The future of the solar-plus-storage industry will look like the air conditioning business – pv magazine USA

The solar industry will evolve from component brands to system brands and service, according to Barry Cinnamon in this industry perspective.

The future of solar-plus-storage?

Tony & Wayne

Willis Carrier developed the first mechanical refrigeration system in 1903. It took another 50 years before window air conditioners became popular in homes and businesses. Hot and humid climates, such as those in the southeast, were by necessity the first to widely adopt air conditioning. By the 1970s, air conditioning was standard and the industry matured to one in which system maintenance and upgrades were the bread and butter for industry professionals.

The PV industry has followed a similar path. Bell Labs developed the modern solar cell in 1954. 50 years later rooftop PV was becoming popular in certain U.S. markets. Because of high electric rates, California and Hawaii were at the forefront of PV adoption.

By 2019, California hit a million rooftop PV systems in 2019, and solar is now standard on new California homes. Those intrepid early adopters of rooftop solar are now upgrading their 10- and 20-year old systems with new inverters, as well as adding battery storage. Solar-plus-storage systems are going into millions more buildings around the U.S.

How do these HVAC industry experiences foreshadow developments in the PV industry? Here are a few likely outcomes:

Willis Carrier probably never imagined the ubiquitous growth of refrigeration and air conditioning, just as the inventors of solar cells never imagined the ubiquity of PV systems. The solar-plus-storage industry is destined to be a key part of virtually every building in the U.S. From a growth perspective, we havent seen anything yet.

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Barry Cinnamon is the founder of Cinnamon Energy Systems, a Silicon Valley solar (and energy storage) installer with a 20-year track record.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the authors own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.

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The future of the solar-plus-storage industry will look like the air conditioning business - pv magazine USA