Clean Power Hour

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Aviv Shalgi, CEO and co-founder of Solar Simplified, to discuss the growing and important niche of community solar. Aviv shares his journey into entrepreneurship, starting in the advertising industry before finding his passion in the energy transition. He explains how Solar Simplified was founded in 2020 with the goal of helping people save money during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and how the team identified community solar as an opportunity to do that while also accelerating the clean energy transition.

Aviv discusses the challenges that developers and asset owners face in the community solar industry, particularly around customer acquisition costs and misaligned incentives with third-party subscriber management companies. He describes how Solar Simplified has sought to address these issues by taking on more risk and responsibility themselves, shielding their partners from mistakes and losses. The conversation also covers the consumer experience, with Aviv highlighting Solar Simplified's focus on building trust and simplifying the signup and onboarding process.

A key part of the discussion centers around the critical role of utilities in the community solar ecosystem. Aviv shares insights on the wide variance in utility performance, from those that make the process seamless for customers to ones that create significant challenges with late or missing bill credits.

Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the community solar landscape, the opportunities and challenges, and how innovative companies like Solar Simplified are working to drive the industry forward and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Key Takeaways

1. The growing trend towards carve-outs and mandates for low-to-moderate income participation in community solar programs.
2. The value of data analytics and machine learning in optimizing customer acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency in the community solar space.
3. The significant variance in utility performance when it comes to community solar bill credits and payments.

Social Media Handles
Aviv Shalgi
Solar Simplified

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Francois Byrne, CEO of Hybrid Power Solutions, to discuss the company's innovative approach to decarbonizing mobile power and construction. Francois shares his journey from working on hybrid race cars to developing cutting-edge battery and solar hybrid systems that eliminate the need for diesel generators.

Hybrid Power Solutions offers a range of rugged, plug-and-play products that combine batteries, solar panels, and (optionally) diesel generators to provide cleaner, reliable power for construction sites, mining operations, and other off-grid applications. Francois delves into the challenges of transitioning clients from traditional diesel generators to hybrid systems, emphasizing the cost savings and improved working conditions these solutions offer.

The discussion covers the latest developments in battery technology, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and the pursuit of safer, fire-resistant alternatives. Francois also explores the potential of hydrogen fuel cells and other clean power generation methods to further decarbonize mobile power solutions.

Francois shares insights from years of experience in designing products that can withstand the toughest job site conditions. Whether you're a solar installer, developer, or energy professional, this episode offers a fascinating look at the future of mobile power and the energy transition.

Key Takeaways

1. Mobile battery and solar hybrid power systems can significantly reduce fuel costs, emissions, and noise pollution compared to traditional diesel generators on construction sites and other off-grid applications.
2. Combining batteries with appropriately sized diesel generators and solar can create highly efficient hybrid systems that minimize fuel consumption and maximize battery usage.
3. Overprovisioning Inefficiencies: Traditional diesel generators are often significantly oversized for actual power loads. Integrated monitoring in hybrid systems allows right-sizing capacity.
4. Cost Savings and Improved Working Conditions: Beyond environmental benefits, hybrid mobile power solutions can deliver 75-95% fuel cost savings compared to diesel generators.

Social Media Handles
Francois Byrne
Hybrid Power Solutions

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In this episode of The Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague interviews Alex Nussey, co-founder and CEO of Wattch, a cutting-edge solar monitoring and asset management platform trusted by top installers, developers, and utilities. Nussey shares the origin story of Wattch, which began as a college project building IV curve testers for a solar car racing team.

Nussey explains how Wattch differentiates itself as a data-first company by creating precise digital twins of solar assets to model their expected performance. By comparing real-time data against these digital models, Wattch can identify underperformance issues with an impressive 1.5% accuracy, resulting in customers experiencing an average 8% performance improvement within the first three months of using the platform.

The discussion delves into Wattch's comprehensive suite of services, which includes:

1. Monitoring: Enabling remote localization, diagnosis, and resolution of performance issues across a fleet in seconds with device-level insights.

2. Operations & Maintenance: Minimizing truck rolls and guesswork while improving baseline performance by up to 21%.

3. Asset Management: Tracking, optimizing, and reporting on portfolios quickly and easily with embedded financial metrics.

4. Customer Engagement: Expanding customer portfolios, engaging new prospects, and elevating brand using performance data.

Nussey also highlights Wattch's Energy IoT solutions for real-time, bi-directional, secure connections to every energy asset and their turnkey DAS/SCADA Edge Solutions for quick project configuration and commissioning.

Nussey emphasizes the critical importance of cybersecurity for distributed energy resources and provides insights into Wattch's impressive growth, having expanded to over 1,000 sites across 22 U.S. states in just four years since its founding.

Key Takeaways:

1. Wattch's comprehensive suite of services, including monitoring, O&M, asset management, and customer engagement, leverage its innovative "digital twin" approach to solar monitoring.

2. Insights into the complexities of monitoring diverse equipment across solar, energy storage, EV charging, and other distributed energy assets, and Wattch's Energy IoT and Edge Solutions for addressing these challenges.

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague is joined by Brian Baxter, Director of Sales East at CPS America, to discuss the rapid evolution of the solar and storage industry. As string inverter technologies gain traction in the utility-scale segment, CPS America is at the forefront of this trend with their innovative three-phase string inverters and battery storage products.

Brian shares his unique background, transitioning from engineering roles at GE to sales leadership at CPS America, providing valuable insights into the industry's technological upheavals and the customer-centric approaches driving the adoption of cutting-edge solutions. He highlights CPS's groundbreaking turnkey PCS Skid for utility energy storage systems, which comes in two standardized configurations: 2MW and 2.4MW. 

The skid incorporates 10 and 12 units of CPS's 200kW string PCS inverters (CPS ECB200KTL/US-800), respectively, and is compatible with CPS's new 5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (CPS ES-5016KWH-US). This containerized battery solution integrates 12 racks of LFP batteries, offering high energy density for utility applications. It features an advanced liquid cooling system for effective and efficient pack-level thermal management and is packaged into a 20ft container for easy transportation, installation, and O&M.

Throughout the conversation, Brian emphasizes CPS America's strong focus on customer service, transparent problem-solving, and equipping their team with in-depth technical expertise to better serve their clients.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

1. The increasing viability and advantages of string inverter architectures for large utility-scale solar and storage projects.
2. CPS America's innovative turnkey PCS Skid for utility energy storage systems.
3. The company's commitment to customer service, technical training, and collaborative problem-solving.
4. Strategies for successfully transitioning from technical roles to customer-facing sales positions.
5. The value of transparency and providing in-depth expertise when working through challenges with customers.

Social Media Handles
Brian Baxter
CPS America

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

America's thousands of closed landfills represent a massive untapped opportunity to generate clean solar power. These unused brownfield sites, which are often seen as burdens on their local communities, have the potential to be transformed into renewable energy assets that provide a range of benefits. In this episode, Tim Montague explores the possibilities and challenges of developing solar farms on retired landfills with guest Annika Colston, founder and president of AC Power.

Annika explains that there are over 10,000 closed landfills in the US that could generate up to an estimated 63 GW of solar power if converted to solar farms. However, building solar on landfills involves additional costs and complexities compared to traditional ground-mounted or rooftop installations.

Despite the obstacles, a growing number of states like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have recognized the opportunity and enacted policies and incentives to spur solar development in landfills. These programs help offset the extra costs associated with landfill solar projects.

When executed successfully, landfill solar can yield a range of win-wins. The projects generate clean renewable energy, provide a new revenue stream for the landfill owner, reduce ongoing vegetation management costs, and improve underutilized sites that may have been seen as community eyesores.

The episode concludes with a call to action for local leaders and community members to identify and advocate for solar development on idle landfill sites in their own backyards. As Annika puts it: "We should be telling our communities to go out there and develop them."

Key Points:

• There are over 10,000 closed US landfills that could be converted to generate 63 GW of solar
• Landfill solar involves extra costs and complexity but also major opportunities
• Some states have policies/incentives to spur landfill solar development (NY, NJ, IL, PA, VA)
• Benefits include clean energy, revenues, lower maintenance costs, and community improvements
• Local leaders are urged to pursue solar development on their communities' landfills

Social Media Handles
Annika Colston
AC Power

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In this expert panel webinar, Tim Montague hosts Monroe Jett, CEO and founder of Title Leader, and Mike Koehler, Director of Solar Development at Azimuth Renewables, to discuss how solar developers can accelerate project timelines and boost ROI by modernizing the often overlooked bottleneck of land title search and management. 

Key discussion points include:

- How siloed, decentralized title workflows cost developers time and money at critical project junctures

- The risks of relying on manual title tracking, which leads to errors and duplicated efforts  

- How Title Leader's software platform automates title ordering, prevents duplicate searches, and provides a centralized database 

- Real-world examples from Azimuth Renewables on the benefits of transitioning to Title Leader from traditional fragmented title processes

- The complexities of title search across different counties and states, and how Title Leader partners with national vendors to standardize the process

- Why title insurance underwriters are eager to work with Title Leader to offload the burdens of title search fulfillment

The webinar makes a compelling case for solar developers of all sizes to streamline and automate title management via platforms like Title Leader as an essential step to accelerate project development and reduce soft costs in an increasingly competitive industry. With over 2,000 GW of solar projects in U.S. interconnection queues, finding efficiencies is imperative.

Monroe Jett
Title Leader
Mike Koehler
Azimuth Renewables

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

The solar industry has come a long way since its early days of small off-grid systems. With utility-scale solar farms now measured in the 100s of megawatts, grid penetration rising fast, and batteries no longer a novelty but a necessity, there's a world of knowledge required to be successful in solar + BESS.

To help make sense of the current solar and storage landscape, we're joined today on the Clean Power Hour by expert Ryan Mayfield, CEO of Mayfield Renewables. With over 20 years of experience spanning solar's evolution from niche to mainstream, Ryan offers invaluable insights on everything from modeling tools to regional trends.

Ryan has a storied career starting as a solar installer in the late 1990s. He progressed to engineering, training, and now leads Mayfield Renewables providing feasibility studies, design services, and education around complex solar plus storage projects.

Ryan explains key considerations for behind-the-meter commercial solar plus storage projects aimed at resiliency. This includes understanding budget limitations, identifying critical loads, and the importance of detailed feasibility studies and monitoring.

When it comes to choosing compatible components, Ryan notes there are still a limited number of manufacturers with proven commercial-scale solutions. He emphasizes the ongoing need for education and training to support the continued growth of solar plus storage.

The conversation also covers trends in different U.S. states, utility involvement, grid services, EVs as potential distributed storage, and more. Ryan stresses that storage expertise is now mandatory for solar professionals.

Key Takeaways

• Load monitoring and detailed technical/financial modeling helps optimize system design.
• The Midwest, Texas and Southwest are growth markets to watch for near-term solar + storage project development and innovation.
• Regional incentives and utility involvement are driving storage adoption in states like California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Illinois.
• Understanding the client's goals and critical loads is crucial when designing behind-the-meter solar + storage systems aimed at resiliency.

Social Media Handles
Ryan Mayfield
Mayfield Renewables

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Solar PPAs are a popular way to finance commercial solar projects, but the process remains nebulous to many installers and developers. In this illuminating webinar, host Tim Montague gets candid insights from two solar financing experts - Marc Palmer of Conductor Solar and Nick Perugini of Solaris Energy. With decades of combined experience structuring, financing, and closing commercial solar PPAs between investors, developers, and host customers, they shed light on real-world best practices.

The discussion covers critical considerations at each stage of the PPA process.

• Finding and aligning with the right customer: What makes a customer a good fit for solar PPAs? How to position the value proposition.
• Project size considerations: Minimum thresholds for economic viability. How different financiers have preferences on project size.
• Finding the right financing partner: Factors like geography, customer type, experience level that determine fit. Due diligence to ensure partner can execute.
• Closing the deal: LOIs, timing, agreement on roles and responsibilities.
• Incorporating battery storage: Emerging best practices on solar + storage PPAs.

Whether you're new to C&I PPAs or have battle scars from past deals gone awry, this webinar will equip you with actionable insights to improve your next C&I solar project. You'll leave ready to replicate the success of leading C&I solar developers and make your next PPA not just workable, but profitable.

Social Media Handles
Marc Palmer
Conductor Solar
Nick Perugini
Solaris Energy

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Imagine a world where anyone, from a 10-year-old child to a seasoned professional, can access top-notch training in clean energy technologies like solar, batteries, and energy efficiency – all from the comfort of their living room. That's the vision behind Heatspring, an online learning platform co-founded by Brian Hayden back in 2007. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague interviews Brian Hayden, the co-founder and Managing Partner of Heatspring, an online learning platform for sustainability and the built environment.

Heatspring has become an invaluable resource for clean energy professionals, companies, and the general public interested in learning about solar, batteries, energy efficiency, and related fields. The platform offers over 260 courses, with two-thirds available for free, covering a wide range of topics taught by industry experts.

In the episode, Brian discusses the importance of partnerships and collaborations, like their recent initiative with Revision Energy to open-source apprenticeship program content. He also emphasizes the role of certifications and credentials in the industry's growth and Heatspring's focus on facilitating team-based learning for companies.

Heatspring aims to break down barriers and provide better access to the best information and training, enabling more people to join and succeed in the clean energy workforce, which is crucial for accelerating the energy transition.

Key Takeaways

• Companies can set up free team accounts and assign courses to employees for onboarding and ongoing training.
• Managers can track employee progress, provide accountability, and curate relevant course paths.
• Heatspring emphasizes the importance of certifications/credentials like NABCEP for career growth.
• Partnerships with companies like Revision Energy to open-source apprenticeship program content.
• Approachable platform from a small company aiming to make training more sustainable and accessible.
• Opportunity for clean energy professionals to become instructors and share knowledge.
• Vital for upskilling workforce to meet the projected need for 1 million new electricians for the energy transition.

Social Media Handles
Brian Hayden
Heatspring

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Stay up to date with the latest solar, wind, and energy storage news and analysis. Join co-hosts Tim Montague, solar & storage expert, and John Weaver, PV Magazine journalist, as they reflect on the latest tools, technologies, and trends driving the energy transition forward. With a strong commitment to decarbonizing the economy and building a safer, healthier future for humanity, this show is a must-watch for any energy professional looking to stay ahead of the game. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, rate and review us on Apple or Spotify, and join us live every Thursday at 12 noon EST / 9 AM Pacific

This week John Weaver and I were joined by Sean White and we discussed,
1. Solar energy, permitting process, and sales strategies.
2. Solar panel installation technology and industry trends.
3. Renewable energy sources and their potential to power the grid.
4. Energy transition, solar projections, and carbon removal strategies.
5. Solar roofing technology and racking systems.
6. Solar energy industry trends and events.

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com