The SunSpec Connect Webinar Series Continues October 14

The SunSpec Connect Webinar Series opened on October 2 with Beyond RE+: Key Trends Shaping the Future of DER and Solar, a conversation that reflected on the momentum from RE+ and previewed the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The series now continues with Session 2: Power, Policy, and Progress: Understanding the Next Phase of the Energy Transition, taking place October 14 at 10 AM PT.

In this session, Dr. Eric Vettel will draw from his forthcoming book to trace the historical journey from the post-9/11 push for energy independence to today’s growing demand for digital, decentralized, and standardized energy infrastructure. By placing current developments within a broader historical arc, Dr. Vettel will help attendees interpret future regulatory trends, geopolitical dynamics, and market forces.

This discussion is designed to give participants the historical grounding needed to better navigate, and lead, through the energy transition.

Executive Director Dylan Tansy and Vice President of Membership and Regulatory Affairs Erin Mahan will be attending. Click below to register now and book your meeting with our leadership team!

The SunSpec Connect Webinar Series opened on October 2nd with a forward-looking conversation on where DER and solar are headed post-RE+.  The session spotlighted major industry shifts and the opportunities they create.

Optimism Amid Change
Despite uncertainty around federal incentives, speakers underscored strong momentum in the DER sector. Demand growth driven by EV adoption, electrification, and especially the rise of AI data centers is creating unprecedented need for flexible, distributed resources. The consensus: DERs are well-positioned to thrive and play a critical role in balancing this growth.

Standards, Interoperability, and Market Growth
Adoption of SunSpec Modbus is now widespread, but true interoperability remains a challenge. SunSpec is working to close this gap through enhanced certification programs, new test procedures, and updated specifications. Globally, standards alignment is accelerating: India has formally adopted IEEE 1547 into its national interconnection rules, Europe is signaling harmonization around IEEE 2030.5, and Australia continues to lead with large-scale DER deployments.

Policy and Market Shifts
Flexibility policies are expanding rapidly across the U.S., with 38 states considering frameworks for virtual power plants, demand response, and DER aggregation. Meanwhile, balcony solar legislation is opening doors for renters and apartment dwellers, signaling new mass-market potential. At the same time, supply chain resilience and cybersecurity remain top priorities as foreign-entity rules and critical infrastructure protection policies evolve.

What’s New from SunSpec

• Secure SunSpec Modbus: Now in public review, enabling encrypted communication over public networks.

• SunSpec Modbus DevKit: An open-source toolkit designed to support developers and accelerate interoperability.

• Individual Memberships: A new category for innovators, researchers, and hobbyists to engage directly in standards development.

Looking Ahead
The series continues with upcoming sessions featuring experts on policy, open-source tools, Orange Button data standardization, vehicle-to-grid deployments, and cybersecurity.

September News Highlights

1. Global Renewable Energy Investment Surges to $386 Billion in First Half of 2025
   BloombergNEF reports renewable investment climbed 10% year-over-year to a record $386 billion in six months, with small-scale solar leading the charge.

2. Clean Energy Tax Credit Market on Pace for $60 Billion in 2025
   Crux projects federal tax credit transfers for clean energy could hit $55–60 billion this year. Solar projects accounted for 34% of credits in the first half, while solar + storage reached 20%.

3. Clean Energy Jobs Expand Three Times Faster Than U.S. Economy
   Clean energy employment grew 3× faster than the national average in 2024, with solar and storage development leading gains.

4. Maine Converts Contaminated Land into 261 MW of Solar
   Regulators approved five projects placing solar on PFAS-contaminated land, adding 261 MW of clean capacity while repurposing otherwise unusable acreage.

5. Connecticut Schools Go Solar, Projected to Save $850K Annually
   Four schools in Naugatuck, CT will deploy solar arrays expected to cut electricity costs by $850,000 annually, demonstrating practical savings at the community level.

Why This Matters 

Interoperability Standards Will Be Critical for Investor Confidence
The record $386B surge in renewables is flowing disproportionately into distributed projects like rooftop and small-scale solar. To capture this capital efficiently, investors need assurance that DER systems integrate seamlessly, reinforcing the market pull for SunSpec-compliant standards like IEEE 2030.5 and CSIP.

Tax Credit Transfers Create Market Demand for Verification and Compliance
With $60B in tax credits projected, scrutiny over eligibility and reporting will intensify. That puts pressure on developers to demonstrate verifiable interoperability, cybersecurity, and grid support capabilities. SunSpec standards offer a pathway for members to prove compliance and reduce transaction risk in this maturing market.

Workforce Growth Highlights Training and Certification Needs
The 3× job growth rate shows that workforce readiness is now a bottleneck.  This creates demand for standardized training, credentialing, and tools that ensure technicians can install and maintain interoperable DER systems correctly the first time.

Local Solar Projects Illustrate the Value of DER-Scale Solutions
Maine’s contaminated land projects and Connecticut’s school deployments show how distributed systems can add capacity, create savings, and serve community needs outside of utility-scale builds. These case studies support the argument for a standards-based approach that allows projects to scale quickly without bespoke engineering at every site.

• Certification Number: SM-000046
• Certification Type: SunSpec Modbus IEEE 1547
• Manufacturer Name: DER Security Corp.
• Modbus Models: 1, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 64412, 64415
• Product Type: Inverter
• Products: DER Simulator
• Download: Certificate , PICS

• Certification Number: SM-000045
• Certification Type: SunSpec Modbus
• Manufacturer Name: Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co., Ltd.
• Modbus Models: 1 701 702 704 713 714 715
• Product Type: Gateway
• Products: CH1000，CH1000A，CH1000D，SEM5000，PSC300，PSC300A
• Download: Certificate , PICS