Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which enable customers to generate some of their own electricity and sell unneeded power back to their utility, are the most visible form of the broad disruption caused by distributed energy resources (DER).  The growing affordability of DER technologies is altering utilities’ traditional relationship with residential customers by giving customers greater control of their energy consumption.  According to a new report from Navigant Research, worldwide revenue from all forms of residential distributed generation and energy storage will grow from $52.7 billion annually in 2014 to $71.6 billion in 2023.

“Rooftop solar PV is just one of the technologies that are transforming the traditional residential power industry,” says Neil Strother, principal research analyst with Navigant Research.  “Some of these technologies, such as residential combined heat and power, are in the early stages of market development, while solar panels are more mature.  Nonetheless, these energy innovations and attractive financing mechanisms provide residential customers with new options.”

One key driver for this sector, according to the report, is continuing advances in new technologies, such as more efficient energy storage systems (ESSs).  These advances, along with government subsidies for ESSs, often in the form of feed-in tariffs, are enabling the combination of rooftop solar PV systems and residential energy storage in order to collect and store energy for use when sunlight is unavailable or there is a power outage.

The report, “Residential Energy Innovations”, examines the market for residential generation and storage technologies and discusses how they are reshaping the future of the residential power industry.  It analyzes the key market drivers and inhibitors influencing the market, as well as major technology issues.  Global market forecasts, segmented by region and category – solar PV, energy storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and residential combined heat and power – extend through 2023.  The report also provides profiles of established and new industry players and explores policy issues related to residential distributed generation and energy storage technologies.  An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries.  In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets.  The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Utilities, Smart Transportation, and Smart Buildings sectors.