美国大部分地区今夏有停电风险
能源效率的提高和新的税收优惠政策促进了热泵的普及。图片来源：TRISTAN SPINSKI—THE WASHINGTON POST/GETTY IMAGES美国能源部（Department of Energy）最近警告说，今年夏天，美国三分之二的地区面临断电风险。越来越普遍的说法是房主希望减少对老化电网的依赖，由于能源成本上升和对电网可靠性的信心下降，他们不希望受电力公司的摆布。
这言之有理。今年早些时候，鸡蛋和黄油的价格上涨上了头条新闻，而在悄无声息中，2022年电价的涨幅是整体通胀率的两倍，房主们已经注意到了这一点。事实上，根据Aurora Solar的行业速递（Industry Snapshot）报告，62%的受访者预计能源价格将继续上涨。
房主们不仅在他们需要用电的时候对昂贵的电费感到沮丧，他们还担心在自己最需要用电的时候出现断电现象。近一半（48%）的房主担心天气事件造成的停电，紧随其后的是电网受到网络攻击造成的停电。
这些对可靠性和成本的担忧导致人们对电网严重缺乏信心。然而，尽管这些担忧日益加剧，房主们却还是越来越多地使用电力来取代其他燃料来源。
万物电气化
从电热泵到电炉和烘干机，房主们正在加速推进家庭电气化。也许最令人兴奋的例子是电动汽车（EV）的普及和家庭充电需求的上涨。随着主要的汽车制造商承诺实现雄心勃勃的电动车目标，甚至在未来实现全面电动化，电动汽车将在未来几年掀起更大的波澜。
诚然，这种电气化运动的附带结果是（由于消耗增加，导致）电费增加。如果执行阶梯电价，即根据用户的用电量收取不同的费用，那么房主就有可能需要支付更高的单位电价。许多新电动汽车车主直到购买新车时才意识到这一点，甚至在新车停在私人车道后，他们打开第一张电费账单时才意识到这一点。
当然，考虑到电网问题，这种电气化运动可能会让人感觉有悖常理。但这实际上是迈向能源独立的第一步。
调和两大相互冲突的运动
事实上，电气化进程呈迅速推进态势，甚至在那些担心电价和电网可靠性的房主中也是如此。这有可能引发更多用户对电力公司不满，并加剧用户在极端情况下对电力供应的焦虑。然而，还有第三种趋势有助于调和这两大相互冲突的运动：太阳能的发展。
太阳能的普及程度可能比你想象的要高：近77%的房主要么在家里安装了太阳能电池板，要么对购买太阳能电池板感兴趣。Aurora Solar的行业速递报告还显示，2022年美国住宅太阳能项目同比增长近40%，与美国太阳能行业协会（Solar Energy Industries Association）的太阳能市场洞察报告（Solar Market Insight Report）一致，该报告发现，“就住宅太阳能而言，2022年是创纪录的一年，安装量接近6 GWdc，比2021年增长了40%。”
由于各方寻找抑制——甚至消除——推进家庭电气化造成的日益增长的账单的方法，这使得人们迅速转向关注太阳能，这是合乎情理的。住宅太阳能安装商也亲眼目睹了这一点。电动汽车和太阳能之间的联系就是一个很好的证明：近80%的太阳能专业人士表示，电动汽车的普及往往会引发人们对太阳能的新兴趣。
太阳能价格的持续下降也大有助益。美国太阳能行业协会估计，在过去十年中，住宅太阳能系统的总成本下降了65%以上。新的立法也提升了太阳能的可负担性，并有助于实现太阳能普及。《通胀削减法案》（Inflation Reduction Act）于2022年8月16日签署成为法律，被誉为“历史上应对气候变化最大的联邦投资法案”。对于考虑使用太阳能或电池储能的房主，以及试图向他们推销相关产品的安装商，最大的好处是什么？太阳能投资税收抵免（Investment Tax Credit）恢复到原来的30%，延长到2032年，并明确包括电池储能。
事实上，《通胀削减法案》已经对太阳能安装商和房主产生了重要影响。超过45%的住宅太阳能安装商表示，由于《通胀削减法案》，它们已经看到越来越多的人对太阳能感兴趣，另外40%的人预计在未来会看到越来越多的人对太阳能感兴趣。
追求能源独立
使用太阳能有助于解决由于推进家庭电气化而造成的电力需求增加，但这并不能够完全解决对能源独立和安全的渴望。只安装太阳能电池板的家庭必须立即消耗或出售产生的电力。这就是住宅电池储能发挥关键作用的地方：将发电与用电脱钩，给房主更多的控制权。对于那些已经接受关键设备、系统和车辆电气化的房主来说，这更有价值。电池储能技术让他们能够储存自己设备产生的太阳能，并在最关键的时候进行使用。
因此，82%的太阳能专业人士注意到越来越多的房主对电池储能感兴趣，这不足为奇。这种太阳能和储能的结合可以帮助房主在不同程度上独立于电网，而且，无论是在紧急情况下，还是在电费最高的时候，他们都能够在最需要用电的时候获得电力供应，因此可以感到安心。
家庭电气化发展趋势似乎与房主对昂贵电费和电网可靠性不足的担忧不一致。但房主是睿智的。随着家庭电气化进程持续推进，太阳能光伏（和储能）安装量将持续飙升。（财富中文网）
本文作者克里斯·霍珀（Chris Hopper）是Aurora Solar的首席执行官及联合创始人。
Fortune.com上发表的评论文章中表达的观点，仅代表作者本人的观点，不代表《财富》杂志的观点和立场。
译者：中慧言-王芳
美国能源部（Department of Energy）最近警告说，今年夏天，美国三分之二的地区面临断电风险。越来越普遍的说法是房主希望减少对老化电网的依赖，由于能源成本上升和对电网可靠性的信心下降，他们不希望受电力公司的摆布。
这言之有理。今年早些时候，鸡蛋和黄油的价格上涨上了头条新闻，而在悄无声息中，2022年电价的涨幅是整体通胀率的两倍，房主们已经注意到了这一点。事实上，根据Aurora Solar的行业速递（Industry Snapshot）报告，62%的受访者预计能源价格将继续上涨。
房主们不仅在他们需要用电的时候对昂贵的电费感到沮丧，他们还担心在自己最需要用电的时候出现断电现象。近一半（48%）的房主担心天气事件造成的停电，紧随其后的是电网受到网络攻击造成的停电。
这些对可靠性和成本的担忧导致人们对电网严重缺乏信心。然而，尽管这些担忧日益加剧，房主们却还是越来越多地使用电力来取代其他燃料来源。
万物电气化
从电热泵到电炉和烘干机，房主们正在加速推进家庭电气化。也许最令人兴奋的例子是电动汽车（EV）的普及和家庭充电需求的上涨。随着主要的汽车制造商承诺实现雄心勃勃的电动车目标，甚至在未来实现全面电动化，电动汽车将在未来几年掀起更大的波澜。
诚然，这种电气化运动的附带结果是（由于消耗增加，导致）电费增加。如果执行阶梯电价，即根据用户的用电量收取不同的费用，那么房主就有可能需要支付更高的单位电价。许多新电动汽车车主直到购买新车时才意识到这一点，甚至在新车停在私人车道后，他们打开第一张电费账单时才意识到这一点。
当然，考虑到电网问题，这种电气化运动可能会让人感觉有悖常理。但这实际上是迈向能源独立的第一步。
调和两大相互冲突的运动
事实上，电气化进程呈迅速推进态势，甚至在那些担心电价和电网可靠性的房主中也是如此。这有可能引发更多用户对电力公司不满，并加剧用户在极端情况下对电力供应的焦虑。然而，还有第三种趋势有助于调和这两大相互冲突的运动：太阳能的发展。
太阳能的普及程度可能比你想象的要高：近77%的房主要么在家里安装了太阳能电池板，要么对购买太阳能电池板感兴趣。Aurora Solar的行业速递报告还显示，2022年美国住宅太阳能项目同比增长近40%，与美国太阳能行业协会（Solar Energy Industries Association）的太阳能市场洞察报告（Solar Market Insight Report）一致，该报告发现，“就住宅太阳能而言，2022年是创纪录的一年，安装量接近6 GWdc，比2021年增长了40%。”
由于各方寻找抑制——甚至消除——推进家庭电气化造成的日益增长的账单的方法，这使得人们迅速转向关注太阳能，这是合乎情理的。住宅太阳能安装商也亲眼目睹了这一点。电动汽车和太阳能之间的联系就是一个很好的证明：近80%的太阳能专业人士表示，电动汽车的普及往往会引发人们对太阳能的新兴趣。
太阳能价格的持续下降也大有助益。美国太阳能行业协会估计，在过去十年中，住宅太阳能系统的总成本下降了65%以上。新的立法也提升了太阳能的可负担性，并有助于实现太阳能普及。《通胀削减法案》（Inflation Reduction Act）于2022年8月16日签署成为法律，被誉为“历史上应对气候变化最大的联邦投资法案”。对于考虑使用太阳能或电池储能的房主，以及试图向他们推销相关产品的安装商，最大的好处是什么？太阳能投资税收抵免（Investment Tax Credit）恢复到原来的30%，延长到2032年，并明确包括电池储能。
事实上，《通胀削减法案》已经对太阳能安装商和房主产生了重要影响。超过45%的住宅太阳能安装商表示，由于《通胀削减法案》，它们已经看到越来越多的人对太阳能感兴趣，另外40%的人预计在未来会看到越来越多的人对太阳能感兴趣。
追求能源独立
使用太阳能有助于解决由于推进家庭电气化而造成的电力需求增加，但这并不能够完全解决对能源独立和安全的渴望。只安装太阳能电池板的家庭必须立即消耗或出售产生的电力。这就是住宅电池储能发挥关键作用的地方：将发电与用电脱钩，给房主更多的控制权。对于那些已经接受关键设备、系统和车辆电气化的房主来说，这更有价值。电池储能技术让他们能够储存自己设备产生的太阳能，并在最关键的时候进行使用。
因此，82%的太阳能专业人士注意到越来越多的房主对电池储能感兴趣，这不足为奇。这种太阳能和储能的结合可以帮助房主在不同程度上独立于电网，而且，无论是在紧急情况下，还是在电费最高的时候，他们都能够在最需要用电的时候获得电力供应，因此可以感到安心。
家庭电气化发展趋势似乎与房主对昂贵电费和电网可靠性不足的担忧不一致。但房主是睿智的。随着家庭电气化进程持续推进，太阳能光伏（和储能）安装量将持续飙升。（财富中文网）
本文作者克里斯·霍珀（Chris Hopper）是Aurora Solar的首席执行官及联合创始人。
Fortune.com上发表的评论文章中表达的观点，仅代表作者本人的观点，不代表《财富》杂志的观点和立场。
译者：中慧言-王芳
The Department of Energy recently warned that two-thirds of the U.S. is at risk of losing power this summer. It’s an increasingly common refrain: Homeowners want to be less reliant on the aging power grid and don’t want to be at the mercy of electric utilities due to rising energy costs and dwindling faith in the power grid’s reliability.
And it makes sense. While the inflated price of eggs and butter made headlines earlier this year, electricity prices quietly increased at twice the rate of overall inflation in 2022, and homeowners have taken notice. In fact, according to Aurora Solar’s Industry Snapshot, 62% expect energy prices will continue to rise.
Homeowners aren’t just frustrated that electricity is pricey when they need it, they’re also worried it won’t be available at all when they feel the most vulnerable. Nearly half (48%) of homeowners are concerned about power outages stemming from weather events, followed closely by outages due to cyberattacks on the power grid.
These concerns around reliability and cost are creating a deep lack of confidence in the power grid. Yet, despite these growing concerns, homeowners are increasingly using electricity to displace other fuel sources.
The electrification of everything
From electric heat pumps to electric stoves and clothes dryers, homeowners are accelerating the electrification of their homes. Perhaps the most exciting example is electric vehicle (EV) adoption and the need for home charging. With major vehicle makers committing to ambitious electric vehicle targets and even going all-electric in the future, EVs are primed to make an even bigger splash in the years to come.
The by-product of this electrification movement is, of course, higher electric bills because of increased consumption. Homeowners also risk paying more for every unit of energy they use if they’re part of a tiered pricing utility structure, in which customers are charged different rates based on the total amount of energy they use. Many new electric vehicle owners don’t realize this until they are deep into purchasing their new vehicle, or even when they open that first electric bill after the car is in their driveway.
Sure, this electrification movement can feel counterintuitive given the power grid concerns. But it’s actually the first step toward energy independence.
Balancing conflicting movements
The fact is that electrification is moving forward quickly, even among homeowners who are concerned about electricity prices and power grid reliability. This has the potential to lead to even more discontent with electric utilities and growing anxiety over access to electricity in extreme situations. There is a third trend, though, that can help reconcile these two conflicting movements: the growth of solar.
The popularity of solar is likely higher than you think: Nearly 77% of homeowners either have solar panels on their homes or are interested in purchasing solar. The Aurora Solar Industry Snapshot report also showed a nearly 40% year-over-year increase in residential solar projects across the U.S. in 2022, aligning with the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Solar Market Insight Report, which found, “Residential solar had a record year [in 2022] with nearly 6 GWdc of installations, representing 40% growth over 2021.”
It makes sense that finding ways to tamp down—even eliminate—growing bills caused by the electrification of homes is accelerating interest in solar, and residential solar installers are seeing this firsthand. The link between EVs and solar is a great proof point: Almost 80% of solar professionals said EV adoption often drives new interest in solar.
It helps that the price of solar continues to drop. SEIA estimates that the total cost of a residential solar system decreased by over 65% in the past decade. New legislation is also contributing to solar’s affordability and popularity. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law on Aug. 16, 2022, has been hailed as “the most substantial federal investment in history to fight climate change.” The biggest benefit for homeowners considering solar or battery storage, and installers trying to sell to them? The solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was restored to its original 30% credit, extended until 2032, and clarified to include battery storage.
In fact, the IRA already made a meaningful impact on both solar installers and homeowners. More than 45% of residential solar installers say they have seen increased interest in solar thanks to the IRA, and another 40% expect to see increased interest in the future.
The pursuit of energy independence
Solar adoption alone can help address increased electricity demand caused by the electrification of homes, but it doesn’t fully address the desire for energy independence and security. Homes that only have solar panels must immediately consume or sell the electricity they generate. This is where residential battery storage plays a key role: decoupling when electricity is generated from when it is consumed, giving more control to the homeowner. This is even more valuable for homeowners who have already embraced the electrification of key appliances, systems, and vehicles. Storage lets them save the solar energy they generate and use it when it’s most valuable.
It’s not surprising, then, that 82% of solar professionals noticed an increased interest in battery storage from homeowners. This combination of solar plus storage helps homeowners achieve various levels of independence from the power grid and peace of mind that they’ll have power when they need it most, whether that’s in an emergency situation or simply when the cost of electricity is at its highest.
The home electrification trend may seem to be out of step with the concerns homeowners have with the costly and unreliable electricity grid. But homeowners are smart. As home electrification continues to gain steam, solar (and storage) installs will continue to go through the roof.
Chris Hopper is the CEO and cofounder of Aurora Solar.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
