New multifamily project includes energy storage as an amenity

A new multifamily complex in Herriman, Utah includes a first-of-its-kind amenity in each of its 600 units: a battery that is linked to an on-site solar panel array. The network of solar powered battery storage systems is known as a Virtual Power Plant and is fully managed by Rocky Mountain Power.

The 600 sonnen ecoLinx batteries will provide emergency back-up power, help manage peak energy use, and demand response for the electric grid. Each battery is monitored 24 hours a day. When completed, the all-electric project will include 5.2 MW of rooftop solar panels, 12.6 MWh of residential storage, and 104 electrical vehicle charging ports.

Soleil Lofts exterior

The project also features amenities more typical of a multifamily community, such as an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness center with a yoga studio, an on-site convenience store, a dog park, three spas, an outdoor kitchen, a full-size indoor basketball court, volleyball and futsal courts, and a landscaped community garden with a waterfall and seating options.

Soleil Lofts apartment unit interior

Apartment units are offered in two studio layouts and one-, two-, and three-bedroom options. Each unit includes a washer and dryer, panoramic windows, wood-grained flooring, 15-foot ceilings, private patios and balconies, and quartz countertops.

Residents began moving into Soleil Lofts in late 2019. The final building is slated for completion in December 2020.

Across the country, multifamily rents have skyrocketed. Year-over-year rents are up by double digits in nine of the top 30 markets, while national YoY rent growth is up 6.3%. Emerging from the pandemic, a perfect storm of migration, enhanced government stimulus and a hot housing market, among other factors, has enabled this extremely strong growth.