What Does Solar Energy Look Like in the Future
Although the future of solar energy looks bright, new technology implementation is moving relatively slowly. There’s a great deal more involved than meets the eye in bringing new inventions to market, which slows them from becoming a reality. The best solar energy technology that will be mainstream is already being implemented and tested worldwide. The majority of solar technology is focused on the use of public lands, particularly roads and sidewalks. In many ways, solar technology moves at a pace that makes improvements blend into society rather than make a big splash as the smartphone did. In many ways, it’s more fun to talk about future advances in solar technology now than it probably will be when these ideas become mainstream.
What's Holding Solar Energy Back from Mass Production?
What’s holding solar energy back from mass production is money. The solar road technology being studied and tested has run into some roadblocks, no pun intended. The main obstacle is the cost of materials and or lack of materials needed in mass volume. Building roads and bridges are monumental projects requiring large public funding and time. We are talking decades before the mass implementation of solar roadways, but when that time comes it’s going to be a game changer. It’s estimated that a mile of solar roadway can generate four times the power needed to electrify every building and business around it. Passing legislation for infrastructure has always been a challenge because it’s so expensive, and that’s the thing holding back the advancement of solar roadway technology. It took over 100 years for rooftop solar to become cost-feasible, solar technology couldn’t have advanced slower. Assistance from modern technology will expedite the implementation of solar roads and sidewalks.
Ingenuity and Creativity are The Solution to Pay for Solar Roads in America
Think about all the various toll roads that were built on the premise of charging to use them. It seems likely that charging homeowners and businesses for the power the solar roads produce will pay for the cost of building the solar road. Technology is so far ahead of our present-day infrastructure that implementation of any new technology can’t come quickly enough.
China has created great difficulties for itself trying to get its infrastructure up to modern standards because the cost is so monumental. There isn’t enough money on earth to pay for China’s infrastructure to catch up to America’s infrastructure. Looking forward to the day when solar energy is mainstream, we’ll see some amazing technology implemented that powers the world the same way AC power did throughout the 20th century. At this point of technological advancement solar energy is in its infancy relative to what the future holds, but one thing is for certain, the power demand will constantly increase.
Why Use Roadways for Solar Production?
Why is there such a heavy focus on solar roads and solar sidewalks? Any solar energy project has bottom-line costs that include all the materials needed and a place to install them such as a solar farm. The reason for focusing on the roadways for solar energy is the roads are bought and paid for already, versus any other method that would have to include the cost of land. Using the roadways for solar energy production is the same reason we use a rooftop for solar panels, it’s because using the roof as a platform to place the solar panels already exists. The very thing that has held solar energy back for 100 years was it wasn’t cost-feasible. Using rooftops and roadways reduces the cost of solar energy production dramatically, and makes it cost-feasible.
Solar Energy Helps Create a Safer World
Illumination saves lives because it improves visibility and awareness of our surroundings making it safer for all of us. Think about all the places that are not safe because they don’t have access to power. Public safety is rapidly improving because of access to power in remote areas with solar energy. Illuminated highways make driving less stressful, and accident rates and fatalities decrease.
Safety will be a driving force for the promotion of solar energy because of all the possibilities it opens up. There will be a day in America when a crime will take place in a remote area, but because of access to power authorities will be alerted and dispatch a police drone to address the criminal activity. Because of solar technology, what was unimaginable 30 years ago is rapidly becoming a reality in 2024 and beyond.
Many Technological Advances Will Come Together in The Future
Predicting the future is so challenging because something can be created that changes the direction we are going. When science brings Supercomputers, Artificial Intelligence, Drone Technology, and Solar Power together under one roof the possibilities are unimaginable. Every technological advancement has one ingredient in common, they all require electricity, increasing the demand exponentially. Everything happening in the world is dependent on the rapid growth of the renewable energy sector.
it’s an exciting time for solar technology because the sun is so hot and so cool at the same time. Who doesn’t think solar energy will rule the world 100 years from now and beyond? I can’t answer that question, but I can tell you who knows solar will rule, big oil, and the power companies as we know them in 2024. The really good news for solar energy is the forces working against it have won many battles but are losing the war. Big Oil and other conglomerates won’t stop trying to use politics to diminish the growth of the solar energy sector, but they know they will lose market share in the future.
Solar Energy Will Solve a Problem That's Never Talked About
Solar Energy will solve a problem in the future that we didn’t even know we had. Widespread use of solar energy combined with EVs will reduce and eventually eliminate noise pollution. It’s wild, you can’t hear an EV, and they’re so quiet it’s almost dangerous, only because we are conditioned to hear automobiles. We don’t talk about noise pollution because it’s so pervasive society has adapted to it. Go stand on the side of a busy road and make a video and you won’t be able to hear yourself when you watch it. We live in an incredibly noisy world that we have adapted to, to the point we are not even aware it exists. Solar energy will make it so quiet they’ll probably pass noise pollution laws in the future.
The Greatest Advancements in Solar Energy are Backup Battery Storage
Solar panel advancements have been incremental for the past 10 years, but not so for battery backup storage. Homeowners now enjoy the option of whole-home solar battery backup storage. The Tesla Powerwall 3 is a game changer for the solar industry. Powerwall 3 stores your solar energy for backup protection. When the grid goes down, your power stays on, providing energy independence. Tesla’s batteries are designed to run an entire home off solar production. Powerwall 3 features an integrated solar inverter, allowing direct connection to solar panels for optimal efficiency.
Tesla’s Powerwall 3 does not require a main panel upgrade like other brand battery backups that do require a main panel upgrade. It’s safe to say the future has arrived with Tesla’s battery backup technology. Tesla has made whole home solar more efficient and cheaper in 2024, and that’s a real game changer for homeowners.
This Chart Is When You Pay Full Retail Cost for a Home Solar System
| System Size | Retail Cost | Tax Credit | Net Cost | Production (Monthly Power Bill) | Break-Even Point |
| 7K Solar System | $23,500 | $7,050 | $16,495 | $150 a Month in power | 9.2 Years |
| 9K Solar System | $29,250 | $8,775 | $20,475 | $190 a Month in power | 9.25 Years |
| 11.7K Solar System | $39,000 | $11,700 | $27,300 | $250 a Month in power | 9.20 Years |
Disclaimer: You Must Seek Expert Advice for the ITC Solar Tax Credit Because No Two Homeowners’ Income Taxes are the Same. Consult with a Tax Expert to Determine if You Qualify for the ITC Tax Credit and How Much You Qualify for Per Year.
High-quality solar panels can last 30 years or more, Solar Panels have no moving parts. Regular maintenance contributes to their longevity. Major Manufacturers Warranty Solar Panels for 25 to 30 years.
This Chart Is Your Solar Advocate Cost for a Home Solar System
| System Size | Wholesale Cost | Tax Credits | Net Cost | Production (Monthly Power Bill) | Break-Even Point |
| 7K Solar System | $19,250 | $5,775 | $13,475 | $150 a Month in power | 7.5 Years |
| 9K Solar System | $24,750 | $7,425 | $17,325 | $190 a Month in power | 7.6 Years |
| 11.7K Solar System | $32,175 | $8,365 | $23,810 | $250 a Month in power | 7.9 Years |
A Typical Solar Company's Proposal
| Add-Ons To Every Solar Proposal | Cost of Add-Ons |
| The Cost of Salesperson | $2500 |
| Sales Manager | $1000 |
| Proposal Builders and Permitting Department | $1000 |
| Overhead: Rent, Auto Insurance, Vehicles, and Utilities | $1000 |
| Cost of Leads and Marketing | $1000 |
| Points for Low-Interest 20-Year Loan Terms (Frequently Hidden Cost) | |
| Solar Panels, Inverter, Installation | $17,000 |
| Solar Company Profit | |
| $3.25 a Watt or Lower for a 7K Home Solar System Total | $23,500 |
Disclaimer: You Must Seek Expert Advice for the ITC Solar Tax Credit Because No Two Homeowners’ Income Taxes are the Same. Consult with a Tax Expert to Determine if You Qualify for the ITC Tax Credit and How Much You Qualify for Per Year.
Your Solar Advocate Cost Savings
| Add-Ons To Every Solar Proposal | Cost of Add-Ons |
| The Cost of a Salesperson | $500 |
| Sales Manager | |
| Proposal Builders and Permitting Department | $1000 |
| Overhead: Rent, Auto Insurance, Vehicles, and Utilities | $750 |
| Cost of Leads and Marketing | |
| Points for Low-Interest 20-Year Loan Terms (Frequently Hidden Cost) | |
| Solar Panels, Inverter, Installation | $17,000 |
| Solar Company Profit | |
| Your Solar Advocate Target Price $2.75 a Watt or Lower for a 7K Home Solar System | $19,250 Tax Credit – $5,775 The net Cost Is $13,475 |
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