By: Nik Korba

Multifamily residential developers who want to build a strong reputation must go beyond constructing houses. Their ultimate success hinges on creating communities where residents can establish homes that are safe, comfortable, and sustainable. To meet these needs, a growing number of developers are investing in distributed energy systems that harness solar power to provide their residents with more energy independence.

“Investments in distributed energy and storage have accelerated due to various factors, such as grid instability, extreme weather events, rising utility rates, and policy incentives,” explains Vincent Ambrose, CCO of FranklinWH. Consumers, developers, and investors alike are increasingly seeing the value in decentralizing power generation and storage, especially as energy reliability becomes a more pressing concern. Homeowners are seeking greater control over their energy usage, and investors recognize the potential for long-term returns in home energy storage systems that can capture solar power to meet that demand.”

Ambrose has worked in the renewable energy and technology sectors for over two decades, leveraging his passion and commitment to delivering innovative energy solutions designed to support the clean energy transition for both homeowners and businesses. FranklinWH offers an open and robust home energy solution that integrates solar, battery, grid, generator, and EV power sources, providing homeowners with a comprehensive range of energy solutions, including power backup during outages and peak periods, as well as the potential for off-grid operation 24/7.

Using Energy Storage to Enhance Residential Solar Panel Systems

Installing a solar electric system on its own might not fulfill a home’s full energy needs. A solar installation without energy storage will still leave homeowners dependent on their local grid during nighttime hours or on cloudy days when solar energy is reduced. Additionally, in cases where a homeowner lacks a home energy system and has solar connected directly to their main energy panel, the solar system must shut down during outages to prevent backfeeding to the grid, which could endanger line workers.

Communities that go solar while integrating energy systems with battery storage can create complete off-grid systems that maximize energy efficiency. These comprehensive solar solutions utilize battery storage to capture excess energy during the day, which can be used to power homes at night.

Integrating solar with storage also allows homeowners to benefit from savings provided by Time-of-Use (TOU) structures. TOU, now more common with utilities across the country, adjusts the cost of energy throughout the day to encourage users to avoid high-energy activities during peak demand hours. Since solar energy is used to charge batteries, it can reduce energy bills by decreasing reliance on the grid during on-peak hours, without the need to shift usage away from high-demand periods.

“Energy storage, especially when integrated into a home energy management ecosystem, is gaining momentum nationwide,” reports Ambrose. “While solar has already matured, storage represents the next frontier, offering greater flexibility, grid services, and energy independence. Investors are particularly interested in systems that go beyond standalone batteries, preferring platforms that incorporate intelligent software, load management, and whole-home backup capabilities.”

The intelligent systems Ambrose refers to automate a wide range of practices that improve the energy efficiency of home solar systems. These systems can manage smart load shifting to schedule high-energy appliances at the most efficient times. By utilizing data analysis capabilities from artificial intelligence, intelligent energy control systems can carry out predictive forecasting of energy production and implement predictive maintenance to ensure that systems operate at their ideal.

Solving Energy Instability With Solar Infrastructure

Statistics from the US Census Bureau in 2024 reveal that nearly 34 million households experienced at least one power outage in the 12 months prior to the survey. For almost 24 million of those households, the outage lasted at least six hours.

While a single power outage may seem inconsequential, the US Department of Energy has warned that this issue could intensify dramatically within the next five years. A report issued by the Department of Energy in July 2025 stated that “blackouts could increase by 100 times by 2030” if measures aren’t taken to address the state of the US energy grid.

For developers, energy instability presents an opportunity to incorporate home energy storage systems into the homes they build. As blackouts become more frequent, the concept of “energy-secure” developments is gaining appeal. By incorporating distributed energy systems that leverage photovoltaic (PV) technology and other alternative energy solutions during property development, developers can significantly enhance the value of the homes they provide and, ultimately, sell.

Going Beyond Home Solar to Extend Solar Electricity to Entire Communities

In the past, homes with solar systems were primarily marketed for their ability to insulate homeowners from rising energy costs. However, in the future, homes drawing energy from distributed systems provided by developers may be promoted for their ability to reliably power all the devices necessary for remote work, home medical care, and overall family safety and comfort.

Advancements in energy storage technology are also enabling developers to create shared energy systems that use solar panel kits to power entire communities. Unlike personal systems installed on a homeowner’s rooftop, shared systems create microgrids that combine solar PV systems and battery storage to serve an entire community.

“When energy storage systems are deployed with scalability in mind, they can support not just individual homes but entire residential developments,” shares Ambrose. “A well-planned community energy strategy can leverage these systems for resiliency hubs, shared storage infrastructure, and even grid services. The number of systems depends on load requirements and design, but the technology is already capable of supporting dozens to hundreds of homes with the right integration.”

Anticipating an Energy-Efficient Future in Which Residential Home Energy Systems Are the Norm

Advancements in the energy industry suggest that using home energy systems to power residential communities will likely become more common in the future, especially when these systems incorporate energy storage. As the cost of installing systems decreases and energy prices increase, solar energy is becoming a more economically appealing option. Improvements in technology have also made these systems more efficient, meaning that the size of systems needed to power communities is much smaller than before.

“In the next three to five years, energy storage is likely to transition from an optional upgrade to a standard feature in new residential construction,” Ambrose says. “We expect a surge in microgrids, neighborhood-level storage networks, and closer integration between solar, EVs, and smart appliances. The role of intelligent energy management will become even more critical, and software will play a vital role alongside hardware. The future is clearly moving toward grid independence for residential communities.”