Rooftop solar deployment, what’s next?

Abstract

Rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) occupy a special place in the clean energy transition. The special role of rooftop PV in established markets is being shaped by three key trends. First, rooftop PV is losing special policy and regulatory treatment and faces increasingly difficult policy contexts moving forward. Second, the rooftop PV market is adapting to the changing context by integrating with other clean energy resources and diversifying its value proposition. Third, rooftop PV is transitioning from early adoption to a period of mass diffusion, a transition that entails new challenges. All three trends contribute to the normalization of rooftop PV as a product. While the normalization of rooftop PV may appear threatening to its industry and stakeholders, I argue that these trends in rooftop PV are ultimately a boon for grid decarbonization.