From solar homes to grid partners.
An industry coalition developing the market between electrified homes and the grid programs that need them. Facilitated by the UC San Diego Design Lab.
The work, in the field.
The moment
- 01 · Post-NEM2023
NEM 3.0 slashed export compensation. The "solar pays for itself" model that long-tail contractors were built on is gone.
- 02 · Post-ITC−20%
Residential installs are forecast to fall 18–21% in 2026 after the 25D credit expired. 100+ solar companies have closed since 2023.
- 03 · The buyers arrive16.8 GW
Home batteries and thermostats aggregated for data-center buyers in 2026. Hyperscalers, CCAs and utilities now pay for residential flexibility.
Three acts. One direction.
The electrified home is no longer just an upgrade to sell. It is grid infrastructure that can earn. Each act built the next.
Act I · 2024The Playbook
Contractors, technology providers and Design Lab researchers convene to write a playbook for the post-NEM, post-ITC era.
Act II · 2024–25Solar-led electrification
Lead with solar into the whole home, adding storage, heat pumps, EV charging and panel upgrades for deeper, longer relationships.
Act III · 2026–Market development
How electrified homes cooperate with programs from hyperscalers, CCAs and utilities: an earning layer of the grid.
What we do now
Humanity-centered design, industry expertise and agile sprints. Open, usable research a contractor can run and a program can build on.
Understand the homes
How electrified households decide, trust and participate. Maximum Resiliency.
Design the cooperation
Open-source frameworks, ontologies and program designs. Golden Grid · A New Deal for California Energy.
Prove the pathways
Pilots and playbooks that give contractors a role enrolling and servicing grid-cooperative homes.
Open-source outputs
Get involved
- Contractors
A viable path, and a role in the next market.
Read the playbook - Hyperscalers · CCAs · utilities
Cooperative homes, organized for your program.
Explore a collaboration - Researchers & funders
An open, grounded research agenda.
See our open-source work
