When evaluating the worth of a solar panel, you should also consider the importance of energy exports. Power exports are only a tiny part of the overall picture, but they can alter how you plan your system and affect how you utilize and operate your solar system over the year. In light of the introduction of new incentives for Solar coming up for California, it is the perfect moment to begin thinking about the role that energy exports can play in the operation of your solar system.
What are Energy Exports?
When we speak of energy exports, we’re talking about creating and selling the point back at a price to the power company. Most often, this is done using surplus energy, which allows you to maximize the value of all the energy generated. Exporting customers will receive credits for the power they have shipped, which will be reflected in the bill.
Energy Exports and Excess Energy
We must discuss excess energy to comprehend the significance of energy exports fully. According to this existing Net Energy Metering agreement, NEM 2.0, solar systems are generally designed to cover the energy needs of homeowners. In some cases, plans are scaled to increase or decrease this standard usage based on what the consumer would like from their solar installation. Those seeking to cut their energy consumption could have a size that is below or at the limit of consumption, while those hoping to increase their use or export power may be over current consumption.
The amount of power the unit consumes is based on the amount of energy the customer is looking to use. When more energy is produced than the customer can use, the system can export it, return it to the grid, and receive credit for the energy bills. Some customers will include a battery in their approach to allow for the storage and exporting of energy to be more lucrative; however, they were not viewed as essential. Under NEM 2.0 exports, energy was valued according to the peak and off timeframes; A consumer might choose to export at the most productive times of the day to bring the highest profit for the energy generated.
Changing Solar Incentives
Recently, it was decided that the CPUC believed the Net Energy Metering agreement needs to be revised. The current export incentives are removed in preparation for the new deal, referred to by NEM 3.0. In the new agreement, the values of the energy exported are shifting drastically, and consumers need to be aware of how these changes will affect the operation and design of their solar system. First, the amount of energy exports in the current NEM arrangement has significantly decreased, with a few exceptions. The new export timetable is a bit complicated, so it’s essential to find an industry partner such as Simply Solar to assist you in making the most out of your investment.
In this case, even though most export values have been lowered, a few are more significant than the ones found in the earlier agreement. Collaboration with your service provider to develop an energy export strategy is the best method to plan for and use the highly beneficial export timeframes. So, be sure to speak with your advisor to discuss these possibilities. Also, the Glidepath is an export-related bonus value-added benefit for customers who sign up for NEM’s new NEM contract in the initial nine years. While energy exports are expected to decrease under the new arrangement, the Glidepath adds value to your system that you can’t put to chance.
New Design Philosophies
In the new agreement, modifications to the design approach will be required to assist customers in maximizing the value of their investment in Solar, which is why Simply Solar is the leader toward a Zero Export future. Zero Export systems aren’t intended to stop users from selling their energy; however, as we’ve mentioned earlier, there will be instances under the new arrangement when energy exports will be more valuable than before. The concept is to scale systems to offer complete home coverage, allowing consumers to depend on the grid for as much as possible.
In this regard, battery storage is also a high-end benefit for solar panels. It is no longer just a nice element to have; a complete battery backup for your home is helping users avoid paying high prices for energy by offering both night and day energy coverage as well as resiliency to blackouts and, ultimately, the capability to benefit from significant energy export periods when they come around. Together with battery storage as well as Zero Export design, it will enable you to maximize the power of Solar and also allow you to export energy whenever it is convenient for your needs.
The Future of Energy Exports
As I mentioned earlier, Energy exports are only one aspect of the total benefit from solar electricity. From the stunning solar investment tax credit to the significant increase in property value that solar energy can bring, the energy savings you secure when you no longer pay for power, and the resiliency you can afford in the event of grid failure, the fundamental benefits of Solar are active and alive. As we enter the next phase of California’s changing incentives for energy, solar will continue to be a valuable investment.
If you’re interested in actively participating in energy exports, this is the right time to get involved. Our teams have seen an astronomical increase in the demand for NEM 2.0 applications. The best method to boost the chances of getting to the current NEM 2.0 agreement is to contact our experts as soon as possible. Please make an appointment now, and let us assist you in maximizing the value of your energy exports!