Solar energy is becoming more and more reliable, to the point where it is technically possible to run a house 100% on solar energy. But does this mean that rooftop solar panels can make solar farms obsolete? Not exactly, because residential houses are certainly not the most energy-intensive buildings.
We live in the age of data centers, and when you realize the number of solar panels needed to power one, it’s clear that there is still a strong need for dedicated solar farms. A 100-megawatt solar farm can take up 640 acres of land, so you’ll need to cover at least the same roof area with solar panels to make the farm obsolete. Even more so, because large-scale solar power is more efficient than rooftop solar panels installed on scattered private properties.
However, one advantage is that solar panels can be installed on virtually any type of roof. And if every building had panels on the roof, solar farms could become obsolete. Consider this: America’s largest solar farm is in the Mojave Desert and covers more than 4,600 acres. The neighboring city of Las Vegas has 44,000 acres of deeded or developed land. It is therefore easy to imagine that the solar farm would be redundant if roof panels were placed on every urban building within the city limits.
Why don’t all buildings have rooftop solar panels?
The biggest obstacle preventing solar panels from taking over every roof is the lack of public policy. Homes and businesses need a regulated way to transfer excess solar energy to the grid. There should also be standardized pricing for solar-related utilities and utilities.
Without government incentives to install solar panels, many people are deterred by the high initial cost and long payback period. After all, there is a downside to installing home solar panels: it can take up to 15 years for the panels to pay for themselves. Commercial facilities tend to recoup their costs more quickly, but it’s still an expense that not everyone is willing to take on.
But what if every commercial and residential building actually had to have rooftop solar panels to help power the grid? This would require everyone to adopt methods to make solar energy more efficient. Simply put, everyone should reduce shade on their property and keep solar batteries on hand to store excess energy. Neither is particularly desirable or practical, so it may still be a long time before solar farms become obsolete.
