[KennyBlanken]

Utility/grid scale solar isn't just corporate welfare, it's old thinking regarding centralized production.

The electrical industry fears becoming a mere 'backup' or network instead of generation and supply. Or people disconnecting from the grid entirely, destroying economic viability of the infrastructure. They're pushing laws in various states that make a structure uninhabitable if it doesn't have a grid connection.

The only reason most people need to still be connected to the grid are low solar days and peak usage that the panels alone can't supply.

In 10 years you'll probably be able to have an iron flow battery in your basement or backyard that is completely harmless and can meet peak needs, like running an induction stove or a heat pump.

At that point, why do you need a grid connection? You don't.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

> At that point, why do you need a grid connection? You don't.

I have a 6.7kW ground mount array. It generates 3x our needs in summer, 0.33 of our winter needs (we heat with air-source heat pumps). We'd need a battery as big as our house to deal with that.

[pfdietz]

Is it fixed angle? If so, is the angle chosen to maximize winter production, or annual production?

EDIT: ty!

[PaulDavisThe1st]

Fixed. Winter.

[kelnos]

> The only reason most people need to still be connected to the grid are low solar days and peak usage that the panels alone can't supply.

Your use of "only" is doing a lot of work there. It is absolutely essential that something serves electricity during those "only" times, and in many cases a power grid with centralized production is the only thing that can do that.

I live in California, and I could easily meet my year-long needs with a 5kW PV panel install and a couple storage batteries, and live completely off the grid. I don't think I'd do that, as it'd be pretty expensive to set up (with break-even period at ~15 years, after which the batteries would probably need to be replaced), and I'd want the grid as backup. But much of the US just can't do that, especially in the winter when they don't get much sun and their heating needs (even with the most efficient heat pumps, with a backup for the few coldest days during the year when the heat pump just won't cut it) would easily outstrip solar production and battery storage.

The idea that most or even many people could live off the grid economically, with current technology, is just complete fantasy. And I don't think anything is going to change dramatically enough in the next 10 years to change that.

[sanderjd]

> At that point, why do you need a grid connection?

Because winter happens?