Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean sits down with Juan Andrés Navarro, the CEO of N Solar, in sunny Panama City. Together, they discuss the growth of the solar industry in Panama, the impact of renewable energy policies, and the technical intricacies of solar installations and energy storage systems. They also touch on the significance of net metering, the benefits of B Corp certification, and innovative solutions for handling excess solar power. Join Sean and Juan for an enlightening conversation about the present and future of solar energy in Panama and beyond   Topics covered: NSolar www.nsolar.net Solar in Panama Background of NSolar Net Metering Photovoltaics Energy Storage NEC = National Electrical Code Deflation Canal B Corp NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners www.nabcep.org Climate Change World’s Largest Microinverter Darién Gap Grid Panama Canal Lock Clipping Transformers Fossil Fuel Anti Solar Water Pumping Panamax Container Ships Floating Solar Farm Hydro Electric Storage Stand-alone Inverter Utility Energy Independence Panama’s Net Metering Law Future of Renewable Energy Closing the U.S Borders   Reach out Juan Andrés Navarro  here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/juan-andres-navarro Nsolar: 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

NABCEP Energy Storage Installation Professional Lesson   This podcast is an assignment from Sean’s 40-hour NABCEP Advanced Energy Storage Certification Training class on HeatSpring!   It is recommended by anyone in the industry to get a NABCEP certification for job security and to grow! If you are not already in the industry, you can also learn a few things from this podcast, which is a lesson on how to communicate energy storage with customers.   Sean is known for making technical subjects fun and as simple as possible, so people can learn and pass exams while enjoying themselves.   Check out Sean’s HeatSpring classes at www.HeatSpring.com/sean or go to www.solarSEAN.com to find out about his online classes, in-person workshops and more!

Sean has been on Tim’s podcast a number of times and it was time for Tim to be on Sean’s podcast!   Both Tim and Sean have classes on HeatSpring and see each other at all of the big and many smaller solar conferences in the US. In this podcast they talk about various topics including:   Topics covered: History of Clean Power Hour Solar Works For Illinois PV Magazine John Weaver RE+ CPS America = Chint Power Systems Americas www.chintpowersystems.com SUNVOY www.sunvoy.com O&M = Operation and Management ESS = Energy Storage Systems Battery Sean Whites Solar and Energy Podcast history Sean’s Radio 690 AI = Artificial Intelligence Google Notebook LM Tesla Optimus Going to Mars Exploring Uncharted Lands Fossil Fuel The Manhattan Alien Abduction Tim Montague’s Heatspring NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners www.nabcep.org Online Learning ESIP = Energy Storage Installation Professional Net Metering Non Exporting VPP = Virtual Power Plant Schweitzer Relay C&I Solar = Commercial and Industrial Solar Elexity www.elexity.io Goat Yoga   Reach out Tim Montague here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cleanpowerhour Youtube: www.youtube.com/@cleanpowerhour HeatSpring: www.heatspring.com/courses Clean Power Hour Website: www.cleanpowerhour.com   Tim Montague's Previous Podcasts with Sean White: May 10, 2022: www.youtube.com August 10, 2023: www.youtube.com December 10, 2024: www.youtube.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 interview we talk about reusing and recycling solar PV modules (panels) and other products.   Topics Covered: Net-metering Policy Solar Map = map to find recyclers or reuse partners RE-X = Reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or repurposing NorCal Solar Arco Solar Modules 1954 Bell Labs PV Module SNEC Crystalline Silicon Cadmium Telluride PV Modules Perovskites AB2 and AB1238 EPR = Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation for Solar Panel Permanent Recycling Program RE-X Prize = This three-phase competition is designed to develop innovative ways to extend the lifetimes of products or parts via reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or repurposing (“Re-X”) before recycling   California Product Stewardship Council won during the Phase 1 of the project. The prize was used as funds to create solar map   Reach out Keene and Brasch here: www.calpsc.org/cpsc-solarstewardship info@calpsc.org   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 learns all about quinone flow batteries, ferrocyanide, and a lot more, including how desalination and air conditioning are related and can use the same membrane redox-flow technology.   It was a pleasure to have a very intelligent guest with degrees from Harvard and Stanford. We will learn what a flow battery is and its benefits and how they expect to be a greater part of the renewable mix in the future.   The water-based technology is different from the acid-based vanadium redox flow batteries, which require vanadium, and much of the vanadium comes from Russia, while quinone can easily be made anywhere, lessening dependence on faraway places, which fits with where our economy seems to be headed.   Here are some of the topics we cover:   What is a flow battery? Thermal runaway What is LDES? Your definition and benefits Different types of LDES Flow batteries benefits Benefits vs Vanadium or Zinc Bromine or others Full to no charge how many times How long does the electrolyte and membrane last? Toxicity Power block cost DOE 250/kW 40/kWh What did you do with that $100 Can you theoretically use electrolyte for an EV? How did you get DOE funding? What is quinone Pioneered at Harvard Energy density and specific energy? R/T efficiency Ferrocyanide and quinone Temperatures Xerox Parc = Palo Alto Research Center Redox Flow Desalination for Xerox Beh invented and commercialized a redox flow desalination technology as a researcher at Xerox PARC Majove Energy Systems Reverse Electrodialysis Supply Chain Liquid Desiccant Airconditioning Water harvesting   Reach Eugene Beh here: Company website: www.quinoenergy.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/eugbeh   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 we talk about a type of solar glass that contains a semitransparent layer of perovskite thin film solar tech that you are encouraged to put on top of your crystalline silicon modules to make a hybrid multijunction solar sandwich. The perovskite catches more of the blue side of the light spectrum and lets the red side of the spectrum that crystalline silicon likes through to get the best of both worlds.   This tech is made in Southern California with real rocket scientists.   Scott has a history with Flex, Nextracker and a lot or important companies in the industry.   Topics covered: Perovskites ABX3 Multijunction Monolithic Tandem Active Glass Crystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Sanyo Panasonic Hetero Junction Technology Bifacial Solar TopCon  PERC = Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact Mono PERC PERC = Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact IBC = Interdigitated Back Contact Caelux Industry Bandgap perovskite in the future Vacuum Technology JPL = NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory NexTracker South East Asian operations Tariffs IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Perovskite’s Technology advancements at Caelux Caelux customers Larger modules Flex Company Scott’s career at Flex Triple and Quadruple Junction Founder of Caleux - John Iannelli Comparison of Perovskites Initiatives of US vs China RE+ SNEC   Reach out Scott Graybeal here: Website: www.caelux.com Caelux Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/caelux-corporation News: www.caelux.com/news Blog:  www.caelux.com/blog/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/scottgraybeal   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

PACE was first developed to creatively “finance” solar installations via property taxes, which has evolved over the years. Listen to Sean and Mike talk about the PACE program in Florida.   Be sure to see if there is a PACE program in your area and you can see all the renewable energy incentives at www.dsireusa.org   Topics Discussed: PACE = Property Accessed Clean Energy Financing Property Tax Bill Hurricane Hardening Renewable Energy Loan Credit Score Solicitation PACE Eligibility in Florida PACE into Commercial and Residential Florida PACE www.floridapace.gov Tax PACE in other states PPE = Power Purchase Agreement Mortgage   Reach out Mike Moran here: Website: www.floridapace.gov Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoranflorida   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

An energy storage system (ESS) was always something that included an inverter…. Until now. Tune in and listen to this fun conversation with Sequoya and Sean as they shoot the breeze about how cool this new UL 9540 Edition 3 standard is and how it saves money by not having to get tested with every individual inverter. Sequoya is also on the California Solar and Storage Association Board of Directors, so send them all your money! They are very important!!   Topics Discussed: Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions www.energy.briggsandstratton.com DC only ESS = Direct Current only Energy Storage Systems NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar Energy Association www.norcalsolar.org CALSSA = California Solar and Storage Association www.calssa.org UL 9540 A UL 9540 LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Battery Lead Acid Battery SOC = State of Charge AEE Solar Backwoods Solar 48-volt Lithium-Ion Phosphate Battery Cylindrical Primary Cell Factor UL 1741 SimpliPHI 6.6 Battery System Sol-Ark Off-Grid Solar Propagation Stand Alone Battery under UL 9540 IFC = International Fire Code IRC = International Residential Code NEC = National Electrical Code NFPA 855 = National Fire Protection Association (Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems) UL 9540 edition 3 Electromagnetic Pulse SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association Distributed Energy D Grid   Reach out Sequoya here: Website: www.energy.briggsandstratton.com Email: sales@briggsandstratton.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 White interviews Paul Bui from Fronius, discussing the company’s history, innovations in welding and solar technologies, new product lines including the Gen 24 hybrid inverters, and the future of energy management. They touch on Fronius' sustainable practices, industry impact, and plans for integrating renewable energy solutions, including energy storage and potential developments in EV chargers and virtual power plants. The conversation sheds light on advancements in solar inverter technologies and Fronius' commitment to sustainability.   topics covered: Fronius www.fronius.com Welding “Energy Thieves” Inverter Hybrid Inverter Robotics Power Electronics CMT Machine = Cold Metal Transfer Machine ESS = Energy Storage System Fronius’ Smallest Inverter and Largest Inverter Load-side Connection CL Inverter = Current Limited Inverter Rapid Shutdown Gen 24 hybrid inverters High Frequency Inverter Paul Bui’s Background HeatSpring NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Emmitt Muckles Battery BYD + Build Your Dreams www.byd.com EV = Electric Vehicle EV Charging UL 1741 UL 9540 UL 9540A Franklin Whole Home www.franklinwh.com CATL = Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited  www.catl.com Global Warming Sea Level Rising How Fronius Started Transformer Smart Meter Electric Meter CT = Current Transformer EMS = Energy Management System PCS = Power Control System VPP = Virtual Power Plant   Check out Paul here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bui Email: bui.paul@fronius.com Phone: 2196167348  Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Description: I first met Mark Mrohs in 2008 and have always been fascinated by his experience in the industry. Some years ago, I made a list of people I wanted to be on my podcast, and Mark’s name was at the top. Mark has been in the industry since terrestrial solar was a pipedream. He started out working at Spectrolab, which is still making solar cells for space and is not a Boeing company. I once tried calling Spectrolab to see how much solar cells were and they told me they needed government clearance to tell me. They also discuss his work at Arco Solar and Siemens Solar and transitioning the industry from space cells to terrestrial solar. Mark also shares his journey into training and the evolution of the solar industry. Here are some of the topics discussed: SunPower Certification in Richnmond California Ecosolar:  https://us.sunpower.com/dealers-installers/ecosolar-usa SunEdison Mark Mrohs’ Solar journey – beginning Spectrolab: www.spectrolab.com Space Solar Cells Charlie Gay Bill Yerkes ArcoSolar  Carrizo Project Arco Module Matt Pace Siemens Solar: https://www.siemens-energy.com Mark Mhros in Papua New Guinea Sean teaching in Islamabad IREDA = Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Mark Fitzgerald SSP NABCEP IIT = Indian Institutes of Technology Mark Mhros life in India (Indian Program) AstroPower Peter Aschenbrenner Maxeon Solar Technologies: www.maxeon.com Module Inverter Ward Bauer Solar City Financial Engineering Interoperability Changes in Policies Space Cells Interplay Learning Amicus: www.amicusom.com   Reach Mark Mrohs here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/markmrohs/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean