BOULDER, Colo. — The global electric power industry is evolving from a model that relies on large centralized power plants owned by utilities to one that is more diverse, in terms of both the sources of generation and ownership of localized generation assets, notes Navigant Research. Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offer the benefit of producing electricity onsite, thereby reducing the need to build new transmission capacity and avoiding line losses. According to a new report from Navigant Research, 220 gigawatts of distributed solar PV capacity will be installed between 2013 and 2018, representing $540 billion in revenue during this time.

“Used in applications ranging from residential to small commercial to industrial settings, distributed solar generation offers significant benefits to consumers while adding resiliency to an electric grid evolving beyond the traditional centralized model,” said Dexter Gauntlett, research analyst with Navigant Research. “Though this market is still primarily driven by government incentives, distributed solar PV will continue its steady march toward grid parity in major markets over the next few years.”

Even as distributed solar technologies have become more cost effective, many governments are reining in popular feed-in tariffs in leading markets. But the industry is fully aware that financial incentives will not be around forever, says Navigant Research. As a result, many companies are looking at 2017 (the year after solar PV investment tax credits expire in the United States) as the year that solar PV will be able to stand on its own, without government support.