Specialty & Institutional / California
Solar for New Self-Storage Construction
Self-storage buildings have big roofs and small electric bills, which makes them a different kind of solar project. Whether the Energy Code requires solar depends on whether the storage is climate controlled, and whether the array makes sense beyond the code depends on how exported power is valued in the facility's utility territory.
Eventure's Role
Eventure helps self-storage developers evaluate the requirement, the export economics, and the roof, and delivers the system where the numbers work.
We bring solar into the project at schematic design, size the Energy Code requirement, coordinate the roof, structure, electrical rooms, and battery location with your architect and engineers, and carry the system through permitting, utility interconnection, inspection, commissioning, and closeout.
Title 24 treatment
Climate-controlled self-storage is conditioned storage space and is evaluated under Section 140.10 as a warehouse occupancy, requiring PV and battery storage where the building is newly constructed and conditioned. Unconditioned storage buildings are not subject to the requirements.
Design Considerations
What is different about self-storage.
- Conditioned or notClimate-controlled storage is conditioned space and is evaluated like a conditioned warehouse. Unconditioned storage buildings are not subject to the PV and storage requirements.
- Export economicsOn-site load is modest, so most production exports. The value of that export depends on the utility's tariff or program, which we evaluate before sizing.
- Multi-story and drive-up roofsMulti-story climate-controlled buildings concentrate load and roof area; single-story drive-up rows spread roof across the site. Each suits a different array strategy.
- Roof structureLight-gauge roof systems common in self-storage need the array load checked by the structural engineer early.
Keep Solar Off the Critical Path
Don't let solar be the last thing standing between your project and its Certificate of Occupancy.
On self-storage projects, as on every California building, the Energy Code requirement, the fire authority's review of the battery, the utility's interconnection timeline, and the building's final inspection all depend on the solar scope being designed, permitted, installed, and documented in sequence. We treat it as a scheduled trade from day one.
Solar and the Certificate of Occupancy
Questions
Self-Storage solar, answered.
Does a new self-storage facility need solar?
If the building is climate controlled, it is conditioned space and generally carries the warehouse requirements under Section 140.10. Unconditioned storage does not. We confirm the classification with the energy consultant early.
Does solar make sense on a facility with a small electric bill?
Sometimes, depending on how exported power is valued. In LADWP territory the Feed-in Tariff purchases output from larger systems under long-term contracts; in other territories net billing applies. We model the options before recommending a size.
Related
More specialty & institutional building types.
All specialty & institutional · All building types · Where we work
Discuss Your Project
Planning self-storage in California?
Send us the drawings at any stage. We will size the Title 24 requirement, review the roof and electrical approach, and map the path to a Certificate of Occupancy that does not wait on solar.