Grid Edge 20: Who Is Disrupting the U.S. Electric Market?

On Thursday, greentechmedia.com (GTM) released its second annual "Grid Edge 20: The Top Companies Disrupting the US Electric Market," which recognizes companies in the electrical power sector with new products, disruptive strategies and forward-looking vision.

The basic premise put forth by GTM is that after 100 years of essentially little change, the U.S. electrical distribution grid "is shifting toward a more distributed, responsive grid driven by technology innovation and evolving customer demands."

Today there are net-metered residential customers with rooftop PV solar panel installations who are eager to sell excess power back to the electric utility. Many of the companies selected in the Grid Edge 20 are helping to address the challenges associated with how legacy grids reverse the flow of current.

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Notable Investor Highlights

These companies run the gamut from small private firms to familiar large electric utility companies and industrial corporations.

According to GTM, SolarCity will begin "offering 'microgrids as a service,' integrating solar, inverters, energy storage, and control software as part of a single package with little to no upfront costs." Additionally, SolarCity is aiding customers in improving broad home energy management through a partnership with Nest.

GTM continued, explaining Tesla's new initiatives, "At the end of April, Tesla will officially launch its stationary energy storage product line, rumored to include a smaller battery for residential use and a large battery for utility applications."

In December, Sunverge announced its collaboration with SunPower Corporation SPWR, which GTM described was done to "add the solar development channel to its paths to market."

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