Decentralized. The old model — giant power plants pushing electricity one direction over long wires — is aging out at the exact moment demand is exploding (data centers, EVs, electrification of everything). The new model is millions of small power plants: rooftops and garages, aggregated into Virtual Power Plants that respond to the grid's needs in real time.
This isn't sci-fi — it's already paying homeowners. VPP programs pay yearly rebates for letting your battery support the grid during peak events. Utilities are crediting $1-$3.50/kWh for peak-hour exports. Every year the grid gets more desperate for local storage, your battery gets more valuable. Homeowners who install solar + storage now aren't just cutting a bill — they're buying a seat at the table of the next energy economy.