PV + Battery Storage System Design for Off-Grid Rural Homesteads in Navajo-Based Indigenous Communities

Energy sovereignty is a critical factor to addressing the economic disparities seen in indigenous communities across the Navajo Nation. The design process for clean energy systems must include direct input from the communities that it will impact rather than relying on pre-conceived ideas of problems they face. This project involves an energy assessment and system design that address both priorities while ensuring the cultural livelihood of indigenous families remain a key focus for the system. The development of an off-grid system consisting of a 1.6 kW photovoltaic array coupled with a 10.2 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery storage apparatus was designed for implementation in the assessed rural areas of the southwestern region of the U.S. Once the photovoltaic and energy storage system is fully implemented at each homestead, the system will enable several long-lasting benefits for the families including energy resiliency, potential for economic savings associated with access to clean water and agricultural produce, and energy workforce development opportunities.