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We will be glad to provide a free, no obligation consultation and custom designed solar system in the greater Durango area to meet your financial and environmental goals.

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(970)403-5004 (Call or Text)

INFO@flatrocksolar.com


Durango, CO 81301

(970)403-5004

Based in Durango, Colorado, Flatrock Solar is a locally owned and operated solar panel contractor and installer serving the Durango area from Cortez to Pagosa Springs and Silverton to Ignacio.  Flatrock Solar has been helping businesses, homeowners and non-profits convert Colorado sunshine into clean, renewable energy since 2010.  

Thoughts - musings on solar panels and renewable energy

This page is for thoughts and ideas about solar and the environment in general.  I'm passionate about solar and think and read about it daily.  This will be a space for these thoughts.

Virtual Power Plant - Renting your batteries to the utility

Dan Diehl

Some areas of the country are starting programs called Virtual Power Plants or VPPs. Areas that currently have these programs in place are the northeast, California and Hawaii. The program compensates owners of solar systems with batteries for using their batteries when the grid needs a little support. The batteries are connected to the internet and the local utility can draw power from them when needed to keep the voltage and frequency of the grid in line. For this use of the batteries, the owner is compensated.

6% of solar systems were installed with batteries in 2020 and that figure is expected to rise to 25% by 2025. At the same time, the grid is aging and becoming overtaxed. Being able to support the grid in certain neighborhoods a few days of the year instead of running all new lines to that same neighborhood can save money and resources for the utility.

These programs are still in the pilot phase in some areas like California, but are expected to grow as their usefulness and economic value are recognized. In addition to having backup power in a grid outage, VPPs are another reason to install batteries with your solar system.

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