Feb 18, 2025 · The "Action Plan" clearly requires that we should accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, solidly promote the high-quality development of the new energy
The commission said earlier it will introduce a plan for new energy storage development for 2021-25 and beyond, while local energy authorities should also make plans for the scale and project layout of new energy storage systems in their regions.
Under long-term projections shared with city leaders last week, St. George would go from getting 3.4% of its power from renewables in 2021 to 27.2% by 2030. Over the same period, the plan is to go from 28.1% coal to 12.8%.
With the city planning on using less coal and more renewable energy, a major focus is the expansion of solar energy in and around St. George, according to Mangum. In the newly released Utah Energy and Innovation Plan , the sunny southwest corner of the state is promoted as a prime spot for continued solar development.
"Energy storage facilities are vital for promoting green energy transition with substantial potential, as the central government calls for a new energy-based power system," said Wei Hanyang, a power market analyst at research firm BloombergNEF.
St. George supplies the majority of its residents with power, but most residents and businesses south of the Virgin River receive their electricity from Dixie Power, a separate energy cooperative. Both utilities are forecasting fast-paced increases in demand.
“Solar is going to come on at a certain time and it's going to go down at a certain time,” Mangum said, suggesting the city will also need to have other sources in its mix. Mangum says the current makeup of rooftop solar in St. George can provide about four megawatts of energy during peak hours.
The global residential solar storage and inverter market is experiencing rapid expansion, with demand increasing by over 300% in the past three years. Home energy storage solutions now account for approximately 35% of all new residential solar installations worldwide. North America leads with 38% market share, driven by homeowner energy independence goals and federal tax credits that reduce total system costs by 26-30%. Europe follows with 32% market share, where standardized home storage designs have cut installation timelines by 55% compared to custom solutions. Asia-Pacific represents the fastest-growing region at 45% CAGR, with manufacturing innovations reducing system prices by 18% annually. Emerging markets are adopting residential storage for backup power and energy cost reduction, with typical payback periods of 4-7 years. Modern home installations now feature integrated systems with 10-30kWh capacity at costs below $700/kWh for complete residential energy solutions.
Technological advancements are dramatically improving home solar storage and inverter performance while reducing costs. Next-generation battery management systems maintain optimal performance with 40% less energy loss, extending battery lifespan to 15+ years. Standardized plug-and-play designs have reduced installation costs from $1,200/kW to $650/kW since 2022. Smart integration features now allow home systems to operate as virtual power plants, increasing homeowner savings by 35% through time-of-use optimization and grid services. Safety innovations including multi-stage protection and thermal management systems have reduced insurance premiums by 25% for solar storage installations. New modular designs enable capacity expansion through simple battery additions at just $600/kWh for incremental storage. These innovations have improved ROI significantly, with residential projects typically achieving payback in 5-8 years depending on local electricity rates and incentive programs. Recent pricing trends show standard home systems (5-10kWh) starting at $8,000 and premium systems (15-20kWh) from $12,000, with financing options available for homeowners.