German battery maker sonnen will partner with US builder Mandalay Homes to put batteries into 3,000 new Arizona homes.
The scheme will use batteries to store the excess energy generated by their home solar power systems.
Mandalay plans to build the homes in Prescott, Arizona, with solar batteries included at a cost between US$10,000 and $20,000. The cost would be part of the home’s sale price and included in the mortgage.
Mandalay and sonnen want energy companies to pay the homeowners to use the stored power in the 3,000 solar batteries included in the houses. The result would be 8MW hours of electricity, enough to power about 5,000 average homes for a day.
Even if the energy companies do not buy the power, homeowners would save money by not having to buy as much or any power from the grid, said sonnen Senior Vice President Blake Richetta.
Integrating solar systems with home builds
Sonnen has several such solar-based communities in Germany. However, the community would be the first of its kind in the US.
Energy companies are studying the benefits of integrating energy storage along distribution grids and decreasing reliance on centralized fossil fuel plants.
Batteries are viewed as especially key in large solar energy markets like Arizona. Rooftop solar systems generate more power than they need during the sunniest times of the day.
Sonnen has about 1,000 home batteries deployed in the United States currently. It aims to get to at least 20,000 by 2020, in part through more deals with homebuilders.
Arizona Public Service would not comment on talks with sonnen and Mandalay about the solar batteries included in homes, but said batteries “can provide benefit to both our customers and the grid”.
Aussie mortgage broker pushes for change
An Australian mortgage broker is already pushing for major lenders to bundle home loans with finance for solar panel and battery storage installation.
Digital mortgage service Uno Home Loans told Energy Matters the move would boost property values.
CEO Vincent Turner said currently banks see solar and batteries as distinct from home buying.
“There’s nothing stopping [home buyers] from asking banks to include solar installation in the mortgage,” he said.
