Episode 556: Is 'Renewable' Propane Really Clean Energy or Just Hype?

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If you struggle to use the words clean, green, and propane in the same sentence, today's podcast is for you.

I’m no fan of the hype train and misdirection foisted upon us by much of the traditional fossil fuel industry. So, when I met Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), I was happy to “entertain” a phone call to hear why he believes renewable propane can be dubbed a clean and sustainable energy source. Truthfully, I had zero intention of ever having him on the show. But after a delightful 30 minute jousting match over zoom, I was convinced that there was more to his narrative than meets the eye, and that it’d make a fun and entertaining (at the very least) episode for the SunCast faithful. And, I actually learned quite alot!

As Tucker explains, this “renewable” propane — sometimes called biopropane, bioLPG, eco-propane and rLPG — is a drop-in replacement for traditional propane produced from petroleum refining. 

Traditional propane is a byproduct of oil and natural gas production. Because shale gas extraction has increased, U.S. propane supplies also grew significantly in the past decade.

In the United States, most propane today is produced from natural gas processing, with a lesser extent (18%), from crude oil refinement. "Propane has a lot of good characteristics. It's energy dense, easy to transport and doesn't require pipelines," Tucker said. "It doesn't contain methane, so it's not reactive as a greenhouse gas."

But, according to Mr. Perkins, renewable propane takes a different approach. Rather than oil or natural gas, the sources of renewable propane include biomass, biogas, municipal solid waste and even corn or sugarcane. 

In today's eye-opening Tactical Tuesday, Tucker shares his vision for the potential of renewable propane and its role in the future of green energy. Tucker believes "safe, reliable and economical" renewable propane is part of the solution for an energy-efficient future.

PERC, operated and funded by the propane industry, views renewable propane as a viable energy source for powering homes, businesses, and vehicles due to its high energy density, clean burning characteristics, and cost-effectiveness. 

This episode takes me out of my comfort zone, as I reach across the aisle to explore renewable propane as an alternative to synthetic or fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, or gasoline. 

One key question I come away with: “Is renewable propane, as it's generally called in the United States, the best term for this fuel?”

Tucker and I discuss this in depth and I admire Tucker’s willingness to engage. But is this truly an alternative fuel that can potentially help us power our world, sustain our quality of life, and promote the justice and equity we seek? Is the term Renewable actually being used properly by PERC and Tucker in this sense?

"In North America, we centered around 'renewable,' under the pretense that it's coming from renewable sources like trees and crops," Tucker said.

Tucker is committed to advancing propane as a clean energy solution — and suggests it has a bright future. By 2050, renewable propane could meet half the world's demand for propane, according to the World LP Gas Association. 

Before joining PERC in 2012 as its chief business development officer, Tucker served on a PERC advisory committee on engine fuel.

He has extensive experience in the propane industry, including operating his own retail propane company in Virginia, Premier Propane, and executive positions at Inergy Propane and Columbia Propane, a unit of the Columbia Energy Group. He's also active with the National Propane Gas Association and the Virginia Propane Gas Association.

Renewable propane — or biopropane, as I prefer — can be used for various applications, from electricity production to transportation, particularly in areas that lack access to other types of green transportation fuels. It can be used in existing vehicles with minimal modification, making it a good option for fleets that want to transition to a low-carbon fuel and used in newer vehicles like buses, transit trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles. And I do readily admit both in the conversation and now that there IS indeed a place for this alternative form of propane (and propane in general) as a time-tested “local energy” source that supply family, farm and community needs for backup power and even transportation needs.

Please share your thoughts. Do you have a problem, as I do, with the way that the industry has co-opted the term renewable to apply it to hydrocarbons? 

I expect today's episode will stir conversation within our community — and I encourage you to join in.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Tucker Perkins on LinkedIn and Twitter

Follow the Propane Education & Research Council on LinkedIn and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“I’m the first to say the grids gonna get cleaner, right? It has to be right, we have to use less coal, we have to use more efficient technologies, so the grid is going to get cleaner. All right, well if we’re going to survive, and we’re going to really be a contributor to a cleaner economy, healthier people and affordable solutions. Can we in fact, create a lower carbon renewable fuel?”
— Tucker Perkins

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

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.

Episode 555: Marketing Experts on How to Raise Brand Awareness, Lauren Glickman, Tor Valenza and Nico talk details

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

Every so often, I try to convene my close friends who are working in the trenches doing the guerilla and grassroots marketing to help our industry grow. Two-such folks are Tor “Solar Fred” Valenza, and Lauren “Windy Glick” Glickman, and I’ve truly come to admire and respect them both. I ask them a ton of questions in this conversation all about how they help their clients navigate the world of new media, social, podcasts, etc, and get more than a handful of tactical and immediately useful answers. As you head into 2023, I suggest you play this episode more than once and take notes. It’ll come in handy.

Here are a few of the main themes we discussed:

The importance of having a personal brand in your digital marketing - 3:21

How do you build a Twitter following on social? 

>(including who on your team should have (and use) Twitter,  - 5:39

How Lauren uses Twitter as a thought leader to connect with interesting people - 11:39

How important is a content calendar for your digital media campaigns? - 15:47

When to post on LinkedIn and when not to - 21:30

The importance of having a clear vision of what you want to be saying - 25:11

How to find people with a platform, not build your own platform - 29:27

Insider tips for getting and leveraging interviews on podcasts - 30:31

This episode really is chock-full of great advice directly from the front lines, battle-tested and ready for you to deploy.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Tor “Solar Fred” Valenza on LinkedIn & Twitter

Connect with Lauren “Windy Glick” Glickman on LinkedIn & Twitter

Follow Probably True Solar Stories on LinkedIn and check out their website.

Follow Encore Renewable Energy on LinkedIn and check out their 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

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.

Episode 554: Solar Clears the Way for Clean Energy — for Everyone, Everywhere, with Adrienne Pierce, CEO New Sun Road

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

Adrienne Pierce traces her interest in solar technologies to an eighth-grade science fair "many decades ago."

"I was flipping through my dad's Popular Mechanics magazines, pulling out articles of interest. And what captured my attention were some of the early reports on solar energy and eutectic salts for thermal transition," she said.

"I built an independent energy house out of paper mache and cardboard, with cellophane tape for the windows and embedded it on a hill covered with green shag carpet."

Today she remains committed to environmental sustainability and economic development. "We learn early on to clean up our messes, and why that doesn't extend beyond our bedrooms has always been a mystery to me," she said.

As CEO of New Sun Road, a Richmond, California-based for-profit public benefit company (PBC), Adrienne aims to make a global impact for productive purposes. Her company is developing data-driven Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that could accelerate renewable energy deployment and access for remote communities.

"We're dealing with the consequences of our messes and the messes of the generations before us," she added.

PBCs require corporate officers and directors to consider the triple bottom line of profit, people, and planet when making business decisions. 

Companies can organize as a PBC in the District of Columbia and 16 states, including California. Under their corporate charters, they pledge to produce public benefits and follow ethical principles of sustainability and development.

Adrienne joined the Peace Corps after earning a chemical engineering degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

"I love to travel, have an intense curiosity and thought I'd offer my services to change the world," she explained. Ultimately, she said she experienced more internal than external change while teaching science in Gabon, Africa.

"When you see people living closer to the earth, with fewer things, you realize how much we have and how we don't appreciate all of that," she said.

She earned an MBA on returning to the United States and kicked off her career near Boston with a job at a startup with an environmental technology product. "They were recycling hazardous waste using a molten metal bath, which was incredibly ambitious and a bit expensive," she said.

Since then, she's gained extensive experience in technical product marketing, organizational development and building partnerships in environmental and semiconductor industries. While working at SunEdison in 2015 and 2016, she co-led a 20-person development team on a $7 million project to revitalize end-to-end data platform managing 1800+ renewable sites globally. 

She spent nearly four years at IronRidge, a designer and manufacturer of solar panel mounting systems, and two at YellowTin, which aims to accelerate clean energy adoption, before joining New Sun Road in 2021.

"As a benefit company, New Sun Road aligns with my goals to progress energy access, grow internet connectivity and foster opportunities in underserved, rural communities. To do all this, in a leadership position building a strong organization that delivers the triple bottom line — I am humbled and thrilled," she said.

In today's podcast, Adrienne details how New Sun Road uses microgrids to advance worldwide solar deployments. Its  Stellar MicroGrid OS is technology agnostic, resilient in harsh conditions and cost-effective for rural off-grid applications.

"New Sun Road is the intersectionality of technology, international impact, customer solution delivery, and a clean energy environment. For me, it is the perfect storm of many things I've done. I've been doing it for a year, and it's incredibly satisfying," she said. 

Join us to learn more about New Sun Road's vision and mission and how it aligns with Adrienne's skills and experience. She's a real climate champion, a solar warrior. I have been privileged to get to know her and am excited to share her insights.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Adrienne Pierce on LinkedIn 

Follow New Sun Road on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We have deep partnerships, and we grow based on the adjacency of those partnerships, we become core to people’s business operations. And so there’s a deep sense of trust and alignment in what we’re doing with them.”
— Adrienne Pierce

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

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.

Episode 553: What Is Regenerative Energy? Is Silicon Ranch Onto Something? Ask Michael Baute, VP Carbon Removal at Silicon Ranch

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

Nashville-based Silicon Ranch is one of the country's largest independent solar power producers. In 2019, it launched Regenerative Energy, its utility-scale agrivoltaics platform that marries clean solar energy generation and regenerative agriculture on one piece of land. 

Today's Tactical Tuesday will give you an overview of this transformative new standard of excellence for solar power plant design, construction, and operations. Michael Baute, Vice President of Regenerative Energy & Carbon Removal at Silicon Ranch, said normalizing regenerative agriculture practices on solar farm sites is a way to help "solar do more."

Silicon Ranch is so committed to the co-location process that it trademarked the phrase, Regenerative Energy.

"If you’ve never heard about the amazing potential of regenerative agriculture and land use practices to naturally sequester a critical mass of CO2 in the soil and forests, you’re not alone. One of the best-kept secrets in the world today is that the solution to global warming and the climate crisis (as well as poverty and deteriorating public health) lies right under our feet, and at the end of our knives and forks."  - Ronnie Cummins, Regeneration International Steering Committee Member

Michael believes in the power of Regenerative Agriculture to help ensure solar farms care for the arable land and communities where they reside.  Solar occupies the property on which it’s built for upwards of 25 or more years, and Michael realized from his training in sustainable agriculture the possibility to utilize that land not just to avoid generating power from fossil fuels but to actually sequester CO2, thus giving the asset double duty! And Michael is helping one of the country's largest independent solar power producers provide not just clean energy, but carbon-negative solutions. 

"Arguably, 12,000 years ago, we went wrong in our agricultural production practices, and only today are we seeing the negative impacts. We've treated the land, plants, and animals as tools to feed ourselves when we could have viewed them more as a natural interconnected system.”

"That's what we're trying to understand better when we build regenerative agricultural production models. How do animals fit into the overall cycles of nature, nutrient and carbon cycles, and then produce food that enriches soils and enhances ecosystem functionality?" he said.

Founded in 2011, Silicon Ranch provides customized renewable energy, carbon, and battery storage solutions to various partners in the U.S. and Canada. Its portfolio includes more than 4 gigawatts of solar and battery storage systems contracted, under construction, or operating.  We covered the amazing trajectory of SRC through the story of one co-founder, Reagan Farr, back in Episode 399 of SunCast.

Silicon Ranch pioneered utility-scale solar in the Tennessee Valley and has continued as the region's market leader through 35 operating facilities. 

It owns and operates all projects in its portfolio and promotes a holistic approach to land management. Michael tells us how Silicon Ranch co-locates clean electricity generation and regenerative agriculture to provide further environmental, economic, and community benefits.

"We're co-locating regenerative agriculture to meet our operational objectives, and it produces all these benefits. It genuinely is about making the solar power plant do more for the communities we partner with for these projects," he said.

To achieve the Biden Administration's goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2035, millions of acres nationwide would have to be covered in solar panels. Most of this land is farmland, and traditional solar development would monopolize this land for just one use: energy production.

Regenerative energy takes a different approach, one focused on responsible land management. Simply stated, it is an approach to solar power plant design, construction, and operations that maximize solar's positive environmental and social impacts while minimizing negative impacts. 

It starts with designing the solar farm to fit the landscape instead of shaping the landscape to fit a predetermined design. This includes features like conservation buffers, terraced berms, and native vegetation and incorporating regenerative agriculture practices into the management of the site. This could include planting pollinator-friendly wildflowers or using no-till farming techniques to restore soil health.

Michael said Silicon Ranch's business model includes owning most of the real estate it develops. "We're truly part of the community. And having that long-term perspective ensures we have a responsibility to design and build power plants that function that are highly efficient," he said.

Because Silicon Ranch also owns the land it views it as a biological asset rather than an operational liability. "Especially with a long-term or 40-year useful life perspective on things, we can manage it to create these co-benefits. And we've begun to measure the co-benefits," he said.

Silicon Ranch typically implements adaptive multi-paddock sheep grazing at its regenerative energy sites, which enables it to meet its vegetation management and performance goals and creates jobs. "We're distributing economic impact to the agricultural community in those neighborhoods," he said.

Join us to learn more from Michael about the benefits of regenerative energy and how it creates added value for its customers and communities. It's a fascinating conversation.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Michael Baute on LinkedIn

Follow Silicon Ranch Corporation on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and check out its website. 

Learn more about Regenerative Energy on its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“It’s really about valuing, and respecting that local institutional knowledge of how land functions, how it’s managed, how not to get tripped up managing it, and then trying to apply that to our construction processes. ”
— Michael Baute

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

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.

Episode 552: What's Missing As We Build The Clean Energy Revolution?

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

Fellow solar warrior and podcaster, Nate Jovanelly, took over the PowerUp Media Zone studio at RE+ to lead the Industry Pulse segment, with support from Enerflo, at Noon each day during the annual conference in September. The segment highlighted the leaders, trends & opportunities in the industry in 10 minute bits of advice and insight.

In this compilation episode, we have pulled together several of the interviews that we believe best capture the essence of the Industry Pulse segment so you can learn and grow as we round out the week. If you missed the show, or any of our past replays of the Live content, you can see them along with ALL of the Industry Pulse segments in their full glory (where Nate interviewed more than a dozen guests throughout the week!) at www.suncast.live where we have listed out EACH and every interview in the exact order & schedule as they appeared during the show.

I know you’ll get a ton of value from the conversations today ranging from Hiring best practices (Alex/BayWa RE) and the Inflation Reduction Act (Abby/SEIA) to Entrepreneurship and Culture-building (Pat/Enerflo) and Consolidation and growth in the Residential Solar industry (Brian/Brighton). Nate curated an all-star lineup that really delivered at the show. 

RESOURCES:

Connect with Nate Jovanelly on LinkedIn

Connect with Alex McClendon on LinkedIn

Connect with Abby Hopper LinkedIn

Connect with Pat Bennett on LinkedIn

Connect with Brian Lynch on LinkedIn

Follow Jovanelly LLC on LinkedIn and its website

Follow BayWa r.e. on LinkedIn and its website 

Follow Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on LinkedIn and its website 

Follow Enerflo on LinkedIn and its website

Follow Brighton Renewables, LLC on 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

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.

Episode 551: Squeezing More Money From Clean, Green Energy. Soluna Computing CEO John Belizaire’s promise to Sell.Every.Megawatt and End Curtailment Forever.

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

PSA: IF YOU’RE TUNING IN ON THURSDAY Dec 14th, You’re in Luck bc we’re having a Special AMA with John as part of our REsource Labs weekly Office Hours, and our final of 2022!
You can register here: www.mysuncast.com/rl-office-hours 

Today's conversation is a wide-ranging look at how to provide reliable power using renewables while mitigating intermittency and helping Independent Power Producers (IPPs) deal with the annoying curtailment problem through novel software and hardware solutions.

"Curtailment" occurs when a clean energy electric generating system is prevented from exporting to the grid or is temporarily shut down by the grid operator (usually because of a glut of electricity in the market), effectively wasting energy.

Many people have talked about this issue, but few have delivered on it like John Belizaire, CEO of Soluna.

Soluna Holdings develops green data centers that convert excess renewable energy into global computing resources. Soluna builds modular, scalable data centers for computing-intensive, batchable applications such as cryptocurrency mining, AI and machine learning. 

John said Soluna provides a cost-effective alternative to battery storage or transmission lines by using technology and intentional design to solve complex, real-world challenges. It's addressing significant electric grid changes—like the move away from fossil-fuel-fired power plants that contribute to climate change — to more sustainable green electricity generation. 

Clean and green is desirable. But even the staunchest supporters of clean electricity acknowledge the industry is dealing with growing pains, including curtailment. As John explained, Mother Nature controls renewable energy generation, and sometimes there's too little; other times there is too much.

And sometimes — when supply is so high that the amount of electricity generated threatens to overwhelm the electric grid — large utility-scale generators (e.g., solar and wind farms) are curtailed (or curtail themselves.)

That wastes energy — a big problem. John said up to 30% of renewable energy goes to waste. To address it, Soluna is building data centers that enable clean electricity asset owners to 'Sell. Every. Megawatt.' 

"People say, 'Oh, I see. So the energy is wasted. Well, John, can't you store it?' And I say, 'Yes, you can put batteries close to the power plant. And those batteries can store that extra energy. And then, when the grid needs that energy, you can send energy into the grid.'

"But there's another challenge: batteries aren't scalable and can't store that much energy. And they need to hold the energy longer than they can currently to be useful to the grid. There are also some environmental and safety concerns with batteries, so they aren't a perfect solution for this problem."

The other solution involves moving energy. Is it possible? "Well, yes. When everybody's asleep in the middle of the country, you could put the electrons on power lines and zap them across to Atlanta, where everybody's partying. The problem is that building those power lines takes a long time. So they're not an immediate solution."

But computing uses a great deal of energy — and it's ready now.

"If you could bring that computing to those power plants with excess energy and build a specifically designed data center that converts energy into computing, you've got a very scalable solution to this problem. And that's what we do at Soluna. 

"We build green data centers at power plants with curtailment issues and buy the wasted energy. And then, we converted it into a global computing resource for specific applications that are compute-intensive and resilient to intermittent computing availability, something we call patchable computing," John said.

"We support specific applications that can live in these environments. So we won't run your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or your ecommerce platform. We only run specific applications and go after those markets with a niche-focused play.”

In today's podcast, John breaks down Soluna's mission and discusses how its solutions address curtailment. But he also delves into the experiences that brought him to this moment.

John is a versatile CEO and serial entrepreneur who has founded and scaled multiple technology companies over a 20-year career. Before Soluna, he founded and ran FirstBest, a transformative insurance software company later acquired by Guidewire Software, and Theory Center, an e-commerce software company acquired by BEA Systems. Before starting his career as an entrepreneur, he was the lead architect for Intel's Digital Enterprise Group.

John sits on the advisory boards of several Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), data analytics, and insurtech startups. (Insurtech refers to using technology innovations designed to squeeze out savings and efficiency from the current insurance industry model. 

He is the managing editor of CEOplaybook.co, an online publication full of advice for first-time founder CEOs. He is also a trustee of Harlem Academy, an independent school in New York City.

We share a fascinating conversation today. Join us to learn more about this exciting entrepreneur and his latest venture.

RESOURCES:

Connect with John Belizaire on LinkedIn and CEOplaybook.         

Follow Soluna on LinkedIn and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“I read a lot about being a CEO. And one of the things that I often like to see is, it’s okay to make mistakes, you know, as a CEO, as a management team, mistakes, that’s information like you’re gonna feel pain, all of that kind of stuff. But it’s not okay to make unoriginal mistakes, make original ones like ones no one ever thought about. And the way to have your mistakes be more original is to go spend time with people who’ve made lots of mistakes.”
— John Belizaire

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

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.

Episode 550: B2B Marketing That Works Better Than Your Expectations

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

You may think of business-to-business (B2B) marketing as less emotion-laden than marketing to individual customers. But Kristan Kirsh, vice president of global marketing at Nextracker, a leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software solutions, thinks that would be a mistake.

Kristin said B2B marketing is all about relationships, "honing in on like culture and and nurturing friendships with your customers. So the style of marketing still needs to be emotive."

Kristin is one of four top renewable industry marketers featured in today's highly tactical podcast. The wide-ranging conversation goes beyond the superficiality of the constant chatter about B2B marketing to create a framework for its meaning and importance.

You'll walk away with a better perspective on the term and, most importantly, strategies for maximizing your B2B renewable energy-focused marketing investments.

In addition to Kristen, you'll hear from Naveed Hasan, director of external affairs and marketing at Sungrow Power Supply Company; Kathy Heilmann, vice president of marketing at Shoals Technologies Group, a leading electrical balance of systems (EBOS) provider for solar, energy storage, and e-mobility; and Tom Weirich, senior marketing manager EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA), a renewable industry leader and the fourth-largest wind developer in the United States. 

These four industry experts share all you need to know about marketing aimed at individual companies and their decision-makers as customers. They note the similarities and differences between B2B and B2C — that is, business-to-consumer marketing — and we'll hear all about it.

Unlike B2C, B2B marketing involves many stakeholders — from commercial and industrial (C&I) offtakers (purchasers of renewable energy in a solar development project) and utilities to community relations and community affairs. "We engage with many businesses, and it's all about problem-solving," Tom said. "We're all here in the business of building more projects. The question is, how do we help each other in building those projects in the future?"

Notably, the goal is to build and nurture lasting relationships with all of them. Kathy said this is unlike the B2C world, where you often convert a customer, close a deal, "and then your opportunity with that customer is gone for a while."

"In the solar development world, we're talking about ongoing relationships with customers continuing to develop solar projects, so the depth and quality of the relationships are significant. And that's what we express throughout marketing, sales, and all of our activities," she added.

Naveed said effective B2B marketing enables you to position your company's core competencies — "finding the strengths of each department and positioning it accordingly to make it the ideal partner for your customers."

Long-term focused B2B marketing builds leads while supporting what Tom called "cradle-to-project conversion." To master it, companies need to track which messages resonate with customers and understand what stakeholder outreach efforts are working.

"And it's not only digital marketing. It also involves community events, ribbon cuttings, and advertising. It's looking at all these platforms and figuring out which ones are getting your message across, reaching customers and triggering the desired reactions," Tom added.

Kathy said it all comes down to trust. "Ultimately, you need to build trust between the two organizations to be effective business partners over the long term," she said.

Want to learn more? Tune in for the whole conversation, which was part of the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Naveed Hasaan on LinkedIn

Connect with Kathy Heilmann on LinkedIn

Connect with Kristan Kirsh on LinkedIn

Connect with Tom Weirich on LinkedIn

Follow Nextracker on LinkedIn and its website 

Follow Shoals Technologies Group on LinkedIn and its website 

Follow EDP Renewables on LinkedIn and its website

Follow Sungrow Power Supply Company on LinkedIn 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

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.

Episode 549: These Smart Companies Think Smart Homes Are Going Mainstream (Google, Sunrun & SPAN)

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

When Hannah Bascom started working with the Nest smart thermostat nearly a decade ago, it appealed to a select demographic. "I got asked all the time, 'Well, isn't as just a toy for the rich and well educated.' And at the time, that was our primary demographic, to be honest," she said.

Even though the electronic, programmable, and self-learning Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat would pay for itself by conserving energy within a year or two, it appealed mainly to "energy nerds" or "design-focused homeowners," she said. 

But times have charged — an evolution Google anticipated by purchasing the product's developer, Nest Labs, in 2014.

"Over time, as people have learned more about the product, they've come to be mindful of not only the climate benefits, energy savings and bill savings benefits Nest can have but also the comfort and convenience. We've started to see the demographic shift," she said.

Homeowners are on a remarkable journey toward more convenient living through connected technology. Adopting things like smart thermostats, lighting, network cameras, door locks, and garage door openers is moving from an early market dominated by innovators and early adopters to the Early Majority — or mainstream — market.

We're finally Crossing the Chasm, and today's guests have some relevant insights to share about the future of smart home technology. Our conversation includes Hannah and two other industry experts, Ryan Harris and Chris Rauscher. It was part of the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

Hannah was head of Energy Partnerships at Google, leading the team developing industry and ecosystem partnerships for Nest Renew and other energy-related products and services when we recorded the show in September. 

She's since joined Ryan at SPAN — creator of the SPAN smart electrical panel and SPAN Drive smart EV charger. Ryan is the company's Chief Revenue Officer, and Hannah is now its vice president of Regulated Business.

And returning guest, Chris Rauscher, is the senior director of Market Development and Policy at Sunrun, which provides photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage products primarily for residential customers.Chris, our third guest, is the senior director of Market Development and Policy at Sunrun, which provides photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage products primarily for residential customers.

Hannah said price point is a significant driver for consumer purchasing behavior in well-established categories like thermostats. "And so in collaboration with other partners, such as utilities, we've been able to harness energy efficiency rebates and then energy service incentives to drop down the point of sale cost on those devices. And that has helped to accelerate adoption," she said.

As more people increase home automation, add products like solar panels and increase their dependence on batteries, electric appliances and electric vehicles, there's an increasing need to monitor and manage all the technology. 

No technology has existed longer to do that than the humble electric panel. Now, after more than 100 years, companies like SPAN are offering smart electric panels to ease the transition to electrified homes.

Ryan stressed that the smart panel is still, at its core, a safety device. "We maintained a lot of that functionality and added a bunch of computing and communication capabilities on top of it to enable a better home experience as owners start adding renewables and storage," he said.

"In any electrification product, there's first and foremost the end consumer. But there's an intermediary consumer, which is an electrical contractor. We're only electrifying something if we make this product easy, understandable, and accomplishable for that essential layer in this journey. And so, for the SPAN panel, we made it very understandable from an installation perspective by the electricians and the community of home renovation groups. And we wanted to add, on top of that, a coherent layer of home energy management for the consumer," he said.

As we empower consumers to monitor their comfort more elegantly and simplify and manage it in understandable ways, they can better envision a world where they can produce electrons from their own technology. They can put solar panels in their home, and they can put batteries in their garage and begin to participate in markets we only envisioned being real three, four or five years ago.

Sunrun was an innovator in the Northeast, the first company to participate at a macro level to aggregate storage demand and sell it into a regional market. Sunrun continues to innovate in the products it offers homeowners. 

"This is a consumer-driven revolution we're experiencing and taking part in," Chris said. "The three companies represented here — Google Nest, SPAN, and Sunrun — are crucial building blocks in this transition. And at Sunrun, we like to think of ourselves as the guide for the homeowner. We're the one company that brings together the technologies, the financing, the management, and the ownership — the single point of contact for busy families in our country who can't navigate this on their own. 

Join us to learn more about the evolving customer journey and how companies make it easier for homeowners to electrify and decarbonize their homes with beautiful products.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Hannah Bascom on LinkedIn

Connect with Ryan Harris on LinkedIn

Connect with Chris Rauscher on LinkedIn

Follow Google Nest on LinkedIn and check out its website. 

Follow SPAN on LinkedIn and check out its website. 

Follow Sunrun on LinkedIn and check out 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

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.

Episode 548: Success Secrets: Real Estate, Money And Taming The Solar Coaster

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

As a serial entrepreneur, Jerry Coleman understands the cyclical nature of business. "You need to prepare for things to go wrong," he said.

This practical approach to business has served him well over the past 20 years. 

Jerry is a serial entrepreneur passionate about developing and growing companies nationwide. After founding and cultivating multiple real estate-related ventures, he turned to solar in 2014 to address one of the problems plaguing his investments. 

"High energy bills," he explained.

Jerry and Brian Blair co-founded Elevation Solar, a Chandler, Arizona-based residential solar, storage, and energy efficiency and intelligence technology provider. The company aims to deliver homeowners innovative energy solutions while increasing real estate values. 

With a law degree and an undergraduate degree in accounting, Jerry understands the interconnection between real estate and finance — and how they act as keys to the solar industry.  

Jerry and Brian created Elevation Solar to address rising energy costs on the single-family homes they invested in through another business, Invitation Homes. 

Less than 18 months after founding Invitation Homes, the company grew to a team of 1,500 employees and 10,000 contractors, developing the most extensive single-family home rental portfolio in history. Invitation Homes has deployed more than $9.5 billion in investment capital into 50,000 single-family homes.

"Real estate is very local, and so going in and finding the right people in the right markets to do a lot of that heavy lifting is one of the keys to successfully doing that," he said.

But energy costs were an issue — second only to the mortgages on the investments.

After researching how to make their homes more energy efficient, Elevation was born.

The business began with rooftop solar but expanded to include energy efficiency. In 2020, Elevation acquired Curb Energy to add smart energy monitoring technology to its whole home solution. Jerry said the combination of solar, energy efficiency and monitoring provides homeowners with a complete suite of energy solutions.

"You've got to be able to have the right strategy when you're developing new solutions and then roll them out meaningfully to individual homeowners and your portfolios. The key for us has always been finding that balance of having all those components as part of the solution we provide," he said.

Jerry credits his perseverance partly to a high school coach who taught him and his teammates they could accomplish more than we thought. He remembered it when he was re-roofing a house on a record-breaking 122-degree day — and a lesson he's carried with him from missionary work in Argentina for his church all the way through the present.

He talks about lessons learned from his dad, who taught him doors to opportunity are always open by switching careers from a teacher to a citrus farmer. 

And he explains why he's more interested in creating than running companies. "There are a lot of talented people that are much better than me at managing a scale business and running those operations and dialing in processes and procedures," he said.

Join us today to hear more about this entrepreneur's intriguing ideas, ventures, and background.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Jerry Coleman on LinkedIn.

Follow Elevation Solar on LinkedIn, Facebook and its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“I’ve been very fortunate to have have great partners, throughout my career, I think it’s about finding somebody that’s like minded, that has similar values and work ethic, as you do, as well as, very important to find people that complement your strengths and you complement their weaknesses, and vice versa. That’s always been something I look for to start a new venture.”
— Jerry Coleman

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

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.

Episode 547: How To Master The Solar Coaster: Utility-scale Insights From 2 Expert Analysts, Special guests from Wood Mackenzie & SEIA

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

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has supercharged U.S. solar market forecasts. But growth will be tempered by still prominent supply chain issues.

That's just some of the insights you'll hear more about in this impactful Tactical Tuesday featuring Sylvia Leyva Martinez, a senior analyst in Wood Mackenzie's Power and Renewables team, and Shawn Rumery, senior research Director at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). 

"We all agree the IRA has been great news for the industry, and we're considering that for forecasts. But in the short term, we still have supply constraints," Sylvia said.

The quarterly SEIA/Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables U.S. Solar Market Insight is the longest-running U.S. solar industry trends report. It has been tracking deployments across all four market segments — residential, commercial utility-scale, and community solar — since 2010.

The U.S. Solar Market Insight Q3 2022, released in September, provides an early look at how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will transform America's energy economy. Forecasts suggest the IRA will help the U.S. solar market grow 40% over baseline projections through 2027, equal to 62 gigawatts (GW) of additional solar capacity.

Wood Mackenzie predicts the utility-scale sector will lead the solar industry's growth during the next five years with 162 GW of new capacity. Cumulative solar installations across all market segments will nearly triple, growing from 129 GW today to 336 GW by 2027.

The IRA will provide crucial support for U.S. solar, Shawn said. After a record year in 2021 with 24 gigawatts installed, forecasters expected installations would climb to 30 gigawatts this year — with more than half from utility-scale projects.

"Unfortunately, starting at the beginning of the year, we started seeing a lot of supply chain challenges, as many folks are aware of, with most of that stemming from the pandemic. And then, layered on top of that was the Auxin Solar trade case, which overnight created major issues," Shawn said. "So we're not looking at 30 gigawatts this year, but probably closer to 15 to 17 gigawatts."

Auxin Solar, a California-based manufacturer of solar modules, petitioned the Commerce Department in February to investigate whether Chinese companies operating in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia circumvent existing antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese solar products.

In a new report this month, the Commerce Department agreed imports sourced from those Asian countries are skirting existing U.S. regulations, pavinng the way for new tariffs on imports.

Shawn oversees SEIA's research and analysis activities, helping to provide data and insight in support of SEIA's communications and advocacy goals. Since joining SEIA in 2011, he has been a contributing author to the U.S. Solar Market Insight report series and SEIA's Solar Means Business report series and led the development of SEIA's National Solar Database.

Sylvia researches market dynamics, business models, market developments and financial strategies of utility-scale solar P.V. projects in the U.S. and Canada.

They have a wealth of solar industry insights to share, so I hope you'll join us for the show.

Today's episode is a rebroadcast from the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

TIMESTAMPS:

(02:48) Introduction
(06:38) How IRA has impacted solar deployment expectations
(08:40) Sylvia's view on the challenges in the industry
(12:47) Long-term impact of IRA on deployment
(16:27) How the PTC impacts the market
(17:13) Domestic Content Provisions
(18:39) Why solar procurement is slowing down
(20:20) Things in place to improve inter-connection challenge
(21:56) Bold prediction
(22:44) How to find Sylvia
(23:00) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Connect with Sylvia Leyva Martinez on LinkedIn 

Connect with Shawn Rumery on LinkedIn.

Follow Wood Mackenzie on LinkedIn and its website.

Follow the SEIA on LinkedIn 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

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.

Episode 546: Can THIS Put More Money In Solar Developers' Pockets? Jim Spano|Sol-REIT, and guest host, Tim Montague!

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

Jim Spano is used to being out front, creating markets and products ahead-of-their-time and being the point person for the industry and a very vocal advocate in the halls of State Houses throughout the Eastern US. Jim helped develop the solar market in the mid-Atlantic region — and after bumping into numerous issues getting his own projects financed(and dozens of other developers as well), he's bringing a new innovative product to market. New York City-based Sol-REIT is a unique solar financing platform — one he thinks will put more money in developers' pockets.

It's the first investment vehicle to bring real estate investment trusts (REITs) to the solar energy market. By financing solar in the same way as real estate, Sol-REIT can offer long-term, fixed-rate, lower-cost debt that matches the operational life of assets. 

Jim, the co-founder and head of originations at Sol-REIT, wants to "break the solar industry free of the binds of niche financing."

On today's podcast, Tim Montague, a cleantech consultant and project developer for solar companies such as EDPR and Continental Energy Solutions, joins me to talk to Jim about his latest venture.

The conversation was part of the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

If you're a regular SunCast listener, you may recall Jim's a frequent contributor to SunCast and supporter of our live events (you can hear his appearances on Episodes 172, 212, and 284). Through his role as managing partner at New Jersey-based Spano Partners Holdings and related opportunities, he's earned a leading role in the clean energy revolution, and many (including Tim and I) look to Jim as a mentor and friend. 

Jim is also the founder and president of the New Jersey Solar Grid Supply Association (NJSGSA), a director of the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSSIA), and a board member of the International Battery and Energy Storage Alliance (IBESA). He also sits on several corporate and nonprofit boards. 

With his extensive background, we were eager to learn about his goals and objectives for Sol-REIT — including the specific problem he aims to solve.

Jim told us he wants to empower developers to capture the value they create and not pass it off to the aggregation market. Through Sol-REIT, he seeks to streamline access to capital for solar developers while providing investors access to green investments.

"Most banks treated solar systems more like equipment and short-term, mini perm debt, which stresses any developer's ability to own a project," Jim said.

Sol-REIT embraced a new approach that allows it to assume the risk of funding 100% of the construction costs. Eliminating that capital constraint enables developers to take projects to the commercial operation date (COD) instead of a notice to proceed (NTP) stage, he explained.

"It's just a whole new approach to financing solar by recognizing the long-term nature of the asset and matching the debt to the term of the asset," he said.

Today's podcast explores how Sol-REIT is creating an ecosystem that brings together homeowners, real estate developers and financiers — potentially unlocking the door to solar mass residential adoption. It's about making solar easier and adding value for the developers and installers to develop an additional revenue stream.

"Sol-REIT has done an amazing job at getting our investors to accept the high risk during the construction period to enable the proliferation of solar to a much greater degree in the United States," Jim said.  

"If we're going to address climate change, we can't just do it at the utility-scale level. We have to be down to the very back end of the distribution systems. We have to serve the residential systems and pay particular attention to low and middle income because that's the market excluded from our industry for so many years."

RESOURCES:

Connect with Jim Spano on LinkedIn

Follow Sol-Reit on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and its website.

And check out Tim’s podcast, The Clean Power Hour as well when you get a chance!

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

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.

Episode 545: Shipping Is Dirty And Antiquated: This Guy Has A Solution. Matt Heider, CEO Nautilus Labs

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

The pandemic transformed shipping delays and other supply chain issues into dinner-table topics. But those conversations invariably focused on "When do you think I'll get my stuff?" rather than the more critical questions of shipping's impacts on the planet.

"Today's shipping ports are pollution hotspots," said Matt Heider, CEO of Nautilus Labs, a maritime technology company that aims to reduce emissions while maximizing commercial returns.

Matt said bottlenecks in local ports — particularly Long Beach and Los Angeles, California, where ships emit more than 100 tons of smog daily — are causing a headache for regulators worldwide. 

"Aviation has solved bottlenecks at airports with just-in-time arrival, and ground shipping has optimized delivery pick-ups and drop-offs along routes and maximized fuel efficiency. The question becomes, 'Why hasn't shipping done the same?'" 

He said the shipping industry is responsible for 3% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and, if left unchecked, will account for 17 percent of GHG emissions by 2050. Yet, even in a data-driven, digitized world, the shipping industry remains dependent on unreliable and inefficient manual processes.

Matt  — who found his entrepreneurial passion at age five when he shared his visions for novel GI Joe characters with the toy's manufacturer — thinks things could be different.

"Climate technology innovation and investments are coming to fix the shipping industry's legacy structures," he said. Nautilus is already working with hundreds of vessels in shipping hubs worldwide, cutting emissions equivalent to taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road yearly.

Shipping may seem off-topic for a podcast dedicated to solar industry-related content. But if you think about it for a minute, you'll understand it's an adjacent category because, in many very concrete ways, ships are floating microgrids. 

As Matt said, "The thing that might resonate well with your audience is to think of a ship as a power plant at sea. It's out there floating, generating power that provides propulsion and helps maintain the cargo on board. 

"But if there's no internet connection, because there's no satellite coverage, particularly in the older era, the ship only needs to operate successfully to get to the next port. Optimizing along the way was not a real-time consideration."

Until now, that is, because Matt has ideas. Before Nautilus, he built sales and account management systems at software startups that have grown to unicorns and worked in global software engineering for IBM on its Watson team. In 2021, Forbes named him to its Next 1000, a list of ambitious and inspiring leaders redefining what it means to run a business today and create change that matters.

Nautilus  recently closed its $34 million Series B funding round led by M12 and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, marking their first collaborative investment. "This speaks to our combined mission of entrepreneurial development and sustainable innovation, striving to continue growing our business and address the shipping industry's emissions on a macro level," Matt said.

"As a legacy industry that carries our global supply chains, the shipping industry must put environmental and social wellbeing at the core of its work. Nautilus  supports shipping owners and charterers, using data to reduce fuel consumption and save costs during shipping voyages."

He believes data and artificial intelligence offer invaluable tools to improve every part of shipping voyages, reducing supply chain issues and port congestion and unmooring global shipping from its centuries-old business model.

These solutions will transition the shipping industry to sustainable and fuel-efficient operational systems. He predicts that by embracing voyage optimization, the maritime industry can set an example globally for placing ESG initiatives at the forefront of business efficiency.

It's a fascinating vision — and one I encourage you to join us to learn more about in today's show.

TIMESTAMPS:

(05:15) What Matt was trying to address that got him his job
(09:41)  How Matt’s background influenced his career
(11:57) What Matt's professional journey is like
(13:55) Matt's IBM career experience 
(17:13) Skill sets Matt learnt at IBM
(19:58) What Matt's advice is for young entrepreneurs
(25:16) How Andela's mission motivated Matt 
(27:34)  What IBM saw in Matt that has contributed to his success
(31:54) How Matt found the best market fit as a new CEO
(35:03) Where Matt got his brand map idea from
(37:08) Where Matt learnt his customer’s exploration skills
(40:35) Is Nautilus Labs now a client of Andela
(42:00) Why investors believe in Nautilus Labs
(43:26) How Matt qualifies & quantifies decarbonizing the shipping industry
(47:26) Meta data modeling
(52:16) Matt's advice to young entrepreneurers 
(55:02)  Book recommendation
(59:30)  How to find Matt
(1:00:05)  Matt’s bold prediction
(1:01:41)  Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Connect with Matt Heider on LinkedIn 

Follow Nautilus Labs on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and check out its website.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 
 

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“When you’re a founding team, you have to be self-aware of the strengths and weaknesses that you have and know where the gaps are, because you got some really big problems to solve. And you need the right people around the table to figure it out.”
— Matt Heider

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

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.

Episode 544: What Every Community Solar Developer Needs to Know About the IRA, Presented by Perch Energy

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

Solar developers have been intrigued by the possibilities of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 since President Joe Biden signed it into law in August. With nearly $370 billion in incentives for clean energy and climate-related programs, it's one of the most significant advances for climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

In today's replay from the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media, Bruce Stewart leads this discussion on what every community solar developer needs to know about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Bruce is president and CEO of Perch Energy, a clean energy tech services platform and provider of community solar services.

He speaks with three solar notables to gain their insights on the IRA from accounting, banking and legal perspectives.

  1. Tony Grappone is a partner in the Andover, Massachusetts, office of Novogradac. He provides accounting, tax and consulting services to developers, syndicators and investors of developments that qualify for federal and state tax incentives. "We help folks structure deals to raise the money so they can build and operate community solar projects like the ones Perch works on," he said.

  2. Adam Altenhofen is a senior vice president of U.S. Bank's Environmental Finance Group, where he leads the development of new products, structures, and services. "We see community solar as a great catalyst to expanded access to solar and enabling low-income communities to participate in this energy transition," he said.

  3. Bryan Didier is a partner at Leverage Law Group in Leawood, Kansas, where his specialties include Renewable Energy Tax Credits. The firm has been doing renewable deals since its founding in 2009, with many in the community solar space. "It's exciting to see what the IRA has to offer these types of developments. We're looking forward from a policy perspective and how that will impact access to solar across the board," he said.

Tony said the federal government has long used tax credits to stimulate private sector investment into socially minded causes, like renewable energy, to drive job creation into low-income communities and provide affordable housing. Until 2006, there was little solar investment in the United States. 

"But at the end of 2005, the federal government created the 30% solar investment tax credit (ITC), which launched this industry. It's been a critical financing element for renewable energy and has helped bring the industry to what we see today," Tony said.

The wind industry, in contrast, was given a Production Tax Credit (PTC). The PTC generates a credit for each kilowatt-hour produced for the first ten years of a project's lifetime, while the total value of the ITC is upfront.

Adam noted that the IRA will allow solar developers to choose between the ITC and the PTC starting in 2023.

"The smaller end of the market now has alternatives when it maybe didn't have any before," Bryan added. 

Join us to learn more about the IRA — a game-changing law with broad potential impacts and corresponding complexities. Our panelists will help you sort out all you need to know.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Bruce Stewart on LinkedIn 

Connect with Tony Grappone on LinkedIn

Connect with Adam Altenhofen on LinkedIn

Connect with Bryan Didier on LinkedIn

Follow Perch Energy on LinkedIn and check out its website

Follow Novogradac on LinkedIn and check out its website

Follow U.S. Bank on LinkedIn and check out its website

Check out Leverage Law Group’s 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

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.

Episode 543: Sunnova CEO John Berger, On Enron, Innovation And The Future Of Solar

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

John Berger has an enviable grasp of the renewable energy business and an equally clear understanding of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. "You can throw the idea of work-life balance out the window," he said.

But with the support of his wife of 22 years, John — officially William J. Berger — has created one of the most influential solar services companies in the United States and arguably the world.

John founded Sunnova in 2012 and has served uninterrupted as its CEO, president and board chair. An energy entrepreneur with more than two decades of industry experience, he supports free market competition, consumer choice and the advancement of technology to power energy independence. 

Houston-based Sunnova is an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) provider that wants to make clean, renewable energy more accessible, reliable, and affordable by providing "better energy service at a better price."

Today's podcast focuses on John's perspective from the perspective of a leading solar services company. We explore his thoughts on energy transformation, what it means for consumer choice, and how his experience informs his vision for a renewable energy future. 

If you're a regular listener, you may recall John's insights from Episodes 113 and 465. It's always interesting to hear from John because he's a clean-energy prophet in the heart of the United States' oil and gas country. 

Before Sunnova, John founded SunCap Financial, a residential solar service provider, and Standard Renewable Energy, a provider and installer of renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services. He also worked for several years in Enron's experimental fuel cell division, leaving in August 2001 to attend Harvard Business School.

So we dig in a bit during today's show to learn more about his backstory, including the impact of his Enron experience. He shares what he learned from the collapse of Enron and how he uses it in his work, and addresses contemporary issues like the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on the energy industry.

John talks about coming from an entrepreneurial family — his dad started a geotechnical materials consulting firm after losing his job in the 1985 oil bust — and credits his wife — an entrepreneur's daughter — for adding to his success.

"Being an entrepreneur requires real sacrifices, but it's who I am. So I needed to marry someone who would understand — and it's a little hard to understand if you've never experienced it.

"There are plenty of other attributes like personality fit, life fit. Do you want to family? How big? What do you want to do? What's important to you? Is God important to you or not? These things can also weigh as much in any equation as being an entrepreneur. But I personally heavily weighted the entrepreneur piece, and, in retrospect, that was right," he said.

John said he wants "to leave the world better" than he found it — and credits his wife's support and dedication for giving him the runway to transform Sunnova into a powerhouse. 

It's a perfect podcast for this Thanksgiving Eve, filled with information and insights, of course, but sparked as well by a lot of gratitude.

RESOURCES:

Find John Berger on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Connect with Sunnova Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and its website.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

A Message to Garcia
by Elbert Hubbard

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“Understanding the physical system I very quickly came away with this is archaic, the way that we’ve set up our power system is industrial age, not digital age.”
— John Berger
“First of all, I think Wall Street and many people don’t fully appreciate the impact of the IRA yet, this is going to end up being a monumental event in the energy business as a result of monumental event for the country and for the world.”
— John Berger

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

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.

Episode 542: How to double solar customer value through follow-on sales, an all-star panel shares their secrets!

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

How can you work smarter rather than harder and get the most from your carefully cultivated customer relationships? Today's special edition podcast gives you practical and tactical advice to earn more business from happy customers. 

Through this all-star panel discussion led by Bodhi CEO Scott Nguyen, you'll learn how to double the value of your solar customers through follow-on sales. This Bodhi Media Zone Takeover is a replay from the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

Bodhi is a software platform that helps growing residential solar companies remove operational headaches and sell more to more people. 

"How do we look beyond that initial solar sale and unlock the extra revenue hidden in our existing customer base?" Scott asked. 

We get some great answers from Ryan Barnett, market development officer at Palmetto; Preston Booker, Head of Strategic Accounts at BayWa r.e. Solar Systems; Adam Hinckley, Vice President, Corporate Development at Enphase Energy; and Mark Liffman, co-founder and CEO of Omnidian.

You'll hear excellent perspectives on follow-up sales for solar companies and discover how solar installers can help cultivate more sales through thoughtful customer relations.

Mark noted that solar customers are evolving from early to mainstream adopters. "Early adopters will take on more risks and want solar for quasi-religious reasons. Today's customers want something that works and will be easy for them," he said, noting that early claims of decades of maintenance-free use are no longer relevant.

"We've got mountains and mountains of data to say that's not true," Mark said. "We shouldn't tell customers otherwise because it sets unrealistic expectations and a potentially bad experience with solar. If we set the right expectations and have a plan to deliver against, customers will have a fantastic experience with solar."

Ryan said the assumptions and conditions of the initial sale are essential to consider. "Some organizations look at customers as liabilities and burdens. Others look at that customers and ask, 'How can I continually engage and feed them helpful information so they can enhance the asset in which they've already invested? 

Preston said the potential for repeat sales also depends on the installer type. "There're two categories of customers we're serving. One is highly hands-on, setting expectations up front and positioning itself as an energy solutions provider versus a detached sales organization that's just going to do an install," he explained. Of course, he noted, there is "everything in between" those two extremes.

Adam said there are increasing opportunities to amortize the high solar customer acquisition costs across second or third sales. "Software development is the future. And everything we're doing is coupling software with the hardware products we provide," he said.

Mark said solar success comes down to the value of the products and the clarity of the message. "If we, as an industry, can find ways to simplify the electrification process, then the mainstream consumer will embrace it," he said.

Intrigued? I am. Join me in listening to this outstanding RE+ replay.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Ryan Barnett, Preston Booker, Adam Hinckley, Mark Liffman, and  Scott Nguyen on LinkedIn.

Follow BayWa r.e. Solar Distribution on LinkedIn and its website.

Follow Bodhi on LinkedIn and its website.

Follow Enphase Energy on LinkedIn and its website.

Follow Omnidian on LinkedIn and its website.

Follow Palmetto on LinkedIn 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

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.

Episode 541: Why Falling in Love With Failure Matters So Much, with Piper Wilder, 60Hertz Energy

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

Piper Foster Wilder is a non-technical founder of a company that enables microgrids and their managers to use their assets more effectively and efficiently. 

She is the co-founder and CEO of 60Hertz Energy, an Anchorage, Alaska-based company offering computerized maintenance management software for microgrids.

"From villages to remote industrial sites like mines, telecom or fleets of backup power units," she said.

Piper is thoughtful and candid, quipping, "let me count the ways," when I asked her whether she's faced any entrepreneurial challenges since starting her company five years ago. 

"I have a Google doc called 'What I've learned starting 60Hertz, and periodically I'll lay down some of the more painful lessons or dumb things that I did or should have known better. It's cathartic, and it's fun to look back on — to think of the things that seemed so important at that time, or that actually were important that I should have paid better attention to," she said.

Piper is, first and foremost, an intelligent woman who understands failure is instrumental to success. "As a culture, we love best practices, success stories and celebrating good work. And that's important; I'm not taking anything away from that. But in my own experience, from my vantage point, I believe failure lessons are far more important," she said.

Piper suggests the willingness to share lessons learned helped move the renewables industry forward and helped lead her to her current role.

After completing a bachelor's degree in politics from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, Piper served as Executive Director of the McBride Family's Sopris Foundation in Aspen, Colorado. A few years later, she earned a fellowship from Germany's Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and worked two years at the Ecologic Institute in Berlin studying land use planning to accommodate large renewable installations. 

She learned about renewable technologies through her work as Vice President of Amatis Controls, an Internet of Things (IoT) hardware and software venture-backed start-up company in Aspen. She developed the company's thermal metering product line during her three-year tenure. She was also named one of 10 significant women by Aspen Magazine and helped launch Colorado's Energy Smart initiative.

Piper relocated to Alaska in 2015 to serve as Deputy Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project in Anchorage. There she became acquainted with the opportunity and challenges of project development, financing, and maintenance of remote power grids. 

In 2016, she led a contract with the Colorado Energy Office to develop a solar-thermal-as-a-service program in partnership with six rural electric cooperatives in Colorado. She launched her company in 2017.

"The driver for me has always been, 'How can I be a solution?' I don't mean that to sound lofty. I woke up one morning in my 20s wondering what I was doing with my life and realized, 'How can I be a solution? How can I help?' was the minimum viable I could settle on," she said.

60Hertz helps by offering maintenance software purpose-built for distributed energy resources (DER). DERs are physical and virtual assets deployed across the distribution grid, typically close to load and usually behind the meter, and used individually or in aggregate to provide value to the grid, individual customers, or both.

60Hertz's remote management platform enables maintenance personnel to optimize the potential of solar, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), microgrids and backup diesel assets. 

In today's podcast, Piper and I explore the growth of 60Hertz and her commitment to creating meaningful work. Her company supports the energy transition while making the best of existing diesel-fueled microgrids. 

Regular listeners may recall her appearance on Episode 457 when she advised how to work with electric cooperatives.

You'll enjoy the conversation as we unpack how Piper successfully created this entrepreneurial venture. "It's so unglamorous getting a company off the ground. And yet the reward of having customers find value in our product, of hearing conversations about how it's working for them, makes it worth it," she said.

And one more thing. Piper shares a fascinating story about her decision to move to Spain somewhat impulsively after college graduation. "There was no way to get a job in Spain, except for doing things you couldn't tell your parents that you did. We faced with the option of dancing on tables," she recalled.

Tune in to find out what she did to survive — even though she conceded she's not very good at it!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Piper Foster Wilder on LinkedIn & Twitter

Follow 60Hertz Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and check out its website.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I feel my prayer life is one of the most dynamic and renewing parts of who I am and what I want to give in the world. And that the value of making space for grace to be the sun that is shining on our work, and on our experience, I wish more people had a space for that because it is so dramatic and renewing and powerful. And I think it’s ultimately a lot of the engine that is accomplishing all that’s happening for us.”
— Piper Wilder

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

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.

Episode 540: The IRA Solves One Problem, But Creates Another, with Andy Redinger of KeyBanc Capital Markets

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

KeyBanc Capital Markets (KBCM) — Cleveland-based KeyCorp's corporate and investment banking arm — is North America's leading renewables project finance lender and provides services to clean technology firms in the power generation, smart grid, energy management, and pollution control sectors. 

In today's Tactical Tuesday, we talk with Andy Redinger, head of KBCM's Utilities, Power & Renewable Energy Group. The conversation was part of the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

KeyBank has been financing renewable power generation in the US since 2007, funding more than $15 billion of renewables in the past 12 years.

In 2021, KBCM demonstrated its commitment to its renewable investment banking team by doubling in size and enhancing its advisory and capital markets capabilities. Andy said the new team has extensive renewable energy M&A, capital raising and advisory services experience, allowing Key to continue providing superior client service to the US power sector.

"We bank most of North America's investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and have been doing so since the late 1990s," Andy explained. About 15 years ago, he and his colleagues decided, "the utility space was getting pretty boring, and we went looking for the next big thing."

"We saw renewables coming like a freight train, and I thought there would be a lot more convergence between renewables and IOUs, and I thought it was right around the corner."

Andy concedes his prediction was premature. "We were about 12 years wrong," he said. 

Now, the long-expected convergence is happening. "Renewables used to be a niche business, which attracted enough capital to grow it from where it was to now. Now the industry has become mainstream," he said.

Developers are seeking funding for renewable energy projects "earlier and earlier," he said, no longer content to wait until they were ready to put a shovel in the ground. 

"Fast forward to today, developers are coming to us months, if not years, before projects are ready to be constructed. That's just a natural maturation of the industry," he said. 

In today's podcast, Andy discusses KeyBank's response to a spate of fast followers in the renewable energy lending space, examines the role of construction and term debt and equity, and looks at lessons learned from the unfortunate demise of yieldcos.

Yieldcos are tools for financing clean energy projects with cheap stock market capital from a diverse pool of dividend-focused investors.

"Wall Street did a bad job educating the investor universe to get the correct buy and hold investors. So when clouds appeared on the horizon, many hedge funds sold out, and the market collapsed," he said. 

And he gives his perspective on the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes extensions and enhancements to existing tax credits to spur the development of renewable energy projects. "It was like throwing gasoline on a roaring bonfire," Andy said. "The IRA just made that fire burn even hotter, and it will make the developers more profitable. But it was throwing money at a problem that didn't exist."

Why does he think that? Tune in to find out that and more about financing renewable energy projects.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Andy Redinger on LinkedIn.

Follow KeyBanc Capital Markets on LinkedIn and Twitter and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“The inflation Reduction Act absolutely it was like throwing gasoline on a roaring bonfire. The renewable space you know, the issue was not capital, capital before the Inflation Reduction Act was wildly available. And I understand what the IRA did, the IRA just literally made that fire burn even hotter, it clearly is going to make the developers more profitable. But you know, it was kind of throwing money at a problem that maybe didn’t exist.”
— Andy Redinger

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

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.

Episode 539: Democratizing Energy for Everyone, One Smart Solar Battery at Time, with Electriq’s Aric Saunders

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

Growing up in Hawaii, Aric Saunders appreciated the beautiful environment, the hard-working people and his good fortune to live in what he describes as a "dream world." But he learned along the way about the state's dependence on imports and how people panicked over shipping outages "because there's no way to truck things in."

"As I got older, it came to light what a bad situation it is with all the imports and reliance on coal and oil," he said. "And that planted the seeds of getting into the energy industry."

Aric is a clean energy champion well versed in reaching low to moderate-income communities, creating innovative products, and integrating storage into the grid. "My interest in the environment and sustainability has always been there, understanding how integrated humans are with nature," he said.

He's now VP of Sales for Electriq Power, a battery storage company in San Leandro, California. He joined Electriq as director of business development in 2017 to advise the company on its residential energy storage and go-to-market strategy. 

Electriq has developed a smart battery storage solution for homes and small businesses that helps owners harness the power of smart batteries to achieve a more renewable energy solution. 

Before Electriq, he founded three companies in Hawaii and was the first to bring a specific kind of solar power purchase agreement (PPA)financing to the market, which we discuss in today's podcast. You'll hear how he incorporated sales operations, product management, and finance into an interesting and diverse career. 

A serial entrepreneur, Aric spent eight years in real estate development post-college before venturing into the renewable energy industry. The lightbulb moment occurred when he realized solar was comparable in many ways with his real estate work based on its financing. 

"The only difference I saw was this is overall a depreciating asset versus an appreciating asset because you'll have replacement costs. But once you have that site lease, you can replace panels down the road," he said. "There are no occupancy risks, and maintenance is much less."

Aric entered the solar industry in 2009 and, two years later, started his first company, Hawaii ECO Project, a provider of photovoltaic systems focusing on nonprofits. 

He helped create and implement the first no-credit-check residential PPA for Native Hawaiians, reducing electric bills for low-income participants by more than 30%. "We found the investors, created the document, did community outreach, procured and installed the equipment and still operate and maintain the PPAs today," Aric has said. "This project allowed us to maximize the benefits of renewable energy and cut through outsider complaints that solar only benefits the wealthy. It was proof that renewable energy could change everyone's lives."

As an innovator, Aric said his next step deepened his involvement in technology. "We saw a big need for energy storage and knew that would be the future."

In 2014, Aric founded SolarHale, which provides consumers with transparent information and pricing for residential rooftop solar, and HyGrid Energy, a renewable energy consultant, developer and financier.

Three years later, he decided he could be more impactful by joining an existing company as an employee where he could be "laser-focused" on helping it build its business. 

"That was one of the key emotions I had," he said. "And I'm not going to lie. I also had a kid right before that. So that played a role in the decision."

Aric thinks we're at the beginning of a fundamental change in how humans use and purchase electricity. He said he wants to look back and know that he and those he works with made a difference and made the world better. 

"Democratizing energy is critical to what we're trying to achieve," he said. "One of our core values is making energy ubiquitous. It's one of our goals [at Electriq], and we're making it happen."

If you're curious to learn more about Electriq, how the battery storage markets are growing and how the recently passed US Inflation Reduction Act will affect it, tune in to today's show.

TIMESTAMPS:

3:32 Misconceptions about Hawaii
5:51 First glimpse of alternative energy
7:02 Aric's journey into renewables
10:21 From energy project developer to creating a solar marketplace
14:15 From SolarHale to Electriq Power
16:22 Aric's proudest moment in the early years
18:54 A first time no credit check product
22:47 Decision to work for someone else
27:25 Gaps in the marketplace that needed to be filled
29:49 How companies can differentiate themselves
31:19 Providing financing for different sectors
33:30 Hurdles that developers are overcoming
37:17 How grid service programs work
40:34 Democratizing energy
41:36 Key lessons or takeaways from mentors
42:46 Advice for entrepreneurs going through a startup
44:16 How the Infation Reduction Act effects energy storage
44:59 Aric's book recommendations
47:40 Where to connect with Aric
48:24 Aric's bold prediction
50:49 Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Aric Saunders on LinkedIn

Follow Electriq Power on Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and check out its website.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I’m really excited about what the future brings, right? I mean, the goals of this energy transition and democratizing energy will have such a huge impact on, you know, our society in general.”
— Aric Saunders

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

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.

Episode 538: How Sungrow Keeps Its Global Edge in Inverters

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

Earning a market-leading position is one thing, but maintaining it is another. Sungrow, the leading global inverter solution supplier for renewables, is successfully navigating the challenge by embracing innovation to enhance its product's performance, quality and stability.

Founded in 1997, Sungrow is the world's most bankable inverter brand, with more than 269 GW deployed globally — and 47 GW installed in 2021 alone.

It's a leader in the research and development (R&D) of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering photovoltaic (PV) inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial and industrial (C&I), residential and floating PV plant solutions.

In today's Tactical Tuesday, Hank Wang, president of Sungrow Americas, credits Sungrow's enviable position in the market to product and service excellence and steady investment in products and services. The conversation was part of the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media.

Sungrow outspends all of its competitors in R&D. "We have the ability and capability to keep innovating to enhance the performance, quality and stability of our product. We also keep it cost-effective, so our customers benefit from both the cost and technical perspective," Hank said.

More than 40% of Sungrow employees — 1,800 — are involved in R&D. "On average, we develop a new generation product every two years," he said, noting that each generation is more cost-effective and efficient than the earlier one.

Hank has more than a decade of experience building solar businesses in China. He spent five years as general manager of overseas sales at Yingli Solar and a year as group vice president at RealForce-Power before joining Sungrow in 2016.

Sungrow has deep integration with its engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partners, which helps inform the direction of its product iterations. Hank said Sungrow always tries to address cost and how easy products are to install and maintain.

Join us today to hear how Sungrow maintains its market-leading position and its plans for the future as it prepares for expected rapid growth in the US market.

RESOURCES:

Follow Sungrow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“We have to prepare ourselves with the rapid growth of the market and make sure that we’re ready from a capacity of employees, from R&D, supply chain and everything to be well prepared for the rapid growth of this market.”
— Hank Wang

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.

Episode 537: 'People Are The Heart Of Renewable Energy Project Development', With Industry Veteran CEO Kimberlee Centera, TerraPro

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

Kimberlee Centera relied on intelligence and ambition to blaze an impressive, three-decade career in the renewable energy industry. As President and CEO of San Diego-based TerraPro Solutions, she's one of the only female CEOs of a privately held, privately funded utility-scale renewable energy consulting practice. 

In 10 years, she has taken the company from a one-person start-up to an industry leader and earned an enviable reputation as a risk management expert for developing and financing large-scale generator energy projects. She and her team have financed more than 12 gigawatts of wind, solar, and energy storage projects valued at more than $6 billion. 

She credits her success to the love of the land she gained in her childhood and a father who taught her to think — and views people as the priority in renewable energy project development. 

"I strongly believe that renewables are about communities, and sometimes we don't do a good enough job of really making it personal for people," she said.

Suitable, appropriately zoned land and procuring the relevant permits are critical to every wind, solar, storage or transmission project. Yet she said land agents only finalize about 10% of land lease or purchase agreements for renewable energy projects.

"People are sometimes surprised when they hear renewable projects are so difficult. They're like, 'Well, you guys are green, you should be the good guys, and it should be easy.' But it takes a lot of fortitude and perseverance to get these projects through because there's one barrier after another," she said.

Developers have to overcome landowner and community opposition — obstacles Kimberlee said can be defeated by building trust and listening to local stakeholders' concerns. Many of those trusting relationships have endured decades across generations of families!

"One landowner called me for 25 years whenever she had questions, and we had long since sold the projects and moved on. Eventually, I was dealing with her daughter and then her granddaughter. Unfortunately, she's now passed away. But it's always been about relationships, which have always been compelling [motivation] for me," she said.

She suggested that developers can present projects with empathy and concern instead of just data by getting to know the people potentially affected by a project — along with their values and the local economy — and defining areas of mutual interest.

Kimberlee and her four siblings grew up in Mountain View, California, "when there were still lots of farms and before it turned into the environment that it is today. "We picked strawberries and cut and dried apricots and gained an appreciation for the land," she recalled."

Her father was a teacher. "There was a challenge, an encouragement, to learn and to grow. That was foundational regarding my thinking, approach to my business, and life. I still always want to be learning," she said.

In today's podcast, Kimberlee explores her nearly 30 years in the still male-dominated renewables industry. From starting in 1993 at SeaWest WindPower, which AES Corp. acquired in 2005, to deciding in 2012 to "leap off the cliff and trust" her abilities to start her own business.

"You don't have all the answers, and you're not going to have all the answers. But you have to be willing to take the first step — and I think this is where my focus on learning became so important," she said.

"You need that entrepreneurial, willing-to-learn spirit when starting a business. There isn't a rule book. Nobody hands you a book and says, 'okay, just check all these boxes, and you'll be a fabulous success.' You have to sling it out."

Join us as we explore ways to mitigate risk in your projects and learn from Kimberlee's decades-long experience. You'll benefit from her deep knowledge and understanding of how solar projects come together and how the renewables industry has developed over the past 30 years. She also gives practical examples of how her team helps remove the common obstacles to getting these projects permitted and financed, often being a key contributor in her clients’ meeting project completion deadlines! 

You'll also learn how her roles as a mother and grandmother — and her commitment to the environment and society — influences her business.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Kimberlee Centera on LinkedIn 

Follow TerraPro Solutions on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and check out its website

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

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

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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.