Episode 702: From Rock Star to Serial Entrepreneur: Rue Phillips' Journey

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About the Episode:

He came to America with ten thousand dollars and a dream of making it big. A few years later, he was a legitimate rock star, rocking arenas with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osborne.  So why did this British rocker who achieved the height of music stardom give it all up and start an EV charging business? How did that turn into not 1 but 3 successful exits (his most recent for north of $80M to Enphase) and a fourth energy sector startup sure to find similar outcomes? Rue Phillips, a rockstar turned entrepreneur, has a story unlike any other we’ve told here on SunCast.

Rue has always had an interest in electronics, so perhaps it’s a natural that when he hung up his axe he would find a way to leverage the trade skill handed down through his family.  But in the 90’s, EV charging and solar energy were hobbyist businesses for most aspiring entrepreneurs. Yet, Rue found himself installing EV charging infrastructure for the Hollywood elite, and parlayed that experience into fixing what he saw breaking in the solar industry, literally. 

Now, Rue has turned his attention back to addressing the weak link in our Electric Vehicle (EV) dreams, charging. A considerable portion of EV charging infrastructure is unreliable or inoperable. Phillips, once a guitarist for rock legends like Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, has truly found his rhythm in energy entrepreneurship, founding several successful ventures including True South Renewables and 365 Pronto.

His newest venture, SkillFusion, is a digital learning platform that aims to train skilled professionals to address the critical need for reliable EV infrastructure. SkillFusion offers comprehensive training programs to prepare the workforce needed to maintain and repair EV chargers.  Phillips and his team aim to help EV charging companies achieve their long-promised 97% uptime guarantee.

Expect to learn:

  • Why reliable EV infrastructure will boost the industry's growth.

  • How SkillFusion's training programs are bridging the skills gap in the EV sector.

  • Rue Phillips’ journey from rockstar to renewable energy pioneer.

  • Rue’s strategies for transforming passion into a successful business venture.

Discover how SkillFusion is powering the EV revolution, one skilled technician at a time.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Rue Phillips:

Check out SkillFusion:

Check out EV Chat:

Video Referenced:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“There will be a vast amount of electric vehicles on the roads by 2030, 2035 and the opportunities for individuals and businesses are absolutely immense.”
— Rue Phillips
“If it is important to you, then go do it, even if they are so stacked up against you. If you do it with a passion and stay to the vision, it will come to fruition”
— Rue Phillips

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

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 701: Nextracker and JM Steel Are Reviving American Manufacturing

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

About the Episode:

US manufacturing is back! 

We were recently invited to a ceremony to celebrate the expansion of Nextracker’s dedicated steel torque tube manufacturing lines at JM Steel’s Leetsdale facility in Pittsburgh. This historic site, formerly Bethlehem Steel(the company that produced the landing craft for Normandy during World War II) now manufactures low-carbon steel tubes for solar trackers. Among the many dignitaries present at the event were 3 people on Nico’s yet-to-be-interviewed bucket list, so he got the chance to get some genuine reaction commentary and excellent b-roll of the factory line up-and-running (see our Youtube video for that!)

You’ll hear from these 3 pioneering solar warriors in today’s episode:

  • Yuri Horowitz, CEO of Sol Systems, 

  • David Crane, DOE Undersecretary for Infrastructure, and 

  • Kelly Speakes-Backman, Executive VP, Public Affairs at Invenergy  

Each has an interesting perspective to offer on how the solar industry is reshoring manufacturing.

Expect to learn:

  • How the U.S. government plans to fast-track permitting and workforce training

  • Exactly how this clean green steel factory is aiming to triple its output.

  • Ways companies like Invenergy plan to support domestic manufacturing

  • Updates on the DOE’s commitment to awarding billions in infrastructure funds.

It’s beautiful to see manufacturing returning to U.S. soil. Hit play to learn why now is the time for solar companies to reshore manufacturing… And the incentives they’ll earn for doing so. 

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Yuri Horwitz:

David Crane:

Connect with Kelly Speakes-Backman:

Check out Sol Systems:

Check out Invenergy:

Check out Nextracker:

Check out JM Steel:

Resources:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“By reinvesting in the communities and building the mechanical infrastructure to build the equipment we use. We’re tightening that fabric that we have with our communities, frankly, with our country.”
— Yuri Horwitz
“When you win the competition, that’s called selection, you’ve been selected. To be under contract that’s called awarded, my goal is to have as much of that 70-80 billion awarded under contract by the end of this year.”
— David Crane
“This is an amazing example of how people are taking advantage of the policies that have been put in place. As a developer, builder, and operator, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the domestic content so that we can take full advantage of the IRA, Inflation Reduction Act. I think that’s how we do it one link at a time.”
— Kelly Speakes-Backman

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

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 700! Behind the Success of Strata Clean Energy, Markus Wilhelm

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About the Episode:

It only took me 8 years and 699 episodes to finally land today’s guest! But the wait was WELL worth it. You’re in for a treat. And it was recorded in-person at Strata’s HQ, so you might enjoy some of the extra footage included in the YT video version of this episode. 

Markus Wilhelm founded Strata Clean Energy in 2009, but readily admits that he didn’t have the right initial vision for the company.  In fact, it wasn’t till the THIRD pivot that he says they really found their groove.  By any measure, Strata has now become an undeniable success-story in the world of Solar Energy Development and Construction. Over the course of 15 years, Strata has grown from a small residential installer to a globally-recognized utility-scale developer, owner, and operator of clean energy assets. 

Yet, few have been able to get access to the man behind the curtain and unpack what makes him tick and how Wilhelm's background as a former media executive uniquely prepared him to grow the company to this level. One of the most interesting things for me, having done now 700 of these, is that when Markus and his wife began this venture, it was supposed to be something to pass the time…in his RETIREMENT!  15 years later, he’s still going strong, and Strata is more relevant and impressive than ever.

Filmed at Strata's Durham NC HQ, this episode finds Wilhelm reflecting on the company's evolution—from pioneering the North Carolina solar market to building multi-billion dollar solar and battery storage projects. 

Expect to learn:

  • Strata’s three strategy changes that led them to become the company they are today. 

  • How building a vertically integrated business model can enhance your project quality.

  • How Markus’s background as a media executive prepared him to grow an energy company

  • How Strata plans to stay flexible amid inconsistent government policies and administration changes

This is a rare opportunity to hear how an industry titan built a solar company from the ground up.
Oh, and listen closely, because we’re giving away a free gift to our listeners for helping us reach 700 episodes!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Markus Wilhelm:

Check out Strata Clean Energy:

Resources:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“But what attracted me to solar was that the paradigm shifts could be in my favor. I wanted to be on the receiving end of a paradigm shift, not the one defending an old paradigm.”
— Markus Wilhelm
“I think energy prices will go up, if there’s more demand than supply and demand will not be just coming from the utilities alone, if the utilities are not able to keep up with the demand, there will be solutions created probably behind the meter.”
— Markus Wilhelm

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

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 Bonus: A love story, about Solar. w/Tor “Solar Fred” Valenza

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

About the Episode:

265,000!  That’s how many of you/us work in Solar Energy so far (and rapidly growing!)

Yet, with 4 million solar installations in the U.S alone, Solar Energy is rarely featured in mainstream media. WHY?

Probably True Solar Stories, a podcast created by Tor Valenza, also known as Solar Fred, aims to bridge this content gap with engaging solar-themed fictional tales.

Valenza, once a Hollywood writer for shows like "The Dead Zone," "Dharma and Greg," and "Stargate SG-1” brings a uniquely solar flair (get it? 😉).

This BONUS episode features Solar Fred sharing a whimsical story about a wedding he actually officiated at RE+ several years back. Loosely based on real events, the narrative follows Matt and Molly, two solar industry professionals who plan to wed at the convention with the help of their industry friends. When an unexpected blackout threatens their plans, the solar community bands together to pull off an unforgettable off-grid celebration on a Las Vegas rooftop.

Stay tuned for Solar Fred's collaboration with Resource Labs and definitely subscribe to Probably True Solar Stories — where the power of the sun meets the power of stories!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Tor Valenza:

Check out Probably True Solar Stories podcast:

Check out UnThink Solar, LLC:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“We’ve got 265,000 Solar workers, give or take and we’ve got four and a half million or 4 million solar installations in the US alone today. And yet, solar is pretty much invisible in film, TV and pop culture today.”
— Tor Valenza
“So what’s the probably true solar story? It’s quite simply a story that is fictional, that always involves solar.”
— Tor Valenza

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

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 699: Breaking the American Electricity Monopoly | CleanChoice’s Zoe Gamble

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

About the Episode:

Many of us working in clean energy forget that access to clean power is still a privilege, not a right. Millions of Americans still don’t have the freedom to choose clean energy. 

People all over the country want to fight climate change by choosing renewable energy sources for their homes and businesses. But, in monopolized electricity markets, consumers are forced  to purchase power from the only available utility (like Duke Energy here in my home state of NC).

CleanChoice Energy is fighting to address this limitation. As you’ll hear from Zoë Gamble Hanes, President of CleanChoice, their platform enables residential customers in deregulated Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to choose clean energy.  And their the first in the nation to offer 100% green energy direct-to-consumer, or farm-to-table as one press release recently put it.  That is to say, they own both the generation side (with solar and wind farms) and the retail side (consumer choice contracts in deregulated markets), thus “gen-tailer”. 

Expect to learn:

  • How CleanChoice Energy distributes power to offer residential customers in deregulated markets a cleaner choice. 

  • Why  True Green Capital Management acquired a majority stake in the company.

  • Zoë’s Pioneering role in kickstarting the NC solar [tax credit] market and her subsequent milestones with FLS Energy and Pine Gate Renewables.

  • How hiring diverse leadership is helping CleanChoice solve complex energy sector problems.

  • The importance of balancing professional drive and personal well-being as a leader.

Passionate about widespread clean energy access? This one’s for you. Hit play!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Zoë Gamble Hanes:

Check out CleanChoice Energy:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I think quality leaders are ones that can take the long view and aren’t trying to push for the next quarter’s results.”
— Zoë Gamble

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

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 698: How Powin Won One of the Biggest Battery Projects in the World — Anthony Carroll, former President of Powin

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

About the Episode:

Imagine that your phone rings. The person on the other end tells you: “you won the project. Now, we need you to fly to Australia and build the largest battery backup project in the entire world.” 

Powin, a Portland, Oregon-based battery energy storage developer, was up to the challenge. 

Nico got a chance to sit down with then-President of Powin, Anthony Carroll, to discuss where the energy storage market is headed and how large-scale integrators like Powin are moving the needle. 

Under Anthony’s leadership, Powin secured the nearly 2 GWh Waratah Super Battery project in Sydney, Australia. We asked him for his insights into the utility changes and emerging job opportunities that are driving the adoption of battery technology.

Expect to learn:

  • How Powin won the contract to build the world’s largest battery backup system. 

  • The advancements in safety and reliability shaping large-scale battery deployment.

  • Why the U.S. battery market is finally ready for Wall Street

You can learn a lot in 15 minutes… Click play to hear the full discussion!

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“If you believe in your dream, you believe in your technology, just build a project and then you validate the technology.”
— Anthony Carroll
“If you want to remain competitive and succeed long term, you need to constantly update not just your customer base, but your partner base.”
— Anthony Carroll

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

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 697: Chris Nelder is Mobilizing an Army for Clean Energy

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

About the Episode:

Chris Nelder challenges the status quo. 

And his efforts have, for nearly a decade, centered on mobilizing an army of supporters to help us transition away from fossil fuels. As creator & host of the podcast The Energy Transition Show, Nelder aims to "influence the influencers" through carefully researched interviews with clean energy experts. I know that many many listeners of SunCast are also listeners of Chris’s show (and many have even told me you’re paid subscribers!) which has long-inspired me to watch and appreciate what Chris does. It took me YEARS to finally convince him to give me the honor & privilege of hearing his backstory and sharing it w/you all.

Chris has written about energy and investing for decades, and I consider him one of the genuine thinkers and thought leaders of our modern energy community. Like me, he’s interviewed hundreds of guests on his show and has over 200 episodes; unlike me, each episode for Chris is a deep, deep dive into the technical details geared to help academics and laypersons alike have a more sensible and well-rounded understanding of a topic, not necessarily a person. 

I have heard said of him, “Chris helps me think better about the topic and gives perspectives I might not have considered.”

I like to think of him as a sort of clean energy Yoda…gently, reverently moving the collective ‘mind’ toward the outcome he envisions for our clean energy future, one conversation at a time.

Expect to learn:

  • Chris’s journey from internet publishing to solar PV system engineer to energy journalist

  • Creating a common vocabulary for key concepts like “renewables” and “energy transition”

  • What he considers the most underrated clean energy technologies

  • How Chris selects the most impactful topics and guests 

Why Chris built The Energy Transition Show as a subscription podcast

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Chris Nelder:

Check out the Energy Transition Show:

Energy Transition Show Episodes Referenced:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“By influencing the influencers by producing shows with high geek ratings, attacking questions that nobody knows the answer to, talking to the very best people that I can get to come on the show and talk with me. We’re trying to constantly push the envelope, ask the difficult questions, and make real headway on those questions.”
— Chris Nelder

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

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 696: Manufacturing Ground Mounts Here In The U.S. For The Same Cost as Abroad? FTC’s Solar’s Eric Frazier shares how

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

About the Episode:

The IRA gave solar manufacturers a huge incentive to manufacture on U.S. soil. 

Companies like FTC Solar are taking full advantage. Today, their Vice President of Sales, Eric Frazier, shares how they’re bringing higher-paying manufacturing jobs back to American communities.

He also shares his career lessons in mitigating project underperformance, navigating complex project sites, and empowering rural economic development.

Expect to learn:

  • How The Inflation Reduction Act(IRA) is transforming U.S. solar manufacturing 

  • FTC Solar’s plan to take its manufacturing from 50% domestic to 85% U.S.-based

  • The challenges we need to overcome to manufacture complex components in the U.S.

  • How Agrivoltaics can create multiple revenue streams for landowners 

  • The impact that re-shoring manufacturing is having on small American communities. 

Interested in the creative ways solar is reviving American communities? Press play!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Eric Frazier:

Check out FTC Solar, INC:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“There’s a huge drive to take all of this manufacturing capacity that existed primarily in Asia, and bring it into the United States.”
— Eric Frazier
“These structures are mainly made out of steel. What’s fantastic about steel structures is that we can manufacture them here in the United States at the exact same price point that they would normally have been manufactured from an Asian source.”
— Eric Frazier

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

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 695: ‘Digital Owner’s Manuals’ for installers with Illu co-founder Sierra Fan

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

About the Episode:

We’ve heard that we need to focus on workforce development.  Yet many times the workforce we’ve developed has to re-invent the wheel for lack of reliable systems to a) know what good looks like, and b) replicate it in the field with minimal oversight.  

What if any solar installer had reliable, step-by-step installation guidance straight from any manufacturer? Would this improve the process? 

Solar projects are custom-built each time, often with components from a range of OEMs. This means that installers have to spend costly hours figuring out how to connect different solar technology on a per-project basis (what we often refer to as commissioning).

Sierra Fan, cofounder of illu, offers a solution to this age-old efficiency hurdle. illu is a software platform that allows manufacturers (and installers) to create custom easy-to-follow processes to aid installers in completing fieldwork of all types. This system eliminates the need for manufacturers(OEMs) to develop their own bespoke software, and it guides installers through solar system installations and commissioning safely, every time.
It’s the simple yet effective idea that won illu the Solar Prize from the DOE and I believe it could be the perfect solution for OEMs trying to better support Installer operations.

Expect to learn: 

Why illu won the American Made Solar Prize

  • How Sierra went from financier at Morgan Stanley to successful entrepreneur

  • How illu got their start working on microgrids in Myanmar.

  • Strategies for promoting sustainable technology adoption in emerging markets.

  • The  partnerships and resources that are bringing  illu early success

This is a startup-story that you won’t want to miss!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Sierra Fan:

Check out illu:

Episode Mentioned:

527: Rnd 5 American Made Challenge Winners Announced! Live From RE+ Media Zone

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“We’re here to help standardize and make it super easy for those manufacturers to deploy standardized processes, and onboard an installer network to do that reliably every time.”
— Sierra Fan
“It’s a software version of the owner’s manual, that also actually verifies and collects information. So not just teaches, but also tracks how things are going.”
— Sierra Fan

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

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 694: LG Proves There’s More Than One Home Battery That’s Easy, Effective & Elegant

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

About the Episode:

What if solar installers could easily integrate energy storage with any inverter on the market? LG Energy Storage Systems (ESS) makes that possible, and in an important and elegant way. 

At the 2024 NABCEP Conference, Jim Brown, Senior National Sales Manager at LG ESS, highlighted LG's new "Home 8" AC-coupled energy storage system, a game-changing product for solar installers. In today’s episode, Jim and Nico discuss AC vs. DC-coupled systems, homeowner misconceptions, and a new technology that will help homeowners maximize their solar plus storage investment. 

Expect to learn::

  • Why some homeowners are still buying energy storage systems without solar

  • What installers can do to better educate and prepare homeowners for power outages 

  • How LG engineered the Home 8 to work with any inverter on the market

  • The importance of “frequency watt control”

  • How to get the power of Home 8 for your customers

Still reading? Come on, hit play! It’s what the cool kids are doing…

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Jim Brown:

Check out LG Electronics North America:

Expect To Learn:

  • Why some homeowners are still buying energy storage systems without solar

  • What installers can do to better educate and prepare homeowners for power outages 

  • How LG engineered the Home 8 to work with any inverter on the market

  • The importance of “frequency watt control”

  • How to get the power of Home 8 for your customers

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“One of the gaps that needs to be filled is to be sure homeowners understand when they add energy storage, they now become their own mini power plant. Solar generating juice during the day energy storage, obviously holding it, gives them a tremendous amount of energy independence and energy insurance to have that energy when generation capacity as well as dispatch capacity when the grids are down.”
— Jim Brown

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

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 693: Off-Grid Solar Products As A Form Of Wealth Delivery And Value Creation, with Amped Innovation’s Andi Kleissner & Kurt Kuhlmann

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

About the Episode:

We often take access to electricity, refrigeration, and running water for granted. In many parts of the world, these are luxuries. 

In today’s episode, Andi Kleissner and Kurt Kuhlmann, Co-founders and Co-CEOs of Amped Innovation, discuss how they’re changing lives by installing high-performance off-grid solar systems and appliances across Asia and Africa. Nico visited with the pair in their CA headquarters; Seated on two of their high-efficiency solar freezers, they share insights from making solar products that empower impoverished families in the “developing world” to earn stable incomes. 

Expect to learn:

  • Amped Innovation’s strategies to encourage productive use of power in emerging markets

  • How Amped Innovation designs products with affordability and repairability in mind to make clean energy accessible to the most remote communities. 

  • How Amped Innovation leverages microfinance and Pay-as-You-Go systems to overcome financial barriers for families.

  • About Amped’s full suite of products, from TVs and freezers to generators

Their entrepreneurial journey is inspiring; we hope you feel the same!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Kurt Kuhlmann:

Connect with Andi Kleissner:

Check out Amped Innovation:

Expect To Learn:

  • Amped Innovation’s strategies to encourage productive use of power in emerging markets

  • How Amped Innovation designs products with affordability and repairability in mind to make clean energy accessible to the most remote communities.

  • The microfinance and Pay-as-You-Go systems Amped Innovation uses to overcome financial barriers for families, making solar solutions more attainable.

  • About Amped’s full suite of products, from TVs and freezers to generators

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I think one of the most unique features of humans, besides opposable thumbs, is kind of an infinite ability to take things for granted.”
— Kurt Kuhlmann
“I think it’s a mistake to sell something on price only and that applies to every single market, you have to have a product that has value. Everything we do is the lowest price it could possibly be, the performance is the thing that usually hooks people on the sale.”
— Andi Kleissner

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

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 692: Hydrogen's Role in New York's Green Future with Haiyan Sun of NYSERDA

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

About the Episode:

New York set an ambitious goal for a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040.
What will it take to get there? 

Hydrogen may be the key to New York's climate strategy, especially for difficult-to-electrify sectors

Haiyan Sun is the program manager and team leader for hydrogen and clean fuels at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).  With over a decade of experience in the power sector, she has valuable insights to offer onthe hydrogen’s potential to fuel NY’s clean energy goals.

Expect to learn:

  • How hydrogen can decarbonize hard-to-electrify industries like the transportation, power gen, and high temperature industrial sectors (ie, Steel).

  • The importance of including disadvantaged communities in the energy transition.

  • New York's strategy for making hydrogen as successful as solar and battery storage. 

Curious if hydrogen lives up to the hype? Unpack the hydrogen revolution with us!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Haiyan Sun:

Check out NYSERDA:

Expect To Learn:

  • How hydrogen can decarbonize hard-to-electrify industries like the transportation, power gen, and high temperature industrial sectors (ie, Steel).

  • The importance of including disadvantaged communities in the energy transition.

  • New York's strategy for making hydrogen as successful as solar and battery storage.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Hydrogen could play a critical role to help New York achieve climate goals in terms of decarbonizing some of the hard to electrify sectors, provide reliability for our grid, and also provide resilient solutions.”
— Haiyan Sun

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

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 691: Adding Storage to Solar is Harder Than We Thought! Leigh Zanone managed 8Minute/Avantus’s Portfolio & Shares His Insights

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

About the Episode:

Hybrid solar and storage projects are changing the game in renewable energy, but are they the solar industry messiah we’ve been promised?

Turns out it’s not that simple. 

Building hybrid power (solar+storage) projects requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges they present, from how to forecast revenue to  building integrated software solutions that can handle massive complexity. 

Leigh Zanone, an 18-year solar industry veteran, shares his insights and experience from working in leadership roles at meteocontrol and Avantus (formerly 8Minute Energy) plus a long tenure in the monitoring & asset management side of the business long before that was even the terminology. Leigh’s expertise spans the technical, legal, and financial aspects of solar project management, and his perspective on what it takes to finance and build these projects will challenge your conventional wisdom. 

Expect to Learn:

  • Why deploying hybrid projects is far more complex than solar-only projects.

  • Why comprehensive software solutions for forecasting and optimization are currently lacking (and how we can solve this issue).

  • How we can better educate investors to help them understand hybrid project risks.

  • The hidden complexities that actually require longer diligence periods for hybrid projects.

  • What factors make solar plus storage almost three times more volatile than traditional solar projects

Press play, get smarter.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Leigh Zanone:

Check out Zanonergy:

Expect To Learn:

  • Why deploying hybrid projects is far more complex than solar-only projects.

  • Why comprehensive software solutions for forecasting and optimization are currently lacking (and how we can solve this issue).

  • How we can better educate investors to help them understand hybrid project risks.

  • The hidden complexities that actually require longer diligence periods for hybrid projects.

  • What factors make solar plus storage almost three times more volatile than traditional solar projects

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“There’s a huge upside, but there’s more complication, there’s more risk. And so that’s just different, from Wall Street’s perspective of renewable power plants just being a financial instrument. It’s not a bond with a guaranteed, basic level of return, it’s much more of a stock, there’s a higher upside, there’s higher revenue, but it’s more risky.”
— Leigh Zanone

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

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 690: Can We Squeeze More Power Through The Existing Wires? AES says Yes; Alexina Jackson, VP of Strategic Development

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

About the Episode:

How do we solve yesterday’s interconnection problems with today’s technology? 

Alexina Jackson, Vice President of Strategic Development at The AES Corporation, peels back the curtain to show us how AES is using cutting-edge technology to integrate renewable energy into the grid. Because we need to add new energy fast, and our current grid isn’t up to the challenge, AES is inventing solutions as they go. 

Expect to learn:

  • How AES’s new technology can push more power through existing wiring when the conditions are right

  • Why more battery storage will add flexibility to the energy grid.

  • AES’s method for turning distributed resources (separate windmills, solar farms, etc.) into The benefits of dynamic line rating and “virtual power plants” in boosting system efficiency.

AES is the leading developer for commercial and industrial customers in the US. They’re on the front lines, inventing technologies to augment the efficiency of existing utility assets. 

Ready for the most useful fifteen minutes of your week? Hit play!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Alexina Jackson:

Check out The AES Corporation:

Expect To Learn:

  • How AES’s new technology can push more power through existing wiring )when the conditions are right)

  • Why more battery storage will add flexibility to the grid.

  • AES’s method for turning distributed resources (separate windmills, solar farms, etc.) into “virtual power plants.”

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“A virtual power plant is a great way of creating a portfolio of assets that can be called to provide services to the customer, but also to the grid, help find that balance and enable us to build the right sized grid for our electrical future.”
— Alexina Jackson

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

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 689: O&M: How to Keep Existing Solar Projects Producing for Decades to Come with Renewable Energy Veteran & Founder, Josh Fraughton (FSLR, NOVA, R7/RNWBL)

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

About the Episode:

As our Secretary of Energy says, deploy deploy. It’s incredible to see how hard we’re pushing to modernize the grid, but at some point, we have to maintain and ensure solar projects are delivering on every kilowatt hour that we promised. Today’s guest has been delivering on those promises for nearly two decades. 

Josh Fraughton, a renewable energy veteran, has worked for some of the titans of the industry and his twenty years of solar experience has been on the bleeding edge of solar O&M. A few years ago, Josh noticed that it was nearly impossible for solar professionals to be proactive with O&M, because the supply chain was so backwards. Maintenance professionals would spend their whole careers putting out fires and waiting around for parts they needed from backed-up orders. So Josh founded R7 Supply, a venture so immediately successful that he scaled and exited within 18 months. 

Today, Josh shares that story. 

Expect to learn:

  • Josh’s story of going from boots-on-the-roof as an installer to orchestrating O&M and supply chain operations for industry giants. 

  • A business idea to address a clear need in the solar industry that Nico and Josh both believe will be huge!

  • Josh’s plan is to tackle the issue of obsolescence in solar components and ensure that systems remain efficient and viable over time.

  • How well-intentioned entrepreneurs are creating their own inflation in the solar industry. 

Don't miss out – we uncover more about the O&M side of solar and Josh’s extensive experience in the field guiding us to a successful clean energy transition. And one helluva great entrepreneur journey

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Josh Fraughton:

Expect To Learn:

  • Josh’s story of going from boots-on-the-roof as an installer to orchestrating O&M and supply chain operations for industry giants. 

  • A business idea to address a need in the solar industry that Nico and Josh believe would BLOW UP

  • Josh’s plan is to tackle the issue of obsolescence in solar components and ensure that systems remain efficient and viable over time.

  • How well-intentioned entrepreneurs are creating their own inflation in the solar industry.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“My supply chain experience, to a large extent, had always been trying to train assist, persuade vendors, to do things I needed them to do that were outside of the box, and or blending parts I knew I could get from them, with my technical knowhow, or the technical resources I had.”
— Josh Fraughton

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

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 688: Debunking Myths About Solar's Resilience in Extreme Weather; Lightsource BP’s Kevin Christy and Dave Martin

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

About the Episode:

As we experience more extreme weather events, can solar withstand nature's furies and lead us to grid stability? Is Solar a reliable asset to the grid in these extreme scenarios, or a liability? What does the data suggest?

In today's episode, Kevin Christy and Dave Martin of Lightsource BP share what they’ve learned from years of fortifying solar assets against extreme weather and enhancing grid reliability with solar power. 

You'll learn precisely how robust solar is during severe weather conditions and much more. Kevin and Dave weigh in on how digitalization is changing solar manufacturing and how to address common solar myths and misconceptions. If you’re interested in solar’s reliability in the renewable energy transition, this one’s for you!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Kevin Christy: 

Connect with Dave Martin:

Check out Lightsource bp:

Expect To Learn:

  • Lightsource BP's strategies for managing solar assets during extreme weather events like Winter Storm Uri

  • Exactly how reliable solar is in extreme weather

  • How automation and digitalization will change solar plant operations and maintenance

  • The role of renewable energy, particularly solar, in creating a more stable energy grid

  • How Kevin Christy addresses common misconceptions about renewable energy's grid impact

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“So solar has proven itself in extreme weather circumstances. In cold snaps, very hot weather, and every point in between, all around the globe. Solar works. It’s a solid state, very reliable technology.”
— Kevin Christy
“We have, actually, a director of digital product and applied AI, who is running a bunch of internal AI related work streams. So that could be around things like really fine-tuning energy forecasting. I mean, if you think about just to backup, if you think about AI, generally, the whole concept is you feed a bunch of data to it. And it tells you things that you couldn’t have seen with the naked eye if you were just scrolling through these large-scale datasets.”
— Dave Martin

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 687: Are Diversity and Efficiency being downplayed in the Clean Energy Revolution? Paula Glover of The Alliance to Save Energy gives advice from the front lines

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

About the Episode:

Our guest today points out that energy efficiency is actually employing MILLIONS MORE than Renewable Energy as a sector! 

Paula Glover, President of the Alliance to Save Energy, is fighting on the front lines to reduce energy waste. She uses her platform to champion energy efficiency as a cost-saving measure and a fundamental principle for achieving energy justice and economic growth. Paula believes that the "first fuel" is non-consumption. 

She’s a returning guest to the show (Ep 333) but it’s our first time digging into her career evolution and role in championing Energy Efficiency.

Expect to learn: 

  • How many people the energy efficiency sector employs (hint: it's way more than you think)

  • Why energy efficiency is foundational to achieving broader economic and environmental goals

  • Paula and the Alliance to Save Energy's strategies to educate the younger generation about energy efficiency 

  • An unlikely ally to black industry leadership that led to a best-selling book 

  • Why Paula thinks diversity, justice, equity and inclusion have been sidelined as a conversation.

Why are you still reading…click play and find out for yourself.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Paula Glover:

Check out Alliance to Save Energy:

Expect To Learn:

  • How many people the energy efficiency sector employs (hint: it's way more than you think)

  • Why energy efficiency is foundational to achieving broader economic and environmental goals

  • Paula and the Alliance to Save Energy's strategies to educate the younger generation about energy efficiency 

  • An unlikely ally to black industry leadership that led to a best-selling book 

  • Why Paula thinks diversity, justice, equity and inclusion have been sidelined as a conversation.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Efficiency also has multiple ways to benefit our economy. If we’re talking about affordability and energy burden, reducing how much people use is a way to reduce that burden.”
— Paula Glover

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 686: Fixing Solar’s Waste Problem | Kelly Weger, Qcells’ Dir. of Sustainability

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

About the Episode:

By 2050, 80 million metric tons of PV modules will reach the end of their life globally. So what choices can we make now to ensure that 100% of their materials can be re-used? 

Kelly Weger, Director of Sustainability for North America at Qcells, shares insights into Qcells' action plan  to create a circular economy within the solar industry. She details their partnership with SolarCycle and how they’re fostering end-to-end circularity in their supply chain. She also touches on why Qcells pursued an EPEAT certification to validate their sustainability claims, and how much they’ve invested in a Georgia manufacturing facility to keep production close to home. If you’re a solar warrior passionate about circularity in our industry, this one’s for you!

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Kelly Weger:

Check out Qcells:

Expect To Learn:

  • How Qcells is reducing embodied carbon throughout their supply chain, from material sourcing to end-of-life recycling.

  • The strategy behind Qcells and SolarCycle’s circular economy recycling superhero team-up.

  • What it will take to create a true circular economy in solar, a vision Qcells is actively working towards.

  • How certification standards like EPEAT validate a company’s sustainability claims.

  • How much Qcells has invested in their wafer manufacturing facility in Georgia (it’s a massive number).

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“The end goal isn’t just landfill diversion. We want these really valuable resources to go back into new products.”
— Kelly Weger

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 685: How this Zillow-like Software Simplifies the Land Permitting Process for Large-Scale Solar; Robin Laine, CEO of Transect

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

About the Episode:

Fed up with the permitting process? So was Robin Laine. This environmental consultant-turned-entrepreneur founded Transect to streamline traditional permitting for large-scale solar project. Their software significantly shortens site assessment timelines using a blend of public and proprietary datasets.

This episode delves into Transect’s origin story, highlighting the challenges of understanding customer needs, the importance of continuous product iteration, and the  importance of maintaining culture fit while scaling a company.Transect's journey, from early customer validation to securing significant clients and Series A funding, offers a roadmap that all aspiring green entrepreneurs can follow.  Curious how a climate tech company is built from the ground up? 

So were we, and Robin delivered.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Robin Laine:

Check out Transect:

Expect To Learn:

  • How Robin and her co-founder collected and leveraged freely available land data to create a desperately needed tool for developers

  • How Transect developed their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) 

  • Why Transect's early success with customers like Recurrent Energy set them apart from competitors and positioned them as a leader in their field

  • What it took for Transect to acquire significant clients and secure Series A funding 

  • Transect’s plan to continuously innovate and iterate products to maintain market relevance and accelerate the energy transition

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I thought the role of a startup CEO was supposed to be one way, but I think I’ve figured it out. It’s really about removing obstacles; meaning, if there are roadblocks, you need to know how to clear them, while also ensuring we have enough funds to keep the company running. Additionally, it involves acting as a guide rail and providing some form of North Star guidance, but really, it’s about placing a lot of trust in my team to build the business.”
— Robin Laine

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 684: Why Can't We Immediately Decommission Natural Gas? National Grid’s Caroline Hon explains

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

About the Episode:

In an ideal world, we’d decommission our natural gas infrastructure tomorrow and heat every home in America with clean electricity. So what’s stopping us?

In today’s conversation, Caroline Hon of National Grid breaks down the complexities of shifting from gas infrastructure to a fully electrified grid. She shares her experience educating homeowners on clean energy, the benefits of air-source heat pumps and geothermal systems, and the economic aspects of decarbonization. Caroline discusses addressing the challenges in older Northeastern homes, the importance of utility collaboration, and the careful considerations before gas decommissioning. Interested in the nuanced path towards a sustainable energy future? Press play, and learn how National Grid supports its customers through their transitions.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Caroline 

LinkedIn | Email 

Follow National Grid and check out their website

LinkedIn | X | FaceBook | Instagram | YouTube | Website

Expect To Learn:

  • The importance of education in facilitating the transition to cleaner energy sources.

  • The role of alternative heating options like air source heat pumps and geothermal systems in decarbonization efforts.

  • The economic considerations that influence customers’ energy use decisions. 

  • The challenges and opportunities presented by older houses in the Northeast.

  • The significance of data sharing and collaboration across utilities in strategizing for decarbonization.

  • Why a cautious approach to decommissioning gas systems is necessary to ensure a smooth transition to electricity without compromising reliability.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I think the transition, especially when we think about cumulative emissions, and that piece of it is going to require everything and where we can make progress, you make it and I think that that’s something that we just have to consider is like, don’t decommission gas too soon. If you aren’t ready yet.”
— Caroline Hon

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.