Suncast

One of the major bottlenecks in the renewable energy sector is tied to one of the oldest components of the energy grid and is an essential piece tying FAR More of our energy infrastructure together than most realize - the humble transformer. As more renewable energy projects are deployed, transformer shortages delay projects and create significant challenges for grid expansion.Ben Macias, Chief Revenue Officer at MGM Transformers, brings over a decade of experience in the energy sector. Previously, he led sales at Shoals Technologies, where he was instrumental in that company's tremendous growth story and eventual IPO. Now at MGM, Ben oversees efforts to tackle transformer shortages by expanding production capacity and enhancing efficiency. Ben has a seasoned team focused on solving this industry bottleneck, and this conversation with Nico gives a glimpse into the not-so-sexy-but-necessary world of electromagnetic induction, probably not a topic you thought you’d learn about today! It’s helpful to

To have record-setting growth and earn the number one spot in your market, it takes more than a good product. How do you build a team mindset and strategy around turning a relatively unknown company into a market leader? What frameworks and strategies can growth-focused companies use to stay ahead of the competition? When Bryan Wagner took the leadership role at CPS America, a top manufacturer of solar Inverters, the company had less than 10 customers in the US Market. With more than 1000 customers and a 7+ yr run as the market leader of 3-phase string inverters, you could say that Bryan and his team have unlocked some success secrets. They’ve also managed tremendous internal growth, with more than 100 team members (up from a dozen) based here in the US.According to Bryan, they’ve found the answer [to both team & product success]] through innovation, customer service, and a culture of continuous improvement. Recorded at CPS’s headquarters in Richardson, Texas, this conversation with Wagner

ABC Supply is the nation’s largest building products distributor, responsible for 1 in 3 American roofs, and now they are setting their sights on what goes on top of our roof: solar panels. ABC Supply is positioned as “the necessary handshake across the aisle between the roofing and solar industry.” This conversation delves into the solar market from a roofer's perspective, exploring how the building supply industry is about to seize the many growing opportunities in solar energy.James Mason, Vice President of Renewables at ABC Supply, has been pivotal in driving this transformation from within the company. With nearly two decades at ABC, James has a unique perspective on the future of solar and roofing, outlining the company’s strategy and how both roofers and solar installers must work together if this market is to scale appropriately.Expect to learn:How ABC Supply's 40+ years in building products distribution enables seamless solar integration.Key strategies behind the national expansion of ABC

Hydro-Québec (HQ), North America’s largest renewable energy producer, is expanding its footprint into battery storage through its subsidiary, EVLO Energy Storage. Born from decades of expertise in grid management as one of Canada’s largest utilities, EVLO is the result of much research & development by HQ into utlizing batteries for grid stabilization.  EVLO specializes in battery energy storage solutions (BESS) to solve the grid challenges faced by the energy transition. Their solutions emphasize not only performance but also security, ensuring that modern grid technologies are protected from cyber threats.Martin Rheault, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, shares his journey from a successful career running the renewables practice at a major engineering firm to taking on the challenge of scaling EVLO into a global player in the energy storage market. Along the way, he provides insights into domestic manufacturing in Canada and the U.S., and the mission to build safer, more

“Environmental justice is definitely an area that I’m passionate about because it’s deeply entwined with racial justice. Communities of color have been disproportionately victimized by environmental hazards, discriminatory environmental policy, and are far more likely to live in areas with heavy pollution.At Volt, we are trying to reverse these injustices by building clean non-polluting solar plants in our communities.” - Gilbert CampbellPioneering innovative solutions like the Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement (EJPPA) to drive wealth creation and improve health outcomes through solar projects, Campbell has partnered with tech giants like Microsoft to supply 250MW of clean power. His model demonstrates how clean energy can simultaneously foster sustainability and social equity.Marginalized communities across the country have long faced environmental injustice, overlooked for the kinds of development that bring economic opportunities - like renewable energy. As the shift to clean energy

The battery storage sector is [finally] stabilizing with 90% of the IRA tax credit rules now in place, providing developers more clarity and perhaps more certainty. However, domestic production, financing, and evolving tax credit policies still pose challenges, particularly to product development. As developers, you must contend with government policies, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and safety concerns, all of which can delay projects and affect their long-term viability. And battery suppliers/manufacturers are all sorting out the wants versus the needs of developers as the market gets increasingly crowded & pushes the envelope on size & density.In a recent live discussion, Fluence President John Zahurancik addresses these complexities, highlighting efforts to expand U.S. battery production and improve safety through rigorous fire safety testing.Expect to learn:How storage wasn’t traditionally driven by policy, until the IRA & 45x, but policy is now reshaping storage

The energy storage market is truly moving faster than ever, and with it, the complexity of building and managing these projects and products that serve our need for 24/7 renewable power.  It does, however, raise a number of interesting, if not troubling questions:How does this rapid change impact the Total Cost of Ownership for battery energy storage projects?Are there hidden costs to this pace of growth?As we watch the industry scale, it has started to feel a bit like companies are rushing projects (and products) to market in a race to meet market demand and be “first” in a number of key areas, not the least of which is power density and battery size. So we have to ask, “how big is too big?”And, as sites begin to move closer to population centers, what do we do about the inevitable concerns surrounding noise ordinances? Is Noise the next challenge in front of the industry?I asked these and many others of today’s special guest while we were live on our PowerUp Live stage recently at RE+ 2

Seventeen years ago, two young boys from Washington, DC set a ball in motion that would spark a nationwide solar movement. What inspired them? Al Gore.Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a national nonprofit, began as a grassroots effort when two preteens, inspired by An Inconvenient Truth, rallied their neighbors to adopt solar energy. Their initial door-to-door campaign grew into a solar co-op, which has since evolved into SUN, has driven key policy changes across the USA and fosters a network of solar advocates that stretches coast-to-coast. In fact, their neighborhood-focused inkling of an idea has now facilitated over 10,000 residential solar projects, making localized, affordable solar accessible to communities everywhere and catalyzing the largest known community of solar owners we’ve found.In this episode, Anya Schoolman, Executive Director of Solar United Neighbors, shares how her son, Walter and his friend Diego’s vision for neighborhood-wide solar purchasing planted the seed for a nationa

Advancements in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are setting new standards in renewable energy integration and at a break-neck pace. Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Optimization (ES&O) has long been a leader of this innovation, developing solutions to meet the growing demand for larger, more efficient battery systems, while recognizing the limitations of scale in the race to pack in the most energy density. With a diverse portfolio of products, from their flagship DC block Quantum series to the newly introduced Quantum3, a 5 MWh AC block with integrated string inverters, Wärtsilä continues to push the boundaries of energy storage technology.Listen in to this Live-recorded session as Dave Hebert, Director of Sales Management, and Neha Sinha, Product Manager for Energy Storage Systems at Wärtsilä, discuss how their products address critical challenges like space constraints, auxiliary power, and noise reduction while adapting to evolving market demands and the complexities of product development

Domestic manufacturing is making a COMEBACK!There, I finally admit it. I never thought it’d happen, to be honest, as you’ll here in today’s episode.On August 8th, we were invited to Houston, Texas for the grand opening of SEG Solar's new solar module factory. In the heart of oil & gas country, this state-of-the-art facility raises the bar for domestic solar manufacturing. With fully automated production lines producing two gigawatts of panels annually—and plans to expand to five gigawatts by 2030, SEG Solar is leading the charge in bringing manufacturing back to U.S. soil.If you’ve not been inside a real solar manufacturing facility, neither had we - we take you INSIDE for this unique first-hand look.  And, if you haven’t yet, subscribe to SunCast Media & watch the factory tour.Mentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2

What if you could go online, get a solar quote in under a minute, and bypass door knocking sales reps? That's the promise of Project Solar, a Utah-based startup with over $23 M in Series A funding, that's changing the way residential solar is sold. Founders Matthew Smith and Trevor Hiltbrand are disrupting the solar market with a direct-to-consumer model that eliminates the middleman, offering transparency and simplicity. Leveraging their deep e-commerce expertise and entrepreneurial backgrounds, they created a platform that empowers homeowners with clear, low pricing and a streamlined process. Their journey has been defined by significant early success, even acquisition offers, and almost immediately finding the coveted “product-market fit”, all while maintaining a rabid focus on customer experience. It’s rare that I think someone is truly, actually, changing the way we do things - Project Solar is one of those rare finds.Expect to learn:How Project Solar’s quoting tool delivers accurate

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 manufactur

When I started SunCast, it seemed like there were lots of “Pioneers”; I even did a series focused on Solar Pioneers.  That was 9 yars ago.  Nowadays, most people are following playbooks others have written, and true pioneers are few-and-far-between. But I do still get to bring real pioneers on the show.  Today’s guest has taken all 9 years to lock down, despite having first met Billy Parish in 2011, fully 4 yrs before I started SunCast! Good things come to those who wait.  And you’ve waited a long time for this story, as Never Before Told…The Billy Parish, Mosaic Anthology!How does a social activist unexpectedly become a pioneer in solar financing, helping shape the industry while funding over $15 billion in residential solar loans?Billy Parish, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Mosaic, turned his passion for activism into a mission to make solar power accessible and affordable for millions of homeowners. Before founding Mosaic, Parish was a youth activist and impatient buddi

As RE+ 2024 wound to a close last Thursday, Nico Johnson sat down with three of the solar industry’s top content creators to discuss the standout innovations and key takeaways they captured from the largest clean energy event in North America. They dive into how solar is evolving beyond just panels on rooftops and into integrated home energy solutions; Each shares their insights on the products and technologies that will define the industry. It’s a first-ever collaboration of some of the solar industry’s top content creators across various platforms to get a sense of how they each experienced this year’s exhibition hall, the largest yet.You’ll hear from:Derek Mast – derek the solarboiMartyna Kowalczyk – Solartime with MartynaJoe Ordia – Solar SurgeExpect to learn:How EV charging and home energy management systems are transforming solar system design.Why rapid shutdown devices, like SMA’s new innovations, are critical for improving rooftop safety and simplifying installations.Battery storage advance

Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton and Josh Beck round out RE+ 2024 with Abby Hopper, Stephanie Bosh and Colin Silver of SEIA.Mentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2

Start each day the full replay of the Daily Round Up with Nico Johnson and Josh Beck as we bring you the trends and conversations unfolding in Anaheim at the RE+ 2024 conference.If you are in Anaheim, visit us at the PowerUp Media Zone booth E100, Lobby of Hall D.You can also watch the show stream live at suncast.live.Mentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2

Start each day with highlights from the Morning Show with Nico Johnson and Lisa Ann Pinkerton and then the full replay of the Daily Round Up with Nico Johnson and Josh Beck as we bring you the trends and conversations unfolding in Anaheim at the RE+ 2024 conference.If you are in Anaheim, visit us at the PowerUp Media Zone booth E100, Lobby of Hall D.You can also watch the show stream live 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

Oh, Florida! You’re the Sunshine State…why has it taken you so long to establish a real solar market?  Well, the good news is it’s now heating up.  But, that means so is the competition!  So, how do you build a profitable solar business in one of the most competitive markets in the U.S.?Mike Vergona, the founder of Urban Solar, has been a key player in Florida’s solar industry for over a decade, and has become one of the most respected and referred solar installers in the state. Mike’s journey from his father’s electrical company to founding one of Florida’s top solar companies is packed with lessons for anyone in the renewable energy space.We talked about the tough decisions, the wins, and the lessons learned that have defined his business and leadership style. Plus, we discussed how grid parity is making solar energy more affordable and accessible and why this shift matters for solar businesses everywhere, not just Florida.Expect to learn:The realities of competing in Florida’s fas

One of the most common critical path bottlenecks of any infrastructure project, energy or otherwise, is the transformer and substation. The interconnection of the power plant to the electrical grid requires this hardware - and it’s famously hard to come by these days, with lead times often in excess of 18 months.  If you’re involved in renewable energy, in particular EPC services, you know the pressure to deliver projects faster than ever. Dan Girard, CEO of Alternative Power Generation (APG), shares how his team consistently outpaces peers and large competitor, often building substations in under six months—compared to the typical 18-24 months. Girard also reveals APG's focus on the underserved 1-50 MW solar market and their extensive experience with microgrids, offering valuable insights into how APG meets the complex demands of data centers, utilities, and more. Expect to learn:How APG builds substations in less than six months, cutting lead times in half.The keys to thriving in the 1-50

Knowing when and why to invest in patents can be a game-changer for your startup. But what’s the right strategy to ensure your intellectual property is truly protected? And how do you know WHEN is the right time to take this crucial step?Patent attorney Russ Krajec brings more than two decades of experience to bear in this insider's perspective on navigating the treacherous world of Intellectual Property Rights. Russ, an attorney by trade, is also an author and angel investor who has dedicated his career to transforming the traditional patent approach. He specializes in helping startups safeguard their innovations while unlocking maximum market potential. In this Flashback Friday, we revisit a timeless discussion about:The common mistakes founders make with patents The importance of timing in the patent process How to align your intellectual property (IP) strategy with your business goals The insurance policies that can help startups enforce their hard-won IP rightsThere are HUN