Solar Technology is always growing and improving — that’s why panel prices have dropped 99% in the four decades since they were introduced! Here’s a look at some of the big trends dominating the solar industry:
1. Batteries will boom.
That’s in a good way of course. Last year tons of new companies entered the battery game. Prices are falling, batteries are becoming bigger, more powerful, and longer-lasting. The technology behind them is also keeping pace. Home battery backups can now supply automatic power in an electrical outage, eliminate demand charges from utilities, and make sure critical loads like internet servers never go down due to power loss. Even the big utility companies will be buying into batteries!
2. Panel efficiencies will continue to go up…. and up… and up!
As with the trend of manufacturers of panels and equipment makers trying to gain an edge we will see small but measurable gains in the performance department. This means that the same square ft of roof space just became that much more powerful. How much do you ask? It’s about 5% on the average system.
3. Individual Monitoring will improve
Solar monitoring platforms have become much more intuitive, reliable, and user-friendly in recent years. You can now monitor your system from your phone, computer, display kiosk, and even set the display as the background of your desktop. These platforms now let you monitor each panel’s power production independently. Meaning you can spot a problem much more quickly, diagnose, and address performance issues in ways that were unheard of years ago. Now the dealer contacts you if an issue arises. The software can be upgraded via wifi so existing solar customers can reap the benefits as they come through as well.
4. Politically and regulatory-wise, change occurs — but system profitability remains solidly in the picture
As the new administration was taking office many news articles were flying around the internet predicting all types and ranges of drama that could happen. But we pretty much already have our answer. No changes appear to be on the political agenda in regards to solar and wind specifically. Now regulatory is another story. In Arizona, the new corporation commission voted to end net-metering as we know it. While this sounds like bad news, allow me to point out the silver linings. The new form of metering replacing net-metering will not be as devastating as some would like to think. It will provide us the platform for how solar will work with the utilities for many years to come. It is still worthwhile to go solar and you can reap the benefits of solar with the new metering platform!
SUNBRIGHT SOLAR UPDATE: TEP (Tucson Electric Power) updated to an Export Rate system in September of 2018. Export-rate users continue to benefit from saving money month over month; and TEP users in particular enjoy advantageous purchase rate from TEP for their excess power.
5. Aesthetically-integrated solar will start to show up.
In recent years we’ve seen an explosion in solar shade structures. Whether it is a shady spot to park your vehicles or to provide covered seating, everyone can see the added benefits of a shade structure. In 2017 we will start to see some innovative designs. Panels can be transparent on the back, and the structures will evolve from the industrial-steel look to works of modern architectural wonders.
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