Infographic: Power the Economy and Grid with Local Solar Power

October 24th, 2011 by John Farrell

Locally owned solar power has a few benefits of alternative solar power options. Check them out:

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Tags: distributed energy, distributed renewable energy, Distributed Solar, Electricity, Energy, Germany, local ownership, US

About the Author

John Farrell directs the Democratic Energy program at ILSR and he focuses on energy policy developments that best expand the benefits of local ownership and dispersed generation of renewable energy. His seminal paper, Democratizing the Electricity System, describes how to blast the roadblocks to distributed renewable energy generation, and how such small-scale renewable energy projects are the key to the biggest strides in renewable energy development. Farrell also authored the landmark report Energy Self-Reliant States, which serves as the definitive energy atlas for the United States, detailing the state-by-state renewable electricity generation potential. Farrell regularly provides discussion and analysis of distributed renewable energy policy on his blog, Energy Self-Reliant States (energyselfreliantstates.org), and articles are regularly syndicated on Grist and Renewable Energy World. John Farrell can also be found on Twitter @johnffarrell, or at jfarrell@ilsr.org.

Anonymous

That’s getting there. I expect Dow shingles are a bit expensive but once the price falls some it might make sense to cover an entire roof with them. As long as the utility gave you the same ‘merit order’ price as it does for other wholesale suppliers.

You should have a roof good for 50, 60, 70 or more years that produce income for as the life of the roof.
- Anonymous
  
  I’m curious to see if they are ever cost-competitive with typical solar panels. interesting look
Anonymous

Just right might be a ‘total roof’ system that covered 100% of the sun-facing roof slope with panels and gave the building owner a roof surface which wouldn’t need to be replaced for the life of the building.

It’s time for some company to market a panel system which locks in place to create a water tight surface along with skylight and trim options.

Imagine a roof of solar panels mounted directly to the roof sheeting. No racks required. Access holes cut in the sheeting to allow the wiring to be done from the inside of the building. All the wiring/inverters protected from the elements. Panel frames designed to permit air flow under the panels and out ridge vents or through gable end vents.