November 21, 2024
A growing number of the 350 victims of landslides left without electricity or natural gas in Southern California’s Rancho Palos Verdes after the July 2024 event are being rescued with backup solar + storage + generator systems researched by ABC Solar of Torrance, California.
Within days of the landslide, Bradley Bartz, founder and CEO of ABC Solar, and his team of five installers have so far managed to deliver new energy systems to 29 area residents, who at one point were ordered to evacuate. “One day I did six systems,” Bartz said in an interview with Solar builder.
The emergency systems were initially installed without conduits over exposed wires, but in the days following the rush, the systems were brought up to code, Bartz noted. The utility Southern California Edison (SCE) service cables were physically disconnected to ensure safety against possible backfeed exports. “But we added Polaris Multi-tap connectors to make reconnection easy,” he said.
Because the demand for systems remains so high, Bartz has assessed systems and prioritized them for the elderly and others with special considerations. Those who already have generators or other energy sources are placed lower on the response list.
Emergency solar energy + storage + generator system
The emergency installation formula typically included Silfab panels, Sol-Ark 15 kW hybrid inverters and Briggs & Stratton stackable 6 kWh SimpliPHI batteries and propane generators. BatteryEVO, based in Chatsworth, California, also stepped in with their Walrus Atlantic 12 kW/30 kWh all-in-one battery systems, Bartz said.
“Because we have relationships with multiple suppliers, we were usually able to get the equipment delivered the next day,” Bartz said. “Briggs & Stratton was very helpful in moving material quickly,” he noted.
The logistics process was facilitated by ABC’s well-stocked warehouse. “We started using 370-watt solar panels, then we moved to 410 panels and now we are using 430 panels,” he noted.
The advantage of using hybrid inverters is that an EV can be charged from the storage system. Once reverse charging control software is standardized in the market, that feature could be added, Bartz said.
Trade partnerships accelerate emergency installations
To speed up the emergency installations, ABC called on companies from various other industries. “Hugoboom Roofing [of Redondo Beach] has been an important partner for over 12 years. Their team strips the tiles while our crew installs the bases and flashings for solar panels. They expertly renovate each upright, ensuring seamless integration of solar energy systems into the roof.” Bart said.
Similarly, “CDE Pools also helped us install solar pool pumps, another crucial step in getting homes off the grid and minimizing their energy burden. Together we have developed an assembly line approach to installations, streamlining the process and making it as efficient as possible.” Bartz noted.
“These relationships proved their weight and purpose as they tripled the size of our workforce at a necessary time,” said Bartz.
SERAH Mobile emergency system
For some customers affected by the landslide, the scale of the response required an ABC factory-built mobile solution.
“One of our most exciting developments is the establishment of SERAH (Solar Energy Resilient Activity Hub). Built on an 18-foot trailer with a Briggs & Stratton 22 kW propane generator, this mobile solar hub is designed to deliver solar and battery power to disaster sites for both short- and long-term needs,” said Bartz.
“We have already deployed SERAH at the Portuguese Bend Riding Club, where horse stables and training facilities are powered with a system of 4 Walrus units and 32 Silfab Solar 370W panels,” explains Bartz. “As our climate becomes more unpredictable and electricity grids less reliable, mobile solar solutions like SERAH will become indispensable.”
AHJ relationships critical to emergency energy
The regulations surrounding normal solar and battery installations are difficult enough, especially when it comes to emergency measures, Bartz lamented. “In an emergency situation, nothing will work out perfectly as far as regulations are concerned.”
Permit dispatch from the city proved to be a flexible process, Bartz said. “We received permission from the municipality of RPV for the solar panels and for a camper [recreational vehicle] with a 50 amp plug, so we didn’t have to allow the battery itself.”
“I reduced that regulatory risk by going to the city beforehand with a single line chart explaining what I was going to do. I think communicating with local officials has helped a lot, but the county has been a double-edged sword in this whole thing,” Bartz said.
SCE requires retro-inspections to reconnect emergency solar and storage solutions, Bartz noted. “Many customers have connected their own solar and storage systems since SCE initially de-energized them. “To ensure the safety of customers and crews, SCE must verify that proper safety measures, including city inspections and permits, have been completed before power can be restored,” the utility’s website said.
Call on the Air Resources Board to study the response
Although landslides are a global problem, the landslides at Rancho Palos Verdes, especially at the Portuguese Bend, have been an ongoing problem for decades, Bartz points out. His website expands: “This landslide is not just a slow creep. The ground beneath the Portuguese Bend moves like a living organism, undulating and folding as it shifts toward the sea. As the Earth bends downward, the pressure forces new formations upward, creating what locals now call Gray Rock Beach, a stark contrast to the golden sand and gentle waves that once defined the coastline.”
In interaction with local and regional authorities, Bartz invited the California Air Resources Board (CARB) “to conduct a groundbreaking case study on a unique situation in Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills, where a devastating landslide forced Southern California Edison to abandon grid support for more than 350 large, luxury homes. As these homes transition to complete dependence on solar and battery systems, this presents an unprecedented opportunity for CARB to evaluate and guide the development of off-grid solar and storage systems designed to operate in all seasons, especially in winter, to thrive.”
In addition to affirming the value of solar + storage, Bartz hopes the agency can override current restrictions on solar overbuilding in the region.
“Currently, rules for sizing solar systems under NEM (net metering) and other restrictions limit the ability to build truly winter-proof systems. CARB’s guidance can help make the case for the necessary expansion of solar and battery storage to ensure these homes can meet winter energy needs without having to rely on fossil fuels,” he said.
Keywords: Briggs & Stratton, off-grid
