It’s hard to imagine a more perfect place for harnessing the benefits of solar energy and home battery storage than the Sunshine State. As Florida homeowners have begun to realize this, they, in growing numbers, are shifting away from reliance on the grid.
“The solar energy market is flourishing in Florida thanks to the abundant sunshine available year-round,” says Vincent Ambrose, CCO of FranklinWH. “Solar panels can generate ample electrical energy throughout the year for Florida homeowners, slashing utility bills.
Ambrose is a leading expert on home energy management systems that empower energy freedom, with over two decades of experience in the renewable energy and technology sectors. He is passionate about accelerating the clean energy transition and is dedicated to delivering innovative energy solutions for homeowners and businesses alike. FranklinWH provides home energy ecosystems that integrate solar, battery, grid, generator, and EV power sources to provide power, lower electricity bills, and backup power for homes during outages or when homeowners want to be off-grid.
“Battery storage adds considerable value to solar systems by furnishing homeowners with solar-generated energy when the sun isn’t shining,” Ambrose adds. “It provides a simple and reliable way to store power, which is particularly important for a state that has to confront the threat of outages from hurricanes and other extreme weather events.”
The benefits of shifting to solar energy
Florida energy costs are among the highest in the Southeast US. Recent studies show the average resident pays $130 per month for energy, which puts Florida among the top 10 most expensive energy states in the US.
Shifting to solar can help Florida homeowners dramatically reduce their monthly energy costs. During daylight hours, homes optimized for capturing solar power can completely cut their reliance on energy from their local grid.
When weather events lead to blackouts, solar energy systems provide homeowners a convenient option until the grid is restored. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton hit Florida as a Category 3 storm, leaving more than 3.4 million energy customers without power. Some residents waited a week for power to be restored to their homes after the storm.
“Florida is prone to plenty of severe weather, including hurricanes, high winds, heavy downpours, and flooding,” Ambrose says. “It is the type of weather that can trigger large-scale outages in the state, even for regions that aren’t directly hit by a storm. Having an alternative energy source that can kick in during power outages provides a sense of personal safety in times of emergency.”
Adding battery storage to solar power solutions
Despite its many benefits, solar energy is only half of the equation for those looking to achieve energy independence. By combining solar with home battery storage, Florida homeowners gain the capacity to weather blackouts even when the sun isn’t shining.
Home battery storage systems allow homeowners to save energy with specially designed batteries that can be used to provide for a home’s energy needs. A variety of sources, including solar energy and the grid, can be used to charge the batteries.
“With the addition of a battery, homeowners who invest in solar will be capable of generating and storing their electricity to reduce dependence on the grid,” Ambrose explains. “The stored energy can power homes during cloudy days, nighttime hours, or simply keep a steady power flow during blackouts, which is particularly important for Florida homeowners during hurricane season.”
A battery storage system is part of a home energy management system that consists of a controller, a battery, and an inverter that converts the system’s direct current energy to alternating current that home devices can use. Advanced management systems use a monitoring app that tracks and controls energy consumption for better efficiency.
Homeowners using battery storage systems can take advantage of Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs to further increase their financial savings. Tariff programs, which are offered by some Florida energy companies, utilize a variable scale for energy costs that increases during peak demand hours and decreases during off hours. By charging batteries during off hours and using stored energy when needed, homeowners can reduce their overall energy costs.
“For Florida homeowners, solar and home battery storage have plenty to offer,” says Ambrose. “Combined, they provide energy independence by storing solar power for homes to use during long blackout windows. They also furnish homeowners with an effective way to save money by controlling energy consumption based on TOU tariffs. Solar and home battery storage deliver much-needed energy security in a state that faces both higher energy prices and the threat of widespread outages.”
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