Solar Energy Innovation Network Publications
Browse publications produced by utilities, governments, nonprofits, and other stakeholders in the Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) These project outputs can help others learn from or apply the solutions developed.
The resources below are outputs from SEIN projects. Most were authored by the multistakeholder teams leading those projects. For more information about the various SEIN projects, see the Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3 pages.
The resources that were published by an organization other than NREL do not necessarily represent the work or views of NREL.
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| Publication Title | Publisher | SEIN Round # | SEIN Team or Organization | Year | Topics | metadata |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Largo Clear Sky Assessment Process: Prioritizing Solar + Storage for Resilient Facilities & Communities | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | case study; solar+storage; local government; Florida; resilience; disaster |
| Clear Sky Tampa Bay: Pre-Release Webinar | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | toolkit; solar+storage; resilience; disaster preparedness; mitigation ; local government; community partners; policy; DER; Florida |
| Clear Sky Tampa Bay: Project and Toolkit Overview—Resilience-Based Resources for Assessing Solar + Storage on Critical Facilities | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | toolkit; solar+storage; resilience; disaster preparedness; mitigation ; local government; community partners; policy; DER; FL; Florida |
| Clear Sky Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay Regional Policy Landscape Analysis (Florida Energy Resilience Policy Landscape) | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | solar+storage; policy; toolkit; planning; energy markets; disaster preparedness; emergency management; utility-scale; FL; Florida; resilience |
| Manatee County Clear Sky Assessment Process: Prioritizing Solar + Storage for Resilient Facilities & Communities | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | case study; solar+storage; local government; Florida; resilience; disaster |
| Pinellas County Clear Sky Assessment Process: Prioritizing Solar + Storage for Resilient Facilities & Communities | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | case study; solar+storage; local government; Florida; resilience; disaster |
| Assessing Community Preferences Regarding Solar Development | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Compiling a Community Solar Action Plan | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Conducting a Community Solar Survey | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Conducting a Solar Resource and Infrastructure Assessment | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Conducting Focus Groups for Solar Planning | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Defining Realistic Solar Development Options | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Toolkit Overview | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Community Planning for Solar: Understanding and Evaluating Solar Financing and Ownership Options | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Solar Resource and Infrastructure Assessment for the Town of Westhampton | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| The Electric Grid, Distributed Generation, and Grid Interconnection | NREL | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | Rural; siting; financing; community; outreach; education; ownership; Massachusetts; solar photovoltaics; PV siting; community planning; toolkit; UMass; clean energy extension; action plan; municipalities |
| Solar Energy Innovation Network 2017-2024:Abbreviated Final Technical Report | NREL | 3 | N/A | 2024 | Grid flexibility, resilience, rural solar, commercial-scale solar, equitable residential, replication | Grid flexibility; resiliency; solar in rural communities; solar for commercial-scale contexts, equitable residential and commercial-scale solar; replication; SEIN; solar energy innovation network; |
| Financing Solar + Storage for Small Businesses in Underserved Communities | NREL | 3 | Driving Resilient and Economic Commercial Solar and Storage in Underserved Communities | 2024 | Commercial-scale solar, solar plus, solar financing | solar+storage; toolkit; model; excel-based; emergency management; utility; decision support; disaster preparedness; florida; Clear Sky Tampa Bay; local government; case study; distributed energy resources; DERs |
| A Resilience-Based Siting Toolkit for Solar+Storage | Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience through Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Model/tool, solar plus, resilience | solar+storage; toolkit; model; excel-based; emergency management; utility; decision support; disaster preparedness; florida; Clear Sky Tampa Bay; local government; case study; distributed energy resources; DERs |
| Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and Deployment of Solar (STEADy Solar) - Dataset | NREL | 3 | N/A | 2024 | Model/tool | equitable solar; solar deployment; tool; census tract; STEADY; Inflation Reduction Act; data set; excel-based |
| Solar Power in Your Community, A Guide for Local Governments on How To Increase Access to and Deployment of Solar PV | U.S. Department of Energy | 2 | N/A | 2023 | Distributed energy resources | Solar; photovoltaic capacity; Distributed PV; Federal incentives; State policy support; Local governments; Market barriers |
| The Power of a Network | NREL | 3 | N/A | 2022 | Commercial-scale solar, residential solar, solar plus, solar financing | equitable solar; distributed solar deployment; solar finance; resilience; solar+storage; battery storage; Solar Energy Innovation Network; SEIN |
| Transforming Energy Through the Solar Energy Innovation Network | NREL | 1 | N/A | 2018 | Distributed energy resources, solar plus, resilience | solar + DER; distributed energy resources; DERs; locational value; rate design; electrification; photovoltaics; PV; roadmapping; roadmap; SEIN; solar energy innovation network; utility |
| Advancing Small Business Solar Equity: Final Technical Insights Report | Lake Street Council | 3 | Advancing Small Business Solar Equity in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minneota | 2023 | Solar procurement, commercial-scale solar | small business; equity; solar hub network; equitable solar; human-centered design; capacity building; twin cities; Minnesota; commercial solar; solar procurement; community engagement; BIPOC communities; solar access; solar financing; equitable solar |
| Wondering if Solar Is Right for Your Home? (Austin Solar Flyer) | Pecan Street | 3 | Fair Solar Lending for Historically Underserved Neighborhoods in Austin, Texas | 2024 | Solar financing | solar financing; Austin; Texas; fair solar lending; consumer protection |
| Safely Exploring Solar: A Guide for Austin Energy Customers | Pecan Street | 3 | Fair Solar Lending for Historically Underserved Neighborhoods in Austin, Texas | 2024 | Solar financing | solar financing; energy resilience; grid resilience; austin; texas; fair solar lending; consumer protection |
| Locating Equitable Solar Opportunities by Census Tract: A Guide to the Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and Deployment of Solar (STEADy Solar) | NREL | 3 | N/A | 2024 | Model/tool | equitable solar; solar deployment; tool; census tract; STEADY; Inflation Reduction Act |
| Solar PV on U.S. Houses of Worship: Overview of Market Activity and Trends | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | 3 | N/A | 2023 | Commercial-scale solar | equitable solar; solar deployment; commercial solar; solar demographics; solar trends; PV installation; houses of worship; community benefit |
| Solar for BIPOC Houses of Worship | RE-volv | 3 | Bringing Solar to Houses of Worship Led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color | 2023 | Commercial-scale solar, solar financing | equitable solar; solar deployment; bipoc; solar finance |
| Collaborating With Utilities To Meet Underserved Community Needs: A Guide to Equitable Commercial Solar and Solar + Storage Deployment | RMI | 3 | N/A | 2023 | Commercial-scale solar, solar plus | solar plus storage; solar+storage; energy burdens; grid integration; local government; community resilience planning; utility programs; program planning; decision-making processes |
| Community Resilience Options: A Menu for Enhancing Local Energy Resilience | NREL | 2 | N/A | 2023 | Resilience, solar plus | energy storage; resilience hubs; green infrastructure; emergency services; case studies value |
| Impacts of Non-Residential Solar on Residential Adoption Decisions | Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy | 3 | Bringing Solar to Houses of Worship Led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color | 2023 | Solar adoption behavior | non residential solar adoption; residential solar adoption; equitable solar; solar PV influence; solar PV contagion; journal article; adoption behavior |
| New Pathways for Equitable Solar Adoption in Texas | Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute | 3 | New Pathways for Equitable Rooftop Solar in Texas | 2023 | Case study, solar procurement | low-income households; federal funding sources; HUD; LIHEAP; WAP; utility incentives; state incentives; disadvantaged communities; underserved communities; equitable solar |
| Advancing Electric System Resilience With Distributed Energy Resources: A Review of State Policies | National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners | 1 | Solar PV for Advanced System Resilience and Restoration | 2020 | Resilience, distributed energy resources | state public utility commissions; utility investments; resilience benefits; NARUC |
| Economics of Solar With Storage for Municipal Buildings in the City of Orlando | NREL | 1 | Orlando: Renewable and Resilient | 2019 | Solar plus, modeling and analysis | Technical; economic; potential; Florida; PV; photovoltaic; storage; battery storage; PV+Storage; cost-effective; FL |
| Evaluating Distributed Generation Economics (EDGE) Tool | Sustainable City University of New York | 2 | Overcoming Barriers to Community Shared Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Community solar, solar plus, road map, distributed energy resources, commercial-scale solar | economic; solar+storage; urban; rooftop solar; NYC; community distributed generation; CUNY; tool |
| Charting a Path for Reliable, Resilient and Affordable Clean Energy: A Roadmap for Three Communities in Utah | Utah Clean Energy | 1 | Renewable Electricity Impacts and Solutions in Utah | 2020 | Resilience, solar procurement, distributed energy resources, road map | DERs; DER; utility-scale solar; 100% renewable; UT; roadmap |
| The Value of Resilience for Distributed Energy Resources: An Overview of Current Analytical Practices | National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners | 1 | Solar PV for Advanced System Resilience and Restoration | 2019 | Resilience, distributed energy resources | DERs; DER; cost-benefit analysis; decision-making analysis; natural disasters; cybersecurity; vulnerability; value |
| Advancing Electric System Resilience With Distributed Energy Resources: Key Questions and Resources | National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners | 1 | Solar PV for Advanced System Resilience and Restoration | 2020 | Resilience, distributed energy resources | state regulation; resilience; regulators; DERs; DER; policy; NARUC |
| State Strategies for Valuing Distributed Energy Resources in Cost-Effective Locations | Clean Energy States Alliance | 1 | Multistate Initiative To Develop Solar in Locations that Provide Benefits to the Grid | 2020 | Distributed energy resources, electric vehicle supply equipment | DERs; DER; state policy; regulatory policy; value; CESA; EVSE |
| Solar Power + Electric Vehicle Charging: Capturing Synergies in Minnesota | Great Plains Institute | 1 | Technological and Market Deployment Synergies Between EVs and Solar DG Using EV Charging to Add Value to Distributed Solar | 2020 | Solar plus, electric vehicle supply equipment | marketplace barriers; transportation; greenhouse gas emissions; government; state; local; charging; EV; Minnesota; GPI; EVSE; MN |
| Navigating Options for Transportation Electrification and Solar Charging | Montana Renewable Energy Association | 1 | Montana Solar Powered Community Transportation Initiative | 2020 | Solar plus, electric vehicle supply equipment | road map; roadmap; electric transportation; EV; electric vehicles; EVSE; EV supply equipment; charging stations; distributed solar |
| Distributed Rate Design: A Review of Early Approaches and Practical Considerations for Value of Solar Tariffs | The Electricity Journal | 1 | Multistate Initiative To Develop Solar in Locations that Provide Benefits to the Grid | 2019 | Rate design | New York; California; value; tariff flexibility; NY; CA |
| Current Developments in Retail Rate Design: Implication for Solar and Other Distributed Energy Resources | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | 1 | N/A | 2019 | Rate design, distributed energy resources | rate design; DER; DERs; trends; load buildings; demand chargers; net-metering; Evs; electric vehicles; rates; LBNL |
| Capturing More Value From Combinations of PV and Other Distributed Energy Resources | Regulatory Assistance Project | 1 | N/A | 2019 | Solar plus, distributed energy resources | photovoltaic; DERs; DER; metering; communications; data system; rate design; non-wires alternatives; NWAs; RAP |
| Blackstart of Power Grids With Inverter-Based Resources | NREL | 1 | Solar PV for Advanced System Resilience and Restoration | 2020 | Modeling and analysis | black start; model; simulation; technical feasibility; inductive loads |
| Economics of Solar With Storage for Municipal Sites in the City of San Diego | NREL | 1 | Analysis of Distributed Solar Potential in San Diego | 2019 | Solar plus, modeling and analysis | Technical; economic; potential; California; PV; photovoltaic; storage; battery storage; PV+Storage; cost-effective; CA |
| Evaluating Utility Costs Savings for EV Charging Infrastructure | NREL | 1 | Technological and Market Deployment Synergies Between EVs and Solar DG Using EV Charging to Add Value to Distributed Solar | 2019 | Electric vehicle supply equipment | Reopt; techno-economic decision support; EV; Electric Vehicles; charging stations; PV; Photovoltaics; storage; grid electricity; lifecycle costs; EVSE |
| Economics of Solar PV and Stationary Storage for Electric Bus Charging in Missoula, Montana | NREL | 1 | Montana Solar Powered Community Transportation Initiative | 2019 | Solar plus, electric vehicle supply equipment | Photovoltaics; EV; EV Charging; Charging stations; analysis; cost; techno-economic; lithium-ion battery storage; fleet; EVSE; MT |
| Solar HBCU Innovation in Microgrids and Resiliency With Solar + Storage | Groundswell, Inc. | 2 | Creating an Innovative Urban Energy Resiliency Hub | 2021 | Resilience, distributed energy resources, solar plus | Atlanta; energy burden; urban energy resiliency hubs; microgrid; solar +storage |
| Community Solar and Community Solar + Storage: A Roadmap of Barriers and Solutions for Commercial Systems in NYC | Sustainable City University of New York | 2 | Overcoming Barriers to Community Shared Solar Plus Storage | 2021 | Community solar, solar plus, road map, distributed energy resources, commercial-scale solar | roadmap; solar+storage; urban; rooftop solar; NYC; community distributed generation; CUNY |
| Institutional and Policy Landscape for Solar-Plus-Storage Deployment by Electric Cooperatives | North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center | 2 | "Solar-Plus" for Electric Cooperatives: Guidance and Documents for High-Value Procurement and Operations | 2021 | Solar procurement, solar plus | solar+storage; electric cooperatives; co-ops; energy storage; co-location; policy; urban markets; investor-owned; front of the meter; utilities; IOUs; utility; local government |
| SPECs Early-Stage Decision Model: User Manual | North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center | 2 | "Solar-Plus" for Electric Cooperatives: Guidance and Documents for High-Value Procurement and Operations | 2021 | Model/tool, solar procurement, solar plus | solar+storage; batter storage; decision model; excel-based spreadsheet; value; project design and planning; demand charge; solar power purchase agreement; PPA; energy storage service agreement; ESA; System Advisor Model; SAM; analysis |
| Solar-Plus for Electric Co-ops Early-Stage Decision Model | Solar Value Project | 2 | "Solar-Plus" for Electric Cooperatives: Guidance and Documents for High-Value Procurement and Operations | 2021 | Model/tool, solar procurement, solar plus | excel-based; solar+storage; model; utility; planning; economic |
| Use of Operating Agreements and Energy Storage to Reduce Photovoltaic Interconnection Costs: Technical and Economic Analysis | NREL | 2 | Evaluating the Use of Energy Storage To Manage Solar Interconnection Costs | 2022 | Distributed energy resources, interconnection | Rhode Island, rural, operating envelope, pv, grid upgrade |
| Use of Operating Agreements and Energy Storage To Reduce Photovoltaic Interconnection Costs: Conceptual Framework | NREL | 2 | Evaluating the Use of Energy Storage To Manage Solar Interconnection Costs | 2022 | Distributed energy resources, interconnection | Rhode Island, rural, operating envelope, pv, grid upgrade |
| Reopt Lite Overview - Resilience Analysis: Clear Sky Tampa Bay | NREL | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience Through Solar Plus Storage | 2022 | Model/tool, resilience, solar plus | reopt, PV, solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage, energy storage, toolkit, solar sites, reopt light, tampa bay, clear sky |
| Community Planning for Solar Toolkit | University of Massachusetts Amherst | 2 | Community-Informed Proactive Solar Siting and Financing in Massachusetts | 2022 | Model/tool, Solar procurement, rural solar, community solar, siting | rural, siting, financing, community, outreach, education, ownership, massachusetts, solar photovoltaics, PV siting |
| Severe Weather Considerations for Siting Solar PV Systems | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience Through Solar Plus Storage | 2022 | Siting, resilience | PV, solar photovoltaics, siting, tampa bay, clear sky, extreme weather, hurricane, snow, severe weather, wind, hail, flood |
| Best Practices and Considerations for Siting Battery Storage Systems | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | 2 | Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Regional Framework for Enhancing Resilience Through Solar Plus Storage | 2022 | Solar plus, distributed energy resources, siting, resilience | PV, solar photovoltaics, siting, resilience, extreme weather, battery energy storage, energy storage, tampa bay, clear sky, severe weather, shutdown, safety |
| Breaking Barriers Resilient Energy System Analysis | NREL | 2 | Creating an Innovative Urban Energy Resiliency Hub | 2022 | Resilience, distributed energy resources, solar plus | Atlanta; energy burden; urban energy resiliency hubs; microgrid; solar +storage |
| Resilience Valuation and Planning for Solar and Storage On Critical Infrastructure | NREL | 2 | Quantifying the Resilience Value of Solar Plus Storage in Reno | 2022 | Resilience, solar procurement, solar plus, distributed energy resources | Reno; solar plus storage; value of resilience; funding sources; critical infrastructure; C-PACE; public safety |
| Utility Programs Supporting Customer-Sited Battery Storage: Program Design to Ensure Mutual Benefits | NREL | 3 | Driving Resilient and Economic Commercial Solar and Storage in Underserved Communities | 2024 | Commercial-scale solar, solar plus | equitable solar; solar deployment; battery storage; solar plus storage; solar+storage; small business; businesses; salt lake city; utah; behind the meter; utility; resiliency; DER; distributed energy resources; program design |
| Planning for Equitable Solar Deployment With Electric Cooperatives | University of Minnesota | 2 | Organizational Innovation for Equitable Solar Deployment With Electric Cooperatives | 2021 | solar procurement, distributed energy resources, model/tool, rural solar | electric cooperatives; coops; subsidy; equity |
| Evaluating Utility Costs Savings and Resilience: A Case Study in Port Arthur, Texas | NREL | 3 | N/A | 2024 | Model/tool, commercial-scale, solar financing | solar photovoltaics; PV; solar plus; solar-plus-storage; battery energy storage system; BESS; generators; cost-optimizing; solar site; resilience; value of lost load; VoLL; microgrid upgrade costs |
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Last Updated April 3, 2025