7 MAJOR Changes for Solar In 2025

[@jackthesolarguy]

Wow, a reaction video from the biggest name in residential solar media! Always great to hear your insightful perspective, Joe

[@garyjones101]

If you participate in a VPP, you have the ability to specify how much of your battery can be utilized. You can most often set a percentage, like 20% from your battery supplier's app.

[@GNiessen]

Virtual Power Plant programs help you pay for your battery system. And are not likely to "Drain" your entire system. Most allow you to specify how much of you battery is available, usually 20-50%.

[@jackthesolarguy]

That is true, and they will also be very precise and upfront with you as to the time of year and hours of the day which you can expect for them to pull from your battery.

[@frankdelao4067]

California is taking advantage of the extra solar power that can’t be used in the morning. A battery farm was installed in the Bay Area and one is being set up in L.A. As an EV owner I charge during off peak hours when rates are lower.

[@BellaCinco]

L.A.DWP still offers 1to1 credit. Damn I need to get on it before the new plant sets up.

[@keithpvbatt2040]

I am a small local contractor in the Midwest when large companies S## badger and M##ie solar went down, all the small local installers came together and fixed finished ,repaired the reputation of the local solar industry. Shame on any you tuber claiming small installers will go first, the track record is the opposite the nationals tanking because they don't have the grassroots and community connections just bean counters!! Not a single small company has tanked near us but we are still fixing jobs that the big guys left behind. 16 years in business and counting and we are small!

[@jackthesolarguy]

I support small contractors/local businesses and very much hope they do not fall out of business. But for the reasons I listed in the video, smaller contractors are much more susceptible to having to shut doors during periods of low sales. Larger installers are often more protected thanks to increased cash flow/access to funding which many of them rely on.

[@joshuamccrary9329]

Got my master electrician license in 2017 and still going strong as a small solar installation subcontractor 💪

[@JP-kb4yi]

What market in the Midwest?

[@keithpvbatt2040]

@@jackthesolarguy You are wrong! Large businesses can be a S##t show and can unravel quickly with owners and shareholders taking everything they can get before the doors close. Leaving unpaid workers, unfinished job etc. No sense of community responsibility just money driven. I worked in high positions at large companies and it can be scary how unstable they are! I don't need any sales to survive with our business having nearly zero dept giving us the ability to pivot. This is unlike larger companies burdened with layers and greed. Small businesses have transparency/continuity top to bottom financially. Large companies= "house of cards", small companies= "stable and locked to the local community".

[@keithpvbatt2040]

@@jackthesolarguy You are wrong!

[@emmgeevideo]

Joe: "Little bit of a sales pitch..." Lots of respect, but this channel is basically a sales pitch as well. Solar Surge is a solar sales company that features a KZbin channel.

[@emptyb9968]

Not "with or without permission", it is an opt in situation for vpp.

[@TurreTuntematon]

That’s true. It’s not like ”they have control over your battery” but more like ”you can give them permission to use your battery.”

[@TooCloseSeries]

I was my solar installers first customer. 🤔They are still open and seem to be doing well.

[@SolarSurge]

Early adopter! That is awesome.

[@ccarrick]

Looked like you showed NY as having 1:1 net metering which hasn’t been true for years since the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) tariff took effect.

[@wishbone1138]

I'm hoping that enphase releases V2H in 2025, that's a big thing I'd love to take advantage of considering the huge amount of KWH I have in my vehicles. If nothing else but for emergency/blackout/our grid sucks moments.

[@TurreTuntematon]

It should be released by Enphase this quarter 2025 😊

[@wishbone1138]

@@TurreTuntematonI hope you’re right. I’m also curious what vehicles it will actually support.

[@bladerunner1458]

Thank you for the information. My solar system was installed a few months ago with Tesla batteries and is working beautifully even in December and January. For heat, I use a heat pump above 32° and propane below 32°. Domestic hot water heating is propane in the winter time and electric in the summer when I have an abundance of green power. Unfortunately, I do not have net metering which should be available to all because I am making green power. Becoming a virtual power plant would be welcomed, however, I would like some battery control depending on circumstances. Payback was a minimal consideration for me since I want back up Power being remote and I’m producing green power. More incentives need to be implemented since producing green power is healthy for all.

[@vinnie97]

Not for all (battery and solar manufacturing aren't inherently healthy). That's just how it is with any energy production for creature comforts in the modern world.

[@FSUtrack]

Virtual Power Plant (VPP) or general Demand Response programs can be very lucrative and many actually do not need to involve your distribution utility (like adding your capacity to an aggregation program in the energy markets). If your goal is total grid independence for yourselves, then maybe not the program for you, but if you want to reduce your costs to acquire a battery and/or contribute to a system that allows greater renewable energy proliferation then look into joining a program.

[@SolarSurge]

Yes, Demand Response programs are definitely worth exploring for those with goals of reducing battery cost.

[@johnaugsburger6192]

Thanks, you guys are good.

[@powoxi]

Goodness, its appearance is really striking right off the bat and leaves a lasting impression. It's one of those things that you remember long after you've seen it. It's got a real presence.

[@leongeisberg294]

Great overview. Thanks.

[@dankuhl6206]

Today is my last day on NEM as my solar system is 20 years old. Along with new rates I will be billed monthly. The big power companies think this will discourage solar use. Ironically this change is causing me to add more solar.

[@DerekRhoads]

I just watched Jack's video twice! Once on Jack's channel and the other on this channel.

[@junkerzn7312]

Actually, the middle of the day isn't a low-demand period. Not by much anyway. The peak used to be in the early afternoon, but solar pushed it later and later into the evening until now the peak does not happen until 8pm. Grid-scale batteries in California and Texas have vastly changed this landscape, though, and will continue to change it. It's a bit of a tit-for-tat with solar generation vs grid scale battery expansion. With Grid-scale batteries operating, the dip in the middle of the day isn't going negative nearly as much as it used to, and the demand peak has begun moving backwards again. For example, today the demand-peak was at 6pm (though later in the summer it will probably be past 7pm). Another consequence of grid-scale batteries in California is that the state is importing less electricity during peak from other states. This is actually putting a bit of a crimp on the finances for other state's electric grids which traditionally were able to serve their own customers at far lower electricity rates because of the profits they made from exporting to California. In anycase, insofar as California goes, as utility prices continue to rise battery systems have become more economical for home owners. And generally speaking all it takes is around 20kWh worth of storage and really not much beyond 4kW of export capability to zero-out 90% of one's usage. Throw in a solution for charging your EV and you can be saving thousands every year (inclusive of EV charging). That moves the break-even for battery systems... it would have been 15 years just 2 years ago but now it's south of 12 years and continuing to fall. Exporting electricity is not as lucrative under NEM 3 without net-metering, but if you can concentrate that export in the 4-9pm peak period with batteries it isn't terrible either. Still, the #1 thing is to reduce grid imports at all hours as much as possible. Even just offsetting 1kW 24x7 is highly beneficial.... since solar production hours can be excluded, that is less than 20kWh of storage. -Matt

[@SolarSurge]

That is an excellent point! It's more complicated than a simple "peak" and "off-peak" analysis. As you pointed out, grid-scale storage is changing the game and the home battery software can be finely tuned to optimize payback for the owner.

[@truhartwood3170]

I believe with the VPP you can limit how much you sell back to the grid, or how low they can drain your battery. You can also opt-out for any period. So if a bunch of bad weather is rolling in (heat wave, cold snap, hurricane, whatever), you can charge up to full and then keep all that for yourself until the weather event is over.

[@RoyceBluford]

My company went out of business, Texas Solar.

[@bertvandenberg1822]

He said "In some areas they will pay you between $2.00 and $3.00 per KwHr". That is a bit difficult to believe.

[@RGree-co9dy]

I get 1/2 of what they charge per watt for what I sell them. They do not want the power they loose money. They charge a line use charge as well.

[@jackthesolarguy]

They are real numbers from utilities in California and the NE. The caveat is that you can only expect for the numbers to get that high during 2-3 summer months of the year within a 4-6 hour window during the day. It is not a year-round, all day thing.

[@TheFatman819]

Banking on a return from the power company is not a good idea. They should not.be forced to buy your electricity, just like I can't take eggs from my chickens and make the grocery store buy them. U.S. companies are making their equipment proprietary and that is never good for the consumer.

[@finned958]

What would be the difference between NEM and VPP? It’s not like you’re voluntarily releasing your energy to the power company. Most times you don’t even know it’s happening. When you definitely don’t want your battery to be drained is during a power outage, but then the grid is disconnected. VPP would work in California when you are on NEM 3.0. You’ll most likely paid 1:1 instead of 25% per KWH. In a recent estimate, the VPP could be equivalent to $350 rebate per year. I am ordering a Tesla solar and powerwall and expect to get NEM 3.0. Tesla has 25 years warranty. They can finance it too. No leasing for me.

[@GerryMander-kj9sz]

FYI: Tesla has a poor custom service history, but the Tesla Wall III looks like a very nice product. You might think about getting recommendations for an alternative installer other than Tesla direct. Insist on one that backs up their warranty with a company like Solar-Insure, which takes over the warranties if your installer goes under. We're in So Cal and all the quotes we got included them.

[@johnbethea4505]

So this guy is from SC, and I need you.😊

[@mattbibeault843]

I don't know about other states but in RI and MA when there is bad weather predicted the utility does not draw from your batteries. It's a pretty generous program.

[@Bowhunters6go8xz6x]

If any power companies are trying to do this its crazy. And anyone that would allow their power company to raid their batteries is just asking for having depleted batteries when the grid fails for a storm or some other situation.

[@melindam4841]

Ok, confusion here. Why during work hours is power demand so low? Don’t businesses and people at work need power too? Is this strictly residential power? Why is that?

[@SolarSurge]

The net power demand from the grid is low because there is lots of solar production during daylight hours

[@melindam4841]

@ Thank you. Makes sense.

[@johnbethea4505]

I bought field solar panels from Generac. I have a lot of problems with it. It has gone down, and I can't find anyone who can help. The company went bankrupt. I live in SC, the installer was from NC.

[@stibbs11]

My home is off-grid so I feel none of the effects of grid tie, grid down issues. I hope I get the 30% tax reduction, will try this year. Most homes need batteries, I have 7 48v that is good for @ 3 days power if used sparingly. charging from 20% will take time but with solar panels 75-85W @ 40A charges for a normal day, microwave, coffee mkr, washing once a week are all good.

[@synaptichorizons]

I think the key here is the realistic probability that an actual multi-day power outage will occur, and this would happen with zero advanced (many day warning) warning of the coming event, excepting in the case of an Major Earthquake. Example is if you live in Florida (I lived in south Florida for 37 years), you'll know many days in advance if there is going to be a potential (Hurricane) event that could disrupt your Home’s Virtual Power Plant System(VPPS). VPPS is composed of your entire solar storage battery capacity and solar panel harvesting system along with transfer switches and inverters etc. You can then decide during different times of the year what percent of your total battery storage capacity will be allocated to your VPP-H ( where -H = Home VPP consumption) section of you battery storage, so even if the Utility needs to try and balance the grid with a share arrangement drawing from your VPPS you can have them only draw from the battery storage in your VPP-U portion of your VPPS, which was set aside for Utility battery storage capacity. This would have zero impact on the VPP-H section of your battery storage capacity. So even if they draw down the battery capacity in the VPP-U your VPP-H remains untouched by that action. If you have calculated that your current batteries can hold X-amount of backup charge and maintain constant power to your home even during prolonged outages (up to 24-hours), then you need to pretend like you have a Virtual Power Plant H (Home) and Virtual Power Plant U (U = Utility). You can determine what Percent of your total battery storage is available to VPP-H (like 70%) then the other 30% of battery capacity can be allocated to VPP-U during the 4 or 5 months of the year when the Utility Co actually needs to draw power from your batteries to help balance the Grid infrastructure. Since you would only participate in this Utility battery capacity sell program with the Utilities because, you’re making a very favorable income off selling that excess battery storage capacity. Your good. Then if you get advanced warning that a catastrophic situation might occur, you simply re-apportion 100% of your battery capacity to your VPP-H. Essentially turning off Utility access to your VPPS until the Catastrophic event period is over. You somehow you got it in your mind that the Utility can just come sweeping unannounced and drain 100% of all your storage battery system which is totally wrong. If you have two battery banks, A and B and you only give an external source access battery bank B how is that jeopardizing your battery bank A storage?

[@glennfelty]

I disagree about smaller installers being at risk. I actually think it's larger companies with large overhead are more at risk from a downturn in sales. We've seen it extensively over the last 2 years as some of the biggest players in the biz have folded. It's going to be the local businesses that survive as long as they are charging enough for solid margins

[@michaelferketic3540]

Has anyone seen dramatic degradation from Q-Cell systems? On Enlighten I've seen numerous systems where production curves are much lower compared to the previous year on the same date where both were sunny days. Enphase is saying it's not the micros AC voltage readings look normal.

[@jackthesolarguy]

Check with your solar installer to see if the panels are degrading more than normal. If so, you may be eligible for no-cost replacement panels under your linear power warranties. Otherwise, you may need a solar panel cleaning which could be contributing to lower production.

[@michaelferketic3540]

@@jackthesolarguy I work for an installer, I'm noticing quite a few Q-Cell systems from our customers showing rapid year over year degradation.

[@Bowhunters6go8xz6x]

Excellent video Joe! Agree on pretty much everything but especially on anyone that would allow their power company to (Raid their Home Batteries) is IMO not thinking straight from a (emergency home backup) point of view. The electric companies have deep pockets and if they want batteries for an area that has blackouts, etc. then they need to buy and install industrial batteries to support that part of the grid.

[@SolarSurge]

I agree, 100%. Not only should the utilities have their own batteries, but you would think the cost would be far cheaper when they purchase battery storage at that large scale. As opposed to relying on individual homeowners with their individual contractor battery installations.

[@stuff3661]

Yes, the utility should have their own battery storage. My regional electric distributor, Bonneville Power Administration, has tried to install battery storage but locals have shut it down due to fears of battery fires. Presently it appears easier for my local utility, Puget Sound Energy, to incentivize home owners to install battery systems than for them to get a grid scale system installed.

[@dewholdingsllc1050]

😂I own properties in a city in Texas that has nevered had 1:1. The City owns the only electric utility. No way to shop around. And the only electric utility in northern NM where I own is extremely anti- solar. Best to be off-grid there.

[@luchacefox259]

I live in Ruidoso NM and buy through Otero CoOp power company. 13.9 cents a KW to buy it from them. 2.9 cents if they buy it from me. They are crooks. Unplug from the grid and let everyone else die. They hate us.

[@newguy6935]

But what about R&D? That's where the Chinese beat the heck out of us. I worry that the USA panels will always be stuck at 22% efficiency because USA producers will only produce panels and not really do much in the R&D department. Same for battery storage. CATL just leaves us in the dust.

[@SolarSurge]

Many of the US battery brands are using CATL cells internally

[@riftvalley1765]

FALSE in FL we don't have 1 for 1 Due to the greedy solar dealers & installers high pricing your solar system production will decrease by 20-40% before it will pay itself off. The battery brand matters only when you are solar installers dependent, there's something called "Off Grid Solar" my system is both grid tie & off the grid, my grid tie LG CHEM RSU is paired with SolarEdge and NEVER worked properly however my off the grid 36KW batteries never failed to take over as soon as my solar production goes under 20%. People should NOT depend on the grid system alone, make part of your panels off the grid & charge your more reliable batteries charge.

[@MrMariner34]

If they can't build a production plant for less than 2.5 billion what makes you think they can produce panels people can afford?

[@af1023]

Awesome video

[@tjmozdzen]

warranties by a third party gives you protection against your installers going away.

[@jackthesolarguy]

That is a great point, though very few installers will offer the programs, such as SolarInsure, because SolarInsure does a lot to vet the installers.

[@Sam-el4wz]

Loved all of it BUT let’s get one thing straight. Generalizing smaller installers as more likely to go out of business is a load of s**t… business is all about how much you bring in vs how much you spend. My business personally has WAY lower overhead as a percentage of total revenue than any of these larger players around me. I constantly get called to fix all the bigger players installs. We’re not going anywhere. The freedom forevers of the world will go down. It’s already happening.

[@stuff3661]

Great video! It's like you read my mind! Concerning letting the power company take power from my batteries, I wouldn't want the power company to control ALL my battery storage so I'd set up a separate system for that purpose that would also provide power to the house while having another system that couldn't be controlled by he power company for my purposes. Those incentives are pretty impressive, my power company does offer incentives but only for their approved battery inverter brands installed by their installers, understandable but their systems are too expensive and inflexible for my taste. I can still participate in another program that pays me $1a kWh for electricity not used during certain times so I run "off grid" from my battery inverter system during those times. Oh, and the car battery to grid thing is called Vehicle To Grid (V2G).

[@TurreTuntematon]

A power company does not control your battery unless you allow them to so very misleading to say it like that. You can opt in for the power company to use your battery up to a certain % so the homeowner is fully in control, not the power company.

[@tfpjr]

Don't worry in CA about the solar industry slowing down! Because all new home builds REQUIRE Solar panels to be installed. It's not even a choice anymore 😢!

[@dennisdickinson8337]

Again could only put in about 15% into charged grid So if you adjust your numbers accordingly Just one example of the ignorance of solar & and renewable

[@tjmooney4181]

I recommend eg4

[@thomaslkenney]

Connecticut does not have 1-1 net metering anymore. Just FYI!

[@stevemcfarland4661]

It still is but with a 0.05/kwh fee for electricity sent to the grid I thought

[@sportsonwheelss]

First, they say, let's outsource production so we can keep the cost of goods low. Now they say, let's bring back production home so we can keep costs low. Is it just me or something is not adding up with what these people are telling us?

[@thepennymiser2496]

It's the same people. Nixon opened China. The Republicans sold us on how smart those business owners were while they crushed our unions. Now Trump wants to shut China down and tariff everything. While raising the prices of everything for Americans

[@OasisAmps]

I think the trend in 1 to 1 net metering will return with a vengeance! Why? Two very strong factors. AI and Crypto. Ai by itself is a huge beyond power hog. If you've ever been in a large data center you know it's full of rows and rows of Servers, switches, storage devices, always freezing cold and extremely loud from the AC and fans struggling to keep all this equipment cool. This is nothing compared to the size and scale need to run AI or Crypto. Power will be critical and a lot of it. Why 3 Mile Island may be resurrected. They will be desperate for quick power from anywhere.

[@darwinjina]

If you buy eggs from grocery store, you think if you have chickens that they will buy them from you for $1 too. Interesting

[@Centerflow]

The American brilliant light company might change all forms of energy.

[@TomyCherian-r7r]

I talk to many of these Solar people for my House, they all told me for 50 panel $60 -80 thousand, Bull shit, it actually cost only $20000 with all materials and installation, makin it not good for you and you are not saving anything instead its a burden for you, by it and install by yourself make it Profitable.

[@stibbs11]

To me everyone needs solar system with batteries to be as independent as one can be. Its offset by the increasing energy costs, invest now save for years.

[@SolarSurge]

I agree. The financial return on investment is there if you take a long term perspective.

[@isaaccowan5316]

Sorry, there's an old saying, "you tied your wagon to the wrong horse". Now "buck up" and sell your stuff to a businessman. You might even rescue your business (that was going under before Trump) by selling something without the governments "help".

[@darwinjina]

Texas has 1 to 1 net metering? Hmm. And is that considering the delivery charge costs. Nope

[@SolarSurge]

They always find a way to squeeze more money from customers via fees, etc.

[@darwinjina]

@@SolarSurge in my case, the delivery charge goes to the electric grid company (not generator or retailer) so it makes sense.

[@tjmozdzen]

If they pay me well, they can drain my battery!

[@dennisdickinson8337]

Solar as in micropower can only put in 15% into the grid Max Is the big reason Second as far as manufacturing we cannot manufacture good ingots ironically the environmentalists have banned the good chemicals like nf3 to make good solar cells Some reality it's just an assembly plant

[@darrelldoty7757]

Just saw Trump give a speech stating we only have half enough power in the US for the forthcoming AI.

[@richlindberg]

Isn't the point of AC connected battery, like Franklin WH to be compatible with any solar setup? I understand the DC vs AC conversion loss, but it is a small price to pay to take advantage of multiple brand installs in a single residence.

[@AGILISFPV]

Still sad how we in the US pay an extravagant premium on panels and inverters compared to other countries thanks to Trumps tariffs. Everything solar is ridiculously cheaper outside the US.

[@SolarSurge]

Good points. In Australia, solar is half the cost compared to what we pay here.

[@thefpvlife7785]

omg far to many ads trying to watch this. I Ieft early sorry.

[@johnhaller5851]

Texas has competitive retail providers in most parts of the state, with contracts no more than 4 years. Only in areas with co-ops or municipal power may have plans which allow being grandfathered. In the competitive markets, most plans exclude the grid charge, so not completely net metering. I believe one company does still offer net metering, and they are eating the cost of the grid charge, but the energy charges overnight are rarely high at the wholesale level.

[@darrelldoty7757]

So guys, ask yourself this. How much is AI going to play into all of this? Major announcement from Trump on AI yesterday. Plus, everyone in corporate America is trying to figure out how to get their AI solution up and running fast. AI is a game changer for most companies. AI servers need to have CPUs and GPUs in order to function at speed. This takes a lot of power, and I do mean a lot of power to run all of this. So how does all of this come into play? Is it a part of why the EV mandate and credit was just cancelled? Is it also the reason Musk agreed without hesitation to the killing of the credit? Do they really want everyone running out buying EV cars and trucks with what's on the horizon with AI? Elon is working on his own AI solution as well. It would seem to me the more home solar we have the better. The demands for power on the electric companies are just going to keep going up and up. Here in Texas as well all know our power grids struggle during peak winter and summer months. Now add layers of AI datacenters throughout Texas. Then what is going to happen? Net metering was bound to change that was a given. Electric companies are not going to leave that kind of money on the table for long. Now of course electric company lobbyist all come into play here as well. Anyway, just a thought.

[@thetruthexists304]

WV is 1:1

[@flolou8496]

I wonder what out of the blue Tesla advantages can come with President Trump and Elon Musk potential collaboration: Example # 1 Buy a TESLA and you qualify for a 50% reduction in a Tesla Power Wall , and the federal gov't will pay for the installation,

[@jackthesolarguy]

I doubt that will become a reality, but they will certainly stop the exclusion of Tesla vehicles from various grants/incentives which has been the case for a while.

[@finned958]

Government subsidies are inflationary. It’s printing of money. Even Elon doesn’t want subsidies for their EVs. He wants an even playing field. Actually, he can benefit from no subsidies because the competition is losing money on every EV sold. Tesla is profitable.

[@dannelson6980]

Everyone needs to stop showing old "duck curve" data, in 2024 with 7 GW of battery output online in CA the duck lost its head. The batteries are leveling out that evening peak and sunrise peak everyday. Many days they a handling the smaller fluctuations all night long. The batteries also lowered the peak power cost for $2000 a MWh in 2023 to $200 a MWh in 2024.

[@stephenbagby3201]

Government subsidies should never be done. If some product is viable it should come to market on its own. So welcome to the capitalist society.

[@samfish6938]

Elon musk loves solar trump does not

[@tajdvl-advocate6113]

Trump likes cheap sources of energy. Solar and wind are not remotely cheap. Fossil fuels and nuclear are.

[@SolarSurge]

Good point. I don’t know why we’re not talking more about nuclear.

[@keithpvbatt2040]

@@tajdvl-advocate6113 Nuclear is far wide the most expensive and least bankable. Think about the cost of forever items on the spreadsheet banks won't touch them , they also require the most socialist type support from federal and state.

[@AGILISFPV]

@@tajdvl-advocate6113wrong. Trump loves whoever gives him a cut. Oil and Gas does.

[@stefanweilhartner4415]

the duck curve ist the reason why we need batteries. they dropped in price by 50% in the last year. of couse trump with fuck that up a bit and in other coutries the right wing parties are doing similar crazy things to turn away from renewables, but at the end the development in the solar market is strong enough to stay stable.

[@RollinHomies]

I stopped watching. Why take someone else’s content as a complete video to post? Smells a little plagiarized

[@SolarSurge]

Jack asked me to do this reaction video. We are helping to grow his channel.

[@erashish14]

Do you like to make an interesting video on Solar Energy Implementation, if yes kindly share your email id, so PPT can be shared with you