The places where this is targeted for aren't close to a grid to be able to pump the power back into it. The benefit of this sort of system is that it gives you

The places where this is targeted for aren't close to a grid to be able to pump the power back into it. The benefit of this sort of system is that it gives you a way to consume electricity close to the source, so that you don't end up with the distribution costs. I do agree that doesn't seem like the best choice, but the alternatives proposed are not alternatives in the situations that this is targeting. I suspect/hope that there _are_ other alternatives, that may serve a better "global good".