Overview of the U.S. Solar and Renewable Energy Industry: Identifying the Major Players, Assessing Growth Trends and Projections

Abstract

This article summarizes a panel discussion at the third annual IMN Sunshine Backed Bonds conference in New York on April 30, 2015. The panel members discussed the recent decline in solar energy prices; how prices are expected to move over the next three to five years; whether the public equity market is ready to embrace upstream solar; what customer-origination models are working; prospects for mainstream acceptance of solar energy and its value proposition; how customer acceptance varies by locality; how solar energy providers are providing financing to customers through leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and loans; how PPAs and loans are being securitized; future prospects for battery technology; whether regulations are moving in a direction that will help solar implementation; whether the United States will remain the center of solar energy innovation; how the solar industry can survive with low natural gas and oil prices; how solar energy may be bundled with other products such as home energy management systems; and how a network approach rather than just large generating stations might help customer penetration.