Kevin Willms, an Independent Energy Consultant for Reach Solar, aims to make the transition to clean energy as accessible as possible for homeowners. Solar energy panels provide the perfect solution: a near one-time expenditure that reduces utility expenses for the rest of a home’s life. And Kevin helps his clients channel the sun to power their daily routines, whether rain or shine.
Back in 1974, his junior high school was the location of one of the first-ever solar arrays in the US, a system that used the power of the sun to heat the school swimming pool, bathrooms, and kitchen all year round at no cost. A year later, Kevin’s interest in solar power grew when he was tasked to build a model of a sustainable bermed home powered by solar energy— a project for his ninth-grade environmental science class. His adolescent education sparked a lifelong passion for renewable energy and developed a career devoted to the power of solar power.
His position today as an energy consultant revolves around an entirely virtual approach to raising awareness about the benefits of solar. This strategy enables Kevin, who’s based in Minnesota, to reach across Reach Solar’s presence in 46 states. Additionally, he uses organic marketing methods, which enables Kevin’s clients to reach out to him about transforming their power usage.
While solar technology has existed for around 2,700 years and solar thermal power tech has existed since 1896, producing electricity through the sun’s rays is a much more recent invention— dating back to Bell Labs in the 50s. Then, in the 70s, solar thermal systems gave way to photovoltaic (PV) energy systems.
However, Kevin sees this takeover as a wrong turn in the technology’s history. With photovoltaics, thermal systems were abandoned, and solar power systems were no longer available for home use. Instead, PVs were reserved for industry. “It’s a disservice to homeowners. When PVs exceed a certain temperature, their efficiency decreases,” he explains, “Instead, if we combined a solar thermal system with PVs, we could pull excess heat off the panels, decreasing temperatures and increasing electricity production.”
Fifty years later, the solar market has seen significant changes. A typical system now averages $30,000, while smaller systems of ten to twelve panels are around $4,000 due to installation costs. Also, while solar panels clearly pay for themselves over time through decreased utility charges, a total payback can take anywhere from five to fifteen years. This wide range is because the savings buyers expect from installs depend on where they live in the US, with different states enforcing different energy policies and the drastic differences in weather between the East and West, and between the Gulf coasts and Canada.
Despite technological and political hurdles, and the odd cloudy day, the potential for solar energy remains vast.
For instance, California is mandating solar panels and backup batteries for every new home constructed within its borders, along with incentives in the form of solar credits. “California’s earthquakes and the Santa Ana winds that fan its wildfires can bury its above-ground power lines. When this happens, utility companies are required by law to shut down electricity transmission for the safety of repair workers,” Kevin explains, “So, solar energy isn’t just sustainable, it’s a needed fail-safe.” Up in the North-East, Minnesota’s constitution was amended so that all excess energy generated by solar households returns to the grid, and each kilowatt is compensated to households at wholesale rates. Kevin hopes similar incentives will soon be offered in more sunny states.
With every solar panel carrying a 25-year warranty and degradation factor of only 0.005/year, solar power stands as a smart solution for homeowners to reclaim their energy autonomy. Kevin adds, “Kevin adds, “When the Apollo astronauts landed on the moon, they carried with them little solar-powered lunar rovers. It’s entirely possible that they still produce charge today, although they’ve since been turned off.”
Kevin’s commitment to sustainable living shows in both his home’s ‘solar system’ and his system designs for clients, which cover 120% of a homeowner’s yearly energy needs (the extra is to account for unpredictable weather changes).
Driven by advancements in solar battery technology and evolving policy, Kevin Willms sees a bright future where solar energy is accessible to every home. As he continues his work as an independent energy consultant, homeowners continue to reduce costs, increase energy independence, and contribute to a cleaner world.
