Solar energy has transformed the renewable landscape, driving innovation and affordability across the industry. Yet, its intermittent nature remains a barrier to full adoption. In its current form, solar energy isn’t always available when we need it most, sometimes producing too little and at other times too much, making it difficult to treat as a dependable resource. 

At RE+ 2025, Stryten Energy hosted a panel to explore how solar-plus-storage is changing the equation, turning variability into opportunity. Pairing solar with energy storage can unlock new levels of dependability and cost-effectiveness, positioning solar as a resource you can count on. 

Meet the Panelists: 

• • Olivia Amyette, Founder and CEO, Infinite Energy Advisors 
  • Dr. Vick Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Dragonfly Energy 
  • Travis Torrey, Chief Technology Officer, Storion Energy 
  • Moderator: Scott Childers, VP of Essential Power, Stryten Energy 

Here are the highlights from the discussion: 

Childers: “Can you share some recent examples of solar-plus-storage projects that turned out to be exceptionally successful—projects that delivered surprising profitability and significant benefits for the site and the end customer?” 

Panelists shared examples that demonstrate the tangible benefits of integrated systems. Ms. Amyette highlighted a commercial success story, “Buncombe County is one of our clients and we recently did an AC coupled energy storage addition to their solar system… Right off the bat, they actually reduced their consumption and especially their peak demand by 25%.” 

On the residential side, she pointed to a groundbreaking Habitat for Humanity project, “We are working on a 68-home community, the first ever of its kind. All of them will have solar… In our first one, we had the homeowner go without the battery for a couple of months, and then now we have the battery in, and we’re testing it, and it has completely wiped out her utility bill.” 

Torrey shared an international example, “Some of our early prototypes we deployed to Germany… We were able to smooth out the peaks on a solar field over a couple of year timeframe and substantially help them utilize the full field.” 

Dr. Singh added a unique application for trucking fleets, “Applying solar for trucking for liftgate solutions… leveraging solar to allow them to run the lift gate without touching the engine has provided the fleets an ROI, and the cost of the solar and the storage was not prohibitive.” 

Childers: “What technical pain points or hurdles are solutions providers facing right now in the industry, and what would you like to see be improved quickly?” 

Despite these wins, technical hurdles remain. Dr. Singh pointed to software complexity, “Our engineers are not as much struggling with can I find the right components… but are they going to talk to each other correctly? Are they going to engage one another when they need to?” 

Ms. Amyette echoed the need for better monitoring tools, “15-minute interval data is simply not enough… We want the software to show in one easy-to-understand way what everything is doing accurately without any hiccups.” 

Torrey added that stabilizing the supply chain for vanadium batteries is critical for future growth. 

Childers: “How does sustainability and recyclability factor into solar-plus-storage solutions—do customers care, do they choose systems based on chemistry, and do you recommend certain options for sustainability?” 

Recyclability isn’t yet a top concern for most customers, but regulations are changing. Torrey noted, “In Texas, we’ve seen the new regulations requiring a plan and the financing set aside to dispose of the battery at the end of life… Vanadium is infinitely recyclable, which really allows you to drive cost mechanisms on a long-term basis.” 

Childers: “How long will it take for the solar-plus-storage supply chain to fully mature and become efficient across all players—EPCs, component providers, and solution integrators?” 

Panelists agreed that while progress is being made, challenges remain. Torrey emphasized that rapid electrification will keep pressure on supply chains for years. He said that “As long as we’re seeing significant growth in the electric industry, we’re going to see significant supply chain issues… I don’t think in the near-term future with the growth of data centers, with the growth of electric cars in the U.S., with increased electrification in almost all that we do, I expect us to see this challenge for many years to come.” 

Ms. Amyette agreed, noting that innovation and adaptability will define the path forward. “In our industry, nothing is ever the same, and there’s always innovation… We’ve toured a bunch of new battery plants and solar manufacturing plants that are still popping up. The momentum has not stopped, and that’s exciting. But we will have things to tweak every single year.” 

Dr. Singh highlighted a more specific concern: the dominance of LFP chemistry and its raw material constraints. He explained that “The biggest supply chain question, both in the near and long term, is LFP cells. Right now, it is impossible to find an LFP cell at scale with high quality outside of China… The biggest uncertainty for us right now is what’s going to happen with LFP and where these cell factories will pop up. Are they going to be viable? Are they going to get priced out of the market? What role will secondary markets play?” 

Key Takeaway 

Pairing solar with storage transforms unpredictability into performance. Early success stories prove that integrated systems can deliver measurable ROI and resilience. The future belongs to solutions that prioritize flexibility, seamless integration, and a battery-first approach. 

Stay tuned for part 2 of this discussion, and click below to watch the full recording.