We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Think about renewable power economics, and you'll probably also think about Clean Power Research. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company provides cloud solutions for utility workflow automation, customer engagement and solar data services.

For the past 24 years, leading utility and energy enterprises have relied on Clean Power Research to navigate the energy transformation. 

Clean Power Research CEO Jeff Ressler explained how he learned to leverage data and software to improve customers' lives in SunCast Episode 221. He returns for today's Tactical Tuesday to tell us how his company's cloud software services are powering the energy transformation.

I reconnected with Jeff and met his company's product manager, Akanksha Bhat, at the September 2022 RE+ conference in Anaheim, California. RE+ is the clean energy industry's largest and most comprehensive event in North America, and SunCast was proud to sponsor its PowerUp Media Zone.

Jeff said enterprises and developers have evolved beyond using historical data primarily for site prospecting to embracing real-time data for forecasts and operations.

"It turns out the need for things like forecasts goes beyond the operational context. And certainly, that's growing," he said. "But one of the things we've expanded our capabilities around recently is the ability to do hindcasting and use forecasting early on in the development stages."

Clean Power Research was founded in 1998 by Tom Hoff, who now serves as the company's chief research officer. Tom, a pioneer in the science of valuing distributed solar generation, holds several patents in the area of PV fleet power estimation. His research is vital to utilities and Independent System Operators (ISOs) who want to maintain reliability while integrating ever-increasing levels of photovoltaic (PV) generation on the grid.

Tom is an old friend of Jeff's and brought him into the company from Microsoft in 2008, first as VP of Software Services and then, three years later, as President. Before taking the CEO role in 2017, Jeff spent 10 years leading the company's software team. He's credited with building Clean Power Research into a trusted Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider that informs, streamlines and values energy-related decisions and processes for utilities, energy professionals and consumers worldwide. 

Akanksha, a product manager on the SolarAnywhere team at Clean Power Research, said they now see a lot of hybrid energy resources, particularly solar and storage. "It's dominating the interconnection queues. So we see a need for accurate forecasts as early as the pre-construction stage rather than just when the project is just operational," she said.

Akanksha focuses on how solar developers, owners and other stakeholders can use SolarAnywhere's data and intelligence solutions to make better energy decisions.

While data is always useful, it's especially relevant as we grapple with climate change. It's hard to predict when extreme weather events will occur, but using the data gives you a better sense of what to expect.

Join me for fascinating insights on the evolution of data use by developers and enterprises and why accurate forecasts are imperative across a solar project's lifespan.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Jeff Ressler and Akanksha Bhat on LinkedIn.

Follow Clean Power Research on LinkedIn, Twitter and its website.

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!

SUNGROW focuses on integrated energy storage system solutions, including PCS, lithium-ion batteries and energy management system. Pleae visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Hey Sunshine! Clouds got you down? SolarAnywhere® is the leading commercial solar data solution for planning, operating and forecasting solar power production. Learn more at mysuncast.com/solaranywhere.

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.