The debate about centralized versus distributed energy generation has been polarizing opinions among experts and stakeholders for many years. Promoters of distributed energy resources (DERs) present the transition to strongly distributed energy systems as unavoidable and disruptive, driven by strong enablers such as technology innovation, big data, information technologies, and digitalization. Future grids are imagined as integrated local hubs for energy services that connect electric mobility, advanced thermal energy services, and a whole universe of smart connected devices, usually powered by distributed renewable electricity, notably solar photovoltaics (PVs). In this vision, digitalization and big data enable new services and empower consumers. Opponents of DERs present a stark contrast between the future visions for distributed energy and today’s market realities, claiming that today’s reality can be sobering. Developing business models that make this future vision a reality is proving difficult, with existing industry structures and disinterested customers just two examples of why practical applications are often confined to niche markets.