Podcasts about epcs

A single design error on a commercial solar project can cost $60,000 to $70,000 to fix. Scott Wyssling and Catherine Kelso of Wyssling Consulting explain what quality design actually looks like, why AI cannot replace a licensed engineer reviewing plans, and how battery integration really fits into commercial solar today.In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Scott Wyssling, founder and principal at Wyssling Consulting, and Catherine Kelso, Director of Commercial Design and electrical engineer at the firm. Wyssling provides structural and electrical engineering and design for residential and commercial solar and storage projects across the United States. With 75 employees and an engineer-owned, engineer-led structure, the firm has built its reputation on quality control, fast turnaround, and a refusal to treat the PE seal as a formality.With the ITC safe harbor deadline pushing a construction boom through 2027, the pressure to move fast is real. Scott's point is direct: speed without engineering integrity creates liability that lands on the EPC and installer, not just the firm that signed the plans.What you'll learn in this conversation:Why a single design error on a commercial project can cost $60,000 to $70,000 to fix, and how $3,000 to $4,000 in better upfront engineering eliminates that risk entirely.How Wyssling's QAQC process actually works, including internal peer reviews and a 20% audit of already-delivered projects, and why that sets a different standard than automated or outsourced design.Why Catherine Kelso says battery integration is simpler than most EPCs expect, whether you're retrofitting storage onto an existing system or designing it in from day one, and what to watch for when choosing a manufacturer.Scott Wyssling's direct case against letting AI replace hands-on engineering review, and why a licensed PE needs eyes on the actual roof, the actual photos, and the actual electrical equipment.How 15 to 20 year old solar farms are creating a new engineering challenge as 600-volt inverters age out in a market now built around 1,000 and 1,500-volt equipment, and why this only grows from here.Quality control gets treated as optional right up until a six-figure correction lands on your desk. This episode gives you concrete criteria for telling a serious engineering partner from a shortcut operation before you sign anything.Connect with Guests Website: https://www.wysslingconsulting.com/Scott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-wyssling-5b2aa77/Catherine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-kelso-pe-997b014a/ Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Battery energy storage fire safety is one of the most urgent permitting challenges facing solar and storage developers in 2026. Mike Nicholas, Energy Storage Specialist and Fire Consultant at Hiller Companies, brings a rare perspective: he built Kern County's entire BESS permitting program from scratch in 2019, when no national standards existed, and now travels the country helping developers, EPCs, and fire departments get these projects to yes.Kern County has the highest concentration of renewable energy and battery storage in California, including the largest active battery storage project in the world at roughly 3.2 GWh. Mike developed a 32-page submission guideline that standardized the permitting process and became a model other jurisdictions are now replicating. After retiring as a fire captain and assistant fire marshal in 2024, he joined Hiller, which represented about 85% of the battery storage clients that went through Kern County permitting. He now works with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and American Clean Power to build reference documents and videos for fire safety standardization.Here is what you will learn in this conversation about battery energy storage fire safety:Find out why the Moss Landing disaster changed everything. A fire inside an enclosed former power plant building destroyed an estimated 240 megawatts. An outdoor containerized failure, under current standards, would be contained to the enclosure of origin, a fraction of 1% of that loss. You'll understand why the industry is moving hard toward outdoor containerized deployments.Learn what UL 9540A and the new large-scale fire testing (LSFT) requirement in NFPA 855 (2026) actually require, and why they matter to first responders. You'll hear why the test forces a fully populated unit into a worst-case thermal runaway with suppression disabled, and what it means for containing a fire within the enclosure of origin.Understand what a complete Hazard Mitigation Analysis must include. Find out why a generic OEM document will not pass, and what site-specific elements, from failure modes analysis to emergency response plans for construction, commissioning, and decommissioning, are required under NFPA 855.You'll hear Mike's step-by-step account of what should happen from the moment a fire alarm sounds to the moment the incident command is established. Learn why gas meters, IR cameras, and a fire alarm annunciator panel at the static water tank are critical tools for first responders who may be 15 to 20 minutes from the battery yard inside the site.Find out what developers and EPCs get wrong in permitting. Mike explains why early engagement with the fire department, before land use approval, is not optional, and why hiring a registered design professional who knows NFPA 855 is the difference between hitting your financing deadline and chasing it.With BESS developers racing to lock in safe harbor and stay ahead of tightening FEOC and material-assistance thresholds, permitting delays and moratoria are a real threat to project timelines. Mike describes a shift already happening in California: under General Order 167-C, the California Public Utilities Commission now requires ESS operators to file emergency response plans and produce annual testing and maintenance reports, and Kern County has introduced an annual operational permit tied to emergency contact updates. These requirements are likely to spread nationally.Connect with Mike Nicholas Hiller Companies: https://hillerfire.com/ Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Industrial Talk is talking to Jay Allardyce, CPO at Octave about "Unleashing operational data for greater intelligence and insights for industrial success". Overview Scott Mackenzie hosts the Industrial Talk podcast, featuring Jay Allardyce, Chief Product Officer at Octave. Octave, formerly Hexagon, focuses on asset management and operations, leveraging data to drive efficiency and innovation. Jay discusses the importance of data accuracy and context, emphasizing the need for a robust data foundation to support AI applications. Octave's platform integrates design, construction, and operation phases, aiming to simplify workflows and reduce costs. The company also supports co-creation with customers through Octave Colabs. Upcoming Octave Live event is scheduled for June 17-18 in Austin, Texas. Outline Introduction to Industrial Talk Podcast and Jay Allardyce Scott welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk podcast, celebrating industry professionals for their bravery, innovation, and problem-solving skills.Scott introduces Jay Allardyce from Octave, a new company in the market, and discusses the importance of technology and the speed of market changes.Scott mentions Octave Live, an event taking place on June 17-18 in Austin, Texas, and encourages listeners to support industrial education and the next generation of industrial leaders. Jay Allardyce's Background and Role at Octave Scott transitions to the main conversation with Jay Allardyce, who is introduced as the Chief Project Officer at Octave.Jay Allardyce shares his extensive background in technology, including roles at Hewlett Packard, GE, Uptake, Google, and Inside Software.Jay discusses his co-founding of Gen AI Works, an AI community focused on helping people discover, learn, and grow through AI.Jay explains his current role at Octave, focusing on the built environment and industrial applications, and his excitement about the future of data-driven experiences in the physical world. Octave's Mission and Market Position Jay elaborates on Octave's mission to drive lifecycle value in the design, build, operate, and protect phases of industrial projects.He emphasizes the importance of data in simplifying workflows and reducing costs for large EPCs (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies.Jay discusses the significance of repeatability and efficiency in the construction industry, and how Octave's platform helps manage changes and costs effectively.Scott and Jay discuss the importance of data in driving innovation and optimizing asset performance, highlighting the need for accurate and trustworthy data. Octave's Platform and Technological Advancements Jay explains the transition from Hexagon to Octave and the benefits of focusing on a pure-play software company.He describes the platform's ability to integrate multiple workflows across the lifecycle of a project, from design to operation.Jay highlights the role of AI in creating new value and optimizing supply chains and maintenance rounds.Scott and Jay discuss the importance of building a robust data foundation to ensure trust and accuracy in AI-driven insights. Octave's Customer Base and Future Plans Jay shares insights into Octave's robust customer base, including large EPCs and public safety organizations.He discusses the company's focus on expanding into new markets and creating new applications using AI.Jay emphasizes the importance of context and trust in data to drive innovation and value for customers.Scott and Jay discuss the potential for Octave's platform to revolutionize asset management and create a more efficient and reliable industrial ecosystem. Conclusion and Call to Action Scott wraps up the conversation by encouraging listeners to support industrial education and inspire the next generation of industrial leaders.He highlights the importance of telling industry stories to bring awareness and attention to the next generation.Scott invites listeners to connect with Jay Allardyce and Octave for more information and to explore the opportunities in the industrial sector.The podcast concludes with a reminder of the Octave Live event in Austin, Texas, and a call to action for listeners to engage with the Industrial Talk community. If interested in being on the Industrial Talk show, simply contact us and let's have a quick conversation. Finally, get your exclusive free access to the Industrial Academy and a series on “Why You Need To Podcast” for Greater Success in 2026. All links designed for keeping you current in this rapidly changing Industrial Market. Learn! Grow! Enjoy! JAY ALLARDYCE'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayallardyce/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/octaveintelligence/ Company Website: https://www.octave.com/ PODCAST VIDEO: https://youtu.be/M3yJCs3t9Ho THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST": OTHER GREAT INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES: NEOM: https://www.neom.com/en-us Hexagon: https://hexagon.com/ Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ Fictiv: https://www.fictiv.com/ Hitachi Vantara: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/home.html Industrial Marketing Solutions:  https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-marketing/ Industrial Academy: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-academy/ Industrial Dojo: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial_dojo/ We the 15: https://www.wethe15.org/ YOUR INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL TOOLBOX: LifterLMS: Get One Month Free for $1 – https://lifterlms.com/ Active Campaign: Active Campaign Link Social Jukebox: https://www.socialjukebox.com/ Industrial Academy (One Month Free Access And One Free License For Future Industrial Leader): Business Beatitude the Book Do you desire a more joy-filled, deeply-enduring sense of accomplishment and success? 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Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are everywhere - but do they actually help homeowners make decisions? Alongside expert insight from David Sanders from Vibrant Energy Matters, Phil Spencer breaks down what EPC ratings are meant to do, why they often fall short, and why so many homeowners find them confusing or frustrating. They explore how EPCs fit into the retrofit conversation, what factors actually affect the rating and why better guidance is needed. Do you know your home's EPC rating, and has it ever been useful? We want this series to reflect real homeowners so please do share your retrofit experiences, questions, and home upgrade stories in the comments. Your input will help shape future episodes and support others on the same journey!

Solar racking is one of the lowest-cost line items on a DG project and one of the highest-risk failure points. Kyle Sinclair, Co-founder and CEO of SDE (Sinclair Designs and Engineering), joins Tim Montague to explain how USA-made steel and 4-day commercial engineering turnarounds are solving the lead time and logistics failures that slow commercial solar projects. SDE produces 3 megawatts of racking in a single 8-hour shift.On this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Kyle about the full arc of SDE's product line, from the Skyrack 2.0 fixed-tilt ground-mount system to a new I-beam solution designed for rocky soil conditions in Texas and on the West Coast. They also cover the realities of solar carport installation, including foundation risk, soil testing, and why carport projects require a fundamentally different approach than ground mount racking.Here is what you will learn in this conversation:Learn how SDE turns around residential stamped drawing packages in 2 days and commercial packages in 4 days, and why that speed has become the deciding factor for EPCs managing safe harbor deadlines.Understand the difference between C-channel and I-beam ground mount racking, including why high refusal rates in rocky soil conditions led SDE to develop a 6x9 and 6x15 I-beam solution that Kyle says is more cost-effective than most competitors' C-channel designs.Learn what every EPC should know before pricing a solar carport installation: how soil conditions drive foundation costs from $1,500 per hole to $2,800 per hole, and why planning for worst-case geotech results protects your margin.Find out how SDE holds a 95% delivery accuracy rating using ISO 9001 quality management and Keyence scanning technology integrated into their ERP system, and why that matters when your crew is at a remote site expecting a full kit.Any EPC designing projects in the Midwest or expanding into new geographies need to hear Kyle's approach to engineering for conditions that historical data no longer predicts accurately.Connect with Kyle Sinclair, SDE Kyle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-sinclair-b9b60a62/SDE Website: https://www.sinclair-designs.com/ Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

We are joined by Ian Pritchett of Greencore Homes to talk about his science-based approach to green building and the work that has led him from developing green building materials becoming the co-founder of a vertically-integrated developer and house builder.There's a lot of history and legacy to cover because Ian has been in the green building game for decades and it's this that has informed the approach being taken right now.Greencore is also challenging the Passive House Institute about the accuracy of its PHPP (passive house planning package) modelling software because their homes outperform the model's predictions because of their use of phase-change materials.Be warned, this is nerd business—Jeff gets to interrogate the build up specification—but it doesn't get too technical to be able to follow the thread.Notes from the showThe Greencore Homes website Ian Pritchett on LinkedIn A PH+ article about Neil May**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**   

As the utility-scale solar market collides with an era defined by massive load growth, EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) firms are rethinking their strategy to meet the moment. In this episode, Shayle speaks to George Hershman, CEO of SOLV Energy, one of the largest solar and storage construction firms in the US. George offers a unique perspective into the state of the market as well as the logistics of building gigawatt-scale projects and insights into how automation is changing the EPC game. Shayle and George discuss: Why George believes rising demand can help solar move past boom-and-bust cycles How SOLV is taking on larger projects without needing to increase its workforce proportionally How automation helps SOLV build and install utility-scale solar faster The logistics bottleneck impacting EPCs' ability to scale How AI-driven simulations can help optimize installations Catalyst: Can AI revolutionize EPC? Catalyst: 2026 trends: Gas turbines, Texas' load queue, and China electrifies Catalyst: Scaling America's domestic solar supply chain Latitude Media: Can the US bring solar installation to below $2 per watt?  Latitude Media: This former solar installer is all-in on software-only sales Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Max Savage Levenson. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor. Catalyst is brought to you by FischTank PR, an award-winning climate and energy tech, renewables, and sustainability-focused PR firm dedicated to elevating the work of both early-stage and established companies. Learn more about their PR approach and how they can support your company's messaging by visiting fischtankpr.com. Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com. Tune into Critical Capital, a brand new podcast from Crux and Latitude Studios. Hosted by Crux CEO Alfred Johnson, Critical Capital explores the interlocking forces powering clean and critical infrastructure. Join us every other Tuesday for in-depth conversations at the intersection of energy, government, finance, and global markets. Listen here, or wherever you get podcasts.

We take a look at the state of the green building sector through the lens of itss biggest dedicated show in the UK, Futurebuild. It on 12–14 May this year and you can sign up here.Helping us to peek behind the curtain is the event's director, Martin Hurn, a man who is, ultimately, responsible for it all.It seemed with a conversation because this year Futurebuild was acquired by a new owner and repackaged to become a super event. The green building great big networking event has merged with UK Construction Week and the Stone and Surfaces Show. In light of this we get into the history of Futurebuild that sheds a little light on how the impact of changes that it's going through right now are a little more like a return to its roots.The episode has a bit of a long wind up because we've included a chunk of preamble in which Jeff explains his background to Martin which wasn't intended for the episode but it ended up revealing similarities, and differences, in their backgrounds that felt worth including. Both Martin and Jeff have been in this working within the business of the built environment for about the same amount of time (early 00s), and both coming from publishing backgrounds. They've seen the heydays, boom times, and catastrophes created by the Celtic Tiger and the UK's solar subsidisation and feed-in tariffs. Consequently, the pair of them are able to offer a some illuminating and interesting perspectives on where they see the sector at this strange point in time.We also let Martin plug the show.And, at the end we do get around to asking ‘how sustainable are events?'Notes from the showRegister with Futurebuild 2026 for your event passThe Futurebuild website Martin Hurn on LinkedIn **SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**   

What does it actually take to earn trust at the highest levels of utility-scale solar?Tyler Nelson has a perspective few in the industry can claim. As founder of Revamp Engineering, his team has been embedded in the design and execution of a massive share of utility-scale solar and storage projects across the U.S. — working alongside the developers and EPCs shaping the grid in real time.But this conversation isn't about scale for the sake of scale.It's about how that kind of trust is built.We dig into Tyler's early career at SunPower and how that experience carried forward into the founding of Revamp. He shares how the company landed its first anchor clients, what actually drives credibility in this industry, and why engineering is often the difference between a project that works on paper and one that works in the field.We also explore a different kind of founder mindset — one that isn't oriented around an exit.Tyler recently transitioned Revamp into an employee-owned company, reinforcing a long-term vision centered on culture, accountability, and durability.Along the way, Tyler offers a clear-eyed view into how the market is evolving, where complexity is increasing, and what teams consistently underestimate as projects scale.Expect to learn:

A 10-person, three-month estimating process. Compressed into 12 hours by a single AI agent. That is what Jesse Anglen, co-founder of Ruh AI, is building for construction and solar companies right now. In this episode of The Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Anglen to break down what a digital workforce actually looks like in practice, how solar contractors and EPCs can start using agentic AI today, and what it means when AI agents take over knowledge work at scale.Episode HighlightsAnglen breaks down the three categories of AI agents and explains why most of what people call "agents" today are not actually agents at all.One construction firm with projects in the hundreds of millions of dollars had a core operational process that took 10 people three months to complete. Ruh AI turned that same process into an overnight task.Solar contractors are sitting on a lead generation opportunity that most have never considered. AI agents make it possible to act on it at scale, at almost no cost.The administrative burden of running a billion-dollar construction or solar company is staggering. Anglen explains exactly which back-office functions AI agents are already handling, and what that means for headcount.Anglen gives a clear breakdown of what it actually costs to build and run a custom AI agent, from the entry-level option any business owner can start today to the complex systems designed to replace entire departments.Anglen shares a number that reframes the entire AI conversation. It is not about chatbots or writing emails. It is about the total size of the knowledge economy and how much of it AI is already capable of doing without a human in the loop.Solar and EPC companies are already operating under margin pressure, competing on thin spreads while administrative overhead continues to grow. The tools Jesse Anglen describes are available today, at a price point that is lower than hiring a single full-time employee. The window to adopt these systems before competitors do is narrowing fast.Connect with Jesse AnglenLinked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseanglen/Website: https://www.ruh.ai/ Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

What is social value? It's a messy, ill-defined beast that's increasingly a core component of public procurement, and it's something that we worked on recently so it's been front of our minds.We invited Michael McLaughlin (LHC Procurement Group) onto the show to talk through what he thinks about social value, and what he thinks it could be if the sector was able to organise itself better. No shade intended and we're not suggesting that it's easy to fix things, but we have looked into it. While there's a lot of great work being done there are an unconscionable number of opportunities being wasted, and not for want of trying.Notes from the showMichael McLaughlin on LinkedInThe LHC Procurement Group website LHC on LinkedIn **SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

With plans to introduce a minimum EPC rating of C to the private rented sector moving forward apace, this month's podcast looks at what this means for you. Proposals to introduce the minimum rating in 2030 will require landlords to spend up to £10,000 per property on upgrades, with the Government also launching a consultation into plans to revise the way EPCs are calculated. We speak to Caroline Postles, existing dwellings technical team manager at Elmhurst Energy (www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk) about what the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) plans will mean in practice, with Lisa Steele, lending director at Paragon Bank (www.paragonbank.co.uk) looking at funding options for improvements – and the impact of the new rules when it comes to getting a buy-to-let mortgage. We are also joined by Emma Grant, head of trade experience  and commercial partnerships at Checkatrade (www.checkatrade.com) about how to ensure you find the right person for improvement works, and the potential impact of the drastic shortfall of trained trades on the Government's plans. Elsewhere in the show Landlord Support Adviser, Connor Cathcart joins us to talk about the calls coming into us this month, with the Renters' Rights Act, specifically the new tenant information sheet coming out on top. He runs through what you need to know – with further information on this, and all things Renters' Rights available on our exclusive member hub here: https://www.nrla.org.uk/resources/renters-rights  How can I watch? You can listen and watch the podcast via the NRLA website at https://www.nrla.org.uk/news/listen-up-landlords-podcast,  or via your preferred streaming service. To watch the video, you will need to tune in via  Spotify or by watch the show on YouTube. If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords. For all podcast enquiries email press@nrla.org.uk  To watch the YouTube recording click below: More information ACCREDITATION: You can now pick up a CPD point to be used towards NRLA accreditation by listening to the podcast. To log your point, visit the accreditation dashboard in the 'Your Account' section of the NRLA website. Select 'Other' then 'NRLA Podcast' from the dropdown menu. To read a full transcript of the show visit: https://www.nrla.org.uk/news/listen-up-landlords-podcast For more on the NRLA's work on energy efficiency visit: https://www.nrla.org.uk/campaigns/energy-efficiency Listen Up Landlords is brought to you by the NRLA Hosted by: Richard Blanco Produced by: Sally Walmsley Video Production: Alexandra Southerington

Lucy Lyons of Kestrix joins us this week to talk about their use of drones, infrared imaging, and AI to quicken the pace of retrofit surveying. Specifically, with regard to a case study detailing their work with Peabody housing association.Kestrix is a software company that works with landlords to assess their building stock in terms of which homes need help and whether the retrofit works that have been carried out are performing. They use their sophisticated broad-brush surveys and image analysis is is designed to help asset owners get the greatest value out of stretched budgets and capacity, investing time wisely and proving value for money.Notes from the showLucy Lyons on LinkedInKestrix on LinkedIn The Kestrix website The Kestrix & Peabody case study that we refer toNational Audit Office report of retrofit performance: Energy efficiency installations under ECONHMF award 'Best Warm Home Initiative' 2026New Study Suggests Using AI Made Doctors Less Skilled at Spotting Cancer**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Third-party testing shows robotic solar panel installation reduces micro cracks and defects by 16 to 20%. In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Jay Wong, CEO of Luminous Robotics, and Andy Klump, longtime solar industry advisor, at RE+ Boston. They walk through the new Lumi 4 robot, its autonomous pallet bot companion, and how robotics-as-a-service delivers 20 to 30% cost reduction for EPCs and mechanical installers. This conversation covers where robotic solar construction stands today and why labor shortages make adoption urgent.Here's what you'll learn in this conversation about robotic solar installation and the future of utility-scale construction:Find out how the Lumi 4 robot was redesigned since last year, with a smaller form factor that fits under torque tubes and adapts to varying site conditions.Learn how Luminous Robotics pairs an autonomous pallet bot with the installation robot to separate material staging from panel placement, bringing factory-style Lean process optimization to the field.You'll hear why third-party testing by an independent engineering firm confirmed 16 to 20% fewer microcracks and defects with robotic installation compared to manual crews.Understand the cents-per-watt, robotics-as-a-service pricing model that gives customers 20 to 30% cost reduction from day one without owning or maintaining the equipment.Andy Klump explains why developers who have safe-harbored gigawatts of equipment will face a labor shortage in 2027 and 2028, and why many systems will not connect to the grid on time without large-scale robotic deployment.With a wave of safe-harbored solar projects set to break ground in the next two years, the construction workforce will not scale fast enough to meet demand. Robotic installation is moving from proof of concept to commercial deployment, and EPCs who adopt early, stand to gain a measurable cost and quality advantage on utility-scale projects.Reach Jay and Andy Here Jay Wong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaymingwong/Luminous: https://www.luminousrobotics.com/Andy Klump: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aklump/ Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Baz Iyer (Vulcan) and Stephen Lloyd (Savills Earth) join us to talk about the likely impact of the UK's long-awaited Future Homes Standard (FHS) and, perhaps more importantly, the Home Energy Model (HEM).HEM is the new model that will inform the UK's Energy Performance Certification (EPC) rating system. It's much more detailed in terms of the information that it demands about the buildings it is being used to rate, and therefore much more demanding of the assessors.But this means that it can be much more useful for modelling the energy performance of buildings because it will better reflect how the building will be experienced by its users.  It won't be perfect but the level of detail that it demands means that homeowners may be able to use EPCs to make meaningful decisions about how to improve the buildings in which they live. This also means that, in time, it is conceivable that HEM can become a design tool in the same way designers use PHPP to predict performance and calibrate design. That's certainly what Baz is planning and why he and Stephen have been interrogating the place HEM will occupy in the UK construction sector, the impact it might have on its culture, and the opportunity that its adoption will open up.If anyone needs some help getting to grips with this I'd recommend they connect with Baz, he's very friendly and well-informed.Notes from the showBaz Iyer on LinkedInStephen Lloyd on LinkedIn The Vulcan websiteThe Savills Earth websiteVulcan on LinkedInOld ZAP #1 - 'Incompetence still reigns supreme' in energy ratings: DPE certification, EPCs, BERs, and a little bit of ESGOld ZAP #2 - ZAP Shady business #1 – overheating, and Camden: we should think about solar gain all year round, with Zoe De Grussa (BBSA)**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Most energy projects look solid on paper. Fewer stay on track in the field.Brandon Moss sees the difference every day.Energy demand is rising. Load growth is real. Timelines are tightening.So what actually keeps large energy projects on track?In this conversation, Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals, shares what he sees from the center of utility-scale deployment. Shoals touches a significant portion of U.S. solar projects, giving Brandon a rare vantage point into how projects are planned, where they slip, and what separates strong operators from the rest.We discuss:What the biggest EPCs are prioritizing right nowWhere early decisions create downstream riskWhy partnership is replacing transactional procurementHow labor constraints are shaping engineering and designWhat “bankable” and “buildable” really mean in today's marketHow AI and load growth are changing the urgency around deliveryBrandon also reflects on the shift from private to public leadership, the responsibility that comes with scaling a business, and why simplicity and execution still win.If you're building projects, financing them, or planning infrastructure in a volatile policy and trade environment, this episode offers practical insight from someone who sits at the center of it.Hit play and learn from a leader who sees where projects succeed and where they break.Are there other technologies you've scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is also sponsored by Nextpower!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

We sat down with Anna Moore, CEO of Domna Group, to talk about its approach to the business of retrofit, pragmatic retrofit strategy, and long-term asset management for landlords. All underpinned by a layer of data collation and machine learning.Domna is currently retrofitting around 10,000 homes per year through grant-funded and self-funded programmes, using an integrated asset management—strategy to: deliver impact and savings through a mix of strategy, support on funding, management of delivery, and quality assurance. Importantly, Anna knows her stuff and she is fun, too.Notes from the showAnna Moore on LinkedInDomna Group on LinkedIn The Domna website (sign up in the footer)**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Most solar asset owners still manage performance data the same way they did 10 years ago. Dan Leary, founder of Denowatts, says that needs to change. In this episode, recorded live at RE+ Northeast in Boston, Tim Montague sits down with Leary and Doug Macmillan of Portside Systems to explore energy accounting, a method for identifying exactly where solar production losses occur and what owners and operators should do about them. Denowatts is collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories to build what Leary calls "GAAP for solar," a common standard for reporting and benchmarking solar asset performance. If you manage solar assets or invest in solar projects, this conversation explains how better data practices lead to more predictable returns.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSDan Leary explains that most solar operators still manage data the way they did a decade ago, despite significant advances in monitoring and analysis tools. Denowatts built a smarter weather station (the Deno) and a real-time analytics platform to close that gap.Denowatts breaks down solar production losses into four categories: climate-related issues, modeling errors, external factors beyond anyone's control, and problems within the commercial boundary that owners and operators are able to fix. This framework gives asset managers clear direction on where to focus recovery efforts.Doug Macmillan explains Portside's role as the system integrator for the Denowatts platform on distributed generation sites. Portside handles design, equipment fabrication, delivery, and commissioning, working from their UL 508 panel shop.This episode is for solar asset managers, project developers, EPCs, and clean energy investors who want more from their performance data. With Denowatts and Sandia Labs working toward a common reporting standard, the solar industry is moving closer to the kind of financial transparency that attracts long-term capital. If you own or operate solar assets, the time to modernize your data strategy is now.Connect with Dan Leary and Doug MacmillanDan Leary Denowatts Doug Macmillan Portside Systems Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

The 30% investment tax credit is going away. The safe harbor window closes July 3, 2026. After that, commercial solar stands on its own. So what separates the companies that thrive from the ones that disappear? Costa Nicolaou, founder and CEO of PanelClaw, joins Tim Montague at RE+ Northeast in Boston for a direct conversation about surviving and growing in the post-ITC market. This episode covers domestic manufacturing strategy, FEOC compliance, logistics innovation, and three specific moves every solar installer and EPC should make right now.Episode Highlights- The ITC was a runway, not a permanent subsidy. Costa frames the 30% credit as a 10-year opportunity to build manufacturing capacity, drive innovation, and prepare for an unsubsidized market. The companies that treated it as a margin cushion instead of a building tool are the ones at risk.- PanelClaw doubled its US manufacturing capacity in 2022 and expanded again. The company operates a full just-in-time domestic production model. No inventory. Enough capacity to serve the entire US flat roof market from American facilities.- PanelClaw is the only flat roof racking company with 100% FEOC compliance for the January 1 through July 3, 2026 window. Their products qualify for the complete domestic content stack: rail, structural fastener, and production.- ClawLogic gives EPCs real-time visibility into every order. Line items, pallet sizes, pallet weights, ship dates, and a live truck tracker. Costa modeled it after Amazon's delivery tracking experience. The platform has been live for three years. No competitor in flat roof racking has replicated it. PanelClaw is now launching ClawLogic in Europe.- Costa delivers three rules for solar installers preparing for the post-ITC market. First, resist the race to the bottom. Second, pursue extreme collaboration across the value chain. Third, ask every supplier about their innovation roadmap. The safe harbor window is closing. FEOC compliance deadlines are active now. The decisions you make this year on partners, manufacturing, and operations will determine whether your company leads or exits by 2028.Connect with Costa Nicolaou LinkedInWebsite Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

How micro power plants on residential rooftops are reducing electricity costs and removing power utility bottlenecks.

Civ Robotics is automating construction layout—the process of translating blueprints into physical markers on job sites—using autonomous ground robots instead of traditional surveying crews. Founded by civil engineer Tom Yeshurun after he spent $2 million on a four-person surveying team for a single project, Civ has scaled from initial concept to deploying robots across the United States, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East, with 12 robots currently operating in Saudi Arabia alone. In this episode, Tom breaks down his tactical approach to product-market fit, why he pivoted from aerial drones to ground vehicles based on customer feedback, and how he's building sales teams by recruiting construction professionals rather than traditional sales reps. Topics Discussed: How Tom identified the construction layout automation opportunity while managing $120-500 million infrastructure projects The two-year pivot from aerial drones to ground robots after target customers cited safety concerns Market differences between Israel and the US: subcontracted surveying firms versus in-house EPC operations Converting tier-one contractors like Bechtel and Primoris through persistence and geographic proof points The product development framework: one request = document, two requests = build, three requests = should be done Transitioning from paid digital ads to SEO/AIO optimization with measurable improvements in inbound quality Using AI workflows to audit website metadata and align content with buyer personas instead of investor messaging Sales hiring strategy: grooming construction engineers into customer success and sales roles versus hiring pure sales talent International expansion through remote deployment and a LinkedIn-driven sale that generated 12 robots in Saudi Arabia Product roadmap from layout automation to machine guidance and full construction equipment autonomy GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Interview customers in your actual target geography, not just accessible markets: Tom built his initial prototype after interviewing Israeli and European companies, but the US market operates fundamentally differently—EPCs like Bechtel and Primoris handle surveying in-house due to volume, while Israeli EPCs subcontract to surveying firms. This changed the buyer persona, sales motion, and value proposition entirely. When he finally interviewed US companies, the feedback was immediate and actionable. Don't optimize for interview convenience—validate where you plan to sell. Let technical decisions be customer-driven, not engineering-driven: Tom's team spent two years developing an aerial drone solution because it was technically more complex and exciting for engineers. Three early adopters said they liked the concept but feared the drone—if it was ground-based, they'd reconsider. Tom scrapped two years of development and rebuilt for ground vehicles. His takeaway: bring both options to target customers before committing development resources. Engineering preferences create technical risk; customer preferences create market risk. Use the "one-two-three rule" for product prioritization: Tom's framework eliminates guesswork in product roadmaps: one customer requests a feature, document it; two customers request it, begin development; three customers request it, it should already be shipped. This prevents building "cool features" that product managers or engineers want but customers don't need, and ensures development resources map directly to revenue opportunities. Deploy proof before the pitch to collapse enterprise sales cycles: When a major contractor asked if Civ's robot could handle Texas mud, Tom responded that they already had a robot deployed "literally a mile away" on an adjacent project. That proximity proof turned a Wednesday discovery call into a Monday deployment, followed by a one-month trial and conversion to a customer now running 15 robots. For hardware or complex B2B sales, having operational deployments near prospects eliminates the biggest objection: "will this actually work in our environment?" Position yourself as a peer, not a vendor: Tom doesn't introduce himself as CEO or founder in sales conversations—he leads with his background as a civil engineer and field engineer who managed the same types of projects his buyers manage. This reframes the conversation from vendor-buyer to peer-to-peer, making it easier to discuss pain points candidly. In technical industries, domain credibility matters more than sales technique. If you lack it personally, your customer-facing team must have it. Audit your website metadata as a conversion optimization lever: Tom discovered his road robot product page was showing solar farm videos in link previews because metadata wasn't optimized per product line. His team systematically reviewed every page's metadata, primary content, and video assets to ensure alignment with the specific buyer viewing that page. This granular optimization improved inbound quality measurably. Most B2B companies ignore metadata entirely—it's a high-leverage, low-effort fix. Hire from industry for sales, hire generalists for marketing: Tom's board challenged him to "duplicate himself" as the company's best seller. His answer: recruit former construction project managers and field engineers who already communicate effectively and understand buyer pain points, then train them on sales process. For marketing, the talent pool with construction automation experience is too small, so he hired a generalist. This isn't about industry knowledge being unimportant—it's about recognizing where domain expertise is essential (customer-facing) versus learnable (content creation). Create reciprocal value loops with influential customers: One customer produces professional-quality content about Civ's robots because showcasing innovation differentiates him with his own clients. Tom reciprocates by cutting the subscription price by 50%, explicitly framing it as "you're a great influencer and helping us spread the word." This relationship generated Civ's Saudi Arabia opportunity—12 robots sold—when the customer's LinkedIn post drew a comment from a prospect. Identify which customers benefit from being seen as early adopters, then structure commercial terms that reward amplification. // Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM Meta Description: Tom Yeshurun, Co-Founder & CEO at Civ Robotics, shares his framework for product-market fit, hiring construction pros into sales roles, and scaling robotics deployments internationally on BUILDERS.

We're back! And we're talking about the value of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) with Tom Robins and Leigh Fairbrother of Switchee.Their business is POE for landlords that's intended to improve the quality of life for the residents that they rely on. Capturing sensor data, analysing it, and synthesising that into something their clients can use.Essentially, this means validating the quality of fabric, the impact of retrofit works, and anticipating car crashes—metaphorical ones.We get a really helpful explanation of Awaab's Law around 25–30 minutes in, too. (Thank you Leigh.)Notes from the showTom Robins on LinkedInLeigh Fairbrother on LinkedIn The Switchee website (sign up in the footer)Switchee on LinkedInPH+ coverage of that early work in Thamesmead (the Clockwork Orange estate) **SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Abu Riaz, CEO and Founder of AMS Renewables, to discuss what it takes to scale a solar and storage EPC in today's rapidly evolving clean energy market. Abu shares how AMS Renewables grew out of a traditional construction background into a fast-scaling EPC platform, executing projects across commercial, community solar, and utility-scale segments. The conversation highlights why construction discipline, capital planning, and execution are critical differentiators in solar and storage development. Key topics include: How AMS Renewables evolved from C&I rooftop projects to large-scale community solar Why solar is fundamentally a construction-driven business The front-loaded capital and procurement challenges EPCs face at NTP Scaling without outside investors and maintaining operational flexibility Navigating industry disruption, EPC bankruptcies, and talent shifts The growing opportunity in solar + storage and standalone storage projects Managing risk, due diligence, and vendor compliance in a changing regulatory environment Leadership lessons from building a resilient EPC through market cycles This episode is a must-listen for developers, EPCs, and clean energy entrepreneurs looking to build durable, execution-focused businesses in the solar and storage industry.   About the Solar Maverick Podcast The Solar Maverick Podcast is a leading clean energy podcast hosted by Benoy Thanjan, Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy. The show features in-depth conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers shaping the future of solar, storage, and the global energy transition.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   Abu Riaz, Founder & CEO of AMS Renewable Energy Abu Riaz is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AMS Renewable Energy, a solar and energy storage EPC (“Engineering, Procurement, and Construction”) firm based in New York focused on delivering large-scale distributed solar and storage solutions across the United States. Under his leadership, AMS has grown into a nationally respected solar EPC with deep expertise in project execution, from pre-construction planning through engineering, procurement, and construction management.  Abu holds a degree in Mathematics and Finance from Columbia University and continually expands his industry knowledge through ongoing education in energy and finance, grounding his business strategy in both technical rigor and financial insight.  Throughout his tenure, he has guided AMS Renewable Energy in completing numerous solar projects and scaling its capabilities, including strategic initiatives to expand the company's portfolio and service footprint. AMS is known for its commitment to quality, integrity, and delivering high-performance renewable energy assets for developers, independent power producers, and community solar stakeholders.  Under Abu's leadership, AMS has also pursued industry growth through strategic moves such as its acquisition of Collective Solar, enhancing AMS's construction capacity and positioning the firm to meet rising demand for distributed solar solutions across the Northeast and beyond.    Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/       Abu Riaz     Website: https://www.amsepc.com/     Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/abu-riaz-5a442663/   Please provide 5 star reviews      If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition.    Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

In this episode of The D2D Podcast, Hunter Lee sits down with Justin Brach, CEO of SubcontractorHub, to break down what new and struggling door to door reps often miss about the contracting world. Justin brings nearly two decades of experience building and rescuing large construction organizations.Justin explains why so many contractors and solar companies collapse when they scale too fast, especially when teams chase volume without understanding cash flow, WIP timelines, and the dangers of becoming asset heavy. He also shares how SubcontractorHub solves this by connecting sales orgs and EPCs into one ecosystem, improving transaction speed and allowing reps to work with multiple installers under one roof.Reps will hear timely perspectives on AI in sales, why it will never eliminate door to door, and how AI is reshaping permitting, project management, lending, and operational efficiency behind the scenes. Justin breaks down how the most sustainable companies grow by staying capital efficient, compressing timelines, and putting customer outcomes above quick wins.You'll find answers to key questions such as: What causes new contracting and solar companies to fail when trying to scale fast?How does being asset light and capital efficient protect a D2D sales business?Why will AI never replace door to door sales reps?How do WIP timelines and cash flow delays impact installs and commissions? How can reps benefit from a decentralized platform that connects them to multiple EPCs? Connect with Justin Brach Website: https://subcontractorhub.comInstagram: @SubcontractorHub

Most people in solar avoid the uncomfortable conversation: what happens when systems age, warranties expire, components fail, and the original installer is long gone.Cesar Barbosa — founder of NuLife Power Services — has built a business around the part of the industry nobody wants to talk about: decommissioning, system remediation, and repowering. In this episode, Cesar breaks down why aging commercial solar is becoming a massive opportunity, the common failure points he's seeing in the field, and why he believes repowering is the next frontier for EPCs, developers, and asset owners.We also get into the “New Life Method,” the real economics behind end-of-life planning, the ethics of second-life solar in developing markets, and the leadership disciplines required to build a trades business that lasts — including how Cesar's faith shapes the way he leads.In this episode, you'll learn:Why repowering may outpace new installs as the next big services waveWhat most asset owners and EPCs get wrong about end-of-life planningThe real-world failure points showing up in aging systemsHow contractors can pivot into repowering and remediation workThe “3 Rs” of end-of-life PV: repurpose, refurbish, recycleIf you're in solar and not thinking about end-of-life... its time to start.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Alex Modon is CEO and Co-founder of Unlimited Industries, a company transforming infrastructure development through AI-driven automation. Unlimited tackles one of the biggest bottlenecks in climate and industrial innovation: the outdated, risk-averse world of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). Traditional EPCs are often misaligned with the needs of first-of-a-kind projects. Unlimited flips the script by using AI to generate thousands of design permutations, drastically cutting feedback loops, iteration time, and overall cost. Alex shares how his background in software, combined with childhood exposure to industrial environments, inspired him to take on this hard problem—and why he believes the only way to build faster is to rebuild the entire system from the ground up.Episode recorded on July 29 (Published on Dec 3)In this episode, we cover: ⁠[03:15] An overview of EPCs[05:05] How EPCs make money[07:06] Why FOAK projects face EPC challenges[10:02] Reducing marginal cost of engineering design with AI[12:35] Alex's pivot from software to infrastructure[15:39] Why EPCs resist adopting AI tools[19:14] Unlimited's capital projects platform explained[23:41] How Unlimited manages physical construction[26:36] The company's vision of fully autonomous construction in the future[28:08] Why physical abundance drives Alex Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan talks with Jon Semingson, President of Peak Demand, a leading recruitment firm focused on renewable energy and clean technology. Jon shares an inside look at how the intense growth of solar, storage and broader renewables is reshaping the talent market, what companies are doing right and wrong when hiring, and what candidates should focus on to stand out. Benoy and Jon also dive into how recent policy changes and the “Big Beautiful Bill” landscape are influencing demand for specific skill sets, plus key takeaways from this year's RE+ Las Vegas and what they signal about the future of the clean energy workforce. What You'll Learn In This Episode How Peak Demand became a go-to recruiting partner for solar, storage and clean energy companies The most in-demand roles in today's renewable energy market How policy shifts and incentives are changing hiring needs across development, EPC, asset management and finance Compensation and hiring trends for 2025 and beyond How remote work, hybrid models and geographic flexibility are affecting recruiting strategies Common mistakes solar and storage companies make when trying to hire top talent Practical tips for candidates who want to break into or move up in the renewable energy industry Key themes Jon and Benoy saw at RE+ and what they reveal about where the industry is headed How founders and executives can build teams that scale with rapid growth and market volatility   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Jon Semingson Jon Semingson is the President of Peak Demand, a recruitment firm specializing in renewable energy, clean technology and the broader energy transition. Peak Demand partners with developers, IPPs, EPCs, manufacturers and investors to help them hire top talent across leadership, commercial, technical and operational roles. Peak Demand focuses on long-term partnerships, understanding both company culture and candidate motivations to build teams that can scale in a fast-moving, highly competitive market like solar and storage.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website:  https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com   Jon Semingson  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solarrecruiter/       Website:  https://peakdemandinc.com/   Email:  jon@inpeakdemand.com   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition.   Join Us for the Winter Solstice Fundraiser!  I'm excited to invite you to our Winter Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast on Thursday, December 4th from 6–10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ! https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1919391 This event brings together clean energy leaders, entrepreneurs, and friends to celebrate the season while raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which installs solar and storage systems for families and communities in need in Puerto Rico. We'll have: -Great food and drinks -Amazing networking with solar and sustainability professionals -Sports memorabilia auctions (with proceeds benefiting Let's Share the Sun) -An inspiring community focused on making an impact through solar energy If you or your company would like to get involved as a sponsor, please message us at info@reneuenergy.com.  

Most solar projects are still built the hard way—treating structure, electrical, and software as separate scopes that have to be stitched together in the field. But the teams delivering gigawatts today know something different: solar plants work best when they're designed as systems, not parts.In this Tactical Tuesday, Nico sits down with three of the people shaping that shift inside Nextpower: Jake Morin (Chief Product Officer), Ryan Schofield (VP of Electrical Systems), and Jyoti Jain (Head of Software Product Management).Together, they break down what actually changes when you integrate structure, eBOS, data, and software upstream—and why EPCs, developers, and owners are turning toward system-level thinking to reduce rework, prevent failures, and build faster.Expect practical insights like:

We met in a conference room at an office in Barrington, IL. A place where sometime later a couple guys thought they'd screw me in a business deal. I came out ahead in the end, but the place has mixed memories.   This meeting involved thinking about the future of asset data and systems interoperability. We had a system diagram. The idea was to solve a huge problem for owner/operators of process manufacturing enterprises—flowing engineering data into other software systems for operations, maintenance, and enterprise. The incumbent system was a morass of paper (or pdf documents which was much the same thing).   We did trademark searches and domain name searches and eventually settled on the Open Industrial Interoperability Ecosystem—OIIE.   I plot this history for context for the conference I attended recently—the 2nd ADIF Workshop at Texas A&M University dubbed Driving Asset Data and Systems Interoperability Toward an Open and Neutral Data Ecosystem.   This workshop brought together owner/operators, EPCs, System Integrators, university researchers, standards organizations, and software vendors. Each group conducted a panel discussion of its needs and successes. I was there for a short presentation and to moderate the standards panel.   Professor David Jeong from Texas A&M and the session leader previewed the discussions. One of his colleagues later presented research his team has performed to provide a method for taking P&ID documentation into a standard format usable by other software systems.   The message that came to me from the panel of owner/operators (grossly summarized, as will be all the discussions) included two key words—collaborate and operationalize. They are impatient about solving this data interoperability problem. One panelist quipped, "We know the project is finished when the large van backs into the loading dock and disgorges mountains of paper."   What blows my mind is that I was moved to a position called Data Manager in 1977 to tackle the (much smaller) mountain of paper our product engineering department provided to operations, accounting, and inventory management. I led a digitalization effort in 1978 to tackle the problem. The problem not only remains, but it is immensely more complicated and critical.   The EPCs basically said that their hands were tied by the owner/operators mandating which design and engineering software to use and the inflexibility of the vendors of said design and engineering software. When owner/operators had requested digital documentation, they had responded with pdfs. Hardly interoperable data.   Our standards panel included the leader of DEXPI, whose organization has developed a method of changing P&ID data into an xlsx (Excel) format. That, of course, is a good start.   An organization called CFIHOS (see-foss) presented their take on standards. I'm afraid I got a bit lost in the slides (note: more research needed). What I gathered was that they were attempting one overriding standard—and that that work was years away. Interesting that I listened to Benedict Evans' podcast this morning. He is a long-time tech industry analyst. He remarked in another context, "It seems that where there are 10 standards and someone comes along with a standard to encompass them all, you wind up with 11 standards."   The ISA-95 was presented. This messaging (and more) standard is incorporated with the OIIE, which was presented next. Dr. Markus Stumptner of the University of South Australia presented his research work on proof of concept of the OIIE.   If we can get enough momentum focusing on this area and find some SIs willing to take the OIIE to an owner/operator, perhaps we can finally prove the business case of asset data and systems interoperability.

Batteries aren't just supporting the grid anymore, they are defending the grid.Chris Finley, CCO of TruGrid, joins Nico on stage at PowerUp Live to explain how battery storage has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a mission-critical asset class. Whether it's enabling arbitrage in ERCOT or powering hyperscale data centers, battery systems are now leading the charge, literally.From the complexities of supply chains to the myths about lithium tech, Chris shares a practical, from-the-field perspective on what it takes to deliver large-scale battery projects in today's challenging market. He also breaks down how policy shifts and interconnection delays are forcing EPCs to rethink how they plan and execute storage projects.Expect to learn:

#EP317 The solar industry faces a defining moment in Q4 2025. While regulatory challenges create uncertainty, well-capitalized players treat this period as a buying opportunity. Daniel Dus, CEO and founder of Cleantech Industry Resources (CIR), breaks down the market dynamics and explains how his company's global expertise positions it to thrive during industry consolidation.Daniel Dus founded CIR to provide development, construction, and operations services for solar and battery storage projects. His team of 140 professionals across three offices in India and the United States brings proven experience from building some of the world's largest solar installations, including work with Adani Green Energy as it scaled from startup to 16 gigawatts in operation.Key Discussion Points:The current solar market has split into thirds: one-third undercapitalized and struggling, one-third in wait-and-see mode, and one-third aggressively acquiring projects with strong capital backing - creating opportunities for companies like CIR that can execute complex transactions.CIR serves 150 clients across the solar value chain, providing everything from interconnection studies and permit-ready planset packages to full EPC services, with particular expertise in rescuing distressed projects and navigating complex utility requirements.CIR's competitive advantage comes from its India-based technical teams, who have worked on massive international projects, bringing world-class expertise at competitive rates to US developers who struggle with margin compression.Solar Fight Night, Dus's passion project since 2008, has raised nearly $2 million for clean energy nonprofits through 24+ events. The 2025 event at Las Vegas's Zouk Nightclub drew over 3,300 attendees, the largest crowd in the event's history.Tim Montague is an affiliate of CIR and welcomes developers and EPCs to contact him for more information about working with CIR. [Book here: https://calendly.com/tim-montague/30min]Connect with Daniel Dus, CIR LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danielrdusWebsite: cleantechindustryresources.comSolar Fight Night: www.solarfightnight.org/ Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

What happens when a builder and a coder decide to fix solar's biggest disconnect?In this episode, SunCast host Nico Johnson sits down with Maksim Markevich and Ben Callam, the co-founders of PV Farm—a platform born from frustration with designs that look perfect on screen but fall apart in the field.Maksim, a self-taught engineer from Belarus, learned to code his way out of rebar spreadsheets and into a global following on YouTube. Ben, an architect who traded drawings for job sites across Africa and the Middle East, discovered what buildability really means when you have to fabricate every part yourself.Their paths couldn't have been more different, yet both led to the same realization: most solar design tools fail the buildability test. PV Farm grew out of that shared conviction—bridging the gap between upstream creativity and downstream execution.You'll hear:

Episode Summary: In this special crossover episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Ana Conde from PVcase  originally featured on her Watt Matters Podcast to break down one of the most critical stages of solar project development: site selection and feasibility. From choosing the right land and navigating interconnection hurdles to understanding permitting, moratoriums, and evolving market dynamics, Benoy shares hard-earned lessons from developing over 100 MW of solar projects across the U.S. He also discusses how technology, AI, and relationships all play a role in finding and executing the right solar sites. This conversation is packed with practical insights for developers, EPCs, investors, and anyone who wants to understand how the best projects actually get built. Topics Covered: What truly defines a “good” solar site and how to spot red flags early How developers can evaluate flat land, proximity to three-phase power, and interconnection feasibility The growing challenges in saturated markets like New York and New Jersey How to navigate solar moratoriums, endangered species issues, and permitting Real-world lessons from community solar and rooftop projects, including NYCHA's Harlem portfolio The role of AI, GIS tools, and automation in speeding up site selection and design Why relationships, transparency, and trust still matter more than ever How the “Big Beautiful Bill” and regulatory uncertainty are reshaping the solar landscape Trends shaping the future: solar + storage, repowering assets, and new market geographies Notable Quote: “At the end of the day, you can have all the technology in the world, but if you can't build relationships, it's a lot harder to develop great projects. People do business with those they know, like, and trust.” Key Takeaway: Solar success starts long before construction. Smart site selection, community engagement, and disciplined feasibility analysis separate projects that thrive from those that never get off the ground.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   Ana Conde Ana Conde is a seasoned product marketing leader with over 15 years in renewable energy. Known for her strategic mindset and passion for innovation, Ana brings clarity, curiosity, and deep industry knowledge to every conversation. As host of Watt Matters, she explores the ideas, people, and breakthroughs moving solar forward   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Ana Conde      Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-conde-df/ Website:  https://pvcase.com/podcast/s1e2-podcast-science-solar-selection-benoy-thanjan

Host Frank Sohn welcomes Marc de Mey of Merkato Group—the team behind Merkato CPQ and brands Quootz, CPQ Belgium, Sell It Easy, CPQing Solutions, and DOK.legal. Marc shares his path from aircraft mechanics to CPQ leadership and explains how Merkato's low-code/no-code, API-first, headless architecture helps manufacturers move from complex requirements to accurate quotes fast. We compare hands-off vs. hands-on implementation models across the group, and why an external ecosystem of Merkato experts accelerates adoption. You'll hear practical integration patterns with Salesforce, SAP, Epicor, Infor, Odoo, Zoho and CAD tools like PTC Creo and Solidworks. We also cover three buying drivers—capturing hard product knowledge, creating a single source of truth that eliminates double entry, and delivering modern visualization. Best for manufacturers, OEMs, distributors, and EPCs (50–1000 employees), primarily in Europe but with global reach.

Episode Summary: Chris Lettman of Imperial Star Solar, an American-made solar module manufacturer, joins Benoy on the Solar Maverick Podcast to unpack how projects truly qualify for the 10% domestic content adder, why U.S. cells and traceability drive eligibility, and what U.S. manufacturing looks like at Imperial Star's Houston facility. They also discuss supply realities, Tier 1 vs. bankability, and practical insights for developers and EPCs when procuring panels. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Chris Lettman Sales Manager Chris serves as the Sales Manager of the US office at Imperial Star with a primary focus on Utility Scale and C&I clients. He started his solar energy career in 2009 selling turnkey systems to residential and mid-size commercial properties. Since that time, he has been involved in the development, acquisition and construction of numerous large utility scale and commercial scale solar projects throughout the United States. Chris has extensive experience and knowledge in the areas of project development, project finance and equipment sales. Prior to starting his career in the solar industry, Chris was a marketing manager for a publicly held pharmaceutical company in the United States. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He holds an MBA in Business from the University of Redlands California and currently lives in Southern California.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Chris Lettman Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislettman/ Website:  https://www.imperialstar.com/

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar 1 in 5 solar panels are failing—and it's not because of hail. A quiet reliability crisis is cracking open across the industry, and it starts with glass.In this eye-opening conversation, Nico Johnson sits down with Tristan Erion-Lorico (Kiwa PVEL) and Dr. Teresa Barnes (NREL) to uncover why glass breakage has become the #1 cause of solar module failure. Backed by PVEL's latest reliability data, they expose how design shortcuts, material stress, and quality-control lapses are pushing failure rates to an alarming 20%.You'll learn:

Live from RE+ Las Vegas 2025! On episode 34 of the League, David Magid and Benoy Thanjan covered the top clean energy trends we're seeing: Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) innovation — Acura's 2026 luxury EV showcases how EV batteries can provide backup power, resilience, and even revenue for homeowners while integrating into virtual power plants. EPC + supply chain bottlenecks — With new ITC rules and project rushes, developers must coordinate early with EPCs and suppliers to avoid costly delays. M&A momentum — Madison Energy Infrastructure just acquired NextEra Energy Resources DG platform, signaling strong demand for distributed generation. At RE+ we're also seeing retail electricity pricing climb sharply, especially in PJM, making solar even more competitive as the lowest-cost, fastest-to-build source of electricity.  A big thank you to Honda for letting us record this episode from their booth — it was the perfect backdrop to talk about innovation, resilience, and the future of clean energy. Give us 5 minutes and we'll give you the top insights in clean energy.    Host Bio: David Magid David Magid is a seasoned renewable energy executive with deep expertise in solar development, financing, and operations. He has worked across the clean energy value chain, leading teams that deliver distributed generation and community solar projects. David is widely recognized for his strategic insights on interconnection, market economics, and policy trends shaping the U.S. solar industry. Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmagid/   Host Bio: Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Connect with Benoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoythanjan/ Learn more: https://reneuenergy.com   If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

As RE+ 2025 wrapped up in Las Vegas, the mood across the show floor was one of contradiction: anxiety, anger, optimism, and opportunity all rolled into one. In this episode, Sylvia Leyva Martinez – Research Director and analyst covering global solar markets - sits down with Chris Seiple, Vice Chair of Power & Renewables, and Kasim Khan, Senior Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, to unpack the forces shaping today's energy market. From the shockwaves of OB3 and FEOC restrictions, to investors navigating the whiplash of shifting subsidy regimes, Sylvia, Chris and Kassim talk about the conversations they've had with developers and manufacturers. Everyone is facing the same dilemma: double down on building compliant supply chains or hold back in anticipation of yet another policy reversal? Meanwhile, the collapse of early-stage development activity and the race to prove FEOC compliance are reshaping priorities across the industry.But there's more than just uncertainty, there's also innovation. Utilities are experimenting with new ways to fast-track data center interconnections, EPCs are doubling down on execution, and storage is emerging as the wildcard technology that could reshape both grid reliability and investor confidence. With US utilities already committed to 99 GW of new load from data centers - equivalent to nearly 15% of peak demand - the industry faces a defining test. Will the removal of subsidies finally level the playing field for capital, or will it strip away the last federal lever for climate policy? Tune in to hear why industry leaders believe we are living through the most uncertain moment in US clean energy history, and why that uncertainty could also create the biggest opportunities yet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we are joined by Attzaz Rashid (Barratt London) and Joel Callow (Beyond Carbon) to talk about Barratt London's move into Passive House.It was a chance to get into what attracted Barratt to developing this Lo-E homes proposition and how they came to feel confident about committing to deliver certified Passive House apartments, the team effort that's been employed to make it work, and the way this change has brought about a renewed enthusiasm for the job in some of the project's participants.It's a really interesting exploration of how the rigour and challenges of Passive House has affected Barratt's approach to high-density building, and how the Passive House approach has come to be recognised as advantageous to Barratt, in all sorts of ways. Finally, the critique of M&E design that's made late on in the episode is not a Barratt critique—as Az makes abundantly clear—this is one founded in Joel's experience of inheriting issues that require Beyond Carbon's expertise for their resolution.Notes from the showAttzaz Rashid on LinkedInJoel Callow on LinkedIn The Barratt London websiteThe Beyond Carbon websiteDistrict heating and passive house - are they compatible? from the pages of Passive House PlusBarratt launches record passive house scheme also from the pages of Passive House Plus**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Is there a collaboration problem in retrofit within the social housing sector? That was the premise for this conversation with Rafe Bertram, an architect and retrofit expert—appearing in a personal capacity—who was very surprised when I posed the question because he's found collaboration to be a strength in the sector, at least in London.In the end it led to a conversation about what he's learned from the experiences he's had working on retrofits in the social housing sector, in his community, and even doing big flashy Apple stores.The most interesting bit though is the strategy he's using to reduce the cost of retrofit, with his theory of reactive planning. It's an approach that takes a systematic integrated asset management approach and adds strategic opportunism into the mix in a way that enables him to piggyback essential works, like roof replacement, and use them as a catalyst for getting into a building to do the sustainability stuff that's usually a lower priority.Notes from the showRafe Bertram on LinkedinRetrofit Kentish Town The Good Homes Alliance websiteRafe's finance report for the Good Homes Alliance — “The Green Shift – The existing financial incentives for higher environmental performance of new homes” (October 2023) More links to articles about green building, favourable finance, and better valuations:Homebuyers pay a ‘green premium' of up to £40,000 for the most energy efficient properties (September 2021)—Lloyds Banking GroupHalifax includes EPC ratings in maximum lending calculationsHalifax to use EPC rating in affordability calculationsOctopus reducing interest rates for finance capital: 4 criteria = 1.25% discount, 6+ criteria = 2.00% discount**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Daniel Dus, CEO of Clean Tech Industry Resources (CIR) and founder of Solar Fight Night. Daniel shares his unique perspective on how his company is reshaping solar development through “Development as a Service” and “Construction as a Service” models, making it easier for developers, financiers, and EPCs to scale projects efficiently. Benoy and Daniel dive into industry trends, lessons learned from years of experience, and how CIR is positioning itself as a critical partner in today's fast-changing renewable energy landscape. The conversation also highlights one of the largest renewable-energy fundraising events coming up at RE+ in Las Vegas, Solar Fight Night, and why community and collaboration are more important than ever.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   Daniel Dus 18 years in renewable energy C-suite and Board roles, overseeing the completion of over $1 billion worth of renewable energy projects spanning 23 states nationwide. MBA, Stanford Certified Project Manager, Villanova Certified Six Sigma Master Lean Blackbelt, Certificates in Energy Hedging, NERC, Grid Security and SCADA. Previously led the US division of a $32 billion top-three global, fully integrated renewable energy platform, which encompassed PV manufacturing to asset ownership, and was a vital part of a $100 billion multinational corporation. Achieved notable project honors, including a Congressional Certificate of Recognition from the US House of Representatives, Recognition for an Innovative Public-Private Partnership from The White House, and the title of Best Solar Collaboration by Solar Power Generation USA. Served a diverse array of clients, including JP Morgan Chase, Hertz, Westfield Malls, Bridgestone, UCLA, Intuit, Hilton, Panasonic, Macerich, CBS Studios, and numerous cities, such as Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Diego, Santa Monica, Breckenridge, Aurora, Orange, and Southbridge. Seasoned executive with extensive experience in the renewable energy sector. Recognized as the Founder of Shared Estates and Co-Founder of Solar Fight Night, the largest renewable energy non-profit fundraiser worldwide.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com    Daniel Dus Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrdus/ Website:  https://cleantechindustryresources.com/ Solar Fight Night:  https://www.solarfightnight.org/   This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by Leo Berwick. Leo Berwick is a tax, valuation, cost segregation, modeling and financial due diligence advisory firm focused on infrastructure, energy, renewables, and private equity. They are a carefully curated team of top talent within each of these core disciplines. Their sector focus and coordinated teams allow them to move fast, stay efficient, and get deals done.  Whether it's tax structuring, due diligence, financial modeling, valuations, or post-deal support, Leo Berwick covers the full deal lifecycle.  With decades of experience and an acute awareness of commercial considerations that can make or break a deal, Leo Berwick is helping investors unlock value in some of the most important sectors of the future.  To learn more, visit leoberwick.com.

This episode is all about case study in circularity and a group of people turning waste into useful materials for the built environment. Daniel Dinizo and Charmaine Cu-Unjieng of NaturLoop are bringing a new bio-based product to market that transforms waste coconut husk into a material that's something between MDF and a particle board.For us, this presented a chance to talk about how sustainable materials are developed, the challenges of bringing them to market and how responsible businesses can approach supply chain development (the big challenge now). As professionals who work with LCAs, EPDs, and carbon calcs all the time it was refreshing to get into a product that will have an impact that can be accounted for in human terms, as well as the usual economic and environmental terms. They're also fundraising right now, so here's the pitch from Charmaine.NaturLoop at the Final Stage of Pre-Seed Funding"NaturLoop, the Swiss–Philippine climate-tech startup behind Cocoboard, is at the final stage of its pre-seed round. Cocoboard is the first industry-ready fibreboard made entirely from coconut husk waste and natural adhesives—a truly biocircular material. Featured at Interzum Cologne 2025, Cocoboard embodies the shift in construction and furniture toward biocircularity—no longer a trend but the future of materials. Europe's sustainable furniture market is set to more than double to $42.6 bn by 2032, with consumers paying around 10% more for sustainable products. NaturLoop is closing its round soon, inviting strategic investors to co-build a climate-positive business that reduces deforestation and uplifts poor coconut farmers—making the industry more future-proof."Notes from the showCharmaine Cu-Unjieng on LinkedinDaniel Dinizo on Linkedin NaturLoop on Linkedin The NaturLoop websiteA short film about Cocoboard®An investor CTA from CharmaineAn example of Cocoboard in use as a speaker box for a Schwab System**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

In this episode we are exploring the relationship between financial institutions and the built environment in relation to sustainability, building performance and mitigating climate change with Ian Bhullar and Ronnell Reffell from UK Finance, the UK financial sector's membership organisation.The episode itself was prompted by a report that UK Finance published in relation to the incoming UK Government's own Warm Homes Plan: Greening Homes, Creating Growth: Unlocking demand for green home finance. Its recommendations will be familiar to anyone who has been working in the green building sector but it's notable because these arguments and demands are being presented by the banks and lenders.For us this presented an opportunity to find out what the finance sector is actually thinking about how to address the demands of the built environment in relation to climate change and the financial risk that comes with it. Most importantly, they're serious about the matter—this is not ESG-style fluff, they know they need to draw in expertise from built environment professional and they want to know what people like you think.Notes from the showIan Bhullar on LinkedinRonnell Reffell on Linkedin The UK Finance website The report itself—Greening Homes, Creating Growth: Unlocking demand for green home finance**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Nextracker just made yet another bold move…What if a robot could detect a solar failure before it happens—and build the repair plan to deploy the right resources to the precise location, in real time?That's not science fiction. It's what OnSight Technology is already doing on numerous utility-scale solar farms across the US. And Nextracker have officially acquired OnSight Technology! So, if you're here because you're asking yourself “What the heck? Why did NXT Buy this company, and what do they actually do?!” then you're in luck!In this exclusive episode—recorded before the news dropped—we sat down with Derek Chase, Founder & CEO of OnSight, at their HQ in Sacramento, CA for an inside peek at the autonomous robotics platform that just made headlines.From the Bulldog robot that scans sites with 3D vision and thermal imaging to the OwlCam that detects smoke and fire in real-time, OnSight is setting the standard for predictive, AI-powered solar O&M. But I believe that Derek and his team of NASA Scientists are up to much more than just optimizing solar.It's not just impressive tech—it's a full-stack solution that saves developers, EPCs, and asset owners millions in avoidable losses.If you care about the future of solar performance (Or are just curious about the tech behind Nextracker's latest acquisition), this is a must-listen.Expect to hear:

We're joined by our new friends from Building Atlas, Nick Taylor and Olga Khroustaleva, who join us for a conversation about commercial retrofit—the non-residential kind. They've got a data driven business Building Atlas that helps commercial asset owners to plan pragmatic retrofit pathways for commercial real estate.This isn't just important because of how much energy the non-residential sector consumes, it's also because 70% of non-residential building assets are on course to become stranded assets because of their EPC rating and MEES regulation.They are simplifying a complex problem into something that's comprehensible—aggregating experience (and data) to give broad brush stroke direction that's useful. They've also published a paper about retrofit strategy for commercial buildings: The Beauty in Boring Buildings: The Business Case for Retrofit Beyond Flagship Assets.Notes from the showNick Taylor on LinkedIn Olga Khroustaleva on LinkedIn The Building Atlas website Their recent paper — The Beauty in Boring Buildings: The Business Case for Retrofit Beyond Flagship AssetsUK Government MEES guidance — Non-domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Nextracker has proven its market dominance for more than a decade, and has practically rewritten the playbook on utility-scale solar globally. Lately, they've been on an acquisition spree, further fueling their market dominance and diversifying to better serve their customers. If you, like us, are on the outside looking in wondering “how they heck do they do it?”, then this episode will give you a glimpse inside the magnificent machine that is NXT!Jonathan Eastwood, Nextracker's SVP of Sales, has seen the clean energy industry evolve from the ground up—literally. In this long-awaited episode, Jonathan joins Nico to share how product innovation, customer obsession, and strategic M&A are helping solve solar's most urgent challenges, from logistics chaos to catastrophic hail risk.It's a rare peek behind the curtain on how NextTracker has become more than just another manufacturing partner—offering not just parts, but fully integrated systems that EPCs and owners trust to perform. From solving logistics bottlenecks with proprietary software to designing hail-proof stow systems that win over insurers, Eastwood shares the innovations—and the culture—that keep NextTracker at the front of the pack.You'll hear what most people get wrong about trackers, how customer feedback led to some of NextTracker's biggest breakthroughs, and why integrated solutions—not just price—are winning deals in 2025. Expect to learn:

Sponsored content from Shoals Technologies Group.EBOS – electrical balance of systems – includes everything that carries electricity from solar panels to the grid: wiring, switches, connector boxes and other components. It might not grab headlines, but it's the backbone of every solar and storage project, and is essential to performance, reliability and project success. In this special episode of The Energy Gang, host Ed Crooks talks with Stephen LaFleur, Senior Director of Sales for Utility-Scale Solar at Shoals Technologies Group, about why getting EBOS right is critical. Stephen explains how incorporating EBOS early in project planning helps EPCs and developers avoid delays, lower costs, and ensure long-term reliability.Connectors are just one example of an EBOS component that can cause serious issues. A recent report from HelioVolta found that 83% of projects surveyed had at least one connector-related issue, many of them due to simple installation mistakes. In one solar portfolio, connector failure and replacement costs added up to nearly 60% of annual revenues. So how can developers avoid that kind of severe cost impact? Stephen and Ed discuss. Also joining the conversation is Grant Reasor – he's an Associate Electrical Engineer for Solar PV and Storage Projects at Burns & McDonnell, the international architecture, engineering and construction firm. From a project engineer's point of view, he unpacks why EBOS matters more than ever, especially as the industry shifts to higher voltages and looks to repower aging solar sites.The solar and storage industries are evolving fast. Stephen and Grant break down how smart EBOS choices can improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support the next wave of clean energy growth.This episode is brought to you by Shoals Technologies Group. If you are in clean energy, you know that project success depends on more than just panels and batteries, it's about the electrical backbone that connects it all. That's where Shoals comes in. Their factory-built, rigorously-tested EBOS solutions for solar and storage streamline installs, reduce costs, and improve long-term reliability. Want to learn more? Just head over to shoals.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, James talks with Michael Thomas, Founder of CleanView and creator of Distilled. Michael has built a career around impactful storytelling and actionable data, aiming to accelerate clean energy adoption. From tech marketing to climate entrepreneurship, he has channeled his curiosity into initiatives that demystify energy trends and empower decision-makers.They discuss the evolution and impact of CleanView, a real-time platform offering unmatched visibility into clean energy project development across the U.S. Michael shares the journey behind the product, why accessible, transparent data matters, and how policy, geography, and technology trends are shaping the renewable energy landscape. They also explore the political and economic implications of recent clean energy legislation and why active industry engagement is crucial.How CleanView reduces data friction for developers, EPCs, and investorsMarket trends: battery storage expansion, solar booms in the South, and wind project slowdownsThe impact of proposed ITC/PTC tax credit changes on project viabilityThe strategic importance of transparency, local engagement, and rural investmentThis episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about understanding the intersection of data, policy, and infrastructure in the clean energy sector.Paces helps developers accelerate clean energy infrastructure through comprehensive software and services. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

Today's episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague welcomes back Chris Lettman, US Sales Director for Imperial Star Solar, to dive deep into the world of domestic content in solar panel manufacturing. As the US approaches 50 gigawatts of solar panel manufacturing capacity, Chris brings his 16+ years of industry experience to clarify the often misunderstood requirements for domestic content qualification.Chris explains the critical distinction between modules assembled in the US versus those that truly qualify for the 10% ITC domestic content adder, which requires US-manufactured solar cells. With only about 5 gigawatts of the current 50 gigawatts of panel manufacturing capacity using domestically produced cells, Chris cautions developers and EPCs to thoroughly vet manufacturers' claims about domestic content eligibility.The conversation explores Imperial Star Solar's 2-gigawatt manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, their partnership with Suniva for solar cells, and their commitment to transparency regarding domestic content verification. Chris shares insights from his recent experience at the Solar and Wind Finance Conference in Phoenix, noting the growing brand recognition of Imperial Star in the US market.Tim and Chris also discuss the broader implications of reshoring solar manufacturing, including job creation, tax revenue, and supply chain security. They address how the current political climate affects the solar manufacturing renaissance spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act, emphasizing the importance of continued good industrial policy to support American manufacturing.Whether you're a solar developer navigating ITC requirements, an EPC looking to source domestically manufactured panels, or simply interested in the future of American clean energy manufacturing, this episode offers valuable insights you won't want to miss. Listen now to understand the complexities and opportunities in US solar panel manufacturing.Connect WithChris LettmanImperial Star Solar Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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 Josh Goldberg (Sunstone Credit) have “cracked the code on commercial solar”, giving small businesses and nonprofits access to solar PPAs and loans through an empowered network of hundreds of local solar businesses.Today we explore: