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The PAE Living Building in Portland, Oregon, showcases a solar-plus-storage microgrid that exceeds interconnection limits. Completed five years ago, it features 133 kW of onsite solar, 215 kW offsite solar, and 280 kWh of battery storage, allowing it to act as a grid-forming microgrid despite regulatory restrictions.

The project required precise coordination between PAE and SolarEdge to ensure compliance with Portland General Electric's interconnection rules. The system delivers 113% of the building's energy needs from renewables and can operate islanded during outages. The initiative exemplifies the potential for onsite solar deployment in urban areas while maintaining grid stability.