We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
About the Episode:
Building an efficient energy ecosystem requires collaboration, knowledge-sharing, strategic design, and workforce development.
It also requires cooperation and community.
Professionals across the energy sector are streamlining grid management, advancing EV adoption, and developing demand flexibility programs to enhance efficiency. Achieving this requires not only technical expertise but also the ability to humanize energy solutions.
Jen Szaro, President & CEO of the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP), brings two decades of experience across research, utilities, and nonprofit leadership. Her career includes roles at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), where she led early efforts in solar and EV infrastructure.
At AESP, she focuses on bridging the knowledge gaps and bringing energy professionals together through collaborative design and impactful programs. The Flex Initiative and the EV Driver Experience (EVDX) are two notable examples, addressing technical challenges while fostering mentorship and professional growth.
Expect to learn:
Why distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar and storage reduce grid strain & avoid costly upgrades
How demand flexibility outperforms traditional demand response solutions
What EV adoption barriers were uncovered through EVDX’s design labs
Where AESP’s Utility Career Map and resource library suggest you should be looking
Why AESP’s mentorship programs help clean energy professionals thrive & grow
Listen in toexplore how Jen, dedicated volunteers, and the AESP team are driving the future of energy services and equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge to lead in the clean energy transition.
NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:
“It truly is a community, the level of volunteerism, the level of knowledge that people are willing to bring to the table to support the next generation of energy professionals, it’s special.”
“The problem we’re trying to solve is to help people understand how to take a big picture, look at all of the different technologies that can be used in an ecosystem environment to serve distributed energy needs, and so we specifically focus on the distribution system down.”
Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!
Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is Chint Power Systems America!
CPS America is the #1 supplier of 3-phase string inverters for Commercial & Industrial and Utility-Scale projects with more than 8 gigawatts of inverters installed on 20,000+ sites around the nation!
We are grateful for our GOLD sponsor:
Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina
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 15 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.