New research project aims to help homeowners share solar energy
June 16, 2017Researcher wants to develop a way for homeowners to share solar energy with one another
A researcher from the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom is working to develop new technologies that would allow people to share the solar energy they produce themselves. Mahmoud Dhimish, a PhD student at the university, has launched a project focused on making this a possibility. The project is being supported by the University of Huddersfield School of Computing and Engineering. If successful, the project may eventually lead to a future where homeowners will be able to share solar energy amongst themselves rather than selling surplus electricity back to the country’s energy grid.
UK’s solar market continues to grow rapidly
The United Kingdom is home to a rapidly growing solar energy market. Currently, approximately 1.5 million homes are equipped with solar panels. By 2020, this number is expected to surpass 10 million. More homeowners are expected to embrace solar energy as the cost of photovoltaic systems continues to drop. Being able to share solar energy with others may further increase the popularity of this form of clean power among some homeowners, as this would make it easier for others to make use of renewable energy.
Storage system could manage and monitor energy demand coming from connected households
The project from Dhimish aims to determine ways to reduce the need to funnel surplus electricity into the country’s energy grid by highlighting “demand diversity.” This involves developing a better understanding of the intermittent nature of solar energy and the potential faults of photovoltaic systems themselves. Potentially, a storage system connected to a cluster of households could provide a solution. This storage system would monitor and manage the energy demands coming from connected homeowners.
Solar energy continues to find success among homeowners
The residential sector has been providing significant momentum to the growth of the solar energy market. Many homeowners are eager to embrace clean power in order to save money, while some are looking to become more environmentally friendly. Shared solar energy solutions could help add further momentum to the growth of the market.