off-grid solar

Emily always knew she wanted to go solar.

As a child, she was captivated by stories of Atlantis and the idea of crystals powering entire cities. That fascination never faded. It only deepened as she learned the science behind solar energy. “You know, I just love solar,” she said. “I love every aspect about it. I love that it’s powered by the sun, that it hits the crystals in the solar panel and we have electrons flowing. It’s a never-ending resource.”

Over the years, Emily’s passion grew into commitment. For more than 15 years, she researched solar. She attended home shows, met with installers, and asked questions. But something always felt off. “I didn’t feel they knew their business,” she said. “Or they just wanted to sell me something. I didn’t feel the integrity with those companies.”

That changed when she met the team from ReNew Solar Solutions.

“To have solar, a renewable resource that takes care of Mother Earth and doesn’t hurt her at all, and to be independent? It’s just a great feeling,” she said. “It’s peace of mind. To know that your family’s going to be taken care of, and everything will run smoothly with this solar system. It’s wonderful.”

Finding a Team She Could Trust

It was at a home show where Emily first encountered ReNew. She met John and his team, and something was immediately different.

“They smiled. They laughed. They told me all about their company,” she recalled. “I tortured them with questions about this, what about that and they answered them all. That’s when I said, ‘Come on down.’”

When the ReNew team visited her property in Charlotte, TN, Emily had even more questions. How many batteries? What kind? How would the panels be placed? Could underground cables reach the house or the garden?

“Anything I asked, they came through with flying colors,” she said. “They were the first company in many years that I trusted. And throughout the process, they just proved me right.”

But finding the right company was only the beginning.

Building Two Solar Systems That Just Work

A Smarter Solution at Home

Emily’s project wasn’t a typical residential install. She needed two systems: a hybrid solar-plus-battery setup for her home that stayed connected to the grid, and a fully off-grid solution for a horse boarding facility tucked in a valley with no utility access.

At the house, ReNew designed a system that prioritized solar first, stored excess energy in batteries, and pulled from the grid only when needed. With high cooling demands and a two-story footprint, Emily wanted a system she could count on year-round. “They did what they said they would do, on the time they said they would do it,” she said. “Even the little things, like the 100 feet of underground cable to the garden with a light switch they remembered.”

ReNew explored every option: rooftops, pastures, and finally a custom rack behind the home that worked around her existing pool heating tubes. “How can we make this solar work back here?” she recalled asking. “Clear the house, make sure it gets plenty of sun.”

They used a light meter to plan a layout with panels above and beside the tubes. “It was difficult to think about putting panels above that, but it turned out beautifully,” she said. “It gets plenty of sun. I think it’s pretty. That was an accomplishment building racks and putting all this custom design. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Emily stayed involved, asking about beams, wood types, and angles. “They were so kind and accommodating. It was not the brusque, ‘Little lady, don’t worry about it’ attitude. They took their time and showed me what they were doing.”

The crew added extra support, cleaned up thoroughly, and placed materials exactly where she asked. “I love the installation people,” she said. “They listened, and they followed through.”

The real test came during a blackout.

“On all the neighborhoods, power went out. And I didn’t know it until somebody texted me, ‘Do you have power?’” Emily said. “We had power because the system has brains, computer brains. You put Storm Watch in your app, and it powers up the batteries 100 percent from the grid. When everybody’s power goes out, the entire house is powered by those batteries. We don’t even know it’s happening.”

Energy Independence in the Valley

Emily’s home wasn’t the only place she needed power. Down in the valley, her horse barn couldn’t rely on the grid at all. ReNew built a fully off-grid system engineered for rugged conditions and remote operation.

“We have a system here in the house, and ReNew Solar put a whole another system down at the valley for our horse boarding facility, which is totally off the grid,” Emily said.

It was a completely independent setup designed to function without utility support. Combined with the hybrid solar-plus-battery system at her home, Emily now has reliable solar solutions across both properties tailored to meet the unique energy demands of each one.

Two different properties. Two customized systems. One trusted solar partner who delivered on every promise.

A Worthwhile Investment with Long-Term Peace of Mind

Emily had saved for years to do this project the right way. While some homeowners try to calculate how long it takes solar to pay off, she sees the return from a different lens.

“I don’t care that it cost a lot of money. I’m happy I did it,” she said. “Even if I have to live to be 120 to make my money back, I’m making my money back right now in renewable energy. I’m not using the electric company for coal. I am saving Mother Earth right now.”

She also benefits from a TVA agreement that allows her to sell excess energy back to the grid, adding long-term value to her decision.

The end result isn’t just functional. It’s beautiful. The custom racking solution behind her home gets full sunlight, works seamlessly with her existing pool system, and blends into the property.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said. “It gets plenty of sun. I think it’s pretty. That was an accomplishment.”

Looking back, she’s certain of one thing.

“I’ve had a lot of big projects in my life, and this was the best installation experience I’ve ever had. They listened. They followed through. I couldn’t be happier.”

Watch Emily’s Full Story