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The renewable energy transition requires a massive overhaul of power grid operations and infrastructure. While utilities will play a critical role in this transformation, many face challenges integrating distributed resources like rooftop solar, batteries, and electric vehicles. How can legacy grid operators embrace the distributed energy future? Our guest today, Astrid Atkinson, believes new software systems are the answer.
In this episode, Tim Montague is joined by Astrid Atkinson, founder and CEO of Camus Energy. She shares how her company equips utilities with the visibility, analytics, and control capabilities needed to orchestrate a dynamic, decarbonized grid. With deep experience building large-scale computing systems at Google, she's now applying cloud principles to help utilities navigate the coming wave of electrification.
We discuss the challenges many utilities face integrating solar, wind, EVs, and other distributed energy resources (DERs) into their existing grid infrastructure and business models. Astrid explains how Camus's software gives utilities more visibility into DERs in their service territory and helps orchestrate these assets for reliability and cost optimization.
Astrid provides examples of how municipal utilities and rural electric co-ops use Camus to balance increasing local solar with new industrial load growth while keeping costs low for customers. She discusses the industry transformation required to operate a dynamic, distributed grid and how improved data visibility and AI will be critical enablers.
Key Takeaways
Astrid Atkinson
Camus Energy
Camus Energy LinkedIn
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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
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The Biden administration has set an ambitious goal of decarbonizing the US grid by 2035. Achieving this target will require rapidly scaling up renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and battery storage. The DOE has a little-known office called the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) that “accelerates the advancement and deployment of solar technology in support of an equitable transition to a decarbonized economy.”
Today on the Clean Power Hour, we bring you Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus, head of SETO, to give an insider’s perspective on initiatives to build the solar workforce of tomorrow, address permitting and interconnection barriers, advance solar technologies, and more.
In this episode, Jones-Albertus discusses the office's work on advancing solar panel technologies, building the next-generation solar workforce, and leading projects like SolarAPP to streamline local solar permitting.
Jones-Albertus also shares her outlook on the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act, including the growth of US manufacturing, microgrids, thermal technologies, and more. She provides an update on progress made through DOE partnerships and funding opportunities across concentrating solar power, photovoltaics, systems integration, and beyond.
Tune in to hear Jones-Albertus' insights on how her office at DOE is speeding the transition to a carbon-free power sector through both technology innovation and rapid deployment of solar energy.
Key Takeaways
Becca Jones-Albertus
Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office
DoE LinkedIn
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Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
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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
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The residential solar market has come a long way since the early 2000s, but there's still ample room for growth. Our guest today on the Clean Power Hour is a true veteran of the industry who's been innovating in rooftop solar for over 14 years. Dave Anderson, founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Complete Solaria, joins Tim Montague to discuss the evolution of financing models, the importance of trusted advisors, and his company's unique partnership strategy to accelerate residential solar adoption.
Complete Solaria is bringing a vertically integrated approach to residential solar, enabling HVAC, security, and other home service companies to easily add solar to their product mix. As founder of Complete Solaria, Dave is pushing rooftop solar forward through strategic partnerships that make it easy for home service companies to add solar.
In this episode, Dave recounts his journey into solar, beginning in a Montana coal town and later building one of California's largest rooftop solar installers. He shares observations on how much the industry has evolved, the rise of financing options, and why a personalized sales approach still dominates.
Looking ahead, Dave discusses the accelerating trend of pairing solar with batteries, innovations like virtual power plants, and the impacts of policy shifts like NEM 3.0. While the market still has ample room to grow, Complete Solaria is driving adoption by allowing HVAC, security, and other home service companies to offer solar seamlessly.
If you're interested in the past, present, and future of residential solar, you won't want to miss Dave's insights from the frontlines of this fast-changing industry.
Key Takeaways
Dave Anderson
Complete Solar
Complete Solaria
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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
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How is one of the world's leading engineering firms driving the clean energy revolution? Today on the Clean Power Hour Patrick Hogan, Chief Client Officer at Black & Veatch, joins Tim Montague to discuss how utilities and other stakeholders can work together to green the grid by 2035. He provides insights from Black & Veatch's 2023 Electric Report survey of over 650 utility professionals.
Black & Veatch is one of the world's leading global engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms specializing in building critical infrastructure across the energy, water, telecommunications, and government services sectors.
In this episode, hear how Patrick went from chemist to leading sustainability investments, before joining Black & Veatch to enable the energy transition. He shares findings from their 2023 Electric Report surveying utility professionals on integrating renewables, hydrogen's potential for low-carbon dispatchable power, the need for distributed and resilient microgrids, and preparing the grid for massive electrification.
One staggering statistic discussed during the episode is the 2000+ GW of planned power awaiting interconnection approval. Patrick sheds light on the lengthy 5+ year process that often causes significant delays in bringing clean energy projects online.
The conversation also touches upon various technologies shaping the clean energy landscape, including hydrogen, nuclear power, and energy storage. Patrick provides valuable insights into their potential and how they can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
Key Takeaways
Patrick Hogan
Black and Veatch
Black and Veatch LinkedIn
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Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
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Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
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
Please take our listener survey.
Today on the Clean Power Hour, Hugh McDermott, Senior VP of Sales at ESS Inc., joins Tim Montague for an illuminating conversation on long-duration energy storage.
Hugh has dedicated his entire career to the energy transition. He shares how he went from advising companies on cleantech to developing infrastructure for conventional power, and now innovating at the cutting edge with energy storage.
We dive into the inner workings of ESS's iron flow battery technology. Unlike lithium-ion, iron flow can cycle thousands of times without degradation, uses earth-abundant materials without supply chain issues, and is safer with easier permitting.
Hugh explains how ESS batteries enable multiple use cases and business models on a single project. He highlights groundbreaking deployments like powering electric jetways at Amsterdam's airport.
We discuss ESS's milestone partnerships with utilities like SMUD and industrials like Honeywell, as they scale up gigawatt-hour production in Oregon and ramp to meet unprecedented long-duration storage demand.
Join us for an insightful chat with a renewable energy veteran at the forefront of the iron-flow battery revolution!
Key Takeaways
Hugh McDermott
ESS Inc
Ess Inc LinkedIn
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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
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Today on the Clean Power Hour Tim Montague is joined by Tyler Hortin, president and co-founder of Lion Energy. Lion Energy is an American company focused on making smart energy storage solutions to enable buildings and homes to become energy-independent. They manufacture lithium-ion phosphate batteries and battery control systems that can store solar or grid power, provide backup electricity, and optimize energy use.
Tyler Hortin co-founded Lion Energy in order to help buildings become energy-independent with solar and battery storage. He started Lion Energy based on a shortage of quality energy storage products and a belief in the massive opportunity for home and building batteries.
Tim and Tyler discuss the growing need for energy storage to pair with solar systems. They discuss Lion Energy's focus on safe, American-made lithium ion phosphate batteries. Tyler explains how Lion's products like their Sanctuary home battery system can enable resilient off-grid solar+storage and optimize energy use through smart battery management.
Tim and Tyler also explore how Lion is expanding into larger commercial, industrial, and utility-scale storage projects beyond their residential battery roots. They talk about how adding EV charging increases home energy demand and the importance of smart charging with batteries. Tyler outlines the value stack of batteries in places like California where time-of-use rates make solar+storage more affordable.
Overall, they have an in-depth discussion about how Lion Energy's innovative American-engineered battery products are powering the clean energy transition across homes, businesses, and the electrical grid.
Key Takeaways
Tyler Hortin
Lion Energy LinkedIn
Lion 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
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Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague speaks with Gregor Macdonald, author of Oil Fall (ebook) and The Gregor Letter, a weekly publication about the global energy transition. Gregor provides a big-picture perspective on how wind, solar, batteries, and electric vehicles are disrupting the fossil fuel industry.
Gregor Macdonald became interested in energy and the energy transition after moving to London and seeing oil prices hit historic lows in the late 1990s. This led him to start researching and trading oil, natural gas, and related commodities. After writing about energy markets for years, he launched the popular energy transition newsletter The Gregor Letter, which provides a big picture, global perspective on the shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy informed by economic history and a macro view.
In this episode we discuss the economics driving EV adoption, how legacy automakers have struggled to compete with Tesla, and why the US is lagging behind Europe and China. Gregor explains his view that global oil demand growth has likely peaked, but true declines in emissions will take a concerted effort across electricity, transportation, and industry.
He highlights India's failure to build enough renewables and America's lack of policy on transportation emissions as key problems. We also cover the tremendous economic opportunity of the energy transition, how to ensure a just transition for workers, and the potential role of green hydrogen.
Don't miss this conversation with Gregor Macdonald, an esteemed energy journalist and author renowned for his global perspective on the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
Key Takeaways
The Gregor Letter
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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
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LG Electronics has re-entered the renewable energy space with a new residential battery storage system called LG Home ESS. Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague is joined by Jim Brown, Senior Account Manager at LG Electronics, to discuss LG's journey into clean energy and the details around their new LG Home battery system.
Jim has been in the solar industry for 14 years, starting in solar manufacturing automation with Swiss company Komax Solar where he worked on machinery to interconnect solar cells. He later joined SunPower for 4.5 years in commercial and residential sales before moving to LG Solar during their solar module days. When LG exited the solar module business, Jim moved to their new energy storage division to help launch their Home ESS product in the US market last year.
The LG Home ESS is an AC-coupled lithium-ion battery system with 7.5kW continuous output, 14.4kWh capacity, and unique self-care features for installers and homeowners. This system includes the Home Battery itself, an inverter, a Smart Energy gateway box, and an automatic transfer switch.
Jim explains how Home ESS fits into LG's home appliances and electronics portfolio, their go-to-market strategy through certified installers, and their LG Pro program for exclusive marketing support. He emphasizes the importance of LG's long history and warranty commitment in giving homeowners confidence.
Tune in to hear more about the LG Home Battery system and LG's journey into clean energy.
If you're an installer interested in learning more about bringing LG battery storage to your customers, visit their website at lg.com/us or contact Jim directly at [email protected].
Key Takeaways
LG
Jim Brown
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Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
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
Please take our listener survey.
Today on the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Chris Thompson, VP of Product at SolarEdge to discuss SolarEdge's innovative approach to solar optimization, Chris' fascinating career journey in clean energy, and how he eventually landed at SolarEdge.
Chris Thompson has had a lifelong fascination with electrical power systems. He started his career in the 1990s working on uninterruptible power supplies and data center power systems. In the early 2000s, Chris joined a venture capital firm that invested in some of the first solar startups and innovative battery companies like A123.
Chris later joined solar inverter companies like Xantrex and helped push the industry toward module-level electronics and power optimization. After learning the hard lessons of solar evolution, Chris brought his expertise to SolarEdge over 3 years ago. He has helped the company expand its optimized inverter systems to new power classes for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects.
Chris explains how SolarEdge's module-level power electronics regulate voltage and provide valuable module-level data. He also discusses how their highly efficient inverters and optimizers are designed to withstand extreme rooftop temperatures.
We also discuss trends like electric vehicle charging integration and software platforms that connect solar, storage, and building controls.
If you want to understand SolarEdge's unique approach to solar and hear from one of the industry's veterans, don't miss this great episode!
Key Takeaways
Chris Thompson
SolarEdge
SolarEdge LinkedIn
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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
Please take our listener survey.
Today on the Clean Power Hour, Bharat Bhut, founder and director of Indian solar panel manufacturer Goldi Solar, joins Tim Montague to discuss the growth of solar manufacturing in India, their expansion in the US, and what the future holds for Goldi Solar.
Bharat grew up in a small village with a family background in agriculture and manufacturing. After getting his MBA in London, Bharat returned to India to start an innovative business rather than join the family diamond business. In 2010, he saw the huge potential in solar and wanted to create a sustainable, long-term enterprise.
Goldi Solar started manufacturing solar panels in India in 2011 and has grown to be one of the leading producers with 4GW capacity. The company makes solar panels for utility, commercial/industrial, agricultural, and residential customers and has been exporting to Europe, Africa, and the US since 2013. Bharat outlines Goldi Solar's ambitions to continue growing, integrating vertically, and expanding into green hydrogen production.
Bharat explains how Goldi Solar focuses on quality at every step - procuring the best materials, controlling the production process, and deploying the latest technologies. This manufacturing excellence differentiates Goldi as it enters the competitive US solar market.
Bharat shares his plans to expand Goldi into a fully vertically integrated clean energy company, from solar panels to cells, wafers, polysilicon, and even green hydrogen production.
We discuss the solar market in India, including government targets of 500GW of renewable energy by 2030 and complete decarbonization by 2070.
Key Takeaways
Bharat Bhut
Goldi Solar
Goldi Solar LinkedIn
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Connect with Tim
Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
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Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
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
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