Suncast

Is solar plus storage magically going to fix our grid? If you listen to many of the conversations I’ve heard the last 2+ years, you’d easily assume “we got this, just throw some batteries out there and we’re well on our way to 100% RE!” 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 w

How do we solve yesterday’s interconnection problems with today’s technology? Alexina Jackson, Vice President of Strategic Development at The AES Corporation, pulls back the curtain to show us how AES is using cutting-edge technology to integrate MORE 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 rightWhy more battery storage will add flexibility to the energy grid.AES’s method for turning distributed resources (separate windmills, solar farms, etc.) into “virtual power plants” 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! If you want to connect with today'

As our Secretary of Energy says, deploy deploy deploy! It’s incredible to see how hard we’re pushing to modernize the grid, but, we also must 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 with nearly two decades of experience in the solar industry, has seen firsthand the increasing need for a stable supply chain for solar O&M. So Josh collaborated with RNWBL at the founding of R7 Supply, a venture so immediately successful that it scaled to meet to start filling the gaps within 18 months and continues strong today under RNWBL.Today, he shares his entrepreneurial journey with us. 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 both believe will be hug

Increasing extreme weather events year over year are forcing all energy assets to reconsider asset protection and resilience. The solar industry has been wrongly accused of grid reliability issues in the face of these extreme events, but what does the data say from operating assets that have “weathered” the storms? Lightsource BP’s Kevin Christy is working to prove solar energy's resilience (especially during challenging weather conditions) and address misconceptions about renewable energy in grid stability and performance. As Head of Innovation and Operational Excellence for Lightsource BP, he and his colleague Dave Martin explore the future of solar energy, discussing advancements in technology, operational efficiency, and the crucial role of data analytics in optimizing solar plant performance.Expect to learn:Strategies for managing solar assets during extreme weather events (like hail mitigation and Texas’s Winter Storm Uri)Exactly how reliable solar is in extreme weatherHow automation and

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. Paula’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 goalsPaula 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 di

By 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 Sustainability for North America at Qcells takes us through their plan to reduce embodied carbon across the entire supply chain—from manufacturing to end-of-life recycling. 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 superhero partnership.What it will take to create a true circular economy in solar, a vision Qcells is actively working towards.How certification standar

Permitting. 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 plaguing the solar project permitting process. Their due diligence software is designed to streamline site assessments for land developers in the renewable energy industry. Transect reduces assessment timelines from weeks to minutes by leveraging an innovative mix of public and proprietary datasets, and helps developers ensure they are focusing their efforts on the right properties and activities to get more solar through the permitting queue.Expect to learn: How Robin and her co-founder collected and leverage

Is 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 the Northeast, takes us through the strategies National Grid is employing to facilitate this transition among its customers, many of whom live in homes with outdated heating systems. By prioritizing education, exploring alternative heating options such as air source heat pumps and geothermal systems, and addressing the economic concerns of customers, National Grid is navigating the delicate balance between homeowner expectations and the push for decarbonization. Expect to learn:The importance of homeo

Wondering 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 in renewable energy advocacy by Catherine Mclean and prepared for her interview with the help of our SunCast Podcast. Stephanie discusses some of Maryland's key challenges with Nico from land constraints to a lack of transmission lines. She highlights MD-REA’s community outreach and Maryland’s strategy to surmount their state-level barriers.Expect to learn: How the implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act and the Renew Act will accelerate Maryland's transition to renewable energy.What it takes

What'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 between two solar junkies as they break down the benefits of certifying installers, talk up some industry-leading tech, and show you how to get free continuing NABCEP education credits. Scanifly is a design software that gives PV designers an edge by providing accurate, real-time roof measurements using drone footage. Scanifly's software helps PV designers eliminate guesswork from satellite imagery and make fewer design mistakes. Expect to learn: How and why a NABCEP certification gives solar designer

Can 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 market, or are we in an energy storage boom/bust cycle? In this week's conversation, Joan explains how we can build a sustainable energy storage market. Expect to learn: Joan's predictions for the future of energy storage The critical safety code all energy storage installers should be trained in )and how to access the training cheaply)Exactly how The Inflation Reduction Act has set up energy storage manufacturing for success. Tips for making energy storage facilities more efficientWhat needs

How 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 cemented its status as an industry icon. This episode delves into the strategic layers of her successful marketing prowess that has served as exemplar within the solar sector, offering listeners a chance to explore:The creation of a customer-centric culture that goes beyond listening to actively incorporate feedback into both product development and marketing strategies.The use of storytelling to make complex technological solutions relatable and captivating in a way that’s meaningful to the audience.The importance

Community 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-founder & COO of Solstice, outlines the company’s strategic decisions and cultural values that have yielded broad success as a community solar pioneer. She delves into how Solstice:Cultivates community trust and broadens solar participation through education and transparent communication.Implements strategic marketing to nurture long-term community relationships.Empowers communities through sustainable energy, whether it be homeowners, renters, businesses, nonprofits, or others. Listeners can also expect to

Can 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 is a certified B corporation and named one of the best places to work by Inc Magazine.In this episode, Bob and Maria share their journey, from working at Burts Bees to founding SEM. As they navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, they eventually landed on the business model that works for them and keeps their core values and mission at heart. They authentically share how they've:built a culture centered on empowerment and continuous learningformulated a strategic approach to marketing that prioritizes e

Barry 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) works tirelessly with a variety of partners across the Northeast, from Maine to New York, to encourage clean energy organizations to think comprehensively about workforce solutions that embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Reaves’ role involves not just strategizing but shepherding projects with and for member companies that create equitable pathways in clean energy.This conversation contains enlightening lessons on the importance of workforce diversity from a practitioner on the front lines. It unde

Can 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 gathering has been a perennial gray area - accurate fieldwork management, which is still a very manual process in just about every respect. And it just may be the part of post-construction asset value retention that is most overlooked, till now.American Made Solar Prize winners, James Nagel and David Penalva, co-founders of SolarGrade by HelioVolta, converted their extensive experience in solar project development and data analysis into a robust software aimed at precisely this conundrum.  SolarGrade, a software too

As 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 challenges? Sean Kelly, CEO of Amperon, provides nearly 2 decades of energy market & trading expertise to help us understand the implications. His firsthand encounter with the devastating effects of Winter Storm Uri highlights the tangible impact of these weather phenomena, and his stories help anchor the hard truth for his team and clients. At Amperon, Sean leveraged his extensive background in energy trading to pioneer the use of advanced analytics and machine learning in creating precise load forecasts ba

The 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 of energy storage solutions, showcasing Fluence's leading role in this critical shift.What the audience can expect to learn:⚡️ The Critical Role of Domestic Manufacturing: Understand why bringing battery production home is key to America's energy independence and resilience.⚡️ Navigating Supply Chain Challenges: Learn how domestic manufacturing reduces risks from international disruptions, enhancing supply chain reliability.⚡️ Policy Clarity and Partnerships: How clear policies and strong partnerships are es

Occasionally 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 organizations lack real-time, accurate data on their carbon footprint, particularly in relation to electricity consumption. Traditional methods offer only outdated regional averages that fail to reflect the dynamic nature of the power grid, especially with more renewables being deployed. This gap in data is a limitation upon everyone seeking to mitigate the climate crisis from grid operators to individual consumers.Wenbo Shi founded Singularity Energy to resolve this issue once and for all. In this SunCast Soundbyt

Amid 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 highlights the shift from traditional fuels to a future powered by renewables like wind and solar, emphasizing the need to boost renewable energy production and expand the grid to support a net-zero future.Jesse’s playbook includes:⚡️ Insights into scaling solar and wind power to unprecedented levels by the 2030s.⚡️ The necessity of adding 75,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines for a robust grid.⚡️ Strategies for phasing out coal and leveraging existing zero-carbon resources for reliability.⚡️ Overview of emerg