There are technologies developed for residential solar systems that are carrying over to the commercial space. Nowhere else is that more evident than within Tesla, who recently announced plans to construct a colossal new power plant in south Australia using residential solar panels and batteries. This new ‘plant’ is being referred to as a ‘virtual power grid’, as it isn’t necessarily going to be in one location. Rather, 50,000 residential homes are going to be outfitted with solar panels and the new Tesla Powerwall 2 battery.
If everything goes as planned, this project will deliver 250 megawatts of electricity from solar power and battery storage of up to 650 megawatt-hours. The idea is to be able to offset the stress put on the grid by tapping this new energy source during hours of peak demand. In order to provide the funds needed to complete this aggressive new project, the south Australian government is teaming up with the Renewable Energy Fund to bring private investment to the table. This will be the world’s largest connected solar power generation network, and it’s slated to be complete by 2022. That’s enough to get the attention of even the most savvy renewable energy investor.
So, what does this mean for the industry as a whole? First of all, this new project underscores the fact that developments in residential solar have applications that don’t just apply to a single home. Once we start thinking in terms of distributed power generation and not sole-source power generation, ambitious new opportunities present themselves. What if entire communities could generate solar power, store it, and then share it when needed, without relying on the grid at all? What kind of energy independence could that provide for potentially millions of people?
Urban Solar wants to be your partner in solar power generation. While we may not have a $30 million bankroll to install solar on 50,000 homes, we do have the expertise needed to consult with you and recommend the best solar power generation system for your individual home or business. You can begin leveraging the power of solar today by contacting us for a completely free energy assessment. Call or email us now, and let’s get the dialog started.
