Resilience and Backup Power
Reaching net zero is about more than reducing emissions. Senior living communities must also ensure that residents remain safe and comfortable during grid disruptions. As extreme weather becomes more common, resilience is no longer optional — it is a vital part of planning. While efficiency, electrification, and renewables reduce emissions, resilience strategies such as battery storage, microgrids, and backup generators protect residents when the grid fails.
Battery Storage
Batteries allow a community to store electricity during times of abundance and use it when demand is high or during outages. Today’s most common batteries use lithium-ion technology, typically providing four hours of backup. They are already being paired with solar arrays to cover evening peaks, and prices are dropping steadily.
Longer-duration technologies are also emerging. Flow batteries, for example, use large tanks of liquid electrolyte and can provide power for days at a time. They rely on abundant materials and may avoid the supply chain challenges of lithium. Other designs — from compressed air to salt-based batteries — are still in development but hold promise for the future.
For now, batteries are not usually installed for financial reasons alone, but their value grows when resilience is considered. A battery linked to solar panels can keep critical services running through short outages and recharge each day when the sun shines. As costs fall, batteries will become an integral part of most renewable systems.
Microgrids
As communities add solar, batteries, and other distributed resources, a new question arises: how do these systems work together when the grid goes down? A microgrid is the answer.
A microgrid is a local energy system that can operate independently, or “island,” when grid power fails. With a microgrid controller, solar panels, batteries, and even backup generators can be coordinated to supply electricity in the right order at the right time. During a sunny day, solar might supply most of the load while topping off batteries. At night, stored energy can take over. If batteries run low, a generator can fill the gap.
Although still expensive, microgrids offer unmatched security, especially for communities with healthcare facilities. They allow critical functions — from medical equipment to heating and cooling — to continue without interruption. As technologies mature, microgrids will increasingly become part of senior living campuses.
Backup Generators
Most senior living communities already have backup power, especially if they operate healthcare facilities where regulations require it. These systems are typically diesel or natural gas generators designed to activate automatically when the grid goes down.
Generators provide reliable short-term power, but they burn fossil fuels and contribute to emissions. Infrequent use means their carbon footprint is relatively small, but their role in a net-zero future is limited. Newer approaches are emerging: cleaner natural gas units, fuel cells, and eventually large batteries that can meet code requirements for healthcare facilities.
In some regions, backup generators can even participate in demand response programs, earning revenue by running during grid peaks and helping reduce stress on the system. However, this option depends on local regulations, and it should be weighed carefully against the emissions profile of fossil-fuel generators and the growing availability of cleaner alternatives such as battery storage.
Planning for Resilience
When discussing resilience with administrators, emphasize that it complements sustainability. Solar panels reduce emissions, but paired with batteries or a microgrid, they also keep lights on during an outage. Backup systems protect health and safety, reassure residents, and enhance the community’s reputation for reliability.
The path forward will vary by campus. Some may continue to rely on generators in the near term while exploring battery pilots. Others may plan a full microgrid as part of major renovations. Whatever the choice, resilience belongs in the long-term capital plan alongside efficiency and electrification.
