Going Off the Grid?

With distributed generation technologies (DG) like rooftop solar increasing faster than many utilities can expand grid capacity, nearly half of 150 global executives surveyed recently by Accenture say parts of their grid will reach maximum capacity in three years or less. Only 1 percent believes it will take longer than five years.

The study, conducted as part of Accenture’s Digitally Enabled Grid research program, found the proportion of both commercial and residential consumers with rooftop solar arrays in some markets like California could exceed 15 percent by 2036 – a trend that is expected to affect net electricity demand going forward.