Gas Station Solar Power Is Happening, And A US Startup is On It

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This year’s seismic shift in federal energy policy has spelled bad news for the US solar industry. However, it’s a big world out there, and domestic solar innovators can help push the renewable energy transition elsewhere around the world. One emerging example is the global gas station solar power trend, where the leading California-based tech firm Enphase aims to play a key role.

The Gas Station Solar Power Trend Is Coming For Your…Gas?

At first glance, solar power at gas stations is an oxymoron. However, with their large, sprawling roofs and parking lots that provide a buffer from shade obstructions, gas stations are among the low hanging fruits of the booming commercial rooftop solar industry.

Besides, gas stations have to pay their electricity bills just like any other ratepayer. Rooftop solar presents an economical alternative to the grid mix. Combined with on-site energy storage, solar panels can also keep the lights on in case of a grid outage, and they can help gas stations take advantage of low off-peak electricity rates.

The rising interest of the retail gas business in solar power is not a particularly new phenomenon, but there is still plenty of room for enterprising solar industry stakeholders to stake out more turf, and that’s where Enphase comes in.

Last week, the company reminded everyone that its IQ8™ microinverters are a perfect fit for solar arrays at gas stations. Microinverters convert the DC current from a solar array into a usable AC current on a panel-by-panel basis. Though generally more expensive than conventional inverters, microinverters can offset lifetime costs by optimizing the output from each panel.

Enphase also drew attention to the safety requirements of gas stations. “Enphase microinverters are uniquely suited to gas station installations thanks to their AC-based system architecture, which eliminates the risk of dangerous high-voltage DC wiring and potential arc-fault fires,” the company announced on November 6.

“Built-in Rapid Shutdown capabilities ensure automatic system shutdown in emergencies, while a NEMA 6 rating allows for reliable performance in harsh weather conditions,” Enphase added, referring to a standard scale established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

More Solar Power For Your Balcony

To date, much of Enphase-related gas station activity has been occurring overseas, particularly in Southeast Asia. “In Southeast Asia, Enphase microinverters are powering hundreds of gas stations. Super Central Gas has installed Enphase systems across 105 Shell stations, while multiple installers – Super Central Gas, TNS Network Solution, and MRO Engineering – have equipped PTT franchise sites,” Enphase notes.

Enphase is also seeking to ramp up its gas station footprint in the US. As the company points out, most of its microinverters are manufactured domestically, potentially qualifying US sites for commercial tax credits. The company draws attention to a Tri Gaz 5 gas station in Texas, where its microinverters are featured in a 49 kilowatt array installed by the firm Dynamic EcoHome (formerly Dynamic SLR). Though modest in size, the the project will enable solar power to offset 17% of the the facility’s electricity use while delivering a lifetime savings that tops $150,000.

As Enphase points out, safety is a key issue helping to push the pace of the gas station solar power trend. Wartime grid interruptions are also becoming a concern, for example in Ukraine, where a retail gas stationed owned by Galnaftogaz is getting retrofitted with a rooftop solar array and energy storage system as a pilot project. “This setup will ensure uninterrupted operation, even during power outages or emergencies,” notes the firm PVKnowHow. A conventional generator will also come into play if needed.

The system is designed to work autonomously for up to two days. If the pilot project works out, Galnaftogaz reportedly plans to expand it throughout Ukraine.

Yet another factor, of course, is the vehicle electrification movement. On-site solar power with energy storage slots neatly into the EV sustainability profile. For gas stations, the payoff is attracting more drivers among the zero emission set.

Balcony Solar Power, Coming Soon To The US

Circling back around to Enphase, the company has also been staking out a claim in the emerging global balcony solar power field. Balcony solar refers to plug-and-play solar panels designed for ease of use. In contrast to rooftop solar arrays, which are permanent fixtures installed by professionals, balcony solar systems are temporary. They can be hung from balconies or elsewhere around a building. Homeowners and tenants can simply remove them and bring them along whenever they move.

Germany has become known as a balcony solar hotspot, and Enphase has been quick to jump on the trend. In May, the company launched its new “Enphase® IQ® Balcony Solar System” in Germany. “Designed for plug-and-play installation, the new system empowers apartment dwellers and homeowners with limited roof space to generate their own clean energy from balconies, patios, and small outdoor areas,” Enphase enthused.

Enphase also took note of the role of government subsidies in pushing the balcony solar trend. “According to SolarPower Europe, Germany registered 435,000 new balcony systems in 2024, compared to 276,000 in 2023,” the company noted. “There are now 780,000 total balcony solar installations across the country, driven by significant regional subsidies.”

The balcony solar trend has yet to materialize in the US in force, but the floodgates began to burst open earlier this year when the state of Utah put new legislation in motion that permits ratepayers to use small, plug-in solar devices without having to go through their local utility.

The US balcony solar power movement still has a long way to go but momentum has been accelerating, with the San Francisco nonprofit Bright Saver among those pushing the envelope.

In a profile of the organization last week, The Sierra Club credits Utah with providing a model for other states to follow. Currently, balcony solar bills have been filed in New York and Pennsylvania. Legislators in Vermont and New Hampshire are also expected to introduce bills in January, and Bright Saver co-founder Kevin Chou expects two others to announce legislation before the end of this year.

Photo: Microinverters from the US-based global firm Enphase are playing a featured role in the gas station solar power movement (cropped, courtesy of Dynamic EcoHome via Instagram).