Suncast

Welcome to Episode 65 of SunCast! I hope you learned a lot during this week's ultra-nerdy Tactical Tuesday with Hongbin Fang of LONGi Solar.On today's episode, I speak with Etienne Lecompte. Etienne is a leader and entrepreneur in renewable energy, software development and regulatory compliance. Etienne's companies and products have set the standard for developers, financiers and equity providers investing in renewable energy assets in Canada and now throughout North America. He currently leads his latest venture, PowerHub: a cloud-based Asset Management solution designed to help renewable energy asset owners manage their projects.Tune in Today as we Discuss Topics Such As:How Etienne & PowerHub raised capital.The opportunities and threats currently in the Asset Management space.For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/065)Make sure you tune back in ne

Welcome to Episode 64 of SunCast!  Welcome to Tactical Tuesdays, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts to give you the edge in building your solar business and brand.Hongbin Fang is Director of Product Marketing at LONGi Solar, a leading dedicated monocrystalline solar cell and module manufacturer.With the resurgence of Bifacial Modules & the rapid rise of the PERC cell technology, I thought it would be good to bring in an expert on the subject to help us understand the technical bits and why it matters to the industry.Tune in Today as we Discuss:The rise of PERC Mono solar cell technology - what is it, and why should we care?The re-emergence of bifacial modules - what's new, and how does it help developers deliver more kWh?For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/064)Make sure you tune back in on Thursday for episode 65 of Suncast, where I talk

Welcome to Episode 63 of SunCast!I hope you enjoyed the last week's episode with Oleg pushing the envelope on commercial finance.Today's episode is going to plumb the depths of the entrepreneurial journey with a CEO of a US-based solar module manufacturer who's had his share of failure and success, and most certainly understands how to cross the chasm.I had the incredible pleasure of sitting down with Suvi Sharma, CEO of Solaria Corporation.Suvi joined Solaria in 2003 and recruited a world-class management team, developed partnerships with industry-leading solar companies and raised close to $200 million from strategic financial investors.Tune in Today as we Discuss:Solaria's Newest Innovation: Architectural PV GlassHow Suvi gave his job to Dan Shugar, then took it back after they spun Nextracker out of Solaria.For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/063)This epis

Welcome to Episode 62 of SunCast!In today's episode of SunCast, I speak to Oleg Popovsky of Braggawatt Solar. We talk about a project they announced that week at SPI. On the surface, it would appear a rather innocuous, perhaps insignificant achievement, but I think Oleg does a great job explaining exactly why this announcement had my ears perked.If you've been curious to look under the hood a wee bit to see what this SunEdison spinoff is up to, this episode is for you. It's a great example of taking intrapreneurship to its ultimate destination, spinning out your idea & turning it into a standalone business.Oleg ran global biz dev for SunEdison in its heyday, and had an inside view at the good, bad and ugly of commercial solar finance, so he and his team are the kind of folks you want to lend your ear to.Tune in Today as we Discuss:The announcement of a very interesting achievement for C&I Solar.How Oleg ran with an idea to create a standalone business.How Big Data is paving the way for

Happy New Year. I've got some exciting episodes and community planning coming, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this timeless story.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this New Years episode of SunCast.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 con

Welcome to Episode 60 of SunCast!In today's episode of SunCast, I speak to Jigar Shah, an icon in the solar industry. From founding SunEdison to leading the Carbon War Room as its first CEO, Jigar has been innovating on business models in the energy and infrastructure arenas for more than 2 decades.  Currently, Jigar is the co-founder and President of specialty finance company, Generate Capital, investing in infrastructure assets in what they refer to as the world's critical resources, energy, water, agriculture and basic materialsTune in Today as we Discuss: How Jigar's early career and family life shaped the companies he's built Why Jigar believes you can't build a business as a side-hustle SunEdison's early days of financing, and how that influences his own investing ethos What Jigars sees smart entrepreneurs doing to win For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/060)This ep

Welcome to Episode 59 of SunCast!This is installment #2 in the Solar+Storage series.Today on SunCast, I get to interview one of the guys who's had a massive impact on my own personal career, Mike Grunow, the VP of Marketing at Vizn Energy Systems.Tune in today as we discuss:How to spec out a good MRD - Market Requirements DocumentThe biggest misconception about Li-ion batteriesLimitations of both from duty & cooling cycles to electrodegradationThe difference between Power & Energy, and why it's not always clear for many developers new to storageIF you missed the first in this Solar+Storage series, be sure to check out Travis Simpkins Episode as well #56.And for resources (and a hilarious yet informative video) from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/059)This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial

Welcome to Episode 58 of SunCast!Today on SunCast, we are digging into the inner workings of a company (Wunder Capital) many of you have probably begun to work with, and who has clearly done a great job of gaining traction since it's founding back in 2013.  For you entrepreneurs out there, I ask Bryan a ton of questions specifically about the who/what/how/when/why of starting and growing his business. Bryan Birsic and his co-founders have grown Wunder Capital to be one of the fastest-growing and useful platforms for funding commercial solar projects in the US right now.Tune in today as we discuss:Founding Bain's Green TeamWhy Wunder is different from other platforms like MosaicHow Wunder is Funding Commercial SolarAnd, what Bryan believes is the most Critical decision every Founder makes This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $1

Welcome to Episode 57 of SunCast, and episode #5 in the Solar Pioneers series.Today is the much-anticipated Part 2 of Episode 39 with Dan Shugar!As founder and CEO, Dan Shugar helped build NEXTracker into one of the fastest growing cleantech companies in the U.S. Dan was responsible for spinning NEXTracker out of Solaria Corp. where he also served as CEO, and then merging with FLEX almost 2 years ago. Nextracker has become the largest tracker company in the world by volume shipped, and I wanted to know more about what has driven that success. If you don't know Dan's backstory, and it's a GREAT one, please be sure to listen to Episode 39!Tune in today as we discuss:The similar evolution of the Auto and Solar industries.The Best Advice Dan has been given by his Mentors.Advice to budding Entrepreneurs.The book Dan has given away the most.What's in Dan's crystal ball? This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial c

Welcome to Episode 56 of SunCast.Today I talk to Dr. Travis Simpkins, based on a recommendation from one of our amazing listeners!Travis is the founder and CEO of muGrid Analytics.muGrid Analytics are the nerds of the renewable energy world. Analyzing potential or existing projects to help you make sound data driven decisions and get the most out of our renewable energy investments. Travis provides techno-economic analysis of renewable energy and energy storage projects to developers, utilities and component manufacturers using their proprietary Redcloud energy optimization platform.Tune in today as we discuss:Solar plus StorageMicrogridsTravel HackingMountain ClimbingWhat's Hot and What's HypeThis episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a fin

Welcome to Episode 55 of SunCast.Edmee Kelsey, CEO of 3MegaWatt, is an expert in Solar Asset Management. Today, she's here to help us better understand the world of Asset Management, and the underlying software that keeps it going.  Many of us don't really have a glimpse into this side of the plant, as we're focused on the upfront sales, marketing, and installation aspect, but with over 300GW in global operational assets being managed, one asks, "Who is handling all that data, contracts and compliance?" 3MegaWatt is the industry leader today in solar asset management software, with >16GW of assets on their platform, so I sat down with Edmee to get a bit better insight into the topic. Hope you enjoy it.A quick reminder to check out the webinar series 5to50: The Secret Formula to Conversion, being hosted by SunCast, SolarLeadFactory & SolarEdge - This is webinar number 2 of 3, building on what we presented on Oct 13th all about Lead Generation.If you're interested in tips on how to p

Welcome to Episode 54 of SunCast.Today we go deep with a friend of mine who's seen the ups and downs of this industry. He's been at the top & bottom of the food chain, successes & failures, and lots of lessons learned along the way. Some of you may know Chad Medcroft, as he was one of the key executive team members responsible for growing Zep from a niche California solar racking company to the having the largest market share in the US Residential market (and now beyond after it's acquisition by SolarCity).  We get into many details about that experience, and the PTSD of being acquired by a major industry player!  Tune in today as we discuss:Ways Chad helped reduce the soft costs of solar installationThe hurdles to scaling resi & commercial solar companiesBenchmarks and resources for installation and engineering best practicesWhat it's like to watch your baby be absorbed into a larger organizationAnd some of Chad's Aha moments and advice for others on a similar path.  Cha

Welcome to Tactical Tuesdays, a weekly short-form conversation with subject-matter experts to give you the edge in building your solar business and brand.And this week, we welcome Mika Nuotio of Empower Micro Systems.Nature of how power electronics sector works and implication for solar industry, inverters, etc.What changes in UL and NEC standards are driving inverter and module electronics architecture evolution?How is safety in power electronics evolving?UL 1741 - what is it? how has it evolved and what implications are there for solar technology development?2014 edition Vs 2017 edition - what's new in these updated editions?When is compliance required?What is Rule 21Is the US leading or lagging in terms of grid integration and control standards? What is Low-voltage ride-through and why is it important?What is Reactive powerNEC 680.2 & The background behind Rapid-shutdownAnd differences between the implementations of the 2014 version and the revisions of the 2017 versionWho is really driving

Welcome to Episode 52 of SunCast. I'm so gladI'm eager to hear your thoughts on the first Tactical Tuesday.It's 20 minutes of marketing morsels with our friend Solar Fred. What topics do you want more of there, or who should be featured? Today on SunCast is Mr. TJ Kanczuzewski, CEO and chief innovator at Inovateus Solar. TJ is one of the most high-energy executives I know, and he leads a team of winners, but don't take my word for it, tune in as we discuss:The time-honored tradition of taking over the family businessBest places to work and having a fun cultureGrowing a nationwide presence with staying power, in particular, the keys to their staying powerThe power of a pivotDetailedexamples of tactics he's infused into Inovateus to foster growth and productivityProbably one of the best reading lists yet and more...This episode is Long, but Worth it.  This really was a blast to record and is jam-packed with good insight into how to build a thriving company straight from the man who's dedicated

Welcome to Tactical Tuesdays, a weekly short-form conversation with subject-matter experts to give you the edge in building your solar business and brand.And first up, my friend Tor Valenza, AKA Solar Fred, is back to discuss Content Marketing. What is it? How can you integrate it into your marketing strategy? Where does Social Media add value, and even who are some of the thought leaders Tor recommends we follow.Tune in, and Tune-up your skills.Thanks for checking out Tactical Tuesday and please share this episode with someone you think would benefit!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 recom

I can scarcely believe it's already been 2 yrs since the launch of SunCast! Today, October 6th, is in fact the exact anniversary. It also marks the beginning of my 39th trip around the Sun, woot!  Launching on my birthday in 2015 was an easy way to never forget the anniversary of the show! There are 5 things I'll cover on today's episode:wow, 50 episodes, what does that mean? And an announcement regarding upcoming episodes & contentKnow your scene, the value of creating a tribeStaying connectedIf you're on my mailing list, or care about giving input, I'll be sending a survey next week, so make sure you're signed up to receive it.Next week's webinar is gonna rock your face off. Today, on SunCast episode #50, we are going to dive deep, not with a guest, but with you. I'd like to tell you some of the things I've been thinking about and how I hope to create more value for SunCast as it begins to expand beyond a weekly podcast into a broader platform.  I began SunCast 2 yrs ago with the in

Episode 49 - the missing link(s) to solid growthThis week's episode is one I REALLY enjoyed recording for 2 reasons. #1, it's mostly unscripted because of #2, it's after dinner with one of my favorite humans, Scott Mueller, and we aptly dubbed it the first Winecast, over a great bottle of Vino - It's officially WineCast #2 (see Episode 46 for WineCast #1) but let's not get into semantics!Today I'll keep the intro short & focused on 2 important things you need to know, that tie back to today's chat w/Scott.Thing 1: Scott is one of my solar brothers, part of my Scene, my tribe.What does that mean, and why do you care? Well, that's the topic of next week's episode, which is #50, and which celebrates 2 awesome milestones in MY Life - my 38th birthday - AND the 2nd anniversary of the launch of SunCast!So, next week's episode will take a look at how we build community, what has SunCast become over the first 50 episodes, how you all have in fact become my tribe of sorts, and what you can expect from t

Welcome to SunCast, and Episode 48!Today we'll be spending time with a friend who's no stranger to the media and spotlight surrounding solar, and who has been a major voice advocating for the solar industry's maturity both as a resource and as a marketing community vying for people's attention in a crowded space.  Tor Valenza, AKA, Solar Fred, is a strategy advisor and communications consultant for a number of well-known companies, and regularly shares his insights, thoughts and recommendations with us through social media and online publications. So I thought I'd have Tor come on SunCast to not only dig into his background, but to hear his take on how solar companies can learn from the best marketers in the world and what we should be doing to up our game. In today's episode, Tor and I discuss:The making of Solar FredWhat is branding, and how are solar companies getting it rightWhat's holding many solar companies backThe failures that have led to Tor's successesWhat you can learn from a gian

Welcome to Episode 46 of SunCast. I'm your host, Nico Johnson, and I'm so glad you're back with me again this week! My friend, and fellow podcaster, Jeff Spies, has been in the solar industry for nearly exactly the same amount of time I have (that's 11 yrs and counting!) and I don't think Anybody has spent as much time as he has thinking about how to tell the story of the dawn of the Solar PV Industry and the vanguards who ushered it out of obscurity and into mainstream. His Solar Pioneer parties are legendary, so stay tuned to hear how you can attend the 3rd and final one this November!In today's episode, we get into detail about:Jeff's journey into solar, from his early days at AEE to nowWhat exactly is this Solar Pioneers party he keeps talking about on LinkedIn and Facebook and why you should attend?Which contractor trade Jeff expects solar to most resemble as it continues to evolveHis take on Hot or Not, and of course, books, lessons learned and much more. If YOU have someone or something

Welcome to Episode 46 of SunCast.Today we will be spending time with my new friend, Pamela Cargill of Chaolysti Management Consulting.  Stay tuned for:Insights into how small companies prepare for growth in solarSolid tools Pam uses to coach her clients along that pathWhat its like leaving corporate to run your own consulting business, from a woman's perspectiveAnd about a dozen other insights gleaned from this hour with PamPam cut her teeth more than a decade ago schlepping modules on a crew installing in the Northeast. She then moved up to the marketing and operations teams at Sungevity before stepping out on her own. So, she understands how to help companies get to scale, address common misconceptions, and how to frame the conversation.By the time you hear this, you may already be on a plane to Vegas, or perhaps you missed it but you're finally catching up on episodes, that's ok too!If you do hear it ahead of SPI, I still have some spots available for interviews, and there will be lots of