Masonboro Baptist Church | Commercial Case Study

Project Snapshot

• System Size: 111 kW
• Annual Production: ~153,888 kWh
• Energy Offset: ~78%
• Battery Storage: 120 kWh
• Primary Objective: Campus resiliency and energy cost reduction
• Installation Type: Interconnected microgrid with underground wiring

The Client & Operational Context

Masonboro Baptist Church manages multiple campus buildings, each with its own utility meter and aging electrical infrastructure. The church wanted a solar solution that could withstand outages, improve campus safety, and reduce energy costs across all buildings.

The church’s goal was to modernize infrastructure, reduce operational costs, and provide backup power, while minimizing disruption to daily campus activities.

The Challenge

Key issues addressed by the project:

• Multiple meters: Each building had its own utility meter, creating unnecessary fees and complexity.
• Safety hazards: Old overhead wiring ran over playground areas, presenting a risk to children.
• Energy resilience: The church wanted a system that could continue operating during outages and provide flexible energy sharing across buildings.
• Load coordination: Each building had different energy usage patterns, which made integration challenging.

The solution needed to combine solar production, storage, and electrical consolidation into a single operational system.

The Strategy

Meter Consolidation

We consolidated four of the five utility meters onto one interconnected microgrid, simplifying billing and creating a single point for energy management. This reduced unnecessary utility fees and simplified operations.

Safety-First Wiring Design

All electrical distribution was moved underground. This eliminated the overhead lines over the play area and reduced exposure risk for children, staff, and visitors.

Storage-Integrated Solar

The 246-panel, 111 kW solar array was paired with 120 kWh of battery storage, enabling any building in the microgrid to contribute solar energy and draw power during outages.

Campus-Wide Energy Optimization

By interconnecting the buildings, the system balances generation and load across the campus. Excess solar production from one building can offset consumption elsewhere, maximizing efficiency and resiliency.

The Solution

Key elements of the installation:

• 246 high-efficiency solar panels installed across the campus rooftops
• 120 kWh of lithium-ion battery storage for backup power
• Underground wiring connecting the four consolidated buildings
• Microgrid design enabling energy sharing and islanding capability during outages

This setup ensures the church’s facilities can continue operating independently of the grid during emergencies, while reducing long-term energy costs and improving safety.

The Results

Financial Impact

By consolidating meters and installing on-site solar, the church reduced energy bills and eliminated redundant utility fees. The system offsets a substantial portion of campus electricity consumption and optimizes energy usage across buildings, providing a projected $293,000 in 30-year savings.

Operational Impact

Community Impact

System Performance Snapshot

• 111 kW of solar generation serving four interconnected buildings
• 120 kWh battery storage provides emergency backup
• System design supports energy sharing and resiliency during outages
• Simplified single-meter billing across multiple buildings

Why It Matters

This project demonstrates the benefits of integrated campus energy systems.

Storage and microgrid capabilities allow critical facilities to operate during outages, consolidation reduces redundant fees and optimizes energy use, underground wiring removes safety hazards, and the system is scalable to accommodate future buildings or energy needs. Masonboro Baptist Church’s project shows how solar, storage, and intelligent campus design can modernize operations, protect the community, and provide long-term energy savings.