Welcome to another enlightening post on your favorite solar blog! Solar, particularly rooftop solar, has the potential to serve a whopping 45% of electricity demand based on 2022 demand levels. Presently, solar serves roughly 1.5% of the electricity consumed.
One of the main advantages of solar power is that it can be utilized in a distributed fashion, integrating it with our built environment, and thus conserving land and reducing the need for excessive transmission infrastructure. For example, installing solar panels for your home becomes not just an ecological decision but also a savvy financial move as it can offer homeowners lucrative bill savings or price predictability in the long run.
It’s a remarkable fact that rooftop solar could potentially serve 45% of U.S. electricity demand based on 2022 levels. Yet it only contributed around 1.5% of the total electricity consumed that year. The solar industry and various solar companies are growing, but there is still ample room for expansion.
After all, solar is typically the most cost-efficient new generation source in most U.S. markets and conditions on average. In fact, new-build solar costs are typically 29% less than the next-cheapest fossil fuel alternative.
This brings us to an interesting notion for homeowners. The solar array for your home could represent substantial long-term bill savings and predictability. Though the initial investment for purchasing and installing a solar system may be considerable, most buyers can expect a break-even point within eight to nine years. The potential savings over the course of the system’s 25-year-plus lifespan range between $20,000 to $96,000 on bill payments!
As a seasoned solar expert, I must emphasize the importance of good policy recommendations. Ensuring good practices for grid interconnectivity, promoting online automated permitting systems for small onsite solar projects, championing the installment of solar on community buildings, adopting policies that enable the creation of virtual power plants (VPP), and supporting clear, long-term rules for net energy metering (NEM) are all crucial steps governments can take to advance solar.
Among these, NEM holds a focused interest. It allows you, a solar power owner, to export your surplus solar production to the grid in exchange for credit on your utility bill. In other words, your very own solar company could be your home!
Lastly, it is important that all, including renters and those from low-income communities, have access to rooftop solar. States should support virtual net metering programs and community solar programs that encourage wider accessibility.
Are you thinking about exploring the option of a solar array for your home? Go solar, save more, and contribute to a cleaner environment. Always remember, your own rooftop is a potential powerhouse to contribute towards this revolution. Stay radiant and stay tuned, and we’ll keep shedding light on the solar industry and its potential to light up our lives!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/03/07/policy-recommendations-to-support-u-s-rooftop-solar-installation/
