Digitalisation will increase the profitability of solar power across every part of the value chain – creating new business models, improving existing ones and bringing PV ever closer to retail and wholesale grid parity, according to a new report by SolarPower Europe (SPE).

The use of big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and drones, blockchain, 5G connectivity, cloud computing and 3D printing will all bring cost savings and new revenue streams for residential, commercial and utility-scale projects – as well as the manufacturing, installation, O&M and customer-acquisition segments.