric grid is down, the microgrid will generate and provide power to the community center to keep the center's services and communications operational.

A $1.5 million grant from the state of Washington will provide a portion of the funds for the project. The City of Seattle is partnering with the University of Washington to perform analytics on the microgrid's community and utility benefits.

How will the project operate?
During normal operations, the solar panels will charge the batteries. When the solar panels are not generating, the batteries can back up the delivery of electricity from City Light's distribution grid. The microgrid will provide backup power storage for the community center during unplanned outages such as a windstorm.

What's Happening Now?

Project Update (April 2021): Crews are installing a new fence for the battery system. They will continue to install new wires and equipment to build out the microgrid. They are scheduled to complete construction in the 2nd quarter of 2021.


Crews use an excavator to establish the foundation for the new microgrid equipment.

Construction crews assist with the microgrid installation at Miller Community Center.

Crews install the battery that will be used for the new microgrid system.

Solar panels were installed on the community center's roof.