Raptor Report

A few themes stood out from our conversation with Michael:

Michael Perron is the Renewable Energy Market Lead and a member of the management team for FM’s Renewable Energy unit. He leads broker engagement, contributes to renewable energy strategy, and serves as a central internal market voice across underwriting, engineering, research, approvals, and other FM staff functions.

With nearly 10 years focused on renewable energy and more than 20 years as a broker, Perron brings an “internal insider” perspective to FM—bridging broker insights, client expectations, and technical risk expertise. Prior to FM, he co‑led Brown & Brown’s Energy & ClimateTech practice and previously led WTW’s U.S. Power & Renewables team. He also contributes thought leadership for FM and works closely with the marketing team on externally facing content.

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.

On this episode of the Raptor Report, Avery Black and Don Nista sit down with Andrew Morse, VP of Software at FTC Solar and Founder of Straylight Ventures, to discuss the expanding role of robotics in the solar industry.

Andrew provides a unique perspective on automation, arguing that robotics are not a replacement for the workforce but a natural evolution of the technologies we already deploy, such as tracker control systems. The conversation centers on the concept of the "Force Multiplier"—how leveraging robotics for repetitive or dangerous tasks allows human crews to double productivity and focus on high-value critical thinking.

In this episode, we cover:

The Force Multiplier Effect: How to double field productivity without doubling headcount.

Safety & Efficiency: Reducing risk by removing technicians from heavy lifting and high-voltage environments.

Technology Evolution: Why robotics are the next logical step in site instrumentation and control.

Adoption at Scale: Moving beyond pilot programs to widespread industry integration.

Related Resources:

• The Raptor Maps 2025 State of Solar Robotics: https://raptormaps.com/resources/state-of-solar-robotics-2025
• Straylight Ventures 2025 Solar Robotics Report: https://straylightventures.com/product/2025-solar-robotics-report/
• FTC Solar Robot-Ready Report: https://www.ftcsolar.com/robot-ready-solar-construction/

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.

In this episode of The Raptor Report, we sit down with Nick DeVries, CTO of Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the nation's largest independent solar power producers. With over 14 years at Silicon Ranch and a background spanning semiconductor manufacturing to solar power plant design, Nick brings a unique perspective on building assets designed for 40+ year lifespans.

Nick introduces the concept of solar being "digitally native"—unlike other forms of energy generation that were built before modern data tools existed, solar has always generated streams of actionable data. He explains how this advantage is enabling Silicon Ranch to manage operations across 180+ projects in 16 states through AI-powered analytics, from thermal imagery identifying equipment issues to comprehensive environmental monitoring. We dive deep into how artificial intelligence is helping operators process the overwhelming amount of visual and sensor data flowing from modern solar farms.

The conversation also explores Silicon Ranch's strategic approach to domestic sourcing, highlighting the operational advantages of shorter lead times, higher quality control, and faster issue resolution that come from building with U.S.-made equipment. Nick shares how their long-term ownership model—owning both the power plants and the land for decades—enables smarter material choices and stronger community relationships.

Finally, Nick unveils his innovative research on "solar savannas"—a novel ecosystem approach to agrivoltaics that combines solar panels, grasslands, and livestock to create mutually beneficial relationships between energy generation, land health, and biodiversity. This groundbreaking work demonstrates how solar development can enhance rather than compete with agricultural land use.

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.

In this episode of The Raptor Report, we explore the rise of floating solar with Thomas Lang, Director of Technology and Business Development at AccuSolar. As demand for clean energy accelerates and land availability tightens, floating solar presents a unique opportunity to generate renewable power while conserving precious water resources.

Thomas unpacks how floating solar works, where it’s being deployed, and why it’s becoming an increasingly attractive option for utilities, municipalities, and data center developers. From anchored rafts on cooling ponds to evaporation reduction and seasonal panel tilting, this conversation covers both the fundamentals and the advanced considerations of deploying solar on water.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What floating solar is—and why it's not "rocket science"
• How systems are installed and maintained without boats
• Where floating solar is most impactful (think cooling ponds, reservoirs, water treatment sites)
• The performance edge: up to 15–20% higher energy yield than ground-mount
• The environmental upside: up to 50% less water evaporation, less algae growth
• LCOE insights: Why floating solar is cost-competitive despite higher capex
• How public policy and federal mandates are shaping market growth

Thomas also shares his unconventional path into clean energy—from Middle East counterterrorism work to pioneering floating solar in the U.S.—and gives a glimpse into where the industry is headed next.

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.

In this episode of The Raptor Report, we’re joined by Daniel Dus, CEO of Cleantech Industry Resources (CIR), for an in-depth conversation about how the solar industry is evolving—and how CIR is helping to lead that transformation.

Daniel brings nearly two decades of experience in renewable energy and shares his journey from bootstrapping a utility-scale project during the 2008 financial crisis to building CIR into a global, tech-forward powerhouse. Listeners will gain insights into how CIR is rethinking project development through a unique model: offering commoditized engineering and consulting services on-demand, across solar, wind, battery storage, and EV infrastructure.

We discuss how CIR:

Has commoditized 95% of the development process for renewable projects.

Uses AI and advanced software to cut tasks like due diligence from 100 hours to less than 10.

Operates a global, 24/7 team across time zones to manage projects in real-time.

Enables IPPs, developers, and EPCs to scale quickly without growing internal overhead.

Is rapidly hiring—from seasoned solar veterans to interns—with a focus on knowledge transfer and inclusion.

Daniel also explores the broader implications of AI in solar, the importance of “organizational scar tissue,” and how CIR’s model differs from traditional development and construction firms. He shares how the company supports clients during periods of project surge, policy shifts, or market uncertainty—providing a flexible solution without the bloat of traditional operations.

We touch on the impacts of tariffs, supply chain dynamics, and the importance of vendor agility in today’s competitive landscape. Daniel emphasizes that while software and automation are critical, experience remains irreplaceable—and CIR's approach blends both.

Whether you're a solar professional, a tech innovator, or simply passionate about the clean energy transition, this episode is packed with practical insights on scaling solar with speed, precision, and transparency.

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.

https://lightsourcebp.com/us/

Who's Raptor Maps?

Raptor Maps is a solar management platform at the intersection of AI and robotics. Our services combine the industry's most comprehensive visual analytics suite with the ability to orchestrate solar management, construction, and operations work by people and robotics. In turn, Raptor Maps provides the digital foundation teams need to scale their capabilities without straining their budgets and to ultimately increase the reliability and return of their solar assets.