Most of us have already encountered the landmark report authored by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which revealed that global temperatures are continuing to rise towards unsustainable levels as a result of man-made emissions and deforestation.

We’ve written a lot recently about the possibilities unleashed by interconnected technologies (broadly referred to as the Internet of Things or IoT). From smart homes that prioritize comfort and ease-of-use for homeowners to smart buildings (commercial, residential, or industrial) that integrate systems to achieve massive energy savings, the growing combination of IoT technology and solar energy is very promising.

The consumer-led push to create “smart home” systems, which prioritize energy efficiency and savings alongside increased convenience for home or building owners, is opening up new possibilities in energy management. As technology developers build home and office solutions for energy-savvy consumers, they continue to create better models for reducing the energy that our buildings consume. Both consumers and the environment benefit.

As we discussed in a recent blog, when the Internet of Things (IoT) meets solar power it enables efficient, effective energy consumption in the buildings where we live and work. The interconnection of devices that we use to facilitate our daily lives provides the opportunity to better understand and control our power use. Through networked capabilities and shared data, IoT solutions show us the future of holistic energy generation and implementation.

Few trends in the solar energy space are as exciting as the possibilities offered by interconnected technologies. Whether it’s the coupling of solar PV arrays with battery storage for increased energy independence or the potential for blockchain to create a new market for clean energy, advances in technology keep taking solar power to the next level. As the efficiency, stability, and economic viability of solar installations continue to improve, new possibilities reveal themselves.

A new white paper from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance reflects on how Solar Plus Storage technology is disrupting the traditional power balance of energy supply and demand. Titled “How Solar+Batteries Shift Electric Grid Decision Making from Utilities to Consumers,” it examines the fundamental shift that is occurring as more consumers elect to produce and use power locally. But are utility companies ready to acknowledge that the future of solar plus storage is here?