Solar’s Winter Dilemma: Are Home Batteries Enough?

<p>Last year, I generated 4800 kWh of electricity from solar panels, the exact amount that I consumed. Is it fair to say that 100% of my energy is solar? Officially the answer is &ldquo;yes&rdquo;, thanks to Renewable Energy Credits and net metering provisions. Functionally, it&rsquo;s a little more complicated.</p> <p>My house doesn&rsquo;t have energy storage capabilities, so electricity must be used as it&rsquo;s produced. I think of net metering as a loan program. When the sun is out, I put energy into the grid. At night, when there&rsquo;s less demand and fossil fuels make up most of the power supply, I&rsquo;ll gradually take that electricity back to keep my fridge running. Although I&rsquo;m tapping into a grid that uses both solar and fossil fuels for power, I have traded the solar I produced during high demand for coal energy I need when demand is low.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/the-new-climate/solars-winter-dilemma-are-home-batteries-enough-5ca643c4b4f3"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>