This is interesting as a contribution to the solar net metering debate. If you have a local low-voltage DC network, perhaps backed up by a UPS, you can charge t

This is interesting as a contribution to the solar net metering debate. If you have a local low-voltage DC network, perhaps backed up by a UPS, you can charge the UPS battery using solar, and that means that solar electricity generated on-site automatically displaces grid electricity at the retail rate. That means that solar would only need to compete with the retail price of conventional electricity, and not the generation cost. And solar cost is already at or near parity with retail price in many parts of the world: This is 2010: http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/solar-pv-its-cheaper-than-you-think-58689/bnef-12 http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/solar-pv-its-cheaper-than-yo... And this is 2025: http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/solar-pv-its-cheaper-than-you-think-58689/bnef-2025 http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/solar-pv-its-cheaper-than-yo... (Countries above the isobar have lower solar costs than the price of electricity from the grid)