Episode Summary
In this episode, Benoy and Li discuss Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), their effect on solar industry financing, and what benefits long-term solar investments can provide to businesses and homeowners in the growing solar industry. In addition, Benoy talks about upcoming conferences and events he will be attending.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
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. 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 also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Li Wang
Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter, to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.
Insights from this episode:
- Details on upcoming conferences that Benoy will be attending.
- Books and podcasts that have influenced Benoy and Li and the Solar Maverick Podcast.
- The crucial role customer service plays in business and how you represent your brand.
- The details on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and how they are affecting financing and the development of the solar pipeline.
Quotes from the show:
- “We are firm believers that if you own a brand you have the right to express how you want to carry that culture.” – Li Wang, Episode #52
- “Personal branding is so huge.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- On news that US Utility Solar Pipeline has hit a new high: “It shows you that people are confident about what is happening in the solar industry. Not all these projects in this pipeline are going to get developed, but it shows you that people are confident about what is happening in the solar industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- “But, really, just get involved in the industry. We think all parts of the industry are going to grow.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- “The real value that we are seeing from a career perspective is a project developer.“ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- “Any investment involves risk, but combined with the federal incentives and the terms I’m looking at it seems like accessibility to financing is pretty good for those who do want to get involved in solar.” – Li Wang, Episode #52
- “In the past, there were a lot of good projects and not enough financing. Now there is so much financing and not a lot of good projects.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
Quoted by Benoy: “Ultimately, there's one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself. Nobody can take away what you've got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven't used yet.” - Warren Buffett
Podcasts Mentioned:
SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham
SMP 42: Live Event - How Solar Technology is Changing the World
SMP 43: 2019 Energy Storage Trends with Benoy Thanjan and Li Wang
SMP 47: Solar Financing 101 with Benoy Thanjan and Li Wang
Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu
Books Mentioned:
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Resources Mentioned:
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
PV Magazine; Off-site, In Mind
Achieving Affordable, Clean Energy Goals Through Off-Site Corporate PPAsU.S. Utility Solar Pipeline Soars to 37.9 GW, A New Record
Conferences Mentioned:
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 New York, New York
Benoy was the Dean of the Hustle Track at the Mogul X innovative conference; made up of transformative classrooms, immersive experiences, and networking opportunities – all of which dive into the key aspects of a Mogul’s life including Failures, Work, Relationships, Health & Wellness, Travel, Finance, and Entrepreneurship. Each class is taught by the best of the best: world-class CEO’s, top executives, celebrities, and professors – taking their lifetime of learnings and expertise and turning it into actionable lessons for you.
Solar Power International Conference
Sept. 23 - Sept. 26, 2019 Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar
Oct. 2 - Oct. 4, 2019 Dallas, Texas
Benoy spoke at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar on Friday, October 4 in a panel on “Impact of renewable energy on the future of real estate” with Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls and Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong.
Oct. 10 - Oct. 12, 2019 San Diego, California
INFLUENCER Magazine presents the first-ever conference exclusively for up-and-coming influencers, by experienced influencers, on how to grow your personal brand, monetize your content, reach more people, and dramatically scale your business.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Li Wang
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This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)