Back in 2017, the world wasn’t sure solar power could help to fix the issues with the world’s largest machine, the North American energy grid. Things have changed.
Every month it seems there are new technological breakthroughs that are promising to make solar the primary source for our massive energy usage in the US. Want to know what some of those are, and if solar panels can replace your grid-tied system?
Keep reading to find out if solar energy is the best option and what energy replacement can mean for your bottom line.
Energy Usage in the USA
The USA uses about 90 to 100 quadrillion British thermal units per year in energy generation. If we convert BTU to kWh (kilowatt-hours) it’s about 29.3 billion kWh. That’s a lot of electricity!
Of that, 100 gigawatts were produced by solar power in 2020.
Residential solar and community solar programs are far below the energy generation of commercial solar but still manages to comprise about 20% of the total output.
This gap will probably never fully close, but each home or community solar project is what’s called a microgrid. These microgrids are essential to the continued smooth function of the US power grid and national security.
With an increase in cybercrime against municipal water and energy grids, you can play a major part as a limited-scale producer of electricity.
Can I Use Solar to Go Off-Grid?
The short answer is: yes!
Not only is it possible, but it’s also often affordable. The upfront cost is partially subsidized by federal tax credits.
The typical home uses less than one 1 mWh per month or 12,000 kWh per year.
To find the number of panels we need, we take the yearly energy demand of a 1 mWh system and divide it by a modest production ratio. We then divide that by a typical panel production wattage.
In the end, we’ll get an idea of the number of panels we need — 29 panels.
To calculate your household’s energy consumption isn’t too difficult. Finding the right combination of solar panel type, wattage produced, and production ratio can be. For that, you can get in touch with an experienced solar installer to guide you on what’s best for your area.
For example, check out Blue Raven Solar. Solar panels are great for generating energy locally, but there are many parts of the system to research and engineer for your home. Companies like Blue Raven Solar take the guesswork out of it, and even help you sign up for applicable tax credits and local discounts.
Energy Usage: Preparing for the Future
Not only Americans, but everyone around the world is increasing in their energy usage. Digital devices, the internet of things (IoT), and more household appliances will always increase in number, not decrease.
To not only account for today’s energy usage and reliability you need to prepare for the future. To learn about these trends, how fast they’re going, and how to prepare yourself, you need information.
Keep browsing our articles to know these trends in and out for home and office!
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