SunCast
725 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 161 ratingsNico Johnson takes you into conversations with those at the forefront of Renewable Energy.
SunCast gives an inside look into what is happening in renewable energy. From conversations with the biggest Solar Panel manufacturers in the world to the small startups creating the future of renewable energy, such as carbon capture and battery technology breakthroughs.
SunCast is dedicated to providing the knowledge, research, tools and expert guidance you need to understand, grow and be ahead of the curve in the fastest-growing markets in the world.
Featuring over 600 conversations, Nico has interviewed people from Tesla, SolarCity, Trina Solar, Meyer Burger, Conergy, SunEdison, Energy Vault and even the US Government... to name a few. Covering topics such as Solar Power, Wind Energy, Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Carbon Capture, Finance, Hydrogen, and more.
You can watch SunCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SunCastMedia
...or view the full archive of SunCast episodes here: https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes
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Episodes
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
March 28, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 54.2 MBOur 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. Paula’s a returning guest to the show (Ep 333) b...
686: Fixing Solar’s Waste Problem | Kelly Weger, Qcells’ Dir. of Sustainability
March 26, 2024 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBBy 2050, around 80 million metric tons of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules will reach the end of their life globally (according to NREL). 10 million metric tons will be in the United States. But this is not an issue for a far-off future. As we transition to renewable energy, we create a massive volume of waste just from manufacturing and transporting batteries and solar panels. So, what can we do to improve this process now, rather than in 25 years? Kelly Weger, the Director of Sustainabil...
685: How this Zillow-like Software Simplifies the Land Permitting Process for Large-Scale Solar; Robin Laine, CEO of Transect
March 21, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 49 MBPermitting. The word is enough to send shivers down the spines of most PV professionals. Obtaining permits for solar projects, no matter the scale, is a major roadblock in the transition to renewable energy, and often causes project delays that last weeks or even months. Robin Laine, CEO & Co-founder of Transect,is working to simplify the land permitting process for solar developers. Robin, who has a background in environmental consulting, founded Transect to address the inefficiencies pl...
684: Why Can't We Immediately Decommission Natural Gas? National Grid’s Caroline Hon explains
March 19, 2024 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBIs switching from natural gas to electricity as straightforward as flipping a switch, or are we overlooking hidden complexities? Many homeowners want to switch from gas to electricity but underestimate the challenges of making the transition. Some stop short when they learn they’ll need to completely retrofit their homes to accommodate new, clean energy sources. Caroline Hon, Head of Gas Network Strategy and Planning for New England Gas at National Grid, one of the largest utilities in t...
683: Will Maryland Fail To Meet Their RPS Targets? What Other States Can Learn, with Stephanie Johnson, President of Maryland Renewable Energy Alliance
March 14, 2024 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MBWondering how your state can set and exceed lofty renewable energy targets? Today’s episode is for you. In 2019, Maryland doubled their renewable energy target: aiming for 50% renewable energy by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2045. So, how are they doing? Stephanie Johnson, President and Founder of the Maryland Renewable Energy Alliance (MD-REA), shares her perspective from the front lines. She discusses how she transitioned from the world of corporate compliance, recruited to a career...
{Bonus} How a NABCEP Certification Gives System Designers an Edge: Jada Alcindor (NABCEP) and John Novak (Scanifly)
March 13, 2024 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.23 MBWhat's the value of a NABCEP certification? Since most solar companies don't require one, is it worth the time and money? At RE+ Northeast a few weeks back, Jada Alcindor from NABCEP asked around to answer one of the industry’s key questions: “How much does a NABCEP certification help installers when it comes to designing systems accurately?” When she sat down with John Novak, the founder and CPO of Scanifly, she found a clear answer. And you get to ‘eavesdrop’ on this conversation betwee...
682: When Will These Domestic Battery Factories Actually Be Online? Joan White of SEIA
March 12, 2024 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBCan we build an 80% clean energy future without reliable, wide-scale energy storage? It's unlikely. So, what needs to happen? Joan White, Director of Storage and Interconnection Policy at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has been fighting to answer that question for years. Now that The Inflation Reduction Act has made it cheaper and easier to produce energy storage technologies domestically, we're seeing heavy investor interest in energy storage. But is it a sustainable mar...
681: Nextracker’s secret marketing strategy is hard to copy, Kristan Kirsh
March 08, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBHow did Nextracker become the leading solar tracker manufacturer in the world in 10 years, and what was the secret sauce of one of the most successful IPO’s of 2023? We finally have Nextracker’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Kristan Kirsh, on the show sharing her journey of helping elevate Nextracker from 400 Megawatts to 90 Gigawatts in shipped solar trackers. With Kirsh running marketing since 2015, Nextracker has not only navigated its landmark public offering but has also cement...
680: Best practices for Community engagement from Solstice Co-founder, Sandhya Murali
March 05, 2024 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11 MBCommunity solar has proven a viable pathway to more affordable and equitable clean energy, but how do developers overcome one of the main hurdles to the project’s success - community engagement? Founded with a commitment to making solar energy accessible to all, Solstice has become a key player in community solar, especially in the US Northeast, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and education in expanding renewable energy access. In this episode, Sandhya Murali, Co-founde...
679: Business Lessons from 23 Years in Solar | Bob & Maria Kingery of Southern Energy Management
February 29, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 73.4 MBCan a company thrive for over two decades in the clean energy sector by steadfastly adhering to its core values, all while refusing outside investment and navigating the highs and lows of the renewable energy market? Bob and Maria Kingery, co-founders of Southern Energy Management (SEM) in North Carolina, have demonstrated that it's not only possible but can also set a new standard for success in the industry. Founded in 2001 with a mission to improve the way people make and use energy, SEM...
678: How We Build A Diverse & Equitable Workforce, with Barry Reaves of NECEC
February 27, 2024 09:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBBarry Reaves, serving as the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice (DEI/J), and Workforce Development at the North East Clean Energy Council (NECEC), is tackling head-on the clean energy sector's need for a more diverse workforce. This challenge expands beyond ethnic boundaries, touching on gender, sexuality, and income status, highlighting the pressing need for a more inclusive approach in the industry's workforce development. The North East Clean Energy Council (NECEC)...
677: The “Carfax” of Solar, How Software is (finally) Transforming Fieldwork Management, With James Nagel & David Penalva of HelioVolta
February 22, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 65 MBCan the solar industry utilize advanced data analytics and software to address the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources into the grid, maintaining project quality, and ensuring long-term asset value? Where are there still gaps to address? As the industry matures, project developers, asset owners and grid operators are increasingly focusing on leveraging data streams from the field to enhance project performance as well as grid reliability. However, one element of data gatherin...
676: Understanding Energy Demand in the Face of Extreme Weather with Sean Kelly of Amperon
February 20, 2024 09:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBAs more frequent extreme weather events become the new normal, grid operators and project developers alike seek improved data sources and market signals to help balance their daily load forecasts. The surge in electricity demand during such crises not only escalates power costs but also exposes the vulnerabilities of our energy grid, underscoring the urgency for innovative forecasting strategies. How do we harness data technology to better prepare for and respond to these environmental chal...
675: Can America Be THE Battery Manufacturing Leader? | John Zahurancik of Fluence Energy
February 15, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBThe United States stands at a pivotal juncture in its clean energy transition, with domestic energy storage manufacturing emerging as the cornerstone of its sustainable future. John Zahurancik, President Americas at Fluence, joins Nico Johnson to discuss the future of domestic battery manufacturing in the United States at Intersolar NA. Also, this episode features an exclusive recording of Zahurancik’s keynote address which further discusses the need for the U.S. to ramp up its production ...
674: Where to get the best electricity grid carbon data in seconds, with Wenbo Shi of Singularity Energy
February 13, 2024 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBOccasionally on the anniversary of an episode that really impacted us, we like to run a vignette of something we learned from such an episode to give new listeners (or those of you who just missed it originally) insight from the excellent content in our back catalog, much of which we believe is worth revisiting. As GHG emissions continue to rise, the need to understand and effectively manage carbon emissions on the grid is crucial. Yet, a significant obstacle remains: most individuals and ...
673: The Grid We Need to Decarbonize America: A Playbook by Jesse Jenkins, Princeton University
February 08, 2024 09:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBAmid America's energy shift, initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure bills are making clean energy more accessible and affordable, driving a 42% investment increase to $225 billion in a year. Yet, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, an acceleration is essential. Jesse Jenkins of Princeton University, speaking at Intersolar NA, provides not just an analysis of these challenges but a practical roadmap for embracing clean electricity nationwide. He highlig...
672: Giving Old Solar Panels a Second Life with Cesar Barbosa of Nulife Power Services
February 06, 2024 09:00 - 17 minutes - 11.7 MBWhat happens to solar panels when they reach the end of their financed life, but not necessarily their useful life? With the solar industry's growth, the issue of decommissioned panels has become a burgeoning service (and business) opportunity. These “old” panels, though no longer new, are often still under warranty, and definitely still retain a significant portion of their functional capacity and rated power. As we’ll see in today’s conversation, harnessing their remaining potential, or '...
671: We Can Secure Drinking Water From The Air! Renewable Energy Pioneer Takes on Renewable Water, with Alex von Welczeck of SkyH2O
February 01, 2024 09:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBWe often talk here about renewable energy. But how often have you thought about renewable water? Is it even a thing? And, what if we could manufacture clean water, from the air? Did you know, the EPA reports that 45% of U.S. tap water is toxic!?! And, while an estimated 3 billion people globally currently face water stress, that number is projected to increase to 5.2 billion by 2050! This situation underscores the interconnectedness of the climate and water crises, emphasizing the vit...
670: From Gigawatts to Terawatts: The Technologies & Software Driving Unprecedented Scale in Solar with Matt Campbell CEO of Terabase
January 30, 2024 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.2 MBWith the need to increase solar deployment and prepare for the terawatt era, Terabase Energy Inc. has positioned itself as a leader in transforming utility-scale solar power. This conversation, recorded live at Intersolar North America 2024, dives deep into the innovative strategies and technologies that Terabase is deploying to amplify solar energy production and to meet the demands of the terawatt-level market. With a strategic focus on reducing solar costs to as low as 1 cent per kilowat...
669: Navigating the New Normal in Renewable Finance: How Changes in Equity Markets Are Impacting Project Development with Robert Sternthal
January 25, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBHow has the IRA affected financing renewables, in particular solar projects? Renewable energy projects are contending with the harsh realities of rising capital costs and shrinking profit margins. Understanding the financial underpinnings of renewable energy ventures is increasingly crucial, particularly for mid-sized and smaller project developers who often face significant challenges in securing sufficient capital to get their solar projects into the pipeline. These obstacles not only thr...
668: How to leverage Storytelling as a business driver, with Andrew Reagan of Clean Energy for America
January 23, 2024 09:00 - 42 minutes - 28.8 MBStorytelling is not just entertainment. It's a fundamental part of being human. A story’s most important function is to remind us we are not alone in the world. And as we champion the clean energy transition, our stories help remind hundreds of thousands that there is a career opportunity they can choose that also can leave a legacy. Yet, the gap between the industry’s advancements and public perception of technology such as solar continues to exist despite our industry being one of the la...
667: The Intrapreneur journey and engineering a company pivot, with Sohan Das of EVS Inc.
January 18, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBThe demand for skilled engineering labor in renewables is skyrocketing. As the world's energy grids transition towards terawatts of renewable energy, there is an incredible need for owners and developers to outsource key components of electrical, civil, structural, geotechnical, and land survey engineering. This gap in specialized skills presents a unique challenge for developers and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors who often lack these capabilities in-house or f...
666: Bold Predictions, a Best-of 2023 recap
January 11, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MBToday’s episode features bold predictions from a compilation of 2023’s best episodes. I asked leaders from diverse fields within the renewable energy sector to answer, looking as if from the future: What did we get right to meet our decarbonization and clean energy goals now that it’s 2050? This compilation features the insights of Laura Pagliarulo(Solareit), Ardes Johnson(Meyer Burger), Christie Obiaya(Heliogen), Robert Piconi(Energy Vault), Aaron Halimi(Renewable Properties), Katherine H...
665: Intersolar N. America ‘24 - Know Before You Go
January 09, 2024 09:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBIt’s that time of year again - everybody’s favorite warm-winter-weather solar tradeshow - Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America - is just a few days away. I’ll be trading the winter chill for sunny San Diego along with 10,000 of my fellow #SolarWarriors. Today's episode is geared to get you ready to go (and pumped) for Intersolar, January 17-19 at the San Diego Convention Center. As with other major shows, I like to do a Know Before You Go (KBYG) episode to help you ge...
664: Inside Trina Solar's Strategy for Global Expansion, with President Steven Zhu
January 04, 2024 09:00 - 2 hours - 97.6 MBIn 2003 the cost of solar panels was a staggering $10 per watt, one of the largest impediments to widespread adoption. However, today Photovoltaic (PV) modules have been reported to be as low as 10 cents per Watt in some SE Asian markets! It’s not just a reflection of technological advancement, but also the result of relentless pursuit, strategic innovation, and the efforts of visionaries and executives working to scale the infrastructure required to bring the clean energy transition into ...
663: Launch of Valence & the Influencer List
January 02, 2024 09:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBHappy New Year!!! If you’ve been following along on Linkedin, then you’re now doubt aware that last week I launched “Valence” - a LinkedIn newsletter specifically geared toward connecting the dots between the stories we tell and the people who tell them in this pivotal clean energy transition. As a natural connector, I find resonance in the idea of valence as it pertains to the combining power of elements, which I explain a whole lot further in today’s special episode. Just as atoms unite...
662: Turning Communities Into Renewable Properties, with Aaron Halimi
December 28, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 47.9 MBCommunity solar democratizes access to clean energy for those unable to install rooftop solar. National Renewable Energy Laboratory analysis shows nearly 50% of households and businesses face limitations for rooftop solar systems. This model expands renewable energy on the grid, offering widespread access to clean energy benefits and giving distributed renewable energy more equitable access. Aaron Halimi is the President of Renewable Properties and brings over a decade of experience in sol...
661: What is Boxing Day? Plus 12 Days of Christmas 2024 Edition
December 26, 2023 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.25 MBI hope you've all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. As we welcome December 26, we find ourselves in the middle of “Boxing Day” — a tradition steeped in history and goodwill. It occurred to me recently that I actually don’t know why the heck the lesser-known (at least here in the US) holiday of Boxing Day exists. If you’ve ever asked yourself the same question, well today’s mini-sode will make you smarter! Stemming from Victorian times, this holiday on the day after Christmas...
Bonus: Invitation - Join me in Hawaii?! (Mastermind)
December 23, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBImagine starting your new year in the tropical paradise of Honolulu, Hawaii. Not just for a vacation, but to join industry leaders Nico Johnson and Joshua Porter at a 4-day mastermind event designed to supercharge your leadership skills and network. This isn't just about escaping the winter blues; it's about setting the stage for a successful year ahead. Over these four days, we'll be learning the art of storytelling, getting up-to-speed on the latest policy and market innovations, and enga...
660: Why care about COP28? A Recap with Nathan Jovanelly, Brad Stutzman, Elizabeth Andrews, Tito Jankowski, Steve Anglin
December 22, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBThe recent wrap-up of COP28 in Dubai has catalyzed a renewed sense of urgency and reflection on the global efforts to address climate change. A key takeaway emerged from the event: the world is finally willing to say outloud “we need to chart a definitive course to wean ourselves off fossil fuels!” Moving beyond the main headlines and chatter, the real progress is found in the collective efforts of disparate stakeholders working towards a common purpose - and as the Chamber of Commerce note...
659: The question is not WHO is Meyer Burger, but WHY have you not heard of them, yet?! With Ardes Johnson, President of Meyer Burger Americas
December 21, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBThere’s a name in Solar that everybody who’s ever been involved in module manufacturing surely knows, but many, many of you who have only interacted on the commercial side may have missed up to now - Meyer Burger. The 70 yr old Swiss company is, in many ways, the ‘brand behind the brand’, the veritable “intel inside” of the solar industry. It’s their carefully crafted and highly engineered production lines, afterall, that have provided scale, speed and quality assurance for many of those ...
658: Top Trends cleantech podcasters predict for 2024? End of Year Cleantech Podcasters Roundtable with David Roberts, Dana Perkins, Bill Nussey, Marie Burgquist, & Chris Caldwell, hosted by Nico Johnson and Mike Casey
December 19, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.1 MBAs we close out another transformative year for cleantech, it seems the pace of the energy transition still falls short of what will be needed to meet our global climate goals. That's the consensus from our panel of experts in our annual end-of-year Cleantech Podcasters Roundtable discussion. This semi-annual review recognizes both the triumphs and the hurdles within the global renewable energy sector in the past year. From the IRA to our favorite tech company interviews, the challenges of...
657: Financing Flexibility: Innovative Capital for Solar Developers with Laura Pagliarulo of SolaREIT
December 14, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBHow can solar developers and landowners at the community solar level free up capital, lower lease costs and improve the overall economics of these longterm deals? SolaREIT has positioned itself as a strategic financial provider to the community solar market by addressing this very question. Laura Pagliarulo, the Founder & President of SolaREIT, leverages her extensive finance & renewable energy experience to execute on an innovative land acquisition strategy that gives solar developers more...
656: Mythbusting solar panel procurement, & Why India is on the rise, with Justin Redd of Emmvee
December 12, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBHave YOU had trouble procuring modules lately? I know I’ve heard from dozens of folks that they are hurting in this specific area. If that’s you, I want to hear from you…shoot me an email “HELP ME GET MODULES NICO!” in the Subject line and we’ll get right on it. (Nico at mysuncast dot com) How are solar modular manufactures vetted? Where do buyers turn when the much sought-after Bloomberg “Tier 1” suppliers are sold out of modules, making it harder for developments under 20 MW in scale ...
655: How do you Finance Solar Project Development? Insight from Encore Renewable Energy’s Blake Sturcke
December 07, 2023 09:00 - 2 hours - 86.5 MBHow do you fund a solar project? What about the business operations costs necessary to get the project going to begin with? What structures can you consider, and HOW do you choose the one that’s right for you? We’re pulling back the veil so you don’t have to wander in the darkness here. The business of developing solar power projects is complex, time-consuming, and capital intensive. And for the last decade, hundreds of entrepreneurs have endeavored to apply their creative efforts an...
654: Why did Trina Solar wait SO Long to Manufacture in the US? Exclusive interview with Steven Zhu, Trina’s US President
December 05, 2023 09:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBDomestic manufacturing is vital in helping to mitigate supply chain risks that arise from tariffs or other supply chain disruptions. Trina Solar, one of the largest solar module manufacturers globally and the leading provider of solar panels to the US this year, has at long last made a significant investment towards advancing the U.S. renewable energy market. Steven Zhu, President of Trina Solar divulges the timeline and magnitude of their new state-of-the-art (5 GW) solar module manufact...
653: COP28, A Primer: Global Progress Checkpoint for the Paris Agreement with Julia Pyper, Myles Fish, and James Ellsmoor
November 30, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 46.4 MBCOP28 is the 28th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFCC) on Climate Change which will be held in Dubai (UAE) and runs from November 30-December 12. If that's more than you already knew, you're in luck because today we learn from folks who have participated in multiple COP events and learned the ins and outs from the inside. This year's COP marks the pivotal halfway point between when the Paris Agreement was established at COP21, and its 2030 t...
652: How to improve the lives of 2 Billion people, Green Empowerment with Andrea Johnson (Giving Tuesday)
November 28, 2023 09:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBEach year we highlight one non-profit making a big impact in the world, and we ask you to join us in supporting their mission on Giving Tuesday. Nonprofits play a crucial role in international development, often solving equity gaps and civic/infrastructure gaps that for-profit, corporate and even governmental organizations are incapable of addressing. They envision a better world and strive to make it reality, particularly for the underserved and marginalized. This year’s nonprofit for our...
651: Giving Thanks and the secret key to success: Gratitude
November 23, 2023 09:00 - 9 minutes - 6.41 MBHey there, SunCast listeners! As those of us here in the United States of America gather around the table on this Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for tuning into the SunCast podcast over the years. Your support has meant the world to me, and it's because of you that this podcast has thrived for eight incredible years. When I started SunCast, I had a vision of creating a platform that would elevate the voices and sto...
Bonus: Feed Drop: Earthlings 2.0 Featuring Lisa Ann Pinkerton with Virginia Klausmeier, on Future Proofing the EV Battery
November 21, 2023 09:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBIn this bonus episode, we’ll introduce you to the Earthlings 2.0 podcast with Lisa Ann Pinkerton, which is now a part of REsource Labs, our Creator Network! In today’s episode, hear an innovative approach to improving the modern EV battery with guest, Virginia Klausmeier President & CEO of Sylvatex! As electric vehicles become more common worldwide, battery production must rapidly scale to meet the rising demand. The burgeoning electric vehicle market, however, faces limitations imposed b...
650: How do Transferable Tax Credits Work? Billy Lee of Reunion Infrastructure
November 16, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 53.5 MBTax equity has long presented barriers for distributed energy projects to access financing. However, a new provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) now enables tax credits to be transferred, opening up liquidity for project developers and BILLIONS of dollars in opportunity. Billy Lee, Co-founder & President of Reunion Infrastructure has over 15 years of experience in renewable energy project finance, having worked on some of the earliest solar tax equity deals while at SunEdison. Aft...
649: What is a Gravity Battery? Energy Vault’s CEO, Robert Piconi, explains
November 14, 2023 09:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBDid you know that more than 90% of today’s energy storage technology is based on a 140+ year-old concept? Care to guess what that is? Hint - has to do with moving water, waiting, then moving water again. Humans have been harnessing the energy of river currents for centuries, using water wheels spun by rivers initially to process grains and cloth. Today, hydropower provides about 16 percent of the world's electricity, generating power in all but two U.S. states. Contrary to popular bel...
648: Scaling Carbon Capture, Innovation & Entrepreneurial spirit, with Damian Beauchamp of 8 Rivers
November 09, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBWith carbon emissions from heavy industry and power generation at record highs, reducing industrial emissions on a large scale is imperative. Pioneering this mission are the innovative leaders at 8 Rivers, who are leading the field with their carbon capture and oxy-combustion technologies. Damian Beauchamp, President and CDO at 8 Rivers, discusses their in-house approach to technological innovation, the first outcome of which is their industry-leading carbon capture technology. Beauchamp, ...
647: Solar CAN track with Mother Nature’s curves! Nevados CEO, Yezin Taha & RenewComm’s Peter Kelley
November 07, 2023 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBUtility-Scale solar has predominantly been developed on flat terrain due in part because conventional solar trackers are not well-suited for undulating terrain. But now, Nevados is opening up new frontiers with their innovative All Terrain Trackers. These trackers are designed to accommodate the curvatures and gradients of undulating landscapes, which opens up new opportunities for solar deployment as well as minimizing the impact on the land from grading. In this conversation, Yezin Taha...
646: Build Vs Buy, Why DNV acquired this weather-tech startup, and what it means for Solar
November 02, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBTiming is everything along with finding a gap in the market! Before 2016 not much work was going into real-time tracking and forecasting of clouds using satellite data. But a professional meteorologist from Down Under found his niche utilizing a game-changing global fleet of Japanese weather satellites to track cloud movement, weather patterns, and aerosols that affect albedo and solar irradiance impacting solar panel performance. James Luffman is the CEO of Solcast, a weather-tech data c...
645: How To Survive The Residential Solar Crash, expert opinion from REC & EnergySage
October 31, 2023 09:00 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBHigh interest rates and inflation have had a major impact on market potential for residential solar customers this year. Unfortunately, Homeowners generally view solar as a high dollar discretionary purchase rather than a valuable investment. Thus, we are seeing a bottoming out of residential solar sales compared with years’ past. In today’s discussion, we get to the bottom of what the data suggest is going on, and what you can do about it. Brian Ghiglia, Senior Director of Business Devel...
644: Concentrating Solar Isn’t Dead, Heliogen proves it! Christie Obiaya, CEO
October 26, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBOver a decade ago, the majority of the large scale solar projects announced, in the queue across the US and backed by major PE firms were not the flat panel PV farms we now see covering the landscape. No, the majority of solar when I entered the industry at the turn of the first decade of this century was concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) and it’s a technology that is both highly promising and has been highly fraught with challenges. As China leaned into building large manufacturing c...
643: Understanding the Residential Solar Sales Downturn in 2023 with Scott Nguyen, Stan Pipkin, and Rachel Finn
October 24, 2023 09:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBAs interest rates rose, residential solar companies’ sales have declined, with figures down by 5-10% compared to previous years. For many, it’s possibly the first time you have experienced an industry downturn, as we as an industry have ridden high on low interest rates and widely-available financial products for the better part of the last decade. Yet, some regional installers who are embracing diversification, innovative financing options, and a dedicated approach to customer service, are...
642: Rethinking Energy Storage: A Conversation with Energy Vault CEO, Robert Piconi
October 19, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 74.7 MBIt’s a foregone conclusion at this point that to reach the necessary level of renewable energy penetration on the grid that will meaningfully address climate change, energy storage is a must. All that wind & solar energy also needs to be dispatchable. And, while batteries are seen as a crucial component of energy storage systems, the limitations with today’s battery chemistries and energy densities suggest that we still need storage alternatives. Both lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro ...
641: Introducing American-Made Solar Prize Winners Round 6!
October 17, 2023 09:00 - 23 minutes - 15.8 MBInnovative technologies are key to driving the clean energy transition. Prizes like the American-Made Solar Prize offered through the Dept. of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) reward innovators who are making solar power more efficient, more affordable, and more accessible. The competition's 6th round has recently concluded, with millions in prizes awarded to trailblazing entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of advancing solar technologies. Garrett Nilsen, SETO’s Deputy D...