SunCast 790: Jigar Shah On His Next Chapter & Clean Energy’s Future
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 make
- Which technologies surprised Jigar the most at DOE
- Why clean energy already dominates the grid
- How local relationships—not venture capital—unlock massive opportunities
- Why Jigar rarely talks about climate when selling energy solutions
What do you hope Jigar does next?
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