ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque-based company is trying to make it easier for more people to reap the benefits of solar energy with portable solar panels.
While an increasing number of households use solar energy, including 5 million in the U.S. and 62,000 in New Mexico, you need to own a home. You also need to shell out around $12,000 to $15,000 to install a new system in your home – and federal tax credits to subsidize it are expiring.
Pii Energy is trying to sidestep all of that.
“These can go on a patio, a balcony, even a rooftop. You can put them on a rooftop, anywhere outside,” said Sean Dalton, vice president of product at Pii Energy.
Three freestanding solar panels, a battery and some foolproof wires in between is all you need to start harnessing the power of the sun no matter where you go.
“This is an appliance that moves with you and helps make your energy costs more affordable,” Pii CEO Charles Call said.
According to Pii energy leaders, their “Edge 2000” system plugs directly into a typical wall socket, pumping up to 1.2 kilowatts of clean electricity directly into the system. Meanwhile, the battery stores another 2 kilowatts of energy.
For reference, the average American home uses 28 kilowatts of energy each day.
“A system like this might help save an average household 15-20% on their monthly energy costs,” Dalton said.
“In New Mexico, it might be $30 to $50 a month,” Call said.
Company leaders said the base system will only cost $2,400.
“The system is modular, so you can add a second battery and store a little more energy, maybe even a third battery,” Call said.
Pii Energy officially launched the product earlier this month and are now entering the beta testing phase. Company leaders say they’re still working with state lawmakers to clear up issues with interconnection permits but they say the future is bright.
“If we can make it work here, we can build it, we can demo it and we can make it affordable here, we know we can be successful outside of New Mexico,” Call said.
Pii Energy leaders say they started brainstorming the idea back in November. They filed their patents in January and are now looking for people interested in taking part in that beta test.
There’s no firm timeline for when the kits will go on sale. However, you can reserve one ahead of time on their website.
MORE:
Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our online form
or call 505-243-4411.
This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
© KOB-TV, LLC
A Hubbard Broadcasting Company

source