Few trends in the solar energy space are as exciting as the possibilities offered by interconnected technologies. Whether it’s the coupling of solar PV arrays with battery storage for increased energy independence or the potential for blockchain to create a new market for clean energy, advances in technology keep taking solar power to the next level. As the efficiency, stability, and economic viability of solar installations continue to improve, new possibilities reveal themselves.

A new white paper from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance reflects on how Solar Plus Storage technology is disrupting the traditional power balance of energy supply and demand. Titled “How Solar+Batteries Shift Electric Grid Decision Making from Utilities to Consumers,” it examines the fundamental shift that is occurring as more consumers elect to produce and use power locally. But are utility companies ready to acknowledge that the future of solar plus storage is here?

At Solar Design Studio, we embrace projects that others might balk at. The intersection of design, functionality, and energy production is an exciting one, so we leap at the opportunity to take on new challenges. Fortunately for us, we’ve built relationships with clients who bring their innovative, ambitious ideas to us.

The technological advances in solar PV systems over the last decade have been remarkable. Designers and manufacturers continue to create systems that are increasingly more efficient, less expensive, and easier to install. They’re also making them nicer to look at.

Emerging technology always has a wide and somewhat unpredictable impact. Over the last decade, we’ve seen multiple industries reshaped by disruptive new technologies with major consumer support. Consider how the sharing economy has impacted the hospitality industry and the ways mobile apps have altered brick-and-mortar banking. Now, the power industry is facing an equally foundational sea change.

In our ongoing series of articles about grid modernization and distributed energy resources, we’ve explored the pressing need for improved energy infrastructure in the United States that supports consumer choices when it comes to alternative energy sources like solar and wind power. The current grid, mostly unchanged over the course of the last century, has revealed itself to be an unstable, inefficient, and costly solution for meeting consumer’s power needs. The development of alternative energy technologies (and their falling prices) has given consumers more choices, but utility companies have been reluctant to compromise their profits by creating a more open, accessible grid. It’s time for them to catch up.