Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

Sean White and special guest Stephen Smith, CEO of Soul Vida Energy Group, talked about what’s going on in the solar world today, including tax credits, market changes, and new ideas helping the industry grow. They also touch on policy shifts and how solar is spreading around the world.   Key Topics: History of the investment tax credit (ITC) Impact of losing the investment tax credit  (ITC) Politics behind solar incentives Rising electricity prices and grid reliability issues Statistics on solar adoption in Australia Issues with tax equity and financing Project acceleration at the end of the year Executive orders affecting solar industry How the Industry Handles Political Shifts China’s Influence on the Solar Industry California and New Jersey rebates German Feed in Tariff Recycling of batteries and other minerals Encouragement for the solar industry   Reach out Stephen Smith here: Solvida Design Website: www.solvidadesign.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjsmithjr   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode, we sit down with Ken Bossong, executive director of the Sun Day Campaign and a clean energy advocate who’s been active since the very first Earth Day in 1970. With over 50 years of experience pushing for renewable energy solutions, Ken shares stories from the early solar movement, the rise of wind and solar power, and why nuclear might not be the climate solution some think it is. From his time in the Peace Corps to working with Ralph Nader, Ken has seen the evolution of energy policy up close and he’s not slowing down.   Topics covered: Sun-Day Campaign Earth Day Podcast with Aidan Charron of Earthday.org www.podcasts.apple.com Fossil Fuels Nuclear Power Solar Price Utility Solar and Wind Natural Gas Coal Climate Change Nuclear Waste ESS = Energy Storage System Decentralized Systems Smarter E Rooftop Solar Transmission Nuclear Fusion & Nuclear Fission Peace Corps Energy Policy Chernobyl Fallout Offshore Wind   Reach out to Ken Bossong Here: Email: sun-day-ampaign@hotmail.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Sean welcomes Ben Batchelder, Multi-Family Engineering Manager at Aspen Power, for an in-depth conversation about the solar energy industry. They discuss Ben’s career journey, from his early days at Sunlight and Power to his current role. Topics include the evolution of solar technology, the distinction between residential and commercial solar projects, the significance of energy storage, and innovative solutions in the field. Ben also shares fascinating experiences from his time working in Antarctica and highlights the importance of designing for the long term in solar energy projects.   Topics covered: SLP = Sunlight and Power www.sunlightandpower.com C&I = Commercial and Industrial SatCon Technology Corp SNEC www.snec-pv.com SolarEdge www.solaredge.com/us UL 3741, Rapid Shutdown, and Firefighter Safety Legacy Systems Power Garden Sean’s Solar Training Center Recycling old modules Solar thermal vs. PV Decline of solar hot water Pool thermal systems Ben’s experience in Antarctica Life at McMurdo Station Shift to large-scale PV NEM 3.0 and electricity rates Demand charges and storage Energy monitoring strategies PPAs and system ownership Site visits and real-world issues Bad solar practices in the industry Aspen Power Solar Long-term design mindset Find out more on: Aspen Power Solar Website: www.aspenpower.com Episode with Michael Shonka: www.podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/michael-shonka-solar-thermal-and-solar-in-the-80s/id1441958371?i=1000708495417   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean interviews Nabih Cherradi, a longtime industry expert with over 34 years of experience. The interview takes place at the SNEC conference in Shanghai, the world's largest solar and storage event. Nabih discusses his extensive career, including his PhD work, involvement in manufacturing solar panels, and his current projects in Saudi Arabia. They also touch on the impact of new technologies like simultaneous translation earbuds and the global expansion of solar energy. The conversation highlights the importance of local manufacturing in the solar industry and the positive future trends for solar energy deployment. >   Topics Covered: SNEC China Intersolar Germany 34 years in the industry Dessert Technology Madam Mi Blockchain Technology Simultaneous Translator Tool GPS CTO = Chief Technology Officer Yingli Solar   Reach out Nabih Cherradi here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nabih-cherradi-b9b4157 Empowersun Website: www.empowersun.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Thresh power can analyze a lot of data at once for large solar projects and then answer queries about those projects. Meet Mark Grozen-Smith, founder and CEO of Thresh Power. Learn about practical solutions for energy project diligence, how AI is changing the industry, and what’s ahead for large-scale solar and wind projects.   Topics covered: Thresh Power www.threshpower.com Automated Diligence AI = Artificial Intelligence Interconnection 9 Zero www.9zero.com Wind Energy Lease Climate Industry EV = Electric Vehicle Grid Data Center Cryptocurrency AI Training and Inference Toyota Prius   Reach out to Mark Grozen-Smith Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/grozensmith Website: www.threshpower.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Join Sean White and Greg Smith, the Snarky Solar Guy, as they talk about the ups and downs of solar energy and battery storage. They cover everything from dealing with unexpected weather to the latest updates in the solar world. This episode has honest conversations, useful tips, and a look at what Greg’s working on next. Tune in for a fun mix of jokes, know-how, and real stories from two solar pros.   Topics covered: NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Tax Credits Greg Smith’s YouTube Channel www.youtube.com The Big Beautiful Bill www.youtube.com Solar Bros ITC = Investment Tax Credits Door-to-Door Salespeople Tariff Oil and Gas Incentives SMA Sonnen Energy TIGO Energy Hofbräuhaus Greg Smith’s Books O&M = Operations and Management Curriculum Codes Rapid Shutdown IRC = International Residential Code IFC = International Fire Code NEC = National Electrical Code Inverter Short Circuit MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking AC Coupling and DC Coupling VPP Virtual Power Plant Lumen Panels Home Automation Connected Home AI = Artificial Intelligence Defecting from the Grid Off Grid Solar Balcony Solar Mini Splits   Reach out to Greg Smith Here: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregsmith007/  Tigo Energy: www.tigoenergy.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode of the Sean White Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean White is joined by two of his good friends, both named Juan Carlos, in Shanghai. The discussion revolves around their experiences in the solar industry, particularly in Panama, where they have implemented solar and storage systems. They share their journey of achieving NABCEP certification, their choice of microinverters for Panama’s conditions, and the benefits of net metering. The conversation also touches upon attending various conferences and a factory visit in Shanghai, and their plans for solar technology in Panama. Sean highlights the importance of ethical practices in the solar industry and emphasizes gradual policy changes.   Topics Discussed: Solar and Storage NABCEP Certification Las Vegas Computer-based exam Juan Carlos Microinverters Solar Bros Ethical Sales Casco Viejo San Jose Island Hacienda Delmar C250 Enphase Yingli Solar Modules PV Technical Sales Net Metering Policy Change Shanghai Maglev train = Magnetic Levitation Train Microinverter Glasses with thin film BIPV Racks Panama Canal   Solar in Panama with Juan Andrés Navarro of NSolar Podcast Link: www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-in-panama-with-juan-andre-s-navarro-of-nsolar/id1441958371?i=1000685533681     Reach out Juan Carlos Navarro Barb & Juan Carlos Arango de Dianous here: Juan Carlos Navarro Barb LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-navarro-barb Juan Carlos Arango de Dianous LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-arango-de-dianous NSolar Website: www.nsolar.net     Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean.

Sean interviews JP DZahr, an expert in digital marketing with experience at Microsoft, Boeing, and the banking industry. JP shares his journey from corporate marketing to creating niche market platforms for the solar industry. They go through topics like pay-per-click advertising, geotargeting, and generating leads through content-rich platforms. JP explains how solar companies can minimize costs and maximize revenue by leveraging Google's AdSense program and organic traffic. Whether you're a solar installer or a marketer, this episode is packed with valuable insights on optimizing solar marketing strategies.   Topics covered: JP Dzhar background Pre-press Lawinfo www.lawinfo.com PPC = Pay-per-click Geotargeting Information platform AdSense Permutations and Combinations AI-generated articles for ad pages Solar Bros Door Knockers Tax Credits Lead generator Looky-loo Researcher Buyer Generating income using Google Ads Trolling the Spammers   Find out more on: The World of Codes Website: www.theworldofcode.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Sean talks to himself like a crazy person about the Big Bad Bill and why we should stay optimistic and kick fossil fuels ass!   One way of compensating for anything that the government throws at you is to work hard and make yourself irreplaceable. One way of doing this is proving yourself invaluable with a NABCEP certification.   With or without tax credits, solar, storage and wind will kick fossil fuels behind.   Topics Covered: Solar Industry’s Resilience Soft Costs and Complexity Job Security and Layoffs Solar Coaster Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Net Meetering in California Call to Action   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Sean talks with Navdeep Martin, CEO and co-founder of Flypower, at the American Clean Power (ACP) Clean Power 25 conference in Pheonix. Flypower is leveraging AI to enhance renewable energy projects. Navdeep, a former speaker at the big NorCal Solar event recently in Oakland, discusses Fly Power's mission to streamline the process of securing permits and overcoming community resistance by analyzing public data. They dive into how AI can optimize renewable energy site selection and community engagement, the hurdles faced by solar and wind energy developers, and how AI innovations enhance decision-making. They also touch on the social dynamics and opposition from various groups towards renewable projects, how developers can navigate these challenges, and the broader significance of renewable energy adoption.   Topics discussed: NorCal Solar 50th Anniversary Flypower AI Clean Power  Conference = Clean Power 25 Wind Industry CIA Community Resistance Data Centers Trevor Noah at ACP Analyzing Commissioners Public available data Census AI based Perplexity Gemini Cloud ChatGPT Deepseek Allies Cancel culture Teddy Kennedy   Reach out Navdeep Martin here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/navdeepmartin/ Website: www.flypower.io   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean.