This story originally appeared on Vox and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration. The tricky thing about generating electricity is that for the most part, you pretty much have to use it or lose it.

MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what's coming next. You can read more from the series here. For more than a ...

Enphase Energy just launched a new off-grid system that lets homeowners power their homes without a utility connection – even for extended periods. The California-based Enphase says the off-grid setup ...