Doug Herrick is the founder and owner of Pensacola-based SunFarm Energy, a solar power contractor. He spoke with FLORIDA TREND recently about the growth of solar energy in Florida and some of the challenges facing the industry.
QUESTION: How would you describe the solar energy business at this point in Florida?
ANSWER: It's been a bit slower than it has been in years past, and there are a number of reasons for that. Probably the biggest factors have been inflation and interest rates affecting the cost of solar panel installation and the insurance companies either denying coverage or making policies much more expensive due to the cost of removing and reinstalling solar panels during repairs of storm-damaged roofs.
Q: What are some of the new technologies and advancements in the design, installation and application of these solar panels?
There are glass shingle photovoltaic cells on the market that actually cover the entire roof. Some are active solar power generators, and some are inert, but you can’t tell the difference. We’re also seeing a great increase in bifacial solar modules which offer many advantages over traditional solar panels by increasing total energy by producing solar power from both sides of the module panel.
Q: Are battery storage devices in homes becoming more popular?
Yes, right now, the thing that’s made the most difference recently is the ability of homeowners to store solar-generated power in their homes. And that’s becoming a lot easier to do with lithium battery advancements, even to the point where we’re seeing EVs (electric vehicles) that essentially are rolling batteries that can provide backup power to a home during power outages.
Q: In addition to residential customers, are you seeing more commercial businesses investing in solar?
Yes, we’re seeing a tremendous amount of interest in solar power being installed on commercial buildings. What’s more, the military is a big believer in the role solar can play in force readiness, and we’re seeing the Department of Defense invest heavily in solar.
Q: Looking ahead five to 10 years, can you envision a growing number of homeowners going completely off the grid with their own internal power generating and battery storage sources?
Yes, we have many clients that already are completely sustainable, including myself. The technology is here now and the various barriers to entry are financial of course, but it makes a lot of sense. And that’s why this technology is so disruptive; it gives people the ability to generate and control their own energy for their home and even fuel their cars.