Accord Power Supports Early Deployment of Solar-Plus-Storage Systems Across NYC Public Libraries

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, New York City began evaluating strategies to improve emergency energy resilience for critical public facilities during grid outages.

One approach involved the development of solar-plus-storage systems designed to provide backup power to essential community locations. Through grant-funded resilience initiatives, Accord Power supported the design and installation of battery-backed solar energy systems at four public library facilities across New York City.

The objective of these installations was to enable selected libraries to function as community resilience centers during emergency events. In the event of a grid outage, these facilities were designed to provide residents with access to power for device charging, internet connectivity, and information services.

At the time of deployment, battery energy storage systems integrated with solar infrastructure were still an emerging technology category in public-sector applications. As a result, the projects required coordination across multiple regulatory and permitting agencies.

Accord Power worked in collaboration with city and state agencies, including the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR), to establish permitting pathways and compliance frameworks for the installations.

Because few precedents existed for this type of public-sector solar-plus-storage deployment, project stakeholders worked together to define safety protocols, operational standards, and approval processes that informed subsequent energy storage projects across the city.

The projects resulted in some of the earliest successfully permitted and commissioned community-scale battery storage systems in New York City, including approvals for operation and associated regulatory certifications.

These early deployments contributed to broader recognition of battery storage as a critical component of urban energy resilience planning. Building on this foundation, Accord Power continues to develop commercial battery energy storage systems designed to improve energy reliability, reduce operational costs, and support long-term grid resilience strategies for institutional and commercial facilities.

Early post-Sandy resilience initiatives have since been cited as foundational examples of how solar and storage technologies can support continuity of services during grid disruptions in dense urban environments.