PNNL researchers publish educational guide on solar energy panels & battery storage.

TRI-CITIES, WA. - Have you ever thought about getting rooftop solar panels on your house or a battery energy solar system, but need help knowing where to start?

Well, you're in luck.

Researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) tell us they're hoping to educate homeowners on the massive amount of information that comes with investing in solar energy by publishing an open-access guide for everyone.

"It's a great time for both energy storage and rooftop solar, there are more financial incentives out there, and more utilities are willing to play ball with you and to get more solar and energy storage onto the grid," said Jessica Kerby, who works as a systems engineer for PNNL. "Sifting through it all can be really difficult, so we wanted to put everything in one place so that people could, you know at their own leisure, without any pressure, dig through this and figure out what it means for them."

Kerby, as well as fellow colleague Bethel Tarekengne, told KEPR News they compiled and analyzed utility rates, net metering policies, installation costs, financial incentives, and more for consumers who are interested in installing renewable energy systems as well as for energy justice and clean energy advocates.

“We want to demystify this process of adding rooftop solar and battery energy storage,” said Kerby, in a press release. “We want to empower people with the understanding of how this complicated system works.”

The researchers note that with current U.S. policy transitioning to a more electrified way of life to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, rooftop solar, and battery solar can provide both energy to homeowners as well as relieve some load on the power grid as a whole.

You can read the full guide, here.