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 s...
Mar 13, 2024•8 min
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...
Mar 12, 2024•19 min•Season 13Ep. 682
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 ...
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 13Ep. 681
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 &...
Mar 05, 2024•17 min•Season 13Ep. 680
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...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Season 13Ep. 679
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...
Feb 27, 2024•20 min•Season 13Ep. 678
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...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Season 13Ep. 677
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 challenge...
Feb 20, 2024•35 min•Season 13Ep. 676
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 ene...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 13Ep. 675
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 organi...
Feb 13, 2024•26 min•Season 13Ep. 674
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 t...
Feb 08, 2024•44 min•Season 13Ep. 673
What 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 'secon...
Feb 06, 2024•18 min•Season 13Ep. 672
We 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 vital “energy-...
Feb 01, 2024•50 min•Season 13Ep. 671
With 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 kilowatt-ho...
Jan 30, 2024•25 min•Season 13Ep. 670
How 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 threaten...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 13Ep. 669
Storytelling 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 largest ...
Jan 23, 2024•43 min•Season 13Ep. 668
The 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 find i...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Season 13Ep. 667
Today’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 Hamilto...
Jan 11, 2024•27 min•Season 13Ep. 666
It’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 get orien...
Jan 09, 2024•39 min•Season 13Ep. 665
In 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 view. ...
Jan 04, 2024•2 hr 23 min•Season 13Ep. 664
Happy 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 to for...
Jan 02, 2024•21 min•Season 13Ep. 663
Community 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 solar and...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 13Ep. 662
I 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, was...
Dec 26, 2023•8 min•Season 13Ep. 661
Imagine 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 engaging ...
Dec 23, 2023•25 min
The 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 noted, th...
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 13Ep. 660
There’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 name-br...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Season 13Ep. 659
As 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 grid ...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 13Ep. 658
How 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 m...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 13Ep. 657
Have 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 to find v...
Dec 12, 2023•36 min•Season 13Ep. 656
How 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 and work ethic...
Dec 07, 2023•2 hr 7 min•Season 13Ep. 655
