The majority of family homes in Europe could become entirely self-sufficient in energy with a combination of solar panels and battery storage, a study has found.
According to researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 53 per cent of single-family homes in Europe could leave the energy network altogether. This proportion could increase to 75 per cent by 2050 depending on various economic factors.
Electricity prices in Europe hit record levels in recent years following the invasion of Ukraine, which raised concerns over the continent’s energy dependence on undemocratic states such as Russia. There were even concerns last winter that Europe would be subject to energy rationing and power outages so severe that some key services such as emergency calls and infrastructure would be at risk.
In addition, the cost of solar power has plummeted in recent years due to improvements in panel technology that means a higher percentage of sunlight is converted into electricity. According to the International Energy Agency, the average cost of solar panels was around $30 (£24) per watt in the early 1980s. Today, it is less than $0.50 (£0.40) per watt – a 98 per cent cost reduction over four decades.
These technological improvements, alongside recent high prices for oil and gas, gives even more incentive to make residential buildings energy-independent, the KIT team said.
The study found that, in Australia, self-sufficient residential buildings can already be cost-competitive with those connected to the grid if the occupants are willing to make small changes to their consumption patterns. Households in temperate climates could also become cost-competitive in the future, although this will depend on energy storage and procurement prices.
“Our results show that even in 2050 going off-grid won’t be the most economic choice, but it could make sense to invest in these kinds of self-sufficient buildings if you are willing to pay more for self-sufficiency,” said lead researcher Max Kleinebrahm at KIT.
However, he added: “It would be less efficient to have a large number of households abandoning the grid rather than supporting it.”
According to another study from University of Exeter researchers last month, the price of solar energy has reached an “irreversible tipping point” that will see it become the world’s main source of power within three decades.
