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You don't meet many people like Jigar Shah.He's one of the rare leaders who has shaped the clean energy transition from every angle — as a founder, as an investor, and most recently, as a government leader. If you know Jigar, you already know the headlines: He founded SunEdison, led Richard Branson's Carbon War Room, co-hosted the Energy Gang podcast, co-founded Generate Capital, and most recently, ran the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, better known as LPO. If you don't know Jigar, but you're listening to this, chances are you've felt his impact. In 2024, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.And fun fact, he's also the very first guest to return to Watt It Takes for a second episode.For more than two decades, Jigar has been behind the scenes — and sometimes out front — helping scale the technologies and financing models that define today's energy economy. But this episode isn't about Jigar's résumé; it's about what it was like for him to join and lead LPO, what he learned in his four years in government, and what he's carrying forward in this next chapter of his career. SponsorsThis season of Watt It Takes is brought to you by our lead sponsor, HSBC Innovation Banking who is proud to bank some of the most exciting companies pioneering the technologies of tomorrow.With specialist financing support, deep understanding of the challenges, and a global network across more than 50 markets, they help clients scale breakthrough innovations, and take them to the world.So, if you're looking for early-stage funding, or well on your way to FOAK, follow the link below to learn how HSBC Innovation Banking can help on the next stage of your journey.https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/innovation-banking-powerhouse-innovationAbout Powerhouse Innovation and Powerhouse Ventures Powerhouse Innovation is a leading consulting firm connecting top-tier corporations and investors, including corporate innovation teams, CVCs, and pensions with cutting-edge technologies and startups that meet their specific criteria for engagement. Powerhouse Ventures backs entrepreneurs building the digital infrastructure for rapid decarbonization. To hear more stories of founders building our energy abundant future, hit the “subscribe” button and leave us a review.
Jacob Sandry is the CEO and co-founder of Euclid Power, a platform for renewable energy project development, financing, and operations—with AI-enabled services layered on top. MCJ is proud to be an investor in Euclid, having joined the company's seed round in mid-2022.Jacob has worked in renewable power his entire career, starting at Generate Capital right out of college, where he worked under Jigar Shah. He then spent several years on the investment team at Goldman Sachs' Renewable Power Group before having the a-ha moment that led to Euclid—and left to start it with a couple of his fellow Goldman teammates.Jacob and Cody discuss how he's seen the renewables industry evolve over the past decade, his theory of change, the insights that led to founding Euclid, and the company's current product and traction. We also touch on his thoughts on AI, power demand curves, and more. As we see it, Jacob is riding two massive waves with Euclid: the inexorable growth of solar and storage, and the curve-bending potential of AI and workflow automation.In this episode, we cover: [1:59] Jacob's early career and background[3:34] Working with Jigar Shah at Generate Capital[8:26] Time on the Goldman Sachs Renewable Power team[9:24] The origin story of Euclid Power[15:23] Challenges in building renewable energy projects[19:15] From internal Goldman tools to the Euclid platform[20:29] Client spotlight: UBS[21:57] Transitioning from project development to a software company[26:07] The role of AI in Euclid's platform[31:49] Business growth and market traction[33:35] Building Euclid as a multiplayer platform[37:10] Balancing software automation with hands-on services[40:41] Current limitations of AI and automation[42:50] Jacob's outlook on the future of renewable energy[46:05] Powering data centers and emerging demand[47:30] Where Euclid is looking for help[48:18] The meaning behind the name “Euclid”Episode recorded on April 25, 2025 (Published on May 5, 2025) 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
Jigar Shah served as Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from March 2021 to January 2025, where he oversaw a $400B budget. Prior, Shah was co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Generate has raised over $10 billion, investing in 50+ technology and development partnerships with more than 2,000 assets globally.Prior to Generate Capital, Shah founded SunEdison, a company that pioneered “pay as you save” solar financing (i.e., PPAs).After SunEdison, Shah served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to help entrepreneurs address climate change.--Here are six topics we covered in the podcast:1. Post-LPO ResetAfter managing $107B in deals at DOE's Loan Programs Office, Jigar Shah hit pause and rebranded as a “podcaster.” He's taking time to reflect before diving into the next chapter.2. Climate VC Is BrokenShah says the 100x-return VC model doesn't fit climate tech's reality. He pushes for an “East Coast” model: aim for 18% IRR, win 7 of 10 bets, and skip the moonshots.3. Evergreen Capital > 2-and-20At Generate Capital, Shah turned down big checks to build an evergreen structure that aligns with long-term climate infrastructure. It's less lucrative for managers, but way better for founders.4. FOAK Risk, ExplainedHe breaks project finance into five risks: tech, feedstock, offtake, construction, and ops. LPO, unlike most investors, can stomach execution risk, like 12 methane pyrolysis reactors, not just one.5. Think Like a DeveloperClean tech needs dev capital like real estate: risky early bets, then stable returns once built. It's not “risk-free”—just “risk-you-can-understand.”6. Deep Tech's Fatal FlawToo many founders chase giant, low-margin markets. Shah says to start with high-margin niches (like InventWood selling to data centers) and then scale.--
As the presidential inauguration loomed on the horizon in January this year, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Loan Programs Office (LPO) published a “year-in-review” article, highlighting accomplishments from 2024 and looking ahead to the future. It noted that the previous four years had been the most productive in the LPO's history. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the Office has announced 53 deals totaling approximately $107.57 billion in committed project investment––approximately $46.95 billion for 28 active conditional commitments and approximately $60.62 billion for 25 closed loans and loan guarantees,” it said. Much of the funding for these investments came through the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The LPO reported that U.S. clean energy investment more than doubled from $111 billion in 2020 to $236 billion in 2023, creating more than 400,000 clean energy jobs. The private sector notably led the way, enabled by U.S. government policy and partnerships. “There were 55 deals that we got across the finish line,” Jigar Shah, director of the LPO from March 2021 to January 2025, said as a guest on The POWER Podcast, while noting there were possibly 200 more projects that were nearly supported. “They needed to do more work on their end to improve their business,” he explained. That might have meant they needed to de-risk their feedstock agreement or their off-take agreement, for example, or get better quality contractors to do the construction of their project. “It was a lot of education work,” Shah said, “but I'm really proud of that work, because I think a lot of those companies, regardless of whether they used our office or not, were better for the interactions that they had with us.” A Framework for Success When asked about doling out funds, Shah viewed the term somewhat negatively. “As somebody who's been an investor in my career, you don't dole out money, because that's how you lose money,” he explained. “What you do is you create a framework. And you tell people, ‘Hey, if you meet this framework, then we've got a loan for you, and if you don't meet this framework, then we don't have a loan for you.” Shah noted that the vast majority of the 400 to 500 companies that the LPO worked closely with during his tenure didn't quite meet the framework. Still, most of those that did have progressed smoothly. “Everything that started construction is still under construction, and so, they're all going to be completed,” said Shah. “I think all in all, the thesis worked. Certainly, there are many people who had a hard time raising equity or had a hard time getting to the finish line and final investment decision, but for those folks who got to final investment decision and started construction, I think they're doing very well.” Notable Projects When asked which projects he was most excited about, Shah said, “All of them are equally exciting to me. I mean, that's the beauty of the work I do.” He did, however, go on to mention several that stood out to him. Specifically, he pointed to the Wabash, Montana Renewables, EVgo, and Holtec Palisades projects, which were all supported under the LPO's Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, as particularly noteworthy. Perhaps the most important of the projects Shah mentioned from a power industry perspective, was the Holtec Palisades endeavor. Valued at $1.52 billion, the loan guarantee will allow upgrading and repowering of the Palisades nuclear plant in Covert, Michigan, a first in U.S. history, which has spurred others to bring retired nuclear plants back online. “[It's] super exciting to see our first nuclear plant being restarted, and as a result, the Constellation folks have decided to restart a nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania, and NextEra has decided to restart a nuclear reactor in Iowa. So, it's great to have that catalytic impact,” said Shah.
In this week's episode of ASEAN SPEAKS, our host Thilan is joined by our Regional Equity Strategist, Anand Pathmakanthan, to unpack the equity implications of Trump's Liberation Day tariffs, especially for ASEAN markets like Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.Our Co-Head of Macro Research, Dr Chua Hak Bin, shares his views on the economic impact, including ASEAN growth downgrades and how China's retaliatory measures could shape the road ahead.Zooming in on Singapore, Thilan discusses why the STI's sharp drop could still present buying opportunities, and highlights key names in our Trump Tariff Winners portfolio.Our Head of Sustainability Research, Jigar Shah, introduces our latest ESG portfolio for Singapore, explaining how companies with strong sustainability practices are proving more resilient amid market volatility.Edited by Xuan Hao, Dion, Bruce
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we're going rogue for a midseason bonus episode! Instead of the strange and wonderful fictional solar stories that we usually tell, we're going to share some strange and wonderful REALLY True Solar Stories from actual solar workers and solar industry leaders.There are around 279,000 solar industry workers today. And about 40,000 of those came to the RE+ conference in Anaheim, California in September 2024. And about 100 of those attendees came to my annual Social Views & Brews Happy Hour that I host with the support of the generous and beautiful people who run RE+. After a few beers, I gave people three prompts to boost their REALLY True Solar Story memories. In alphabetical order, you'll hear stories from:Gwen BrownTom CheneyIan HoffbeckNico JohnsonPeter KellyRyan MayfieldSpenser MeeksJigar Shaw and Jeff Wolfe (told together)Greg SmithJeff SpiesSean WhiteJim WoodBen ZientaraAfter all those stories, I'll tell you my personal story about the solar mentor that I'll always remember and appreciate. You can also watch this episode on the Probably True Solar YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/DSqi-MQinAEI hope you enjoy these REALLY true solar stories. If you've never heard our fictional solar stories, explore the last three seasons at ProbablyTrueSolar.com or on your favorite podcast app. Season Four is coming up this summer!True Solar TakeawaysIREC stands for the Interstate Renewable Energy CouncilNABCEP stands for the The North American Board of Certified Energy PractitionersListen to Nico Johnson's Suncast podcast here or on your favorite podcast streaming service.Listen to Jigar Shah, Katherine Hamilton, and Stephen Lacey on the Open Circuit podcast.Brands mentioned in people's stories were Aurora Solar, Trina Solar, and SEG Solar, Planet Plan Sets, and Solar Reviews.Solar publications mentioned in this episode included PV Tech, Solar Power World, and Renewable Energy World (aka Factor This).----- Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!
Jigar Shah, a trailblazer in clean energy finance, shares his insights on scaling sustainable technology and aligning capital with long-term impact. Drawing from his experience as the founder of SunEdison and leader of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, Jigar discusses the challenges of commercializing clean energy solutions and the role of strategic … Read More Read More
How can the U.S. government bridge the gap between clean energy innovation and large-scale deployment? Will the Trump administration accelerate progress or put up roadblocks for clean tech? And how can the U.S. stay competitive with China, which already holds a commanding lead in the sector? Jigar Shah joins Cleaning Up fresh from his four-year tenure as Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO). Appointed in 2021, Shah transformed the once-obscure office into a clean-tech commercialization powerhouse, committing more than $100 billion in loans to U.S.-based companies. But with a new administration implementing sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, is all his work at risk? Or will market forces and the very real risk of blackouts keep clean energy innovation moving forward?In this conversation with Michael Liebreich, Shah shares how he turned the LPO into a driving force for clean technology deployment, and what lessons can be learned by policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs. He also offers a candid assessment of the opportunities and challenges across key sectors—from advanced nuclear to sustainable aviation fuels. Leadership Circle Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Division Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live. Links and more DoE Liftoff Reports: https://liftoff.energy.gov Episode 9 with Jigar Shah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJhhinSeh9IEpisode 193, Mike Headroom's AI Audioblog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwZ2iNh133A
Jigar Shah spent the last few years shaping the future of clean energy finance as the Director of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office. He approved billions in investments that helped scale solar, storage, nuclear, and emerging technologies. With that position coming to a close with the change in administration,what's next for him? And what lessons can he share from funding some of the industry's biggest breakthroughs?Before leading the DOE's loan office, Jigar built and financed some of the most transformative clean energy companies. He co-founded SunEdison, pioneered the solar-as-a-service model, and helped scale renewable infrastructure at Generate Capital. Now, he's focused on helping entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of financing, deployment, and market adoption to accelerate clean energy growth. He's also launched a new podcast, Open Circuit, getting the former “Energy Gang” together again with Katherine Hamilton and Stephen Lacey. It's certain to attract a large audience once again as they break down the deals, policies, and strategies shaping the clean energy transition. Expect to learn:The biggest funding mistakes startup CEOs makeWhich technologies surprised Jigar the most at DOEWhy clean energy already dominates the gridHow local relationships—not venture capital—unlock massive opportunitiesWhy Jigar rarely talks about climate when selling energy solutionsWhat do you hope Jigar does next? If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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
This week, we're featuring an episode of Open Circuit, a new show from Latitude Media that reunites Jigar Shah, Katherine Hamilton, and Stephen Lacey. Many listeners may remember them from The Energy Gang, a show they co-hosted for eight years. They are back together, co-hosting a weekly roundtable that will cover the latest news – to explain what's really accelerating the energy transition, from technological leaps and supply chain shifts, to market upheavals and policy uncertainty. If you like what you hear, go to your podcast app and subscribe to Open Circuit. You can also hear every episode and read transcripts at Latitudemedia.com. We'll be back with a normal episode of The Green Blueprint next week.
Jigar Shah has had a lengthy career as an energy industry entrepreneur and strategic thinker. He founded Sun Edison and helped to create a new model for deploying solar power systems. He was part of the Carbon War Room and then founded Generate Capital to provide loans to proven technologies that had not yet achieved...
Catch up on California's energy issues as Tim Echols speaks with experts
Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down for an extended interview with Jigar Shah, the former director of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office under the Biden administration where he oversaw billions of dollars in government loans to America's energy sector. Siegel and Shah discuss Biden's clean energy legacy, the second Trump administration, the future of government financing, DOGE and more. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This special episode compiles insights from some of the most influential voices in the solar and clean energy sector. Introducing a fun new “5 in 5” segment to SunCast, Nico asks industry leaders to answer five key questions (in 5 minutes) reflecting on the year that has gone and the future ahead.Each offers fresh perspectives on the industry's most pressing challenges and bold predictions for 2025.Hear from:Abby Hopper, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)Jon Bonanno, Managing Partner, FactorRyan Wartena, CEO and Founder, Southern Beams BuildsJulia Pyper, Vice President of Public Affairs, GoodLeapBryan Wagner, President & GM, Chint Power Systems AmericasAmy Heart, Senior Vice President of Policy, SunrunJigar Shah, Director, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of EnergyIf you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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/nickalusMentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2
In 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, ushering in, by some estimates, nearly half a trillion dollars of investment in green energy and manufacturing. But what will happen to this huge investment as Donald Trump enters office?Jigar Shah is one of the best people to answer this question. As the director of the Loan Programs Office at the Department of Energy, he has spent his career finding new ways to finance green infrastructure. And he's more optimistic than you might expect about the road ahead.In this conversation, guest host Robinson Meyer, a contributing writer for New York Times Opinion and the founding executive editor of Heatmap News, asks Shah for a progress check on decarbonization. They discuss what has changed about the economics and financing of clean energy; what has worked well in the green energy transition, as well as the trade-offs it has entailed; and what may or may not change as Trump enters office.Book Recommendations:Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas TalebWhat If We Get It Right? by Ayana Elizabeth JohnsonRomney by McKay CoppinsThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu [Who]. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Isaac Jones, with Efim Shapiro and Aman Sahota. Our supervising editor is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Elias Isquith, Kristin Lin and Jack McCordick. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Jigar Shah, Director of Business Development, Sales and Marketing at Quantic MWD (Microwave Dynamics), talks with Pat Hindle about Quantic Microwave Dynamics products, technology and design challenges in the industry. Sponsored by Quantic Microwave Dynamics.
Jigar Shah, Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy, joins me to discuss his office's latest Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report on nuclear energy. We touch on the state of the American nuclear industry, its surge of policy and private sector support, and outstanding obstacles to tripling nuclear capacity in the United States. In addition to emphasizing the need for standardization in reactor designs and a unified communications strategy from the nuclear industry, Jigar sets the record straight on what the LPO can and, importantly, cannot do for the sector. While the LPO offers extensive support in the form of loans and high-quality information, it is up to industry to lead the charge. In his words, “we can't want this more than industry.” Read more on Substack: https://www.decouple.media/
Many of our regular listener energy nerds are aware that the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO), under the leadership if Secretary Granholm and Jigar Shah, has evolved from a near-dormant entity with just one loan in the previous administration to committing over $31 billion to projects across critical clean energy sectors like hydrogen, storage, solar, EVs, Carbon sequestration and more. With an expanded pipeline of 209 applications requesting $281.1 billion in financing, the LPO is driving innovation and growth in the clean energy sector, and we're even seeing a veritable rebirth of the Nuclear industry here with Vogle 3 & 4 coming online as well as the Palisades plant in Michigan coming out of retirement!Jigar Shah, as Director of the LPO, has engaged 6,500+ organizations, ensuring the energy transition is private-sector led and government-enabled. And the sheer numbers in the results are eye-opening. In particular, the support for the nearshoring of our critical manufacturing infrastructure.Expect to learn:How utilities can utilize virtual power plants (VPPs) and grid modernization to effectively manage growing energy loads.The evolving partnership between utilities and the solar industryThe importance of reshoring energy technology manufacturing for U.S. energy independenceHow the LPO is unlocking the renewable potential of tribal lands and creating broad-based wealthThe critical role of geothermal and nuclear energy in replacing coal plants with clean, firm powerCatch this and other impactful conversations recorded live at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage in Anaheim. Watch now at www.suncast.live!If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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/nickalusMentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2
How is the Loan Programs Office providing unprecedented amounts of capital for clean energy innovations? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Jigar Shah, US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office Director, his $400 billion mandate in commercialising clean energy innovations, how these technologies align with US energy security goals and climate commitments, and what the multiplier effect of LPO financing could mean for private sector investment. Jigar Shah is the Director for the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the US Department of Energy where he leads and directs the organisation's considerable loan authority within manufacturing, innovative project finance, and tribal energy. With more than 25 years of experience in clean energy, he is an expert in project finance, clean technology, and entrepreneurship, as well as a visionary leader and innovator in the field of sustainable infrastructure. Prior to joining the DOE, Jigar co-founded and served as the President of Generate Capital, the leading investment and operating platform for distributed energy storage, microgrids, fuel cells, electric vehicles, and organic waste management. He also founded SunEdison, the inventor of the modern solar-as-a-service industry, and served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to help entrepreneurs address climate change. Jigar is the author of Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy, a book that outlines his mission to scale the transition to a global clean energy economy.
Some news: this will be our final installment of The Carbon Copy. But don't go anywhere! Later this fall, the feed will be transformed into a new show that will profile the people architecting the clean energy economy. We promise it will be a valuable part of your media diet. For our last episode, we brought back some old friends: Jigar Shah, director of the DOE's loan programs office, and Katherine Hamilton, chair of 38 North. Jigar, Katherine, and Stephen dissect some of the biggest storylines of the year in clean energy business and policy. They'll tackle AI energy demand, grid constraints, geothermal, nuclear, the demise of California's rooftop solar industry, and America's green bank. Which trends are overrated, which ones are underrated, and what does it all mean for mass deployment? The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will provide $27 billion for clean energy projects nationwide, potentially mobilizing up to $150 billion in public and private capital. Join Latitude Media and Banyan Infrastructure on July 18th for an in-depth discussion on how we can deploy these billions with the highest impact. Register for free here. Make sure to listen to our new podcast, Political Climate – an insider's view on the most pressing policy questions in energy and climate. Tune in every other Friday for the latest takes from hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut. Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Ongoing Transformation will be back next week with a fantastic episode on RNA and the future of biology. This week we are sharing a podcast from the Progress Network that we think you'll enjoy. On What Could Go Right?, Progress Network founder Zachary Karabell and executive director Emma Varvaloucas talk to experts about the world's challenges—and developments that could lead to a brighter future. In this episode, Karabell and Varvaloucas tackle an issue at the top of many people's minds: climate and energy. Specifically, how can the green transition move the global energy system away from fossil fuels? They're joined by Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office at the US Department of Energy. Shah shares his insights into the current landscape, future potential, and challenges for the successful commercial deployment of clean energy technologies. Subscribe to What Could Go Right? wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of Energy Evolution, the teams is joined by two special guests: Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office of the US Department of Energy, and Jonathan Evans, the President and CEO of Lithium Americas. The US Department of Energy has shown interest in the metals and mining space, particularly in critical mineral mining and extraction projects. Additionally, the DOE's Loan Programs Office has committed to providing a $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Nevada Corp. for the construction of a lithium carbonate processing plant at Thacker Pass in Nevada. Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.
In this episode of Energy Evolution, the teams is joined by two special guests: Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office of the US Department of Energy, and Jonathan Evans, the President and CEO of Lithium Americas. The US Department of Energy has shown interest in the metals and mining space, particularly in critical mineral mining and extraction projects. Additionally, the DOE's Loan Programs Office has committed to providing a $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Nevada Corp. for the construction of a lithium carbonate processing plant at Thacker Pass in Nevada. Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. The show is co-hosted by veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall.
In the solar industry, we're often building the plane as we fly it, as it were. This is ever-moreso evident in commercial and industrial (C&I) solar, a relatively untapped market with unique challenges. One of the key areas of failure is a lack of funding. And, often, the culprit that leads to failed projects or lack of funding (ie, un-interested buyers) is poor processes. So how do you teach due diligence and standardize processes when it seems we've been making them up as you go for so long?? Despite it still, at times, feeling like the wild west in solar development, there are numerous industry veterans who have vetted and validated hundreds, even thousands of projects and developed simple checklists, toolkits, and data room best practices to help any developer willing to seek professional guidance.Keith Cronin, Founder & CEO of SunHedge and instructor for HeatSpring, is a pioneer in the U.S. and Pacific Island solar markets. In today's episode, Keith shares his journey from helping shape Hawaii's solar market with Jigar Shah to teaching hundreds of organizations how to fine-tune their own best-practices, financial models and project diligence efforts. Along the way, Keith has helped to build trust in the market and innovative financial models for getting projects across the finish line. Expect to learn:Specific strategies for strong financial models and building trust for your solar project. Tools you can deploy immediately for more accurate assumptions in your models and risk reduction in C&I solar projects, in particular.Keith's perspective on how we can bring more people in from other industries like oil and gas, real estate, and tech.Careful listeners will learn (and see) how to use Keith's FREE project screening tool, or gain access to his bestselling course, Solar Executive MBA Training, on Heatspring. Finally, if you're ready to further develop your own thought leadership or share your expertise, check out Solar Academy, a social knowledge platform for the solar energy industry. If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling:
The U.S. rooftop solar market has tanked. Residential applications in California, the largest market in the country, plunged 82% from May through November 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Contractors are going bankrupt. The big culprits are high interest rates and California's subsidy cuts. But there are some bright spots. Battery attachment rates in California have surged. So what will it take to revive the U.S. rooftop solar market? In this episode, Shayle talks to Jigar Shah, director of the Loans Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. Jigar argues that the rooftop solar industry should reinvent itself, relying on batteries and virtual power plants (VPPs). He also argues that regulations should focus on system-level dispatchability. Shayle and Jigar cover topics like: The pros and cons of California's latest regulations, new energy metering or NEM 3.0 Learning from the mistakes of California's Self-Generation Incentive Program (S-GIP) The role of VPPs and rooftop solar in meeting accelerating load growth Incentivizing system-level dispatchability How VPPs complicate the sales pitch for rooftop solar How VPPs could help utilities increase the utilization of infrastructure How to make VPPs more reliable Recommended Resources: U.S. Department of Energy: Virtual Power Plants Commercial Liftoff Latitude Media: Defining the rules of DER aggregation Latitude Media: Unpacking the software layer of VPP deployment CalMatters: What's happened since California cut home solar payments? Demand has plunged 80% The Wall Street Journal: The Home-Solar Boom Gets a ‘Gut Punch' Catalyst is supported by Origami Solar. Join Latitude Media's Stephen Lacey and Origami's CEO Gregg Patterson for a live Frontier Forum on May 30th at 1 pm Eastern to discuss Origami's new research on how recycled steel can help reinvigorate the U.S. solar industry. Register for free on Latitude's events page.
Description: Nick is joined by Jigar Shah, the Director of the DOE's Loan Programs Office, and Ian Dickinson, the CEO of LongPath Technologies, to discuss the commercialization of novel methane monitoring technologies to accelerate lower-hanging fruit in methane mitigation. Specifically, Jigar, Ian, and Nick discuss the ongoing methane measurement technologies LongPath is building for oil and gas infrastructure in the Permian Basin and what climate, economic, safety, and regulatory impacts are being driven by a step-change in methane measurement and monitoring technologies. Further, Jigar, Ian, and Nick also discuss:Bridging financing gaps: The Loan Programs Office's role in financing climate and energy technologies to create “flywheels of irreversible momentum,” in Jigar's words. Momentum for methane: The range of tailwinds coalescing right now for methane measurement and mitigation that are accelerating the work of companies like LongPathThe oil and gas industry's role: What does the oil and gas industry think of trends in methane measurement and monitoring, whether from a technology perspective or with respect to new regulations coming to the fore in the U.S. to price methane emissions?Timestamps:00:03:31 - Loan Programs Office's Support for Climate Tech Companies00:04:40 - Methane's Impact on Global Warming vs. Lack of Financing00:05:16 - Economic Incentives to Address Methane Leaks00:08:33 - Technologies for Methane Detection and Monitoring00:10:26 - LongPath's Development and Commercialization00:15:15 - Safety Benefits of Novel Methane Monitoring00:18:45 - Operational and Compliance Challenges in Methane Management00:22:40 - EPA's Methane Regulations and Industry Impact00:27:29 - Potential Global Impact of Methane Management Technologies00:30:12 - Broader Economic and Environmental Benefits of Methane Reduction00:31:38 - LPO's Goals and Impact on Hard Tech Innovation00:33:40 - Working with the Loan Programs Office00:35:09 - Other Exciting Developments in Climate Tech and EnergyDon't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and the role of novel geoengineering efforts in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about LongPath Technologies on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.longpathtech.com/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/longpathtech/Learn more about the DOE's Loan Programs Office on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.energy.gov/lpo/loan-programs-office / https://www.linkedin.com/company/doe-loan-programs-office/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show,...
The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has a grandstand view of the energy transition. Where is it going next?Jigar Shah, one of the originators of the Energy Gang, now runs the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, playing a key role in advancing clean energy projects. By helping to bridge the gap between R&D and large-scale deployment, it encourages private sector investment and supports the administration's work to achieve its net zero goals.Jigar was appointed Director of the LPO in March 2021 with a brief to “to rev those engines back up” after a quiet period under the Trump administration. He returns to the Energy Gang to discuss the progress he has made so far, and the goals he is working towards in the future. In particular, he talks about the hot topic of the moment in energy: how to meet increased demand for electricity driven by data centers for AI, new factories, and electric vehicles.Much of the new load being added to the electricity system will not be flexible. Data centers mostly need to be available 24/7. So how is the grid going to manage these growing demands? Host Ed Crooks is also joined by Amy Myers-Jaffe, Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice & Sustainability Lab, to discuss Jigar's views on the solutions to these challenges.Topics covered include Virtual Power Plants, enhanced geothermal and advanced nuclear. Those latter two are among the handful of sources of energy that we usually think about when we are discussing “clean firm power”. Geothermal in particular is generating a lot of buzz lately. What will it take to get it deployed at scale? Is it pulling ahead of advanced nuclear in the race to commerciality and large-scale deployment?The Energy Gang will be recording live from the Global Energy Transition event in June in New York. To secure a discounted ticket, use the ENERGYGANG500 discount code. Visit https://events.reutersevents.com/energy-transition/global-energy-transition-new-york to book.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jigar Shah might have more control over America's new wave of industrial policy — not to mention its climate policy — than anyone not named Joe Biden. And he's not even a Cabinet-level official. As director of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, which is akin to its in-house bank, Shah oversees how roughly $400 billion in lending authority will be spent. That money will help finance new EV factories, geothermal wells, carbon capture sites, and more.On this week's episode, Rob sits down with Shah to discuss the philosophy that he brings to his role. When financing new projects — many of which are the first of their kind — how does he think about cash flow, about technological innovation, about risk? Robinson Meyer is executive editor of Heatmap News; Jesse Jenkins, an energy systems engineering professor at Princeton, is off this week. Mentioned: The Loan Programs Office: Building a Bridge to BankabilityThe Race to Spend the I.R.A.'s $100 Billion in Grants Has BegunEzra Klein's theory of “everything-bagel liberalism”Rob on the questions swirling at one-time LPO beneficiary Tesla–This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by…KORE Power provides the commercial, industrial, and utility markets with functional solutions that advance the clean energy transition worldwide. KORE Power's technology and manufacturing capabilities provide direct access to next generation battery cells, energy storage systems that scale to grid+, EV power & infrastructure, and intuitive asset management to unlock energy strategies across a myriad of applications. Explore more at korepower.com.Watershed's climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com.Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With permission, I am sharing David Robert's incredible interview of Jigar Shah about the future of nuclear
Today we had the pleasure of welcoming back Jigar Shah, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO). Jigar joined the LPO in 2021 and is the former founder of SunEdison and former co-founder of Generate Capital. As you may know, the LPO is equipped with more than $400 billion in loans and loan guarantees to help deploy innovative clean energy, advanced transportation, and Tribal energy projects in the US that support a cleaner and stronger energy economy. With 205 active applications and an average of 2.1 new applications per week, they are busier than ever. We were thrilled to visit with Jigar for an insightful update on the LPO's progress and preview of the LPO's planned activities at CERAWeek. In our discussion, we touch on growing electricity demand and the utility loan applications the LPO has received focused on demand flexibility, grid enhancement technologies, and virtual power plants. Jigar shares his perspective on increasing interest in geothermal, nuclear and next generation hydro projects, the cost of new energy infrastructure and the impact on electricity affordability, team developments at the LPO, carbon capture and sequestration projects, EPA regulations and their impact on energy plants (particularly coal plants), tech companies' focus on securing sufficient power for their operations to meet their growing power demands (see link to AWS Talen story from this week here), and market dynamics in methane detection and reduction technologies. We discuss the critical importance of permitting reform and the LPO's connectivity with permitting-related government offices, the Presidential election's potential impact on the LPO, financing mechanisms and the LPO's interest rates, and much more. Jigar is such a fun and upbeat guy and we always enjoy a visit with him. We also appreciate that he'll field any question we throw his way, especially our questions about the inner workings of Washington DC. Thank you, Jigar! Mike Bradley started the show by noting that this week was a light economic week with the January JOLTS Job Openings report being most watched. On the broader equity market front, AI euphoria seemingly pushes equities to new highs every week, but this week has witnessed a bit of a pullback. WTI has pulled back marginally, but still trades at the high end of its 3-month trading range. OPEC extended its 2mmbpd of production cuts through Q2'24. Physical crude markets seem tight given WTI time spreads continue to trade in steep backwardation. The 12-month natural gas strip is trading up from $2.55/MMBtu to $2.85/MMBtu on news that EQT Corp has made a strategic decision to curtail ~1bcfpd of gross production through the end of March (link here). Over the last 2 weeks, lower 48 natural gas production has averaged ~2bcfpd lower than in prior weeks. On the utility sector front, he highlighted the staggering 5-year capex plans being laid out on electricity utility Q4 calls. He noted the massive YTD performance of a handful of nuclear levered electricity equities, which look to be getting rerated markedly higher (by generalist investors) due to a more robust long-term earnings growth profile and the increasing likelihood of securing lucrative long-term datacenter electricity deals. He also noted that in time, the utility sector could also be rerated higher as investors begin viewing them more as growth stocks. Jeff Tillery and Brett Rampal also joined and added their perspectives and inquiries to the discussion with Jigar. For our COBT history buffs, today's episode marks Jigar's third guest appearance on COBT. He previously joined on Feb. 27, 2023 (episode linked
Jigar Shah, Director, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy, shares what younger clean energy companies should understand about LPO and how equity investors view its diligence process.
James reviews the Dr Volts podcast episode on nuclear and tries to see a path to nuclear competitiveness in North America. How it might get to compete with solar and wind plus batteries next decade if we move now. Comedy in climate? Brian discusses a New York Times piece. Chat GPT might need several nuclear reactors worth of energy to run it. And carbon emissions in the airline industry. Is the future of air travel guilt-free? Oil changes alone are enough to go buy an electric car that doesn't need them Brian back from Toronto where he color-graded a film Guilt free flying Green hydrogen for flight Out of Spec Reviews take on the Honda Prologue Peak charging rates don't represent the true charging time of EVs Climate and comedy - The Juice Media, Rollie Williams' Climate Town, Yellow Dot Studios and "Don't Look Up" Nuclear discussion of David Robert's DrVolts nuclear episode with Jigar Shah, Dept of Energy Loans. New Jersey school buses to power schools Law News - Chicago sues big oil Bigger offshore wind turbines abandoned in US Data centre energy use The Lightning Round! The Clean Energy Show is released every week so be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes delivered to you free! Support the Show Make a small donation to our podcast today! PayPal Donate!https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE E-transfer: cleanenergyshow@gmail.com Thanks for listening to our show! Consider rating The Clean Energy Show on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to our show. Our Store Visit our T-Shirt and Merch Shop! https://my-store-dde61d.creator-spring.com Contact Us! Email us at cleanenergyshow@gmail.com Follow us on TikTok! @cleanenergypod Check out our YouTube Channel! @CleanEnergyShow Follow us on Twitter or Threads @CleanEnergyPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cleanenergypod.bsky.social James Whittingham https://twitter.com/jewhittingham Brian Stockton: https://twitter.com/brianstockton Leave us an online voicemail at http://speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow Copyright 2024 with some rights reserved. You may share and reproduce portions of our show with attribution. All music is copyright with all rights reserved.
Nuclear power contributes to nearly 20 percent of the electricity generated in America, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Enormous growth has occurred since the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which allocated more money towards climate, and green energy subsidies than any piece of legislation in American history. But a lot of work still remains. Jigar Shah is director of the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, a role in which he oversees investing and scaling carbon free energy. Before this position, he was a clean tech investor. He joins WITHpod to discuss recent inflection points, the future of nuclear, the importance of remembering that “big things” can be done and why he's more hopeful now about the space more than ever.
In this episode, I speak with Jigar Shah (head of DOE's Loan Programs Office) about all things nuclear, including its recent performance, the strategies that could revive and accelerate it, new nuclear technologies and what small modular reactors actually are, and the role that nuclear will play in a decarbonized economy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe
How many veterans look back on their years of service to their country and asked themselves, "was it worth it?" Was a barbarian-majority army Rome's final straw before their collapse(in the west)? The Roman veteran warriors were mistreated and abandoned much like ours are today. Alana Freedman of FreeBeacon exposes federal official Jigar Shah's gatekeeping of federal loans for his personal enrichment. State senator Eric Adams tells parents where to look for drugs in the childrens' rooms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How many veterans look back on their years of service to their country and asked themselves, "was it worth it?" Was a barbarian-majority army Rome's final straw before their collapse(in the west)? The Roman veteran warriors were mistreated and abandoned much like ours are today. Alana Freedman of FreeBeacon exposes federal official Jigar Shah's gatekeeping of federal loans for his personal enrichment. State senator Eric Adams tells parents where to look for drugs in the childrens' rooms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will the green transition happen, and how far do we have to go? Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy, shares his insights into the current landscape, future potential, and challenges for the successful commercial deployment of critical clean energy technologies. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork And follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy speaks with Jigar Shah who is the Director for the Loan Programs Office(“LPO”) at the U.S. Department of Energy(“DOE”). Jigar speaks about Virtual Power Purchase Agreements(“VPPAs”), DOE's $3 Billion Partial Loan Guarantee to Sunnova's Project Hestia, and how the solar industry has to innovate. Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market. This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio. He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business. Jigar Shah Jigar Shah is the Director for the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he leads and directs the organization's considerable loan authority within manufacturing, innovative project finance, and tribal energy. With more than 25 years of experience in clean energy, he is an expert in project finance, clean technology, and entrepreneurship, as well as a visionary leader and innovator in the field of sustainable infrastructure. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Jigar Shah Loan Programs Office Website: https://www.energy.gov/lpo/loan-programs-office Loan Program Office Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doe-loan-programs-office/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc/ DOE content about VPPAs DOE Announces $3 Billion Partial Loan Guarantee to Sunnova's Project Hestia https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/doe-announces-3-billion-partial-loan-guarantee-sunnovas-project-hestia THE PATHWAY TO: VIRTUAL POWER PLANTS COMMERCIAL LIFTOFF https://liftoff.energy.gov/vpp/ Reneu Energy and Solar Maverick Podcast Holiday Fundraiser Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast are having their Holiday Fundraiser and Networking Event on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 from 6pm to 10pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. Hudson Hall is a Czech Biergarten and Smokehouse. Benoy who is the CEO of Reneu Energy and host of Solar Maverick Podcast is one of the owners. It is $64 to attend. The Admission Fee goes to two charities that we are fundraising at the event which are Let's Share the Sun Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club and covering our expenses for the event. Appetizers will be served. We will be partnering with Grand Stand Sports & Memorabilia. They will be selling memorabilia proceeds will go to charities. At our last two events, we raised $1,450 for the Boys & Girls Club and $1,450 for Let's Share the Sun Foundation. We are raising money for both charities at this event. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please email Reneu Energy at info@reneuenergy.com. The eventbrite link is below. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reneu-energy-solar-maverick-podcast-holiday-fundraiser-networking-event-tickets-739318971947?aff=oddtdtcreator We would like to thank our sponsors for the holiday fundraiser which is Summit Ridge Energy and SolaREIT. Summit Ridge Energy is the nation's leading commercial solar company. Through its strategic partnerships and project financing expertise, the company develops, acquires, owns, and operates energy projects within the rapidly growing commercial solar and battery storage sectors. In the past six years, Summit Ridge Energy has deployed over $1.6B USD into cleanenergy assets. With a development pipeline of more than 2 GW, Summit Ridge Energy will have more than 400 MW of PV online by the end of 2023, providing solar power to 50,000 homes and businesses. Learn more at srenergy.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. SolaREIT, based in Vienna, Virginia, focuses on making investments in acquiring, developing, and managing climate-friendly real estate assets that support solar and battery storage projects, furthering the transformation to a low-carbon economy. SolaREIT offers practical and streamlined financing options that deliver maximum flexibility to developers, project owners and landowners based on their individual needs and financial goals. SolaREIT's products include land purchases, solar and storage land loans, and lease purchases among other innovative solutions for clients. For more information, please visit www.solareit.com or follow us on LinkedIn. We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, owner representation and technical consulting in all areas of solar photovoltaics and energy storage for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets. At Schwerd Consulting we like to say that We Know Solar. We don't just Do Solar. What sets us apart is our 100% focus on solar, while having an extensive background in building and utility engineering, and understanding the business of our clients. We are involved with the trends, technologies, vendors, policies, utilities, codes, and financial considerations for the industry. Therefore, value add for us is not just a slogan, it's what we practice in order to have loyal customers and gain trust. In its 9 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 1 GW of PV across over 800 sites and 17 US states plus the Caribbean. Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar. If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email to admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting's website is www.schwerdconsulting.com.
The clean energy transition requires an unprecedented deployment of wind, solar, storage, and emerging technologies across the globe. However, friction and complexity in financing these projects remain key obstacles to reaching scale. Our guest today sees a major opportunity for software innovation to unlock abundant capital and accelerate the energy transition. Today on the Clean Power Hour Tim Montague interviews Amanda Li, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Banyan Infrastructure, an innovative software platform aiming to accelerate and simplify project finance for the clean energy transition.Amanda has an impressive background, serving as the 3rd employee and first non-founder at Generate Capital, a leading sustainable infrastructure investment firm started by solar industry legend Jigar Shah. At Generate, Amanda saw firsthand the difficulties and inefficiencies in financing renewable energy projects. She co-founded Banyan in 2018 to streamline and standardize the project finance process, making clean energy investing accessible for more participants.In this episode, Amanda explains how Banyan's software Platform reduces costs, quickens processes, and enables liquidity across the project lifecycle - from origination to risk management. Banyan aims to automate manual workflows plagued by spreadsheets while also providing portfolio analytics and compliance tools.Amanda sees abundant opportunities to accelerate solar, wind, storage, and emerging technologies under the landmark Inflation Reduction Act. However, she notes the IRA's benefits also introduce complexities around tax credit eligibility and reporting. Banyan seeks to simplify IRA compliance to maximize the law's impact.Key TakeawaysHow specifically does Banyan Infrastructure's platform streamline workflows and reduce costs for asset owners, developers, and investors in renewable projects?What is Banyan's long-term vision for transforming clean energy project finance? What does success look like in 5-10 years?What innovative data products could come from aggregating project performance data on Banyan's platform?Why should renewable energy developers and funds think "digital first" and adopt modern software early instead of relying on spreadsheets?Amanda Li 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
Jigar Shah is the director of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. Last year, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress allocated hundreds of billions of dollars for Jigar's office to lend out. The loans are supposed to go to companies that are helping the U.S. economy move away from fossil fuels. That can mean everything from building new nuclear plants to creating a giant hydrogen battery in an underground salt cavern. Jigar's problem is this: What's the best way to lend out all that money – and do it fast enough for the U.S. to meet its climate goals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy speaks with Albie Fong who is the Sr. Director of Business Development at Erthos. Erthos offers a full suite of products and services aimed at helping developers dramatically reduce the levelized cost of energy (“LCOE”) on utility-scale solar power plants. Albie discusses how Erthos innovates utility solar construction, how the company has gotten investors comfortable with their new innovative technology, and Albie speaks about the book that he wrote about Solar Project Development. Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market. This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the Environmental Commodities Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of Tesla to move into the east coast markets. Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio. He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business. Albie Fong Albie Fong is the Sr. Director of Business Development at Erthos. He has over 16 years in the solar industry. He has worked at Idemitsu Renewables, Solar Frontier, Cogenra Solar, Talesun Solar, and Albiasa. Solar Project Development Book discussed on the podcast written by Albie Fong. Project Development in the Solar Industry by Albie Fong (Editor), Jesse Tippett (Editor) Below is the Amazon Link. https://www.amazon.com/Project-Development-Solar-Industry-Albie/dp/0367576619/ref=sr_1_5?crid=36MI64HYLEMYV&keywords=solar+project+development&qid=1687177550&sprefix=solar+project+development%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685 Stay connected: Benoy Thanjan Website: www.reneuenergy.com Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Facebook: Reneu Energy Albie Fong Website: www.erthos.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albiefong/ Email: Albie.Fong@erthos.com Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast Holiday Fundraiser and Networking Event on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 from 6pm to 10pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. It is $64 to attend. Part of the Admission Fee goes to two charities that we are fundraising at the event and covering our expenses for the event. Appetizers will be served and make sure to come hungry. At our last two events, we raised $1,450 for the Boys & Girls Club and $1,450 for Let's Share the Sun Foundation. We are raising money for both charities at this event. The eventbrite link is listed below. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reneu-energy-solar-maverick-podcast-holiday-fundraiser-networking-event-tickets-739318971947?aff=oddtdtcreator If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please email Reneu Energy at info@reneuenergy.com. PROMO Code MAVERICK to attend the New York Solar Summit for 15% discount The New York Solar Summit is coming up on November 9th in Albany, NY which is a great event about the NY Solar and Storage Market organized by New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA). Reneu Energy is a member of NYSEIA and our CEO Benoy Thanjan has spoken at past New York Solar Summits. New York leads the clean energy revolution with ambitious distributed solar and storage goals as part of its historic climate legislation that was passed in 2019. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act helps to bring these goals within reach, and clean energy leaders are gathering on November 9th to discuss the necessary solutions to challenges along the way. When you register for the New York Solar Summit, you will be joining over 600 clean energy leaders for ample networking and learning opportunities, expert panel discussions, and a trade show filled with leading clean energy companies! Plus, we have exciting keynote addresses from Doreen Harris, CEO and President of NYSERDA, and Jigar Shah, Director of Loans Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy. Don't miss the New York Solar Summit, hosted by New York Solar Energy Industries Association and presented by NYSERDA, on November 9th at the Albany Capital Center! Visit www.nyseia.org for more information and register today. Register using the promo code MAVERICK for a 15% discount on tickets and hope to see you there! Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, YouTube, and most of the major podcast platforms. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.
The Department of Energy made a controversial pitch to the fossil fuel industry this week: take our loans and use them to cut your emissions through new technology. So far though, there's been little interest from the industry, and environmentalists are now upset with DOE's outreach. POLITICO's Ben Lefebvre breaks down DOE's push. Plus, newly minted House Speaker Mike Johnson is already drawing the criticism of environmentalists due to his support from the oil and gas industry. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of the POLITICO Energy podcast. Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
Republican lawmakers are accusing Jigar Shah, the head of the Energy Department's Loan Programs Office, of ethical lapses given his ties to the private sector. Shah, leader of an office that is crucial to President Joe Biden's clean energy agenda, denied any wrongdoing. POLITICO's Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down why lawmakers are targeting Shah, how he's defending himself, and the broader GOP pushback against the Biden administration's climate and energy spending. Plus, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a slate of new natural gas projects on Thursday. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of the POLITICO Energy podcast. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
Despite a long period of relative stagnation, nuclear power has remained the quiet backbone of the United States’ clean energy supply for decades. Now, the Joe Biden administration wants more from the sector as the country hustles to meet ambitious emissions goals. Jigar Shah, the director of the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office, said nuclear energy will only become more critical as demand for electricity surges over the next 20 years. On the show today, Shah makes us smart about how much the country relies on nuclear energy. We’ll also discuss lessons learned from building the first nuclear reactor from scratch in decades, and how the industry plans to win over Americans who are concerned about safety and toxic waste. Then, we’ll get into the high stakes of today’s vote for speaker of the House of Representatives. And Elon Musk's satellite internet company Starlink is part of geopolitical conversation yet again, this time in Israel. Later, we’ll hear from a teacher about the expectations that educators pay for classroom supplies themselves. And this week's answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Kai Bird, co-author of “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nuclear power is having a resurgence” from Axios “Utilities Want to Convert Coal Plants to Nuclear; Skeptics Abound” from The Wall Street Journal “New Georgia reactor shows benefits and costs of nuclear power” from Marketplace “Study identifies reasons for soaring nuclear plant cost overruns in the U.S.” from MIT News “Advanced Nuclear – Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” from The Department of Energy “NRC Certifies First U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design” from The Department of Energy “Playbook: Jim Jordan's day of reckoning” from Politico “Google, Amazon, Apple could see antitrust bills put on hold if Jim Jordan is House speaker” from CNBC “Israel Latest: Musk's Starlink Approached as Biden Readies Trip” from Bloomberg We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Despite a long period of relative stagnation, nuclear power has remained the quiet backbone of the United States’ clean energy supply for decades. Now, the Joe Biden administration wants more from the sector as the country hustles to meet ambitious emissions goals. Jigar Shah, the director of the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office, said nuclear energy will only become more critical as demand for electricity surges over the next 20 years. On the show today, Shah makes us smart about how much the country relies on nuclear energy. We’ll also discuss lessons learned from building the first nuclear reactor from scratch in decades, and how the industry plans to win over Americans who are concerned about safety and toxic waste. Then, we’ll get into the high stakes of today’s vote for speaker of the House of Representatives. And Elon Musk's satellite internet company Starlink is part of geopolitical conversation yet again, this time in Israel. Later, we’ll hear from a teacher about the expectations that educators pay for classroom supplies themselves. And this week's answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Kai Bird, co-author of “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nuclear power is having a resurgence” from Axios “Utilities Want to Convert Coal Plants to Nuclear; Skeptics Abound” from The Wall Street Journal “New Georgia reactor shows benefits and costs of nuclear power” from Marketplace “Study identifies reasons for soaring nuclear plant cost overruns in the U.S.” from MIT News “Advanced Nuclear – Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” from The Department of Energy “NRC Certifies First U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design” from The Department of Energy “Playbook: Jim Jordan's day of reckoning” from Politico “Google, Amazon, Apple could see antitrust bills put on hold if Jim Jordan is House speaker” from CNBC “Israel Latest: Musk's Starlink Approached as Biden Readies Trip” from Bloomberg We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Jigar Shah is the head of the Loan Programs Office at the Department of Energy and thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, he has hundreds of billions of dollars to lend to companies to accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies. The office has already been extremely active over the past year, and there's lots more to come. In this special episode of the podcast that was recorded live at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas, we discuss his office's strategy and what it will take to achieve the clean, cheap energy system that so many people want. We also discuss specific industries, including nuclear power, and what it will take to build momentum towards more deployment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome back to the show, Jigar Shah, Director, DOE Loan Programs Office. You've heard from Jigar, a commercial financing expert, before in Experts Only Podcast #104. Now, hear from him LIVE at RE+ with Experts Only host Jon Powers. "This recording took place at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage at RE+ Las Vegas in 2023. PowerUp Live is where attendees can top-up on all things energy, featuring interviews with clean energy experts and conversations with podcasters around the industry. - SunCast Media" Thank you for tuning in!
On Today's Episode: The solar energy sector is witnessing momentous identify shifts. I'd call it an identity crisis, but we're not that far yet. Jigar Shah, however, might be so bold. As homeowners transition from merely generating energy to storing and redistributing it to the grid, there's a growing sense that our traditional understanding of "solar" as the industry in which we participate might be too narrow. But what does this mean for installers, utilities, and everyday consumers?Jigar Shah, the director of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, offers an exciting (if provocative) glimpse into the future we shall inherit. With his hand in funneling billions to pioneering energy projects that transcend the boundaries of solar, encompassing batteries, electric vehicles, and more, Shah has taken on the mantle of Chief Story Architect, so to speak, in conveying the captivating concept of the “virtual power plant”. Shah elaborates on how this next evolution of the grid will place homeowners at the heart of vital grid services. Yet, as we explore these innovations, Shah also casts a spotlight on a pressing concern: how do we ensure equitable access to these advancements, particularly for marginalized communities facing steep energy expenses? Join us for a riveting discussion, recorded live from the RE+ 2023 Tradeshow floor, that promises to expand horizons, challenge preconceptions, and reveal the latent potential within our homes and communities. Shah challenges us to embark on a journey into a more holistic, equitable, and resilient energy future, where every individual has a role to play, and no company may any longer call itself a “solar” company…we're in the Virtual Power Plant business now, y'all!This and many other iconic conversations were captured LIVE at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage in Las Vegas the week of Sept 11-14, 2023. You can watch them all at www.suncast.live ! If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.SunCast is presented by Sungrow, the world's most bankable inverter brand.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 632 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus
Trillions of dollars are needed to fund the climate transition, with both the private sector and governments required to contribute. Australia's answer is the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the world's largest green bank. Established by the government in 2012 with an initial funding of A$10 billion ($6.5 billion), it was tasked with financing green projects and ambitious Australian climate startups at a time when large-scale investments in things like wind and solar were still seen as too risky for most private banks. Despite early efforts by opposition parties to abolish the bank, over the past 10 years it has made itself an essential part of Australia's energy transition and, in June, received an extra A$20.5 billion to help the country meet its target of 82% renewables by 2030. This week on Zero, Akshat Rathi sits down with CEFC chief executive officer, Ian Learmonth, to learn how this huge amount of money will be spent, why the CEFC had so many enemies early on, and what kind of innovative startups and clean-tech projects the organization is looking to fund. For more: Our episode with Jigar Shah, a $9 Billion Deal to Supercharge US Cleantech Our episode on Australia's new climate politics A transcript of this episode Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd and our senior producer is Christine Driscoll. Special thanks to Gilda Di Carli and Kira Bindrim. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit bloomberg.com/green See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jigar Shah wants to change the nation's energy future. He runs a crucial but little-noticed piece of the Biden administration's strategy to address climate change, the Energy Department's Loan Programs Office. And Shah presides over its giant pot of money to lend to companies. We speak with Shah about where he thinks the private sector is falling short in funding green energy and why he thinks the government has a role to play. Further Reading: - Green Investments Stuck Between Rising Risk and Government Backing - Energy Department Commits $3 Billion to Expand Rooftop Solar Access - Climate Funding Gets Squeezed by Volatile Markets Further Listening: - An Energy CEO on the Winding Path to a Green Grid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices