I watched a solar panel installation on a Springfield Township home by ASCOM Electric of Dover, Pa. today.
It's an interesting relationship between industry and home businesses.
To live off the grid using solar power is impractical in Pennsylvania. We don't get enough sun and battery storage is expensive and has a shelf life of about five years.
However, using the existing power grid as your "battery" is a very efficient way to buffer your personal power source and feed back into the grid during times of peak demand.
For the electrical utility, as well as other taxpayers who pay for tax credits, these solar home businesses help add watt by watt to the renewable content of the larger power grid.
After an eight year payoff for this system, the rest of the 25+ year lifespan of the system means a profit for the home solar business.
The system will produce 9.8 kilowatts during peak sunshine.
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