The PV panels are mostly a solved problem and firmly in the realm of physics, chemistry, and semiconductors. This field is dominated by research institutes like

The PV panels are mostly a solved problem and firmly in the realm of physics, chemistry, and semiconductors. This field is dominated by research institutes like Fraunhofer ISE, and startups that spin off from its researchers, but to play in this field requires a very unique set of domain expertise. Methods like load management, demand response, and other ways of dealing with the mismatch between momentary generation and demand -- sometimes lumped into the catch-all term 'smart grid' -- lie at the intersection of data science, algorithms, public policy, and infrastructure. The parts are inseparable: this is a field very reliant on meatspace and subject to the whims of the economy, nature, and the political process. This is a lot of factors to base your profit on (in case of a startup). And while employment at energy companies is stable and moderately lucrative, the fruits of one's labor are subtle and not immediately observable by the general public, while at the same time being fairly high-stakes. This limits the field's appeal.