The Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES) solution as envisioned by SunShot will have the following features:

• Be grid-connected
• Consist of the solar PV plant and energy storage
• Utilize smart inverters
• Be capable of operating in conjunction with smart loads (such as optimized operation of HVAC systems and other appliances)
• Enable demand response
• Incorporate solar and load forecasting into decisions
• Be interoperable internally and externally using standard protocols that satisfy communication and control capabilities as required by the local utility, home/building energy management systems, and/or the building/community where it is installed

Awards were announced in January 2016. See a list of projects here.