An Independent Entity

Now that we have some predictable patterns traced out by the active solarNodes on the network, we can analyse and extrapolate. Let's allow an independent entity (company or organization) pay for the equipment and installation upfront, selling energy contracts worldwide back to the customers, with a clause for maintenance. Let's stand on some giants' shoulders, and emulate Ray Anderson and adopt The Natural Step framework and madnate that this organization takes full responsibility for responsibly recycling and disposing of the old equipment. (It turns out that solar panels do need to be cleaned, batteries need to be replaced, and electronics blink out. But on the whole, they are a fairly low-maintenance power source which attenuates noticeably in power generation only after 15+ years.)

But rather than simply paying a monthly bill, let's allow shares of this entity to vest with customers as they generate power over time, based on both participation, energy bought, and conservation measures employed. Again, this energy company would not replace the home owner's grid-based electricity company, but simply augment it. The difference between the two products however, would be fairly significant: a solarNetwork-enabled retailer would be offering value added, transparent, clean kilowatt hours at rates that become cheaper over time with participation, while the power retailers with grid systems that chiefly use polluting fossil fuels such as coal or gas, and prices seem to steadily rise each year.

Is this a profitable business? Well, not for a while...here's one amateur's version of a cash-flow analysis. (download the spreadsheet in .XLS format)      But things can change, including this spreadsheet.