As Texas faces more severe weather events, homeowners are increasingly turning to solar power as a solution. Solar energy not only provides safety and power during outages but also offers significant financial and environmental benefits.
Sam Qassom, a homeowner in Pflugerville, Texas, exemplifies this trend. “Right now, we’re generating 7.1 kilowatts of power,” he noted, effortlessly managing his energy needs with solar power. With a solar setup that produces nearly 10 times the energy he uses, Qassom has peace of mind knowing his home remains powered during challenging conditions.
In February 2021, Texas experienced a devastating winter storm that resulted in widespread blackouts, leaving many residents without power. “The inside temperature dropped to 39 degrees,” Qassom recalled, a stark contrast to his current energy security.
The Role of Solar Energy
In Texas, rooftop solar systems typically feed energy back into the grid, with homes drawing power from the grid unless equipped with backup batteries. Qassom’s home features a robust battery storage system that ensures he can maintain power during outages. “I don’t worry at all,” he said.
Bret Biggart, CEO of Freedom Solar, noted a shift in homeowner attitudes post-storm, revealing that about 25% of homeowners now opt for solar installations with battery systems, up from around 10% a year ago.
Virtual Power Plants: A New Possibility
Qassom has considered how his backup battery could contribute to the larger community. “In a large state like Texas, there are times when cities like Houston or Dallas could benefit from our stored power,” he explained. This concept is known as a virtual power plant.
According to Scott Hinson, Chief Technology Officer of Pecan Street, Inc., virtual power plants use individual batteries to help balance supply and demand in the grid. Homeowners could sell excess stored energy back to the grid during peak demand periods, effectively creating a collective energy resource. However, this system requires approval from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC).
PUC Chairman Peter Lake emphasized the complexity of implementing a virtual power plant, as it involves customer protections and the potential impact on the electricity market. In June, the PUC decided to initiate a pilot project to explore this opportunity further, acknowledging the need for a thoughtful approach.
Addressing Concerns
During initial discussions, energy companies expressed concerns over the size and implementation of pilot projects. Larger projects could provide more comprehensive data but might take longer to set up, while smaller projects might not incentivize participation due to higher setup costs.
Lake assured that reliability would remain a top priority, stating, “We intend to maximize potential while ensuring reliability.”
The virtual power plant concept isn’t entirely new. Green Mountain Power in Vermont began implementing it in 2017, leasing backup batteries to homeowners unable to afford their own. Similarly, in Austin, a project launched nearly a decade ago has demonstrated the benefits of community battery systems, storing energy generated from nearby rooftop solar setups.
Future Innovations
Biggart believes that despite rising inflation and interest rates, the demand for solar energy will continue to grow. “Solar energy adoption is expected to surge in the coming years, fundamentally changing the grid and making solar a key part of the solution,” he stated.
Austin Energy is also exploring how electric vehicles can contribute to energy management, recognizing their potential as mobile battery systems.
Currently, Qassom primarily uses his battery to cope with peak demand. When conditions are favorable, he can disconnect from the grid and rely entirely on his battery system, contributing to resilience in the face of energy challenges.
“We all need to do our part whenever we can,” Qassom concluded, highlighting the communal spirit that drives the adoption of solar energy and backup power solutions.