Episode 594: Sollega Racks up Wins With Unique Flat-Roof Solar Solutions, with CEO Elie Rothschild

594: Sollega Racks up Wins With Unique Flat-Roof Solar Solutions, with CEO Elie Rothschild

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Elie Rothschild is the founder and CEO of San Franciso-based Sollega, a commercial flat-roof PV solar racking manufacturer. Sollega has a unique approach to solving universal issues in a solar niche famously known for low margins and intense competition. 

A solar racking system is the foundation that holds a solar array in place. Elie and his team describe racking as the marriage of solar and roofing because it has to meet the needs of both industries. 

Sollega mounting systems minimize on-roof assembly, install quickly and maximize available roof space, reducing mounting and installation costs associated with solar arrays. 

Elie started the company in 2008 to find an easier way to install solar panels on notoriously frustrating commercial flat roofs. "Flat roofs are never flat," he said. "There are undulations and all kinds of obstacles you have to work around. Every roof is a challenge and has its own circumstances."  He borrowed from a novel approach to solving this problem in other sectors and invented a molded plastic racking system that minimized both the metal and the weight on C&I Rooftops while reducing the shipping costs and logistics as well.

In today's podcast, Suncast host Nico Johnson talks to Elie about the innovation and ideation that went into creating Sollega's products and the entrepreneurial grit fueling the company's steadfast presence in a fiercely competitive environment. 

Elie capitalized on an opportunity to upend conventional metal solar panel mounting systems by testing alternatives, including polymers typically used for roofs and their components.

“There’s a reason they use those materials on roofs. They’re extremely durable, have excellent UV resistance, and don’t corrode,”
— Elie Rothschild

Elie took a chance and earned rave reviews when he unveiled a blow-molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE) prototype at a trade show in 2009. "So we went back to the drawing board, revised our designs, retooled, and that's how we got our start," he said.

Elie credits Sollega's first large customer, Walmart, for helping it achieve product-market fit. 

Sollega's racking systems are notable for their flexible design, which can handle undulations in roofs, work around obstacles, and are compatible with the most common solar panels today. "I think of us as an engineering, R&D manufacturing, sales, and marketing company," he said.

He emphasizes the importance of innovation and partnerships, citing Sollega's successful collaboration with Iron Ridge, another US-based manufacturer. "We have to keep innovating, and we have to keep finding ways to provide value to our clients and excellent service.," he said.

In today's podcast, Elie shares insights about his company, the impact of his midwestern childhood, and the personal journey that took him from Wisconsin to California. He's a solar veteran with more than two decades of experience, a serial entrepreneur and a thoughtful guy with a wife and two children that we're sure you'll enjoy getting to know better.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Elie Rothschild on LinkedIn

Follow Sollega on LinkedIn and Twitter 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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 593: Insights into the Untapped Opportunities of Commercial and Industrial Solar with Tim Montague

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

While the residential solar market often steals the limelight, Tim Montague believes that the C&I solar sector holds immense potential, especially in the context of sustainability and the built environment. With an annual capacity of a couple of gigawatts in the US alone, C&I solar presents significant growth opportunities for those willing to embrace the challenges and learn the ropes.

As Tim readily acknowledges, the C&I solar sector is not for the faint of heart. Navigating the complexities of technical knowledge, sales skills, and regulatory understanding, along with handling lengthy sales cycles and multiple decision-makers, can be daunting. However, he encourages solar professionals not to shy away from these challenges but to embrace them as opportunities for growth and development.

In this interview, we tease out the initial spark that led Tim to make a career shift into the solar industry. From an energy fair in New Mexico as a boy, to his deep involvement in the clean energy transition in Illinois, Tim’s passion for sustainability and solar are more than skin deep.  Tim also shares some excellent advice on how he has been able to accelerate his knowledge in the solar industry, especially within the challenging C&I sector. 

Over the course of his journey, he’s become a go-to expert for C&I development. To support professionals seeking to excel in the C&I solar market, Tim has created two training courses available on HeatSpring – one on qualifying commercial solar leads and projects, and another on selling and developing C&I solar projects.

By sharing his knowledge and experiences, Tim aims to fill the gap in resources available for professionals interested in C&I solar. I believe that, along with Tim’s podcast (where his co-host is also a C&I expert), these courses can help you overcome the challenges of this sector more effectively.

I share Tim's optimism about the potential of C&I solar. The vast, untapped rooftops that we see when flying into and out of metropolitan airports remind us of the immense possibilities that lie ahead. The clean, reliable, and virtually perpetual energy from the sun is just waiting to be harnessed by those willing to take on the challenge.

If you're looking to expand your skillset and explore new opportunities in the C&I solar sector, Tim's HeatSpring courses are an excellent starting point. Let's grow solar together, Solar Warriors!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Tim Montague on LinkedIn.

Follow Clean Power Hour 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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 592: EPRI's Arshad Mansoor on Resiliency as the Crucial Factor in Sustainable Energy Systems

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

Before we can successfully reduce our carbon footprint and transition to a low-carbon economy, we need to ensure that our systems are resilient enough to cope with the impacts of climate change. Otherwise, even minor disruptions or disasters will undermine our efforts to decarbonize, leaving us vulnerable to more severe consequences.

As Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), eloquently stated at the recent University of North Carolina Clean Tech Summit, "Resiliency is the tip of the spear to get to decarbonization."

Founded in 1972, EPRI is an independent, nonprofit energy research and development organization that collaborates with more than 450 companies in 45 countries. 

Arshad has been with the organization since 1999, holding a succession of roles of increasing responsibility. His goal is to help shape the future of clean energy.

EPRI has been doing that for 50 years. But with climate change accelerating, its role is growing increasingly complex not to mention essential, he noted.

Arshad said electricity needs to stay on during the coldest and hottest days of the year even as power systems, the climate and customer expectations change over the coming decades.

During a keynote on the second day of the summit, Arshad spoke about "A Climate-Ready Power System." In his speech and in a subsequent interview with SunCast Host Nico Johnson, he made a case for resilient and affordable decarbonization.

"We are already clearly seeing evidence the weather is changing. Now 1-in-100-year extreme events happen every year. Whether you believe in climate science or think the climate is a natural cycle, the power system, the grid — the marvel of the last century — was built based on the weather we expected in the last century. We've got to retool and develop a new grid ready for tomorrow's weather," he said.

Last year, EPRI launched a three-year initiative called the Climate READi: Power (REsilience and ADaptation initiative), which brings together global thought leaders and industry stakeholders to develop a common framework to address this challenge.

Arshad said we could comprehensively enhance resiliency — on the infrastructure and on the customer sides — if we work smart, fast and thoughtfully. 

He knows his stuff: He holds five U.S. patents in power electronics and distributed energy resources, and he has published numerous papers in journals and conference proceedings, given talks, and participated in panels at leading technical forums worldwide.

Want to learn more? He’s got valuable insights to share and we invite you to join us for today's podcast.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Arshad Mansoor on LinkedIn.

Follow EPRI 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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 591: What is Climate Tech? >> Climate Avengers begins…

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

As the implications of climate change become increasingly urgent to address, innovative solutions are vital in tackling this global challenge. This is why we are excited to launch the Climate Avengers podcast, to shine a light on startups and investors who are shaping the future through climate tech. Before you dive in, you may be thinking, “What is climate tech?”.  This is exactly what host Elena Foukes and I cover in this special episode, which is a short take from the full episode you can find on Climate Avengers.

Elena and I delve into the basics of climate tech and trace its evolution over the years. We discuss the three sectors that fall under the climate tech umbrella: reducing or eliminating emissions, adapting to climate change, and increasing our understanding of the climate. We also examine the definitions of climate tech by different experts and organizations, such as Price Waterhouse Cooper and Bloomberg.

One key takeaway was the importance of collaboration in driving innovation and building a more sustainable future. Elena and I agree that investing in the next generation of climate tech professionals is essential for advancing innovation. We must mentor and support young professionals and help them find their place in this burgeoning industry.

Another notable point we discuss is the traits necessary for success in the climate tech sector. Elena and I emphasiz curiosity, resilience, creativity, and flexibility as elemental traits. By embodying these traits and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, professionals can position themselves for success in the rapidly evolving landscape of climate tech.

Elena also shares her vision for Climate Avengers, a podcast that sheds light on the mindset of investors and startups building the next unicorns in climate tech. The podcast democratizes information by sharing insights and stories from the field. From the tech and venture capital side to founding a climate tech company, the podcast promises to cover everything one needs to know. It serves as a valuable resource for those looking to start, invest, or join an early-stage climate tech company.

We wrap up our conversation with a teaser for listeners. Elena was asked to define climate tech in one sentence, to which she replied… well, to find out you’re going to have to listen to Climate Avengers on your favorite podcast app, and if you like what you hear, subscribe!

Follow along with the Climate Avengers here: https://resourcelabs.co/climateavengers/

RESOURCES:

Connect Elena Foukes on LinkedIn and on her website.

Follow Climate Avengers on LinkedIn and Twitter and reach out directly via AngelList.

State of Climate Tech 2021

State of Climate Tech 2022

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 590: Dominion Energy Plans to Become the Most Sustainable Energy Company in the US, w/Bob Blue, CEO of Dominion

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

Dominion Energy Chair, President, and CEO Robert "Bob" Blue believes renewable energy is the future — and said as much in his company's most recent Climate Report. 

He doubled down on that prediction at the recent University of North Carolina Clean Tech Summit, stressing Dominion's commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. 

Dominion projects that under every set of assumptions modeled, solar energy will become the mainstay of its electricity generation fleet by 2040. 

During an opening keynote addressing "Roadblocks to the Clean Energy Transition" and subsequent interview with SunCast Host Nico Johnson, Bob stressed Dominion's plans to become the most sustainable energy company in the country. 

In today's podcast, Bob explains how Dominion is throwing off the mantle of a stodgy utility to become a leader in the energy transition.

"We do our work on the environment because it's the right thing to do," he said. "We comply with all environmental laws and regulations, but we understand that our customers want us to go above and beyond."

Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion is one of the largest regulated electric utilities in the United States, servicing more than 7 million customers in 16 states. 

Blue has a vision of a cleaner, greener future, but it's grounded in business realities, and he made that perspective clear. 

Some think cutting carbon-based energy sources is impossible, and any attempt to do so will destroy the economy, he explained. Others believe the transition carries no cost — no trade-offs or complex decisions. 

"Both of these perspectives are flawed," he said. "We can achieve net zero. But to do so, we need to roll up our sleeves and make big decisions."

He said the energy transition hinges on three factors:

  1. Reliability — "We're not going to leave our customers in the dark or the cold. As we retire fossil-fired units, we must ensure other power generation sources are available to pick up the load."

  2. Affordability — "New solar farms cost money, and new wind farms cost money. Every new power line connecting solar and wind generation to homes and businesses costs money, particularly during high inflation. We must consider the effect on our customers in the near and long term."

  3. Regulation — "There is a risk that customer energy needs and the push for the clean energy transition are happening more quickly than the required infrastructure can be realistically permitted and constructed."

Bob embraces reforms to the permitting process to make it easier for utilities to develop clean energy projects. "We need to work with regulators to speed up the process," he said.

Still, he's optimistic and emphasized Dominion is "leaning forward" on clean energy to address what its customers want.

Dominion has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40% since 2005, is on track to meet its interim targets for reducing emissions by 2030 and is "well-positioned" to achieve its net-zero goal by 2050, he added.

Bob noted Dominion received top ratings for climate and water security from the CDP, a not-for-profit charity whose global disclosure system helps investors, companies, cities, states and regions manage their environmental impacts. Dominion earned "A" grades for its disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and best practices.

"It's external validation that what we're doing is working, and we need to keep it up," he said.

Bob said Dominion continues to engage with communities on solar projects and is expanding investments in offshore wind and renewable natural gas — biogas produced from organic waste.

"We're upgrading our grid, making it more robust, more resilient, smarter, better able to handle the intermittent, sometimes bi-directional flow of renewable energy," he said.  

"These technologies hold tremendous promise in helping our company and industry reach our goals. But it takes people to develop the technology, and it takes people to build, install and operate the technology. And as technology advances, the need for high-performing individuals willing to learn increases," he said. 

He said Dominion recruits from the "broadest and deepest" talent pool possible. From 2017 through 2021, the company grew its workforce diversity by 10% and intends to continue that progress.

If you've ever wondered how traditional utilities will fare in the coming decades, tune into today's podcast. Bob shares many interesting insights about how he's evolving a regulated utility to take a more prominent role in a new generation of power sources. You won't want to miss it.

Since joining Dominion in 2005, Bob has held a succession of services and operational executive roles. He became CEO and president in October 2020 and chair of the company's board of directors in 2021.

Earlier in his career, he was a counselor and director of policy for Virginia Governor Mark Warner and an attorney at Hogan & Hartson. He holds a BA and MBA from the University of Virginia and a JD from Yale Law School.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Robert “Bob” Blue on LinkedIn

Follow Dominion Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and its website

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“These technologies hold tremendous promise in helping our company and industry reach our goals. But it takes people to develop the technology, and it takes people to build, install and operate the technology. And as technology advances, the need for high-performing individuals willing to learn increases”
— Bob Blue

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 589: Developing Large Scale Projects by Nurturing People & Providing Opportunities

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

It’s an exciting time to be involved in the renewable energy industry, and Kimberlee Centera is eager to share her experience of what it was like starting out when solar was just beginning to gain momentum in the early 2000s and how the lessons she’s learned along the way have given her great success in all areas of her life. 

Kimberlee emphasizes the integral role of networking, mentorship, and relationship-building. To succeed in the renewable energy industry, she believes it’s crucial to form beneficial and meaningful links with the right people. By networking and connecting with industry experts, CEOs, mentors, and job contacts, Centera explains that you can open up opportunities, co-create nourishing environments, and build invaluable knowledge.

As CEO of TerraPro Solutions, Kimberlee talks a lot about her experience in handling risk management appropriately. Renewable energy projects are long-term investments, but part of what makes them successful is the availability of seasoned risk management strategies. By having a robust risk management plan kept in place, Centera stresses that progress can be made more assuredly and with greater stability. 

Kimberlee walks us through best practices used for working with developers to ensure success. She emphasizes the importance of "perfected site control," which requires ensuring the right landowners, land rights, and documentation are in place. She highlights issues like securing transmission right of way and addressing subordination of existing liens, which are critical for project financing but often overlooked. 

“We looked at a 30-mile transmission line that had probably every kind of ownership you could have from state lands to tribal lands, to federal lands, you know, public agencies, private individuals, and so there's a very complex strategy that needs to go into acquiring that, and then perfecting it.” 

TerraPro Solutions help clients through the process of initial site control, executing and recording documents, navigating parameters of site control, finding the right landowners and project partners, as well as financing which includes a long list of necessities. 

“Most of the time these things don’t align, but we can fix those issues.” 

Looking towards the future of the renewable energy industry, Kimberlee sees several trends emerging, such as increasing demand for early-stage work and pivoting. A lot of companies are now using diversification and agility to expand their energy portfolios, and Centera believes this is a great way for companies to remain responsive and flexible to changing conditions.

Overall, Kimberlee emphasizes the importance of networking, mentorship, risk management, relationship-building, and being forward-thinking and prepared for the future. By taking the opportunities available, asking the right questions, and having the availability to receive, she believes that anyone can succeed in the renewable energy industry.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“Most of the time these things don’t align, but we can fix those issues.”
— Kimberlee Centera

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 588: Saving the Planet & Making Money, Elena Foukes, host of Climate Avengers Podcast!

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

Are you interested in learning more about the intersection of technology, venture capital, and climate solutions? Then you'll be as excited as all of us at SunCast are about the soon-to-launch Climate Tech focused " Climate Avengers" Podcast hosted by Elena Foukes.

Elena and Nico Johnson, the creator and host of SunCast, share a passion for all things climate-related. Both are venture partners with Climate Avengers, an investment fund started by their mutual good friend, Kyle Cherrick.

Kyle is an entrepreneur, a climate investing specialist, and lead investor for Climate Avengers. From a side project he started in 2021, it's grown to a venture capital community of more than 400 angel investors.

"We're finding the startups ready for capital and then getting more people and their capital into those scalable climate tech startups. So you're making money and saving the world at the same time, and it's a beautiful thing," Elena said.

Now she's creating another beautiful thing — an insightful, impactful podcast. If you don't know Elena, you should. She's an investor, coach, and climate entrepreneur who upgraded her career from a low-level analyst at a public utility to co-founder and CEO of a climate-tech startup — and earned a "good job" from Elon during a stint at Tesla.

She also develops programs to help others build purpose-filled climate careers. 

In today's podcast, Nico pulls back the curtain to give our listeners a glimpse of the driven, determined person heading our new show. 

From a humble childhood in Detroit, where she said her family was more comfortable talking about cars than feelings, Elena created a unique path to success.

She earned a triple major in Economics, Political Science, and International Studies from Loyola University Chicago and a Master's of International Economics focusing on China econometrics and energy policy from UC San Diego. 

"Moving to the West Coast and learning what emotions are and what communication is has been a journey and continues to this day," she said.

Since 2020, she's lived off-grid in various places, including Joshua Tree National Park California, on a mountain top in southern Oregon, and on a sailing catamaran. 

Elena will blend the kaleidoscopic impact of all those influences in the new podcast, which launches Wednesday, April 26. She promises to demystify the world of climate tech venture capital.

  1. Discover how climate tech makes a difference: The world faces a climate crisis, and technological breakthroughs are urgently needed. Elena will explain the crucial role climate tech plays in preserving our planet and ensuring sustainability for future generations.

  2. Learn from successful founders and investors: Through interviews with leaders in the climate tech ecosystem, Elena will provide valuable insights into the industry and its growth potential. Hearing from those succeeding in this field will give listeners inspiration and knowledge that can help them on their own journey.

  3. Explore the world of venture capital: Learn how venture capital accelerates the delivery of scalable solutions with measurable impact. Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the role of investors through a better understanding of how venture capital works.

  4. Join the movement to save the planet: Elena and her team are committed to finding and funding climate tech breakthroughs. We invite you to listen to this podcast to become part of this movement and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Listen to today's podcast for more details about Elena's plans for the Climate Tech Podcast. We assure you it will fast become a go-to resource for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, venture capital, and climate solutions.

And as a special bonus today: download Elena’s top five tips for career change confidence here!

RESOURCES:

Connect Elena Foukes on LinkedIn and on her website.

Follow Climate Avengers on LinkedIn and Twitter and reach out directly via AngelList.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We’re finding the startups ready for capital and then getting more people and their capital into those scalable climate tech startups. So you’re making money and saving the world at the same time, and it’s a beautiful thing”
— Elena Foukes

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Bonus Episode: Introducing the Climate Avengers

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

The world is facing an existential crisis. Climate change poses a threat to our very existence, and if we as a society fail to build a sustainable, prosperous, and equitable future, it will be due to a failure of imagination and courage. The good news is that the climate tech sector has been growing rapidly in recent years, with over $200 billion invested so far. However, trillions more will be needed to save our planet from hitting three degrees Celsius.

The question then becomes, who will drive this change? Who are the entrepreneurs and investors that will display the courage to fund these innovations? These are the questions that Elena Foukes and her team at Climate Avengers aim to explore.

The goal of Climate Avengers is to demystify the capital-raising process for founders and help more investors understand how to source, do diligence, and think about investing in startups in the climate space. By doing so, they hope to unlock more capital going to the private tech sector.

One of the key ways to achieve this is by increasing the number of female investors, which generally leads to more investment into female-founded companies and different types of ideas that get funded and built out for the world. This is a critical step in ensuring that the climate tech sector is inclusive and diverse and that we tap into the full range of human potential to address the climate crisis.

Elena Foukes, the guide, and host of Climate Avengers has an impressive background in the climate tech sector. She has worked at companies like P G and E, co-founded and led a climate tech company called Utility API, and scaled global operations at Tesla, where she received praise from Elon Musk himself. Her experience in both the traditional and startup sides of the climate tech sector gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Through her interviews with entrepreneurs and investors, Elena hopes to showcase the stories of those who are making a difference in the fight against climate change. These are the people who are being the change and saving the planet, all while making money. By telling their stories, Elena aims to inspire others to get involved in the climate tech sector and help build a sustainable future for us all.

In conclusion, Climate Avengers is an exciting new venture that has the potential to unlock more capital going to the private tech sector, increase the number of female investors, and showcase the stories of those who are making a difference in the fight against climate change. If we are going to build a sustainable, prosperous, and equitable future, it will be because of the imagination and courage of people like Elena Foukes and the entrepreneurs and investors she interviews.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Elena Foukes on LinkedIn

Subscribe on Spotify here

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Bonus Episode: (Introducing Factor This!) Distributed Energy Is A Massive Undervalued Market, with Tim Hade, Co-founder Scale Microgrids

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

Today’s episode is a Bonus Episode, shedding light on another podcast(er) that we think is providing great insights on hard-hitting topics such as the Auxin trade case and generally covering complimentary stories from compelling corners of the solar business.  Enjoy!

“Our grid is falling apart. Wildfires, floods and more frequent extreme weather events routinely highlight the imperative of a distributed energy future not just for resiliency but to reach our climate goals.” Tim Hade, COO and Co-Founder of Scale Microgrids shares his knowledge with John Engel on today’s SunCast episode. 

These gentlemen discuss the biggest question facing the distributed energy market-  how fast is this going to happen? Will we have implemented a distributed energy market that supports our societies and the environment quickly enough? 

Join them as they discuss the role of distributed energy for the grid of the future, the perils of scaling, a climate tech hardware companies journey, and what's holding back the Inflation Reduction Act. Tim goes on to inspire us with his personal story of how being in the military got him into climate advocacy work, and reminds us that the Department of Defense has looked at climate change as being a predominant long term national security threat for about 25 years. 

You’re going to want to hear Tim’s five tips for starting a clean energy company, as he has experience of starting a company and scaling it to a larger entity. 

“We were pretty early adopters of the thesis that solar and storage were going to be the backbone of distributed energy moving forward.”

“We think distributed energy is a massive market that's undervalued, and that solar storage is going to be the hub of the systems that build out that distributed energy network. That was sort of the premise for Scale Microgrids.” 

Some other hot topics in today’s episode include optimism around dtrs, bottom up momentum, identifying the biggest challenges within the industry, importance of tax equity monetization in clean tech, and the significance of team effort. 

“Ultimately, this is a team game, right? You’ve got to surround yourself with people who compliment you but also address your weaknesses.” Join us by listening to today’s episode to soak up Hades knowledge and gain inspiration for your own personal journey in the renewable energy industry.

RESOURCES:

Connect with John Engel on LinkedIn

Connect with Tim Hade on LinkedIn & Twitter

Follow Scale Microgrids on LinkedIn and check out their website

You can find the full Factor This! episode library here

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We were pretty early adopters of the thesis that solar and storage were going to be the backbone of distributed energy moving forward.”
— Tim Hade

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 587: Crowdfunding Climate Solutions For Healthy Returns & A Better Future, with co-founders of Raise Green, Franz Hochstrasser & Jackie Logan

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

How can we raise enough capital to finance the infrastructure needs of Energy 2.0? The climate finance requirements for the aggressive build-out of renewables and the climate action we need seem overwhelming.

However, some fantastic startups in the industry are tackling this issue head-on with innovative platform-scale models. Take Raise Green, a platform that gives people with as little as $100 to invest a chance to support clean energy and climate solution projects.

It relies on crowdfunding to give all investors a way to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.

CEO and Co-Founder Franz Hochstrasser thinks it's a way to make a meaningful impact without a solar finance degree or billionaire status. 

"The world needs a whole society mobilization to cut carbon pollution fast enough to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. And the two key ingredients to that mobilization are more money and more people," Franz said.

Raise Green capitalizes on a 2016 change in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations that opened the door to greater participation by small investors. Known as Regulation Crowdfunding, it enables companies to raise as much as $5 million annually by selling securities such as equity or convertible note to the public online.

Franz said this change frees up as much as $5 trillion in American household net worth in low- or no-interest check checking and savings accounts — ideally for investment in climate solutions.

SunCast Host, Nico Johnson, recently talked to Franz and Raise Green Co-Founder Jackie Logan about how they support the innovators and entrepreneurs on the frontline of climate solutions. 

Jackie, the company's Chief Investment Officer (CIO), shares how Raise Green works with local leaders to develop project finance companies, which can help scale up the adoption of clean energy and climate solutions in their communities. This approach creates a sustainable model for growth that benefits everyone involved. 

It also offers "blended capital," which allows investors to contribute different types of capital to a project, such as equity or debt. 

Raise Green builds upon Franz's background in policy, climate change, environmental, and social issues and advances Jackie's more than 20 years of capital markets experience.

Before graduating from the Yale School of the Environment with a focus on sustainable finance, clean energy and business in 2018, Franz served eight years in the Obama Administration. His roles included Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Climate Change at the Department of State,

deputy associate director of the White House Council of Environmental Quality, and confidential assistant and legislative analyst at the Department of Agriculture. 

He lectures at Yale School of Environment and is co-founder of New Haven Community Solar.

Jackie worked for JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs and was a vital member of an internet-based trading platform. She has an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Williams College and MBA from Wharton.

Join us for an introduction to the powerful concept of Regulation Crowdfunding, a relatively new financing method that pools small individual investments or contributions from many people. Raise Green —launched in 2018 with a $25,000 Climate Change Solutions grant from Yale — aims to encourage more people to invest in climate solutions. By using Regulation Crowdfunding, they have created an accessible and democratic way for people to support projects that benefit the environment. 

Since its inception, Raise Green has mobilized about $6 million for climate solutions with the help of some 3,000 investors and 20,000 members. 

If you're looking for a way to invest in climate solutions, Raise Green might provide an answer. Listen to the podcast to discover how you can join the crowd.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Franz Hochstrasser on LinkedIn

Connect with Jackie Logan on LinkedIn


Follow Raise Green on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We were trying to prove a point, which was that we can organize a group of conservative investors to put small dollar denominations at our lowest investment amount actually was $50. So we have several $50 investors in New Haven community solar that came in, and use crowdfunding to finance solar. And at the end of the day, it worked it.”
— Franz Hochstrasser
“There is what we call investment crowdfunding. And that is what raised green is and certain other platforms that you’re probably familiar with the larger names like a Republic or a Wefunder. We are actually literally issuing securities for companies and they are investments where investors expect to get a financial return. The difference at Raise Green is investors are here for a financial return, but also an impact.”
— Jackie Logan

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 586: A Primer on Risk Taking, Book Writing & Personal Branding, with Tom Weirich of EDPR

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

“We Took the Risk” is an award-winning book written by Tom Weirich that dives into the personal stories of leaders in the renewable industry, traits they share that make them successful, and their individual superpowers that make them unique. During the personal accounts in this book, the history of the renewable industry is told in a way that keeps readers excited to turn the page. 

In our latest episode, Nico interviews Tom to discuss the importance of personal branding and the vital role marketing plays in the renewable energy industry. Weirich shares his experience writing the book, and how he uses his marketing skills from his corporate experience in his personal endeavors. Pick up tips on how to weave relevant professional and personal experience in the industry to make your own personal unique mark.

One of the best takeaways of this episode is the idea of paying it forward. Tom shares his commitment to mentoring someone in the industry every week. He encourages others to make a little time to do the same in their own ways, as it not only helps newcomers to the industry (whom we need desperately), but also builds a network of support that can benefit everyone. There hasn’t been a more important time to invest in each other's ventures. 

“We all succeed or go down.”

Listen to learn how the power of personal branding can differentiate individuals in the industry. Johnson and Weirich both emphasized the importance of having a calling card, whether it's a book, a podcast, or a newsletter. By creating something that showcases an individual's expertise and ideas, each person has the opportunity to stand out and make a name for themselves outside of their corporate brand.

Finally, Weirich talks about the significance of understanding the traits needed for professionals in the industry, and how his book highlights those traits through the stories of executives who made an impact in the renewable energy industry. He stresses the need for resilience and leadership, and how the industry needs individuals who embody those traits to continue to evolve. 

Join us on this listening journey to walk through the importance of paying it forward, standing out in a crowded industry, and embodying the traits needed to make a difference and succeed in renewable energy.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Tom Weirich on LinkedIn & Twitter

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 
 

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We have significant, incomparable issues that you all are facing, let’s work together on solving those issues, right? I think many will agree. We can’t switch on renewables overnight. There’s just no way. However, we need to approach the conversation saying listen, natural gas, coal, it’s such a valuable resource, let’s figure out how to keep it valuable, right? And how to also approach things from a more practical perspective by integrating renewables in day to day work.”
— Tom Weirich

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 585: Climate & Cleantech Investing 101 with Craig Lawrence, Partner & Co-Founder of Energy

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

Craig Lawrence is a partner and co-founder of Energy Transition Ventures (ETV), a Houston-based venture capital fund that emerged from stealth in 2021. 

ETV aims to advance the global shift in how the world produces and uses energy by investing in promising cleantech startups. Regular SunCast listeners may recall some of those emerging firms like DroneBase (now Zeitview) and RenewCO2.

Unlike many VC firms, Craig and his partner Neal Dikeman do not require the companies they invest in to demonstrate their potential impact on carbon emission reduction. "They're all going to [advance decarbonization], but we don't layer it as an investment requirement because the most important thing we can do is build successful companies," he said.

To do that, these young firms have to raise capital, deliver products, and generate revenue and profits. "This is where we focus our filtering criteria. If we bet on those companies and they succeed, they will have very large carbon impacts," he said.

In today's podcast, Craig shares his firm's innovative approaches to producing cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable energy. With more than 25 years of experience in venture capital, engineering, product, and executive roles, Craig has been at the forefront of the cleantech industry since its early days.

Craig said one of the most significant strategic errors cleantech founders make is asking for funds before doing their homework.

"They don't know what we've invested in even though we talk on podcasts like this. We write a blog and try to put all our investments on our website. 

After pitching for 30 minutes or more, Craig said he often has to ask to discover what the company actually does. "They're telling me about climate change — how important it is, how screwed up the world is, and all this stuff. I try to be patient, but at some point, we interrupt. 

"I already know all these problems, and I know the market. This is my job."

He said cleantech founders should get to the point, especially when pitching investors specializing in energy, transport, buildings and infrastructure, carbon and climate, industry, and agriculture.

"Tell us why you're special, what you're doing, and how important [your work] is," he said, adding that VC firms like ETV already know climate change is a problem. "I get eight of these pitches a day."

While leading energy investing at Accel Partners, Craig oversaw successful investments in early-stage cleantech companies, including SunRun and OPower — both of which have become leaders in their respective fields. Craig has also held senior executive roles at companies driving the energy transition, such as Treverity, SolarBridge Technologies, and SunEdison.

As a former practice lead at IDEO, he helped energy tech startups launch innovative products and services. He is also an inventor, holding patents on products ranging from portable fuel cells to office furniture. With a B.S. in engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, Craig brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and creative problem-solving to the energy industry.

Tune in to this episode to learn from Craig's wealth of experience and gain insights into the future of sustainable energy from the perspective of a VC firm advancing the energy transition.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Craig Lawrence on LinkedIn

Follow Energy Transition Ventures on LinkedIn and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“If I was advising young me, who studied engineering to what category of engineering to pick, I would say, do something around electrochemistry.”
— Craig Lawrence

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 584: How One Siemens Energy Leader Successfully Balances Her Work & Family

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

Linette Casey never choose to work in the energy industry. "I just fell into it," she said.

More than two decades later, she's happy with her choice and her long-term commitment to the employer she credits for enabling her to balance work and family.

Linette Casey is Head of Americas Sales, Electrification, Automation & Digitalization (EAD) at Siemens Energy, a global market leader for renewable energies. It was created in 2020 by a spin-off from Siemens AG, where Linette worked for more than 18 years.

In today's Tactical Tuesday, I share practical, tactical information from my interview with Linette. The wide-ranging conversation traces her fascinating career journey, from pursuing ocean science and social studies to finding success in the energy industry.

She discusses how her education and experience in logistics led her to work for the U.S. Navy SEALs — the U.S. Navy's primary special operations force and a Naval Special Warfare Command component — and eventually to Siemens Energy, where she's worked her way up to managing procurement, inventory, and sales. 

Linette emphasizes the importance of adaptability and problem-solving skills as navigational tools in an evolving industry. She also shares how personal choices have influenced her career path, notably leaving one position she loved to move closer to family. 

Linette is a mother of three, including a daughter with special needs, and understands women's challenges in balancing work and family responsibilities. 

"I had to make choices, to relocate where I had family support, to find the right place for my kids to grow up and secure the special education and treatment my daughter needed. And so, I chose to take a step back from the career ladder," she said.

She's no regrets — and only compliments for how Siemens respected and supported her decision.

"Siemens treated me like family when I needed family," she said, noting that she had 10 "super difficult" years interrupted by her daughter's multiple emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays. 

"This was all before covid — before remote working was a thing. But my boss told me to work from the hospital room if I needed to, and I did, working when my daughter was asleep. We made it work, and my team and the company rallied around me."

She said she appreciated it so much that she's stayed with the company. "Headhunters call me all the time, and I get offers. But I chose to stay because the company held me in safety, holding a space for my family and me for 10 years when I had to make decisions other than climb the corporate ladder," she said.

Linette started the Women's Energy Network, a Boston-based organization with more than 100 members representing 35 energy companies, including Siemens Energy. It aims to promote diversity and career advancement for women in the male-dominated energy industry. 

She talks about the importance of mentorship and building mentees' confidence, especially women who may face limitations and stereotypes in their careers. Linette specifically recalls a female engineer who did not see herself going into a sales position because there were no other women in that role. 

Linette helped build her confidence and saw her potential, allowing her to transition into the role successfully. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

"I recently sat with a woman I've worked with for years. We were taking pictures afterward and she said, 'Oh, I'm so glad I got to be in a picture next to you.' I thought she was just being sweet. But she said, 'No, you're really important to the company."

Linette is enthusiastic about empowering women and equally excited about the company she represents.

Siemens Energy is at the forefront of exciting innovations ranging from electric ferries that reduce emissions and noise while supporting more reliable operations to propulsion solutions that make marine vessels environmentally friendly and economically efficient. It's also accelerating the production of sustainably produced hydrogen with high-performance, industrial-scale electrolyzers that will benefit such things as steel production and aviation.

This episode offers a fascinating insight into energy innovation and the personal journey of an industry leader. Tune in to learn more about Linette Casey, her decades-spanning career and why she's so committed to working for Siemens.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Linette Casey on LinkedIn

Follow Siemens Energy on LinkedIn and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“It just takes seeing the potential in someone and just like prior bosses of mine had done that I mentioned, is really building their confidence to allow them to see their capabilities beyond what limitations have been put on them stereotypically or through whatever happened in their career up to this point.”
— Linette Casey

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. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

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

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

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

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

Episode 583: Emilie O’Leary on Recycling and Best Practices for Cleaning up Solar Sites

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

Solar energy will only live up to its tremendous environmental and sustainability potential if the industry tackles its waste challenge. How big is the problem? 

According to the US Dept. of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), some 80 million metric tons of solar photovoltaics (PV) worldwide could reach end of life by 2050. And that's not counting the inevitable waste created by packaging materials and damaged or defective panels during construction or installation.

In today's podcast, Emilie Oxel O'Leary shares how her Marietta, Georgia-based company, Green Clean Solar, diverts broken solar panels and related debris at utility-scale solar sites from landfills. By partnering with recycling companies, the commercial waste management and landfill diversion business reduces waste and conserves resources by recovering and reusing materials.

Emilie's understanding of the solar industry's waste problem stemmed from the success of her earlier venture, Sunshine Solar, a mechanical installation company. Founded in 2016, it gained utility-scale accounts with companies like Target, L'Oréal and Amazon in its first two years.

"When you're starting with one- to three-megawatt projects, maybe five megawatts, and then all of a sudden, you're dealing with 50, 60 to 100 megawatts, it's a whole other ballgame. It's like going from the minors to the major leagues," she said, adding that everything requires massive coordination and planning between multiple vendors and contractors.

During a site visit to a 106-megawatt project, she was overwhelmed by accumulations of trash.

"The waste is just going everywhere. Our guys are so good, but they don't care about the trash because they're there to reach a milestone — to build this site in a very short time. The waste was not their concern.

“My client was sending me emails about the trash, and I was getting frustrated because it was, and I didn't know what to do with it. I'm like, holy crap. There's so much going so fast. And it's there's no process to it. My client was getting frustrated, and I was getting frustrated. And that motivated me to acknowledge 'this is a problem [so] there has to be a solution — somewhere, somehow."

Just before the pandemic began in January 2020, Emilie sold the business. She remained CEO until she launched Green Clean Solar in early 2022.

She said Green Clean Solar’s mission is to provide utility-scale solar customers with the resources to address waste problems while supporting a diverse workforce.

Green Clean Solar focuses on the eastern United States. With its extensive experience in commercial solar fields, rooftops, and canopies, Emilie said it understands the types of waste generated and the problems it creates. She added that it owns all the necessary tools and equipment to be a turnkey solution for trash removal from sites.

Recycling eliminates the risk that clean energy solutions will pose a waste burden for future generations during construction and as projects reach end-of-life. It's an essential topic for anyone interested in solar energy growth, so tune in to learn more.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Emilie Oxel O'Leary on LinkedIn

Follow Green Clean Solar on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We did an amazing project in Miami, and we had 22 truckloads 100% of the commissioning, it was a power site. We recycled everything 100% of that. And even the concrete containers, we were we able to recycle that we had over 5000 lithium ion batteries, we recycled.”
— Emilie O’Leary

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 582: The Energy Transition Needs All of Us; Abby Hopper, Claire Broido Johnson, and Meghan Nutting on why we ALL should be at CERAweek!

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

There's a cleaner future ahead for the energy industry. And while only some associated with fossil fuels are ready to embrace solar and wind, there are cracks in the walls separating traditional fuels from alternative energy sources.

It'll take time — which we arguably don't have — to bridge the gaps. But I left the world's leading annual global energy conference earlier this month convinced we can make net zero a reality. 

In today's Tactical Tuesday, I discuss my impressions with Meghan Nutting, EVP of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova Energy, a leading U.S. residential solar and storage services provider; Abigail (Abby) Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade organization for America's solar energy industries; and Claire Broido Johnson, COO of Fermata Energy, a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services provider.

CERAWeek, organized by S&P Global, brings together the world's economic, geopolitical, energy, policy, climate, and corporate leaders. It's held annually in Houston and brings together the world's economic, geopolitical, energy, policy, climate, and corporate leaders to discuss the state of the energy sector. 

"Energy is a fundamental part of Texans' world, and it makes sense that CERAWeek is held there because so many headquarters are there," Meghan said. Sunnova is Houston-based, and she said, "it's fascinating to be a renewable or a clean energy company there."

In addition to oil and gas, the coal industry is well represented at CERAWeek. Those people are saying nothing like what we're saying, and they have their talking points about why coal is not going away. 

I've never been in a place with such a dichotomy of opinion and position. However, this year, there was more attention on renewable energy sources — from solar and wind to geothermal — and attendees discussed it in the broader energy transition context.

There was even a Clean Energy Commons, where attendees could meet with representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO) and discover new technologies and solutions in rooms hosted by Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), 8 Rivers, Ecopetrol and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

It was fantastic: a whole section focused on clean energy — something that would have been anathema even three years ago.

Abby noted, "Virtual power plants are a big part of today's conversation. We need gigawatts of dispatchable capacity. And there are a lot of utilities trying to figure out what that means for them and how they'll make money on that. There will have to be some regulatory policy changes, and there were many regulatory people at CERAWeek as well. 

"A lot of them are shaking in their boots saying, 'Oh, my gosh, more electric vehicles are coming online, and that means more electricity demand. How on earth are we going to meet that?"

My advice? The most crucial step is to forget the "us versus them" narrative and build bridges across the energy industry. Some of the speakers at CERAWeek agreed.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber is a top oil company executive — CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) — and will lead international climate talks later this year as COP28 President-Designate. 

COP28 refers to the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a global meeting where representatives from countries around the world come together to discuss and negotiate action on climate change.

In his conference speech, he noted the world has a problem, explaining that it is imperative to cut emissions by 7% each year and eliminate all releases of the greenhouse gas methane.

"He said we need a major course correction, and failure is not an option," Claire said, referencing that he's spent most of his life in the oil industry.

"Chevron, Shell and everyone else are trying to create solutions. And all of these big fortune 500 companies are realizing, 'wow, [climate change] isn't going to go away with marketing. 

"They've known that for years, but now, very clearly, they're making huge statements at places like CERAWeek. The more we, the gritty startups, can do to provide solutions for these big companies, the better it is for us all," Claire added.

Join us for an insightful discussion of the increased visibility of solar, wind and other clean energy sources at the CERAWeek and why there's a new emphasis on the energy transition. You'll get advice on why anyone in the renewable energy industry must attend the event and better understand today's energy transition conversation.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Meghan Nutting on LinkedIn

Follow Sunnova on LinkedIn and check out its website

Connect with Abigail Ross Hopper on LinkedIn

Follow the Solar Energy Industries Association on LinkedIn and check out its website
Connect with Claire Broido Johnson on LinkedIn

Follow Fermata Energy 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 581: Gov. Christine Todd Whitman calls for a Forward approach to Politics, and Energy

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

Christine Todd Whitman — the former New Jersey governor and federal Environmental Protection Agency administrator — thinks it's time to stop treating climate change as a "political football."

And maybe that goes hand-in-hand with rethinking the two-party American political system, she suggested.

During a wide-ranging interview earlier this month at CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston, Christie explained why she walked away from the Republican party to promote a new option and how she expects its evolution to benefit climate action and clean energy. 

Christie joined hundreds of senior energy executives at CERAWeek to discuss the energy transition and addressed the standing-room-only Cleantech Leaders Roundtable reception at the Petroleum Club Houston, highlighting how traditional and emerging energy companies can synergistically create a better future for all.

Ms. Whitman gained prominence as a Republican in 1994 as the 50th person — and the only woman — elected as a New Jersey governor.

When her eight years in office ended in 2001, she spent two years as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the administration of President George W. Bush. 

Since then, she authored a New York Times best-seller, "It's My Party Too," published in January 2005, and founded The Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm specializing in government relations regarding environmental and energy issues. 

Now she's realigned her political perspective and joined with ex-Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang as co-chair of a new political party called Forward — an option, she says, for the politically homeless.

She said Forward stands for the rule of law, respect for the Constitution, and changes in how we elect political candidates through options like open primaries and rank choice voting.

"Until we change the stranglehold the two major parties have on the process, we will never have different outcomes," she said.

"Obviously, we care about climate change and will likely identify some major issues to work on. But how these issues are worked on should be left up to the candidates and the states." She added that forward does not have a party platform in the traditional sense.

In today's podcast, I talk with Gov. Whitman about her new Forward Party's potential, its approach to environmental and climate issues, and the path she believes we should take to create a decarbonized grid and a clean energy future.

Christie notes that it's essential for everyone to have a voice while also recognizing there are vast differences across this country. She explains her process for gaining resolution around competing ideas and how a diversity of backgrounds and opinions are the best tools to forge solutions.

"You have to get people together who agree on a problem and are willing to sit down and solve it. As for the energy industry, it's not either/or. We can't suddenly turn off fossil fuels. It's not going to happen," she said.

She said it's premature to envision relying only on solar because there are still challenges around storage, production, and generation.

She supports nuclear energy in the form of small modular reactors (SMRs) — "the only form of energy that produces no greenhouse gases or other regulated pollutants while producing power." 

"We'll still have alternate forms of energy until we can ultimately transition to a cleaner form. Maybe fusion will finally make an appearance, and hydrogen is already making an appearance. There are a lot of exciting things going on now to reduce our energy usage," she said.

Governor Christine Todd Whitman has much to say and shares plenty of insights about the energy transition. 

"What you want to do is bring together the scientists with people from the energy industry who know how it works," she said.

Then it will be easier to share the manufacturing and entrepreneurial opportunities with the public to win broader support. What we need to do, she said, is to make clean energy a priority for the country and sell it in a way that explains, "Look, we're creating jobs."

Join me to learn more, and please reach out to me and share your thoughts after you’ve had a chance to listen!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Christine Todd Whitman on Twitter and her website

Follow Forward on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and check out its website

Follow The Whitman Strategy Group on LinkedIn and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“As for the energy industry, it’s not either/or. We can’t all of a sudden turn off fossil fuels. It’s not going to happen. You can’t do it tomorrow and rely solely on solar.”
— Christine Todd Whitman

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 580: Using RECs for Overcoming Systematic Barriers in the Solar Industry

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

Opening up new pathways on the frontier of equity in energy as a solar entrepreneur, Dana shares her passion and strategies for innovating solutions to the barriers the solar industry continues to face today. 

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Dana first became aware of the damage fossil fuels have on the environment when she put some rocks from a river in a fish tank and all the fish died from the acidity. Experiences like these in her childhood lead her to passionately be on the frontlines of deploying clean energy. 

Dana begins telling her solar industry journey in 2008 when she was working for others and experienced people being taken advantage of. This led her to create Solar Concierge, a business that addressed those issues by providing honest, ethical solar consulting services to homeowners and businesses. Through this experience of helping people, she gained inspiration to create Solar Stewards, a program that allows people to use solar as a learning tool and is designed to make renewable energy development for historically excluded communities easier to deploy.

In this episode Nico and Dana dive into best business practices for installing solar with positive social impacts, and how nonprofits aren’t the answer when looking to make a real actionable influence on marginalized communities. 

“You're always dependent on something that the power dynamics just don't really lend themselves to the type of equitable systems that we're building. If we look at a social impact as something separate from business, we're always going to have the same problems with the business. It's got to be together. It’s not a charitable opportunity.” Redden says.

Listen in and find out the details on how Dana has scaled her businesses in energy while simultaneously breaking down systematic barriers, and creating societal benefits and success for investors. 

Solar Stewards successfully used renewable energy credits (RECS) with a women-led solar development firm that partnered with a tax advisory firm to install a community solar project at a school in Baltimore. The school now gets a revenue stream from leasing its rooftop space and students gain education and field experience by participating in the project. 

Dana walks us through the ins and outs of how RECS provides value and generates revenue in communities that have been historically excluded. Including an equity piece in environmental, social governance, or corporate social responsibility programs, not only creates value in working with the community but is valuable to the investor. 

American Made Solar Prize winner, Redden breaks down her business strategies that have been developing opportunities for emerging markets and different business models in dual network platforms that create new equitable systems.

You can also find Dana’s work with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) board, where she helps SEIA employ equity. In the end, she shares some tools to help individuals understand the systemic barriers that people of color have faced, and advice for those looking to embrace diverse teams.

RESOURCES:

Find Dana Redden on LinkedIn.

Follow Solar Stewards on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“The distinguishing factor with a social rec is it is procured from or serving a historically excluded community. Helping to add additionality for that solar on-site. Typically aggregates of distributed generation or cited solar, rooftop solar, if you will. And also priced at a rate and a term that achieves that.”
— Dana Redden

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 579: Emily Cohen Has Delivered 15GW+ Of Solar & Wind; Chief Development Officer of Primergy

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

When Primergy Solar started operations in 2020, it opted to go big — really big — and develop one of the largest solar projects in the world.

A subsidiary of specialist investor Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, the fledgling company's cornerstone project is the $1.2 billion, 690 MWac/966 MWdc Gemini Solar and Battery Storage Project in Clark County, Nevada. 

With an additional 1,416 MWh of energy storage capacity, the mega-complex northeast of Las Vegas could generate enough electricity to power 260,000 homes in Nevada and potential energy markets in Southern California. 

As Chief Development Officer at Primergy, Emily Sanders Cohen understands the assignment. "When I think about the problem Primergy needs to solve, I think about the problem that the world needs to solve regarding deploying clean energy and decarbonizing the electric grids," she said.

And while Primergy is "just one of many important companies doing this really important work" to get to a fully decarbonized energy system to prevent the worst potential impacts of climate change, it has a clear go-big mantra.

"We think doing big projects, taking big bites out of the problem, is the way to move the ball forward quickly," she said.

Emily has more than 20-plus years of renewable project development, including more than 15 gigawatts of operational solar and wind projects. 

She started at Primergy in 2020, shortly after Quinbrook launched the company to capitalize on the increasingly important role of solar-plus-battery storage solutions in accelerating the energy transition. (You can learn more about Quinbrook in Episodes 517 and 439.)

As CDO, she's responsible for project development, power marketing and origination activities associated with the company's growing portfolio of North American utility-scale and distributed solar and storage assets. 

In today's podcast, Emily discusses Primergy's battery storage projects and how the company's work is helping us transition to a cleaner, decarbonized electric grid. 

"We don't just need kilowatt hours to supply electric demand. We need to ensure those kilowatt hours are available when consumers need them. Today's renewable technology enables us to get to a decarbonized transmission grid, but we need a lot more folks deploying it," she said.

Before Primergy, Emily oversaw renewable activities at ENGIE North America Inc. and led that team to the number one utility-scale Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) position. 

She started her career at Clipper Windpower and worked at Acciona and Element Power before opening an independent consulting business. She was an entrepreneur for nearly 10 years and simultaneously worked as an employee at Infinity Renewables and ENGIE.

She has a ton of significant experience and a passion for renewables, so join us for an insightful conversation. Emily thinks transparent communication is essential as the renewable industry grows and evolves.

"The industry needs to be doing a lot more as a coalition to create broader public messaging about the benefits of renewable energy and dispel some of these patently untrue myths and statements that seem to grab hold in this era," she said.

She said some places that welcomed renewable development "with open arms 10 years ago" no longer do so because of fear and misunderstanding about solar, wind and other renewables. 

"The situation is the same on the ground, and nothing has changed about the technology. The information and the misinformation are changing people's perception."

RESOURCES:

Connect with Emily Sanders Cohen on LinkedIn

Follow Primergy Solar on LinkedIn and Instagram and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“I think just like acknowledging what you don’t know, and acknowledging that as a manager is not your job to know, every single thing that every single person is doing on your team, it’s your job to make sure that everyone is kind of marching in the same direction.”
— Emily Sanders

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 578: Systems thinking, Human-centered design, Lessons from a Non-technical founder, with Piper Wilder, 60 Hertz 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 makes one thing clear when you ask her about her company. "We are not the traditional tech company. We're not a bunch of bros. It's all women," she said.

As the self-described non-technical co-founder and CEO of 60Hertz Energy, Piper straddles the complexities of helping microgrids and their managers use assets more effectively with a commitment to keeping people the priority.

In today's Tactical Tuesday, Piper explains how she embraced human-centered design (HCD), confident decision-making, a clear vision and task prioritization to find solutions to move her cleantech company forward.

HCD is a problem-solving technique that puts people at the center of the development process and prioritizes their wants, pain points, and preferences during every phase.

It played a crucial role at 60Hertz Energy, the Anchorage, Alaska-based company that offers computerized maintenance management software for microgrids. 

"We didn't know what we were doing initially. So we hired a human-centered designer who had done extensive work with us. We chartered a small airplane and flew above the Arctic Circle to visit a community called Venetie, Alaska, the location of one of our operators," she said.

The flight — so bumpy Piper's colleague got sick to her stomach — ended with a landing on a lake. Piper was still nursing, so she brought her infant and husband along on the flight and the subsequent three-hour interview with a powerplant operator.

"We asked a lot of questions and recorded the content. It was one of my richest memories in starting 60Hertz for two reasons," she said. 

"I had ideas about what I thought the product would or could do, but I learned I had a massive bias. 

"The more important piece was I wanted the software at that time to touch on deeply human aspects of what we have to bring to work sometimes. Which is to say, if there is a trauma in our experience, how do we get our jobs done? 

"How does it impact you if you live in and out of jail with a chronically intoxicated family member? I'm a disciple of the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) thesis and think if more of us understood how ACE affects our ability to perform our work, we would have far more effective public policy solutions. 

"I thought it was the right time to gently bring up some of these questions in this human-centered design interview. And it wasn't, and I was wrong."

You can learn more about Piper in Episode 541, including how she embraces "the more painful lessons or dumb things" she'd done building her career and why she finds it cathartic. Today we share a snippet of that extended conversation, focusing on how she's adopted confident decision-making, a clear vision and task prioritization to find solutions to move the renewables industry forward.

Join us as she touches on various deep and meaningful issues, like persuading investors to overcome their own unconscious bias against a woman-led tech company.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Piper Foster Wilder on LinkedIn and Twitter

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“I would certainly invest in a second-time founder the next way through because so much of what you’re paying for is learning curve.”
— Piper Foster 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 577: RenewCO2 Wants to Transform the Way Plastics Are Made - co-founder, Karin Calvinho

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

What does it mean to rewrite how we make plastics and chemicals, and how can a new approach help us recapture harmful greenhouse gas that would otherwise contribute to climate change? 

These seismic questions propelled Karin Calvinho to start a company to find answers — and she launched the business two years before she completed her Ph.D. at Rutgers University.

Now, more than four years after starting RenewCO₂, Karin is actively contributing to the effort to accelerate our clean energy future. The work she and her team are doing offers hope we can innovate our way out of the climate crisis. 

And once you grasp the technology, you'll have the pleasure of connecting the dots directly to renewable energy. It's very synergistic.

RenewCO₂ announced its spin-out from Rutgers University last September, securing exclusive licensing to scale its novel catalyst technology to convert carbon from hard-to-abate sectors into a feedstock for carbon-negative plastic monomers at a fraction of the cost of plastics derived from fossil sources. 

Ok — that's a lot for those of us who aren't chemists. But Karin was happy to break it down.

"Traditionally, the chemical companies will take fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal, heat them under pressure — sometimes with hydrogen, sometimes with oxygen — and from a series of processes that require pressure and temperature change, transform those products into a sort of soup. That soup needs to be heated up again to separate the things we need with the purity we need. And the bottom line is that we spend a lot of energy doing that, and both the carbon and heat inputs generate a lot of CO₂," she said.

After decades of such industrial processes, the planet has grown increasingly hot, and we need to scale back our CO₂ emissions. "But we still need all the products that come from those processes," she added.

"The challenge is to make them differently."

She said chemical production accounts for more than 15% of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions, "so it's significant, and it's an issue worth working on."

Karin and her co-founder, Anders B. Laursen, are both immigrants — she's from Brazil, and he's from Denmark. They met at Rutgers, which operates one of the leading catalyst laboratories in the US.

"I wanted to direct my learning and my Ph.D. towards making chemicals faster, better, cheaper, and more sustainable, and that's only possible with catalysis, so I decided to go into that area," she said.

Catalysis is a process that makes a chemical reaction happen faster. It works by using a substance called a catalyst that lowers the amount of energy needed for the reaction to occur. The catalyst is not used up in the reaction and can be repeatedly reused to speed up other reactions.

Karin and Anders have extensive experience in catalysis, electrolyzers, electrochemistry, chemicals and materials science. They were named Breakthrough Energy Network fellows in 2022 for their work around converting CO₂ to chemical products to address decarbonization in the plastics, energy, and chemicals sectors. 

Karin called the Breakthrough Energy Network "a great example of reducing friction in innovation and helping to educate founders on how to run a company instead of letting them figure it out alone."

RenewCO₂ has repeatedly demonstrated that its novel catalyst can mimic nature's route to reducing CO₂ more efficiently than natural systems by chemically transforming carbon dioxide into chemicals at "unprecedented selectivity and high energy efficiency" in a single step. The low-cost catalyst has also received broad peer-review attention and several awards, including features in The Royal Society of Chemistry's Energy & Environmental Science Journal and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

The startup has raised more than $10 million in venture investment and grant funding, including a seed round of over $2 million led by Energy Transition Ventures. RenewCO₂ expects to begin supplying its systems to customers by 2025.

For now, join me to learn more about Karin, the innovations RenewCO₂ is pioneering and, for all you solar warriors out there, how this ties directly to renewables.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Karin Calvinho on LinkedIn

Follow RenewCO₂ on LinkedIn, Twitter and check out its website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“Basically, plastic is a polymer. And a polymer is made out of monomers. So before it becomes the material that you see it is generally a smaller molecule, and it needs to be bound together before it becomes the solid that you see around.”
— Karin Calvinho

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.