“Virtual power plant” might be trending—but Eversource’s Tilak Subrahmanian says it misses the mark. In this RE+ Northeast PowerUp Live stage interview, Nico sits down with Tilak for a refreshingly candid utility perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs) are being integrated, managed, and monetized at scale. Spoiler: it's not just about demand response anymore. From managing EV charging loads to influencing ISO capacity calculations, Tilak breaks down how Eversource is designing a d...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min•Season 16Ep. 807
What’s blocking our climate tech breakthroughs? It’s not the tech. It’s the process . Ben Downing has seen the system from both sides—first as a Massachusetts state senator, then as VP at Nexamp scaling solar across the country. Now, as Chief Growth Officer at The Engine , MIT’s accelerator for “tough tech,” he’s helping commercialize game-changing innovations that can decarbonize the toughest sectors—steel, cement, transmission, and beyond. But it’s not just about the science. It’s about fixing...
Apr 17, 2025•22 min•Season 16Ep. 806
The U.S. grid is facing its biggest stress test since WWII. The answer? Batteries. Joan White, Director of Storage & Interconnection Policy at SEIA, joins Nico on the PowerUp Live stage at RE+ Northeast to unpack the audacious 700 GWh storage deployment target laid out in SEIA’s latest white paper. That’s a 50% increase over the “business as usual” trajectory—and Joan believes it’s not just possible, but necessary. As AI data centers, EV adoption, and manufacturing supercharge national energ...
Apr 15, 2025•25 min•Season 16Ep. 805
When Maria Robinson took the helm at the Grid Deployment Office within the US Department of Energy (US DOE), she stepped into one of the most pivotal (and difficult) roles in the clean energy transition. Now that she’s no longer a government employee, Maria reveals what really happens inside DOE decision-making rooms, why the grid is far more fragile than most realize, and how her new role as CEO of IREC is helping shift the power back to the people. From wildfire response to data center load gr...
Apr 10, 2025•23 min•Season 16Ep. 804
Residential solar may still be a long way from recovery —but the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market is heating up. In this power-packed episode recorded live at RE+ Northeast, Nico sits down with John Carroll of SolarEdge to explore why the commercial market could be the biggest growth driver in clean energy this year. From training installers to navigating the evolving incentive quagmire, John unpacks the forces reshaping the C&I landscape in 2025.. 📜 The IRA’s surprising rip...
Apr 08, 2025•29 min•Season 16Ep. 803
Microgrids are essential to the clean energy future—but they’re still too complex, slow, and unbankable. That’s the problem Adib Naslé set out to solve. With Xendee, he’s built a platform that makes distributed energy systems faster to plan, easier to finance, and smarter to operate. Nico digs into how Adib and his team turned 20 years of national lab research into a commercial product now used by governments, fleet operators, developers and data centers. If you want to understand where AI, micr...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 16Ep. 802
At a time when uncertainty looms for many clean energy companies, Encore Renewable Energy just secured a $389 million financing deal that proves the big money’s still looking for good bets to be made. Chad Farrell walks us through their recent landmark deal with Brookfield and what it signals for the broader renewables industry. From raising capital the slow, scrappy way to winning major infrastructure funding, this episode is packed with insights for anyone navigating the shift from developer t...
Apr 01, 2025•32 min•Season 16Ep. 801
800 episodes. 1 unforgettable conversation. For the first time in years, Nico Johnson becomes the guest on his own show, interviewed by friend and fellow podcaster, Lisa Ann Pinkerton. What follows is a raw and powerful exploration of the highs, lows, and turning points behind SunCast’s success. Whether you’re building a brand, running a business, or just love clean energy—this episode has something for you. 🔹 How vulnerability built SunCast’s loyal following 🔹 Why podcasting is a secret weapo...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 15Ep. 800
Live from the Hub Stage at Intersolar 2025, Nico gathers a powerhouse podcaster panel to dig into what’s really going on in the solar & battery sectors. Sean White (Solar Sean), Chris Crowell (Solar Builder), and Joe Ordia (Solar Surge) don’t hold back as they swap stories and product insights live from the show floor, and discuss the tough realities facing the solar sector presently. It’s equal parts geek-out, gut check, and group therapy. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes take from media v...
Mar 25, 2025•40 min•Season 15Ep. 799
There are billions of square feet of commercial rooftops in the U.S. that should have solar—but don’t. Why? Because financing these projects has been nearly impossible… until now. For years, the thousands of unrated businesses, nonprofits, and local institutions that want to go solar are stymied by one primary roadblock - financing . One developer is finally unlocking commercial solar for the long tail of the market, and we’re here to share exactly how. Claire Broido Johnson (Sunrock DG) and Jos...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 15Ep. 798
Smithville, Texas, a town known for its giant gingerbread man and Hollywood cameos, is making headlines for something even bigger—its solar future. With a 1.4MW solar power plant now generating clean energy for over 100 homes, this small town is proving that the energy transition isn’t just for big cities. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Smithville’s solar transformation, from the unique financing mechanism that made it possible to the community benefits already taking shape. Hear fr...
Mar 18, 2025•22 min•Season 15Ep. 797
Solar and battery prices have dropped so low that energy independence is truly NOW within reach—no permits, no utility red tape, just DIY power that any homeowner can harness. Kerim Baran, CEO of SolarAcademy, breaks down why this shift is happening now and how it could reshape the way we think about electricity as homeowners. From “ balcony solar” to microgrids , Nico & Kerim explore why these utility-disrupting models are at a tipping point and how innovators around the world are capitaliz...
Mar 13, 2025•56 min•Season 15Ep. 796
Community solar promises to lower energy costs while expanding access to clean power—but does it deliver? Aviv Shalgi, CEO of Solar Simplified, joins Nico to expose the hidden challenges and big opportunities in this growing market. From financing hurdles to state-by-state policy shifts, we dig into what’s really happening behind the scenes. If you want the inside scoop on the future of community solar, this episode is a must-listen! Here are five key topics from the interview: 1️⃣ What is Commu...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min•Season 15Ep. 795
Solar’s growth isn’t just steady—it’s compounding. If current trends hold, half of the world’s energy could come from solar by 2035. That’s the prediction Andrew “Birchy” Birch has modeled using real-world data and the S-curve of technology adoption. He explains why mainstream forecasts underestimate solar, how exponential growth works in energy markets, and what policies must change to support a fully electrified economy. Birchy is the CEO and co-founder of Open Solar, a free solar design and p...
Mar 06, 2025•38 min•Season 15Ep. 794
With 45 percent of U.S. water sources containing toxic contaminants, according to the EPA, access to clean drinking water is becoming increasingly uncertain. Worse still, according to a UN study, over 40% of the world's water bodies are considered severely polluted, meaning a significant portion of Earth's water is contaminated; this translates to around 1 in 3 people not having access to safe drinking water. Traditional water treatment methods rely on filtering or distilling existing sources li...
Mar 04, 2025•14 min•Season 15Ep. 793
The distributed generation market is shifting rapidly as capital tightens, power prices rise, and smaller developers bump up against capital and market constraints. Independent power producers (IPPs) like Aspen Power are stepping in to bridge the gap—partnering with developers, securing financing, and scaling solar assets in key markets. But what does it take to succeed in today’s distributed energy sector? And what does distributed energy mean in today’s evolving market? Jorge Vargas, co-founde...
Feb 27, 2025•56 min•Season 15Ep. 792
Industrial facilities depend heavily on natural gas for steam production; in California, food processing, which is one of the largest users of steam, consumes an incredible amount of energy as a result. Because the price of steam is directly tied to the price of natural gas, industries face volatile costs that can directly impact competitiveness. And there are precious few alternatives for producing the volume of steam required to keep our food industry productive. Yet, by producing hydrogen on-...
Feb 25, 2025•20 min•Season 15Ep. 791
Jigar Shah spent the last few years shaping the future of clean energy finance as the Director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office. He approved billions in investments that helped scale solar, storage, nuclear, and emerging technologies. With that position coming to a close with the change in administration,what’s next for him? And what lessons can he share from funding some of the industry’s biggest breakthroughs? Before leading the DOE’s loan office, Jigar built and financed som...
Feb 20, 2025•28 min•Season 15Ep. 790
InterSolar North America is always the first ‘big’ clean energy industry conference that kicks off the year! And who doesn’t want to kick off the year with a trip to sunny San Diego?! To ensure you are up-to-speed on this year’s event, we’ve curated a "Know Before You Go" episode that will help maximize your experience at InterSolar and Energy Storage North America 2025 next week! With thousands of clean energy professionals gathering at the San Diego Convention Center, this year’s event is pack...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min•Season 15Ep. 789
What if the key to solving our rising materials costs and hurdles to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries lies in a radical shift in thinking—laying solar panels directly on the ground and using the cheap electrons they produce to make hydrogen? When I first heard of Erthos, I thought, like many of you I’m sure, “What a radical idea! Will that even work? Lay the panels directly on the ground???” Yet, the more I learned about the company, it’s leadership, and their approach to creating the cheape...
Feb 13, 2025•2 hr 27 min•Season 15Ep. 788
Solar projects depend on strong design engineering to move from concept to construction. Design engineers assess site feasibility, optimize layouts, navigate permitting challenges, and ensure projects are financially viable. Without their expertise, developments can stall. This role is also a key entry point into the solar industry, offering a path to more senior positions in project development and engineering. Phil Hofmeyer, Design Engineering Manager at New Leaf Energy, a pure-play renewable ...
Feb 11, 2025•55 min•Season 15Ep. 787
The global energy storage market is skyrocketing, with battery capacity more than doubling year over year . With over 60 gigawatts of storage installed worldwide, the sector is poised for even more rapid expansion. In this special roundup episode, we look back at some of the top episodes on SunCast discussing key trends, policies, and technologies shaping the future of energy storage. We break down the domestic manufacturing boom, how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is driving investment, and ...
Feb 06, 2025•56 min•Season 15Ep. 786
What is the real economic impact of a utility-scale solar farm on rural America? That’s one of the questions I had in mind when I visited one of the largest solar projects recently inaugurated right in my own home state of North Carolina. As one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, EDP Renewables has expanded its footprint into North Carolina with the 74-megawatt Misenheimer Solar Park , a project big enough to power 12,000 homes while generating more than $30 million in long-...
Feb 04, 2025•33 min•Season 15Ep. 785
What if it were actually possible to power your EV from the sun collected on it’s surface? Or what if you were not constrained by only one battery chemistry type but could mix chemistries? Want to charge 400 volts with a 3V unit? For 150 years, electrical engineers have relied on magnetic induction for power conversion, using coils and magnetic structures to transfer energy. These constraints result in energy waste, size restrictions, and chemistry challenges, preventing seamless transfer betwee...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 15Ep. 784
How do we unlock the final frontier of lowest-cost solar and deploying it at scale? The U.S.-India nexus is emerging as one of the most pivotal relationships in the fight against climate change. As the solar industry faces steep challenges, from navigating the cyclical nature of renewables to integrating advanced technologies and addressing workforce shortages, what can we learn from others who’ve successfully evaluated, engineered and deployed gigawatts of solar and hydrogen? Removing the indus...
Jan 28, 2025•44 min•Season 15Ep. 783
How do you successfully scale & exit a startup enterprise? The art of entrepreneurship is part science, part stick-to-it-iveness, part grind and part good luck. So what does it take to sell your companies to major players like SolarCity(now Tesla), Nextracker, and even attempt to change how the EV market works with one of Tesla’s co-founders? That’s what I’ve been dying to ask the only person I know who’s had such achievements - Mike Miskovsky. Success in business often requires navigating a...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 15Ep. 782
It is estimated that by 2027 nearly half of all new solar installations will have energy storage attached, and today’s guest, Adam Knudsen of Dynapower, asserts that almost half of those will have DC coupled storage. The choice between AC or DC coupled systems has become a critical consideration for developers, utilities, and energy planners. While AC coupled systems have long dominated the market due to their established infrastructure and reliability, DC coupled technology is quickly gaining m...
Jan 21, 2025•33 min•Season 15Ep. 781
Join us for an in-depth discussion with three different perspectives on the future of energy. We'll explore the potential impacts of Trump's policies on renewable energy, fossil fuels, and the environment. With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) driving historic clean energy investments, we're at a critical juncture as Trump begins his second term. Tune in as we navigate the complex landscape of the energy industry's future. The solar industry has proven its resilience time and again. During Trum...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 15Ep. 780
Increasingly, it seems that corporate philanthropy (and even personal giving) are reactive rather than proactive. Today’s episode challenges that notion with an insightful look into the relationship REC Solar’s Cary Hayes has formed with Alex Honnold and his Honnold Foundation, which REC has supported for years with both cash and in-kind donations. Why does Cary believe this is a meaningful part of their annual marketing budget? Hear Cary, Alex & Nico discuss why this is an overlooked market...
Jan 14, 2025•56 min•Season 15Ep. 779
Alex Honnold , the world-famous rock climber and philanthropist, has pushed the physical boundaries of human potential with his climbing pursuits, but in his travels to some of the world’s most remote and beautiful locations he’s come face-to-face with one of the world’s most urgent challenges: energy access. Alex has never been one to stand by and let others do the hard work. Before his rise to fame with his harrowing, albeit Oscar-winning performance on Yosemite’s most famous of all big walls,...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 15Ep. 778
