Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

When a battery cell heats up a lot, it can propagate to its neighboring cell and usually they do propagate on the cell level and not the battery storage unit level, but Viridi Parente has figured out how to not have cell propagation and has gone through the UL 9540A fire testing to prove it. They are working on a residential battery that will be “listed and labeled for use in habitable spaces” which nobody has ever successfully done to the best of my knowledge. This means that you would not have to follow the 2024 International Residential Code (2021 IRC with different wording), which means they can put as much as they want in any room in a house, once this is a done deal, which will probably happen in the first quarter of 2026.   Here it is in the IRC: https://up.codes/viewer/mississippi/irc-2024/chapter/3/building-planning#R330.1   This is big news that could revolutionize energy storage.   Viridi Parente has two factories in historical places. The Ford Motor building in Richmond CA where Rosie the Riveter worked and was photographed during WW2 and also the other factory in Buffalo NY was a GM factory built in 1920 which was also building tanks for WW2, so besides kicking Nazi’s butts, these buildings will help with the modernization of the grid.   Jon and Sean also talk about virtual power plants (VPPs) and the internet of things (IoT). They cover how using energy storage can lead to a lot less current on wires and how you can run 40 houses on a single 200A service with the right amount of energy storage and coordination.   Topics covered: Viridi Parente www.viridiparente.com Nikola Tesla George Westinghouse AC = Alternating Current DC = Direct Current HVDC = High Voltage Direct Current Arc Lighting Electric AC Lighting Devil in the White City (Historical Fiction Book) Thomas Edison Battery Inverter Pack System UL Listing UL 9540A Preventing Cell to Cell Propagation Sewage Lift Station Rosie the Riveter Transmission And Distribution Deferral ESS = Energy Storage System Jigar Shah EV = Electric Vehicle Energy Density LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide Thermal Runaway Cheese Cloth Test IRC = International Residential Code VPP = Virtual Power Plant IoT = Internet of Things Balcony Solar 18650 Battery CSA = Canadian Standards Association EV Charging California Olympics Tax Credit Energy Revolution   Reach out to Jon Williams Here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jon-m-williams Viridi Parente www.viridiparente.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at: www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/sfev

Curious about how residential solar could actually get cheaper, and what’s holding it back? In this episode, host Sean White speaks with Ravi Mikkelsen, CEO of Atmos Financial, to explore the realities behind solar pricing, industry challenges, and how smarter financing can make solar accessible for more people. Whether you are a homeowner, industry professional, or simply curious about clean energy, this conversation offers valuable insights.   Topics covered: Atmos Financial www.joinatmos.com Grandma Maxing Solar Bros Transparency to Homeowners Tax Credit Atmosphere Financing Banks Credit Unions Loan / Lending Solar and Storage Grid Utility Battery C10 C46 Ravi Mikkelsen’s Origin Story Tesla AHJ = Authority Having Jurisdiction Standardization NEC = National Electrical Code Unethical Salespeople Equipment Cost DIY Solar Smarter E / Intersolar Balcony Solar   Reach out to Ravi Mikkelsen Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ravimikkelsen Atmos Financial: www.joinatmos.com     Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at: www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/40hrpv

In this episode, Sean White talks with Nick Tumilowicz, Director of Product Management Solutions at Itron, about how smart meters and distributed energy resources are changing the way we use electricity. They discuss the role of grid edge technology, virtual power plants, and how consumers can save money and help the grid by managing devices like solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers. The conversation covers practical tips for homeowners, the future of energy management, and how new technology is making the grid smarter and more efficient.   Topics covered: Itron www.na.itron.com Gas Water Electricity Grid Edge Solar and Storage Itron Meter Grid Distributed Energy Battery Energy Forecasting Meter DER = Distributed Energy Resources EV = Electric Vehicle Consumer Utility VPP =Virtual Power Plant Nuclear Central Generation AMR = Advanced Meter Reading AMI = Advanced Metering Infrastructure PG&E = Pacific Gas and Electric Company EV Charging Energy Management System Autonomous Load Following or Automated Load Management NEC = National Electrical Code Transformer Utility Programs Bi-Directional EV OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer ESS = Energy Storage System Automated Program HEMS = Home Energy Management Systems Smart Appliances Emergency Load Response Program Mini Split Heat Pump Voltage Sag Data Center ASES = American Solar Energy Society   Reach out to Nick Tumilowicz Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.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 as he talks with John Perlin, a well-known historian and author, about the history of solar energy and how it connects to human progress. John shares stories from his books and career, touching on everything from ancient solar use to the role of forests in shaping our world. It’s a laid-back, insightful episode for anyone into solar, history, or just learning something new.   Topics covered: Intersolar Eicke Weber UC Berkley Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems Smarter E Hermann Scheer Hans Josef Fell Feed in Tariff NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory International Solar Energy Society University of California Santa Barbara Monty Python Keeling Curve Solar Water Heater Roman, Greek & China History Heliocaminus Photovoltaic History Bell Labs Calvin Fuller Daryl Chapin Gerald Pearson Becquerel Thermodynamics Albert Einstein Solar Selenium Photovoltaic Solid-State Solar Cell Pier 39 Fisherman’s Wharf UC Berkeley Alumni Camp Barrington Hall` Lexicon The Wood Age Literature The Great Valves of Roam Marcus Vitruvius Pollio Ship Solar Thermal Iron Horses Coal & Charcoal UCC Monitor USS Monitor CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack) John Ericsson A Golden Thread: 2,500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization Patagonia Eike Webber (Herman Scheer 80th Birthday) Podcast www.podcasts.apple.com   Reach out to John Perlin Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/john-perlin Website: www.aforestjourney.com John Perlin’s books: http://aforestjourney.com/     Links to John Perlin’s book reviews: Let It Shine: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/seven-of-the-greatest-solar-stories-over-the-millennia    A Forest Journey: https://botany.one/2023/05/perlins-potentially-perfect-plants-and-people-publication/   https://time.com/6969478/forests-human-history/   https://news.mongabay.com/2024/10/interview-with-john-perlin/     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 podcast Dan Lotano, GoodLeap’s Chief Operating Officer, talks about the Treasury guidance that is good news, because it offers a smooth glidepath, rather than a hard landing.   This podcast was recorded on August 15, 2025 at 11AM Pacific.   Additionally, we talk about GoodLeap and their involvement with virtual power plants (VPPs), solar and storage financing, home energy, the GoodLeap app, Connecticut Green Bank and a lot more.   Topics covered: GoodLeap platform and services Treasury Guidance Update Solar Coaster IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Energy Incentives Domestic Manufacturing & Jobs ITC = Investment Tax Credit Residential Credit Expiration Corporate vs Homeowner Tax Credits VPPs = Virtual Power Plants Financial Innovation in Solar Utility Interconnection Timelines AI’s Role in the industry Future of Incentives   Reach out to Daniel Lotano here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lotano GoodLeap: www.goodleap.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 host Sean White as he welcomes Stephanie Choi Brookes of Emtel Energy USA to discuss a revolutionary new approach to energy storage. Discover how graphene technology could reshape the future of power and hear stories from the front lines of innovation. Don’t miss this insightful conversation about what’s next in solar and storage!   Topics covered: Solid State Graphene Based Electrostatic Storage Emtel Energy USA www.emtelenergyusa.com Masdar Capacitor Super Capacitor Graphene ESS = Energy Storage System Energy Density LDES = Long Duration Energy Storage Li-ion battery = Lithium-ion Battery Battery Silicon Diamond Industrial Diamond Waste-based graphene Utility Duke Energy  Dominion Energy www.dominionenergy.com Con Edison www.coned.com EPRI = Electric Power Research Institute www.epri.com EMWALL Wall Mounted ESS C&I Commercial and Industrial EV = Electric Vehicle EV Charging   Reach out to Stephanie Choi Brookes Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-choi-brookes Emtel Energy USA: www.emtelenergyusa.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, Sean White talks with Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, about the latest advances in solar panels for space. They cover how thin-film solar technology is changing satellite design, why weight and flexibility matter in orbit, and what makes space solar different from panels used on Earth. Paul also shares insights on manufacturing, industry trends, and the future of solar power in space. If you’re interested in solar energy, satellites, or new technology, this episode has something for you.   Topics covered: Ascent Solar Mark Mrohs Space X Starlink Project Kuiper Space Station Gallium Arsenide CIGS = Copper Indium Gallium Selenide Thin Film Watts per Weight VS Watts per Square meter Solar in Space Satellite LEO = Low Earth Orbit Crystalline Silicon ASES Conference = American Solar Energy Society Conference Geosynchronous Orbit Hubble Space Telescope Concentrated Solar SBSP = Space-Based Solar Power Vanguard 1 Sputnik Sesna 150 Solar Cooling in Space NASDAQ = National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations NASDAQ: ASTI = Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. Moon   Reach out to Paul Warley Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-warley   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, recorded at the SNEC Conference in Shanghai, the world’s largest solar and energy storage event, Sean meets with Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, former member of the German Parliament and Hydrogen Commissioner for the German government. Dr. Kaufman is now a consultant in the private sector and co-head of the hydrogen sector of the Clean Tech Business Club. They discussed the power of international collaboration through the Clean Tech Business Club. How hydrogen is transforming the industries: steel, shipping, aviation and more. The challenges and opportunities of transporting and storing hydrogen and why ammonia is the key for global hydrogen logistics.   Topics Covered: Hydrogen Economy German Parliament CleanTech Business Club Hans Josef-Fell Green Party = Conservative Party Tomasz Slusarz Hydrogen Plants Hydrogen in Mobility Sector Green Molecule Green Hydrogen Ammonia Fertilizers Shipping the sunshine Compressed hydorgen Natural Gas Pipeline Synthetic Aviation Fuel   You can reach Dr. Stefan Kaufmann here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-stefan-kaufmann    Website: www.cleantechbusiness.club/   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, Sean White interviews Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicrogrid, who brings a unique perspective with a business degree and an electrical engineering degree. They dive into the intricacies of microgrids, energy as a service (EaaS), and the future of renewable energy. Topics include the unique business model of SolMicrogrid, the role of batteries in energy storage, the impact of community choice aggregation, demand response programs, and new initiatives like the Energy as a Service Partners Program. They also discuss energy tariffs, load shedding, peak demand management, and more.   Topics covered: SolMicrogrid www.solmicrogrid.com SaaS = Software as a Service EaaS = Energy as a Service Microgrid Resiliency Grid IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers MID = Microgrid Interconnect Device SDG&E = San Diego Gas & Electric PG&E = Pacific Gas and Electric Battery ESS = Energy Storage System SMA Inverter Peak Demand Utility Tariff NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Energy Charge Demand Charge DER = Distributed Energy Resources Array to Microgrid CCA = Community Choice Aggregation PPA = Power Purchase Agreement C&I = Commercial and Industrial Morgan Stanley JP Morgan Incentives AHJ = Authorities Having Jurisdiction Demand Response Program Duck Curve Trackers Energy as a Service Partners Program Microgrid Knowledge Conference EEI = Edison Electric Institute Edison Electric Institute Key Accounts   Reach out to Kirk Edelman Here: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-edelman/ SolMicrogrid www.solmicrogrid.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, Sean interviews Grant Gunnison, founder, and CEO of Zero Homes. They discuss Grant's innovative company, which aims to simplify home upgrades and electrification for homeowners through a seamless digital platform. The conversation covers topics including nomadic lifestyles, the future of solar and energy storage, privacy concerns, and Grant's background in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT. They also touch upon Grant's previous work with NASA on space systems and the potential impacts of advanced home-energy solutions.   Topics covered: Zero Homes SNEC RE+ = Renewable Energy Plus AWEA = American Wind Energy Association ACP = American Clean Power Rooftop Solar Utility Scale Solar Grid Net Metering Democracy Elon and Trump Spat Home Upgrades Digitized Home Homeowners and Contractors NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration Flat Earth Outbound Salesperson Laser Communication Terminal Earth Imaging NPS = Net Promoter Score Smart Panels Smart Home Grid Defection Natural Gas Batteries Fossil Fuel Electrifying Homes Starlink Zero Homes App Android www.play.google.com Zero Homes App IOS apps.apple.com   Reach out to Grant Gunnison Here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/grantgunnison Zero Homes Website: www.zerohomes.io   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean<br/ >