A thoughtful take on the ongoing discussions around rooftop solar and its impact. Alok (aa-lok) Singhania dives into the challenges of our current energy infrastructure and shares ideas for a more sustainable, innovative future. At Gridscape, we resonate deeply with the need for fresh thinking and collaborative solutions. Solar microgrids, like the ones we build and deploy, are already empowering communities, but broader systemic changes can unlock even greater potential.
Lately, I’ve been seeing articles like this one,??that highlight the debate over rooftop solar’s impact on utility customers. It’s an important discussion, but as someone deeply involved in building and deploying solar microgrids, here’s my perspective: The argument that subsidies for local power plants come at the expense of non-solar customers is an old one. The real issue lies elsewhere: utilities inflate distribution costs, which account for more than 60% of most electricity bills. Why? Their business model is cost-plus....the more they spend on infrastructure, the more profit they make. This isn’t sustainable. A better approach would be to decouple energy delivery from infrastructure management. Imagine a system like highways or telecom services: multiple companies delivering power to customers over shared infrastructure, paying a usage fee. This setup would drive competition and efficiency, benefiting everyone. In the U.S., utilities typically own the energy infrastructure. Over time, the funding mechanisms for this infrastructure have led to a situation where customers have shouldered significant costs, raising questions about how we can better align investments with long-term benefits for everyone. It’s a complex, historically rooted system, and one that could benefit from fresh thinking and innovation. Solar microgrids represent a step toward empowering communities to have more control over their energy needs. However, unlocking their full potential will require us to address some of these larger, structural challenges with thoughtful, collaborative solutions.? https://lnkd.in/gBYK9iDz