Articles tagged with "rooftop-solar"
Hawaii Hits Milestone in Rooftop Solar - CleanTechnica
Hawaii has reached a significant milestone in rooftop solar adoption, achieving 1 gigawatt (GW) of installed solar capacity, the highest per capita rate in the United States. This milestone reflects a 44% penetration of rooftop solar among single-family homes on Oahu, the state’s most populous island. The high cost of electricity in Hawaii—over 42 cents per kilowatt-hour—makes rooftop solar an attractive investment for homeowners. Hawaiian Electric (HEI) credits this achievement to customer-friendly renewable energy programs developed in collaboration with the solar industry and regulatory oversight, which also help reduce the state's reliance on imported oil. Michael Colón, Energy Director at Ulupono Initiative, highlighted that this combined rooftop solar and storage capacity would be the largest renewable energy project in Hawaii, surpassing all others by a wide margin. Hawaii was the first U.S. state to mandate 100% clean energy by 2045, and HEI’s renewable plans focus heavily on solar paired with battery energy storage
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerrooftop-solarclean-energyenergy-storageHawaii-energy-transitionRooftop Solar Owners Want You To Know What They've Learned - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica summarizes insights gathered from a year-long survey of rooftop solar owners, highlighting their motivations and experiences with solar energy. The primary reasons homeowners and businesses choose to install rooftop solar are financial savings and energy independence. Many respondents emphasized the significant reduction in monthly electricity bills, with average annual savings around $1,500 in the U.S., though actual savings vary based on factors like location, system size, and local incentives. Additionally, rooftop solar offers stable energy costs, protecting consumers from rising utility prices. Beyond cost savings, energy self-sufficiency is a key driver for solar adoption. Respondents value the ability to generate their own power without reliance on external sources, which enhances energy security. The article also notes that programs like Connecticut’s Residential Solar Investment Program have successfully expanded solar access to low- and moderate-income communities, doubling adoption rates in the state. Overall, rooftop solar is seen as a viable, reliable, and economically attractive technology that supports both environmental goals and financial returns,
energysolar-energyrooftop-solarrenewable-energyenergy-savingssolar-powerenergy-independenceRooftop Solar Transforms Warehouses Into Power Plants
The article highlights the growing momentum of commercial rooftop solar as a fast, cost-effective way to add clean electricity to the U.S. grid, despite limited federal policy support favoring other energy sources. Vast expanses of flat commercial and industrial rooftops present an untapped opportunity for solar installations. Early market hesitations around costs, permitting, and maintenance have been largely overcome by subscription-style, pay-as-you-go financing models, enabling property owners to adopt solar without upfront burdens. Companies like Solar Landscape, founded in 2012, exemplify this trend by partnering with major real estate firms to lease rooftop space and offer community solar subscriptions, currently managing 800 megawatts across 75 million square feet of rooftops and rapidly scaling up. A significant new development is Solar Landscape’s partnership with SolarEdge Technologies, announced in July, to deploy over 500 commercial rooftop solar projects across multiple states by 2026. SolarEdge’s advanced technology and domestic manufacturing footprint are expected to enhance installation efficiency, power generation
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarcommercial-solarclean-energysolar-installationenergy-financingTesla And Sunrun Create New Rooftop Solar Juggarnaut
Tesla has partnered with solar competitor Sunrun to expand rooftop solar adoption in Texas, leveraging Tesla’s Powerwall residential energy storage system and Sunrun’s new “Flex” rooftop solar plan. This collaboration comes amid challenges faced by Tesla’s EV sales and broader political efforts to restrict the US solar industry. Tesla Electric, a branch launched in late 2022, manages Powerwall owners’ energy contributions to the grid, allowing users to earn credits by supplying stored energy and monitor their electricity sources via the Tesla app. Sunrun’s Flex plan addresses a common issue in home solar sizing by offering a subscription-based model where homeowners pay a baseline rate tied to their pre-installation electricity use, with flexible adjustments for increased demand or credits for lower usage. This system accommodates growing energy needs, such as those from new EV purchases, ensuring annual bills do not exceed the solar power produced. By integrating Tesla’s Powerwall with Sunrun’s solar solution, the partnership aims to invigorate Texas’s rooftop solar market with competitive rates
energysolar-powerTesla-Powerwallrooftop-solarenergy-storagerenewable-energySunrunTed & Nancy's Excellent Rooftop Solar Adventure - CleanTechnica
The article "Ted & Nancy's Excellent Rooftop Solar Adventure" from CleanTechnica recounts the experience of Ted and Nancy, Florida residents who spend summers at their off-grid lake house community in New Jersey. This community, consisting of about 80 homes, has no connection to the electrical grid and relies on wood stoves, propane, and generators. The lake community dates back roughly 100 years and was originally a summer retreat with tents and rustic cottages. In 1989, the residents collectively purchased the land to secure their properties, navigating strict local ordinances and building codes through persistence and creative solutions. Ted and Nancy became pioneers in adopting rooftop solar power in this off-grid setting. After initial resistance to bringing grid electricity to the community, Ted led a grassroots movement to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Over the years, they upgraded their system from a few panels to eight panels on their 1,200-square-foot lake house, complete with self-built battery storage and control systems.
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarrenewable-energyoff-grid-livingsolar-installationclean-energyWhy engineers are turning to virtual power plants to stabilize the grid
Virtual power plants (VPPs) represent a transformative shift in electricity grid management by aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicles, and smart appliances into a coordinated, software-driven network. Unlike traditional centralized power plants, VPPs operate without physical infrastructure, instead relying on real-time communication and control software to balance supply and demand dynamically across thousands of devices. This decentralized approach allows VPPs to perform essential grid functions like peak shaving, demand response, and load balancing, effectively stabilizing the grid without building new generation facilities. The rise of VPPs is driven by the rapid adoption of DERs and advances in grid control technology, enabling faster deployment and greater scalability compared to conventional power plants. VPPs can span large geographic areas and integrate diverse energy assets, distinguishing them from microgrids, which are localized and capable of islanded operation. Engineers favor VPPs for their reliability, flexibility, and cost efficiency, as they reduce
energyvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcessmart-gridbattery-storagerooftop-solardemand-responseEnergySage & Third Act Launch Partnership to Empower Households with Rooftop Solar - CleanTechnica
EnergySage, a leading home electrification marketplace for clean energy solutions, has partnered with Third Act, a grassroots climate and democracy organization founded by environmentalist Bill McKibben, to promote residential rooftop solar adoption. This collaboration aims to make solar energy more accessible, affordable, and understandable for homeowners nationwide. McKibben emphasized the benefits of solar power, highlighting its affordability, ability to decentralize energy and empower local communities, and its role in stabilizing the grid during climate disasters while reducing pollution and energy costs. To launch the partnership, they will host a free webinar titled “Go Solar in 2025! Your Questions Answered” on July 15, designed to educate participants on solar costs, savings, installation, and incentives, especially important as the 30% federal solar tax credit is set to expire in 2026. Through this initiative, homeowners can easily assess their solar suitability, receive multiple quotes from vetted local installers, and get personalized guidance from EnergySage Energy Advisors
energysolar-energyrooftop-solarclean-energyrenewable-energyenergy-storagesolar-power-incentivesDid California Break the Law While Cutting Rooftop Solar Subsidies - CleanTechnica
California, long a leader in rooftop solar installations due to its net metering policy that credited solar panel owners at retail electricity rates, replaced this system with "Net Metering 3.0" on April 15, 2024. This change followed years of pressure from investor-owned utilities—Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric—who argued that compensating solar owners at retail rates unfairly shifted costs to non-solar ratepayers. The new policy significantly reduced these subsidies. However, environmental groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, the Environmental Working Group, and the Protect Our Communities Foundation have sued the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), claiming it failed to consider the full range of financial and societal benefits of rooftop solar. These benefits include reduced grid infrastructure costs (such as transmission lines and substations), improved grid security and resiliency, health and climate advantages, and the use of existing rooftop space rather than new land. The plaintiffs argue that by
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarnet-meteringCalifornia-energy-policyrenewable-energygrid-resiliencyRooftop solar, EV batteries could meet 85% of Japan's energy needs
energysolar-energyelectric-vehiclesrenewable-energydecarbonizationenergy-self-sufficiencyrooftop-solarCalifornia Opposes Rooftop Solar For All The Wrong Reasons
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarutility-ratesCalifornia-energy-policyclean-energyelectricity-generationRooftop Solar Is Winning (Trump Is Losing)
rooftop-solarclean-energysolar-panelsenergy-storagesolar-as-a-serviceenergy-incentivesrenewable-energyUK Councils To Government: Rooftop Solar Should Be Required On All New Homes
energysolar-energyrooftop-solardecarbonizationbuilding-standardsrenewable-energyUK-councils