For some time, computing, data processing and storage have been migrating to the “cloud.” Now, people are talking about the energy cloud, where distributed energy resources (DERs) making use of intelligent devices, storage and a smart grid connect all manner of distributed loads and resources to meet customers’ energy service needs.
Future is solar
Source: The energy cloud: Emerging opportunities on the decentralized grid, 3 June 2014 by Navigant Research & Advanced Energy Economy
The basic elements of such a futuristic scenario are already apparent in bits and pieces. It is merely a matter of connecting the dots, finding the missing pieces and betting on improved storage technology and rapidly falling prices.
A June 2014 report by Navigant Research and Advance Energy Economy predicts roughly 70 GW of solar capacity in the US by 2020 despite the expiration of 30% investment tax credit (ITC) at the end of 2016, most of it from distributed resources such as residential and rooftop solar PVs (graph on page 20). As a point of reference, Germany currently has roughly 35 GW of solar capacity.
According to Karin Corfee, managing director at Navigant Research, with rapidly falling costs, solar PVs are moving mainstream with many commercial companies routinely including them in design of new buildings.
Solar on the roof
Source: The energy cloud: Emerging opportunities on the decentralized grid, 3 June 2014 by Navigant Research & Advanced Energy Economy
Retail stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco. Kohl’s, IKEA and Macy’s are now the top 5 owners of installed solar PVs, covering entire roofs in an increasing number of their facilities. IKEA and Costco are now selling solar PV kits to their do-it-yourself customers in selected stores who can snap them on their roofs, hopefully without getting electrocuted in the process.
You haven’t got a new business model yet?
Source: The energy cloud: Emerging opportunities on the decentralized grid, 3 June 2014 by Navigant Research & Advanced Energy Economy
Commenting on the new research, Karin Corfee one of the authors of the Navigant report refers to a survey of 500 utility professionals (on left) that indicates developing a new business model and investing in distributed generation (DG) is among the highest ranked items on everyone’s minds these days. This should not come as a surprise to anyone.
Published Originally in EEnergy Informer The International Energy Newsletter August 2014 Issue.
