| The problem honestly is how grid is built. For example, currently your neighbour having solar might, in worst case, cause you to have to pay for energy in peak, if they bump voltage high enough your inverter turns off. You're also selling (if you don't have net metering) your produced power for pennies on dollar. If, for example, instead of pushing that energy all the way could store it closer, now grid doesn't need to "do something with it", there are less losses overall, and less waste. So if say a local muncipality or power company just built local battery storage facility and just "leased" capacity to its occupants: * people with solar could "bank" the peaks to use it during night * people without could enjoy lower energy prices overall * people could "just" buy battery and consume more of that peak (buying electricity for cheap from their neighbours), and maybe even contribute pack. * power company wouldn't need to push as much power and maybe even potentially do something clever like "preloading" batteries before peak usage so less of that is pushed from the big plants, or "borrow" some energy from the bank to push elsewhere where needed. But that's complex and requires capital investments, and there is no motivation from power company to make stuff more optimal for customers, just for the investors. |