Energy storage manufacturer Base Power has finalized a partnership with Hillwood Communities to bring home battery backup to three communities in northern Texas.

Supplying energy storage to nearly 6,500 homes across Justin, Northlake, and Argyle, Texas, the corporate team-up aims to give homeowners new opportunities across the outskirts of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The three Hillwood communities will give their homeowners access to Base Power battery systems to protect homes during outages, the companies say.

“We’re building energy infrastructure that can add capacity where people live,” says Zach Dell, co-founder and CEO of Base Power. “Hillwood’s communities give us an opportunity to do that at scale. Together, we can put technology to work for thousands of households while supporting our grid.”

CoServ, one of Base’s Texan utility firm partners, will serve the initial three Hillwood communities, according to representatives. In certain areas where homeowners cannot choose their electrical provider, Base will offer its services through agreements with other utilities and electrical cooperatives.

Expanding the reach

Base’s proprietary battery technology connects home batteries together, turning them into a more coordinated energy resource to help electrical utilities meet spiking demand. At full buildout between the initial three Dallas-area communities, about 9,500 homeowners will have access to Base battery systems.

When the grid goes down, Base will be able to tap into those distributed energy resources as a virtual power plant, the company says. Members of Base Power programs will get the full benefit of whole home backup protection from BaseCore.

“From winter storms and extreme summer heat to tornadoes, North Texans know how quickly severe weather can disrupt daily life,” says Andrew Pieper, SVP of Hillwood Communities. “Through this partnership, we’re giving homeowners a cost-effective way to prepare for power outages while supporting the broader electric grid.”

The companies also aim to extend the partnership beyond the three initial communities, to future homes served by CoServ. Located in both Denton and Pilot Point, these communities are just the start of the Lone Star State’s battery buildout between the two companies, according to Hillwood Communities president Fred Balda.

“Building strong communities means thinking about the needs of our residents over the long term,” he says. “While we’re focusing on North Texas now, this partnership will evolve throughout our development platform where feasible, including our investments in Austin, Houston, Florida and the Northeast as Base is ready to serve those markets.”

Texas-based homeowners can check their eligibility for Base Power programs on the company’s website.

— Solar Builder magazine