State of the Solar O&M Industry (2026)

Navigating the ROI Bottleneck in Asset Management

An Industry Intelligence Report by Solarplaza & Omnidian

If you’re feeling the “more with less” squeeze, you’re in good company. The 2026 outlook for solar and storage is a study in contradictions. On one hand, scaling and growth remain the primary mandates for both developers and corporate energy leaders. On the other, the former days of generous incentives are sunsetting, and investors are scrutinizing every line item on your O&M budget.  

To find out how the industry is actively navigating this ROI bottleneck, Solarplaza and Omnidian surveyed an expert panel of senior asset managers, CFOs, O&M executives, and solar and storage industry veterans. These leading professionals manage everything from a few rooftop systems to multi-gigawatt portfolios across North America, from the high-growth markets of the Southeast to the tech-centric Pacific Northwest.

This report digs into the core findings of the survey results. On a high level, the role of the asset manager is shifting from a "technical troubleshooter" called in to fix a localized failure, to a "financial value driver” responsible for protecting the entire portfolio's margin. 

The findings from our expert panel are clear:

• Solve the inverter problem with predictive analytics.
• Bridge the skills gap through upskilling and automation.
• Master BESS complexity before it scales.
• Align budgets with the reality of an aging fleet.
• Clean up your data before chasing the next shiny AI tool.

At Omnidian and Solarplaza, we believe that the next decade of solar growth will be won in the field, not just in the boardroom. Let’s get to work!

Download the full report to get all the detailed insights.