Mary Powell, the CEO of Sunrun, believes that the combination of residential solar panels and battery storage could be the key to stabilizing the U.S. grid. She has overseen the installation of solar and battery systems in a million U.S. homes, with a total capacity of seven gigawatts of power generation and two gigawatt hours of energy storage. Powell sees this as a more affordable and resilient way for people to power their homes and lives.
Sunrun, the largest U.S. solar installer, focuses on providing customers with solar panels and batteries that can help reduce strain on the grid. The company typically installs systems that include 7.5 kilowatts of solar panels and at least 13 kilowatt hours of storage. The cost of these systems can exceed $20,000, but federal tax credits and state rebates help offset some of the cost. Powell believes that affordability is key in expanding the adoption of residential solar and energy storage.
The rise of residential solar and energy storage has the potential to significantly reduce the strain on the U.S. grid, which is struggling to keep up with increasing demand for electricity. Powell emphasizes the need for a customer-led revolution in the energy sector to accelerate the adoption of distributed power generation. She believes that tapping into these resources can make the grid more economically efficient, benefiting everyone involved.
Despite the potential benefits of residential solar and energy storage, there are still challenges to overcome, such as cumbersome permitting processes and regulatory hurdles. In states like California, which has a surplus of solar generation but lacks sufficient battery storage, the adoption of new residential solar projects has slowed due to changes in net metering rules. Sunrun’s revenue dipped in 2024 as a result of these changes, but the company expects to install up to 1.1 gigawatt hours of battery storage in the same year.
Powell sees federal policy support as crucial in accelerating the adoption of solar and battery projects, especially for low-income residential and community installations. She believes that changes at the local level, including standardized guidelines, could help boost adoption of distributed power generation and storage. Powell envisions Sunrun as an orchestrator of smart and controllable home loads for utilities, emphasizing the potential for distributed energy resources to make a significant impact on the grid.
Overall, Powell is optimistic about the potential of residential solar and energy storage to address the challenges facing the U.S. grid. She believes that scaling up the adoption of solar panels and batteries can provide a more stable and affordable energy solution for consumers, while also helping utilities better manage growing demand. With the right policies and support in place, Powell envisions a future where distributed power generation plays a central role in ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy grid for all.
