The old adage, “the sun always shines”, has never been more relevant to homeowners as solar companies continue to develop innovative ways to harness its power. One venture that has recently piqued my interest is PowerPair, a pioneering incentive program at Duke Energy, which offers attractive financial returns to residential customers who install solar and battery storage systems in their homes.
As an ardent supporter of solar, it is an initiative that I both appreciate and endorse, as it facilitates the spread of solar arrays for home use, ultimately furthering the uptake of renewable energy capacity. This can greatly contribute to a state’s clean energy goals, like those of North Carolina, which hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric power generation by a whopping 70% by 2030. Quite the ambitious target!
The PowerPair program signifies that Duke Energy is providing more than just an opportunity to install solar panels for your home. It’s creating a potential partnership between homeowners and the company. One that incentivizes participation with attractive bill credits, and promotes a mutual benefit – one that enhances both your finances and the reliability of the grid – who knew being a part of a solar company could be so thrilling?
If you decide to hop onto the PowerPair program, you will effectively take on a dual role. On one hand, you are an ordinary homeowner generating electricity from the sun for your day to day use. On the other, you become an integral part of a critical mass of distributed energy resources, by allowing Duke Energy to tap into your battery storage system during high demand periods. This ensures a more stable and reliable grid for everyone – a service you will be handsomely rewarded for.
Qualifying homeowners stand to receive a one-time incentive up to $9,000, which is calculated based on the wattage and storage capacity of their system. But the rewards don’t end there. Participating customers will also be enrolled in Duke’s EnergyWise Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program, where residents allow the company to adjust the operation of their home solar-plus-battery system, delivering stored electricity back to the grid when needed. For this, you will receive a monthly bill credit. It sounds like a win-win to me.
But let’s talk specifics:
– One-time $0.36/watt-AC incentive for solar panel installation up to 10 kW-AC
– One-time $400/kWh for storage installation up to 13.5 kWh
– Monthly bill credit following installation based on your battery capacity
Of course, all equipment and installers must be approved by Duke Energy. But with an approved list and plenty of information to guide you, it remains a straightforward process.
Though this pilot program is limited to North Carolina residents, it underscores a larger trend. More and more solar companies are recognizing the vast potential of residential solar-plus-battery systems. As the solar industry expands and evolves, expect to see more programs like PowerPair launched nationwide. Until then, North Carolina residents should seize this opportunity to live a cleaner, greener life.
As an ardent solar supporter, I hope that these incentives will pave the way for a wider proliferation of solar arrays to homes across America. Investing in solar is no longer just about saving on your energy bills. It’s also about participating in a broader ecosystem that improves grid reliability, reduces emissions, and increases the adoption of clean, renewable energy. It is truly an exciting time to be part of this radiant revolution!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/04/05/duke-energy-pilots-incentive-program-for-home-solar-and-storage/
