The topic of energy is hot right now, with global competition heating up for dwindling resources in regions like South America and the Arctic. Because of this, private individuals are not taking action into their own hands. They're looking at ways to develop energy infrastructure themselves, independent of boardrooms or government policies. Many of these changes are unfolding in people's garages and backyards, with entire neighbourhoods getting together to change how they deliver energy to local communities.

This shift towards taking more distributed control is interesting. Historically, it was always the case that energy came from local sources. Water mills and traditional windmills used to grind grain, which was one of the most energy-intensive processes up until the Industrial Revolution. Interestingly, many of these systems are clean and they don't rely on inputs like coal or gas. They're much more resilient and help people control their bills.

“We're seeing a sea change in how energy generation works at the local level,” explains Wolf River Electric, a commercial and residential solar installer. “Many people and businesses are taking matters into their own hands to deal with unreliable grids and rising bills. What's more, the falling cost of solar panels and batteries is making new technology much more enticing. It is enabling greater energy independence than ever before.”

Rooftop solar is going mainstream

One of the biggest changes is rooftop solar is going mainstream. This is something that happened in Europe 5-10 years ago, but it's now become commonplace in North America as well. Rooftops are seen as a resource where solar energy can be collected and used for electricity. The fact that panels are becoming so affordable means that regular homeowners can place them on their properties. 

Many states and governments offer incentives as well, which reduces the overall expected cost even further. Previously, start-ups had overlooked targeting homes, but now even apartments and social housing are poised to benefit from solar panel technology. Many lower-income residents are no longer out in the cold - being left out. 

“We're seeing an enormous shift in how the market is operating," explains Wolf River Electric. “More people than ever are opting for solar panel installations to bring down the cost of energy every month. Typical solar panels are placed on individual properties, but there are also options for shared community set-ups which can provide improved energy reliability to everyone at a lower per capita cost.”

Batteries are helping with true independence

The discussion around solar panels is being driven by concomitant improvements in battery technologies. Battery storage like the Tesla Powerwall and similar systems from Samsung and Panasonic mean that people are able to store more energy on their properties.

This is helpful because of how most people's routines work. Solar panels collect the most energy during the middle of the day when solar radiation is at its most intense. However, people tend to use energy in the early mornings and evenings due to working patterns. Historically, when the sun wasn't shining, solar panel owners had to buy back electricity from the grid even if they'd been selling it during the day. However, with battery technology, the energy can be stored on the property.

This is particularly interesting for community projects, which may scale better than individual homeowners placing solar and electric batteries in their homes. These groups of properties can have their own community grids with everybody metering based on that and sharing the costs of funding batteries. 

Microgrids

Microgrids are another option being considered by many people. With these enthusiasts going further than DIY projects like small wind turbines and moving towards experimental generators.

Many microgrids have built-in redundancies, meaning that even during extreme weather, they can continue functioning and providing energy to users. A lot of these systems are self-contained and have backup generators, batteries, and renewable energy sources. They can keep power flowing if the main grid fails. 

“Microgrids aren't miracles,” explains Wolfe River Electric. “However they can be a practical option for combining solar, wind and batteries in a community or even on a single property. These systems provide full regulation of the regular grid and don't have the same level of systemic risk that a system that spans longer distances has.”

While all of this is going on, property owners and businesses are focusing on energy-efficient upgrades. Many now see this as the foundation for the energy revolution. For example, a lot of companies are opting for LED lighting that switches on and off automatically when people move into particular spaces like warehouses. These systems are highly efficient and take advantage of both LEDs and smart sensors. Potentially reducing lighting bills by over 90%. 

Better insulation has a similar effect. It can retain heat and cool air during the summer more efficiently in spaces. Once insulation is best-in-class, it can lead to energy savings of 50%. EV chargers are also making an appearance. These provide rapid charging for car batteries for quick turnover. The most modern systems with high energy throughputs can charge lithium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries in less than 45 minutes. These make them more convenient for people who are on the road. 

Of course, much of this movement so far has been grassroots. Government policy continues to focus on large-scale energy projects. However, energy-independent villages are becoming successful and more regions will likely take up the mantle. People are organizing for local control away from conventional energy suppliers and utility monopolies. 

Ultimately, therefore, the shift that is being seen right now in the energy sector is not by accident. There is a palpable shift away from fossil fuels at the local level because of the falling price of technology and the ability for individuals to get government subsidies that reduce their bills. More private individuals are seeking solutions enabling them to take advantage of these trends.

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