GoKawiilEurope’s reliance on imported fossil fuels has come under fire since the Iran war sparked a new energy crisis. The IEA chief Fatih Birol said this week that "no country will be immune to the effects of this crisis”.
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But what if you, as a consumer, could rely less on energy that’s pumped into your home from the grid and more on energy created in your home or local area?
Can home solar panels help during an energy crisis?
Installing solar panels on your home or business is common in many European countries. But they really come into their own during energy crises.
“If you’ve got a solar roof on your home and you’ve got a battery then, depending on how much energy you can generate, you are substantially insulated from importing electricity,” explains Matthew Clayton, CEO of UK-based Thrive Renewables.
Dynamic tariffs are becoming more common in Europe. This is where the price of electricity varies throughout the day and night, with costs going up during peak periods, like dinner time, when households are using more.
This means that if you store up solar power during daylight hours, when the sun is at its strongest, then you can use that energy, rather than drawing it from the electricity grid, during the most expensive periods. “Your relationship with the grid is totally changed,” says Clayton.
Houses with solar panels on the roofs in Juehnde, Germany, April 2, 2007. AP Photo/Jens Meyer
Are solar panels worth if you don't live in a sunny country?
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