Host Sean White talks with solar engineer and educator Mike Nowicki about utility-scale solar projects, the ins and outs of professional engineering licenses, and the evolution of industry codes. They dive into union labor, project design, and Mike’s experience teaching future engineers. A must-listen for anyone interested in the real-world challenges and opportunities in solar energy.

 

Topics covered:

ACP = American Clean Power

Utility Scale Solar

Burns & Mcdonnell www.burnsmcd.com

EPC = Engineering, Procurement, and Construction

ESS = Energy Storage System

ESOP = Employee Stock Ownership Program

Solar Engineer

PE = Professional Engineer

NCEES = National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying

Certifications

Licenses

NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

NEC = National Electrical Code

CMP = Code Making Panel

NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory

RE+ Conference

PV and the NEC (Sean & Bill’s Book)

Solar Power International = SPI

Solar Professional Magazine

Rapid Shutdown

SSIF + Solar and Storage Industry Forum

SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association

UL 3741

Clipping

Battery

DC Coupling

AC Coupling

Union Labor

UBC = United Brotherhood of Carpenters

IBEW = International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Backtracking

Trackers

Next Trackers

Wayne State University

Grid

Short Circuit

Fault

Utility

 

Reach out to Mike Nowicki Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-p-nowicki

Burns & Mcdonnell: www.burnsmcd.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 and Cesar Barbosa, CEO of Nu Life, break down the seven “re-”s of solar: Repurpose, Repower, Recycle, Repair, Refurbish, Retrofit, and Remediation. Discover how these strategies are shaping the future of solar projects, from giving panels a second life to tackling the challenges of decommissioning and sustainability.

 

Topics covered:

Nu Life www.nulifepower.com

PPA = Power Purchase Agreement

Repurpose: Use old panels in a new place or application.

Repower: Upgrade a system with new parts for better performance.

Recycle: Break down panels to recover materials.

Repair: Fix specific issues without major replacements.

Refurbish: Restore used panels by repairing minor parts.

Retrofit: Replace or upgrade components across a system.

Remediation: Correct larger-scale problems to restore function.

FabTech www.fabtech.net

Decommissioning

PV Cycle www.pvcycle.org

Used Solar

End of Life

Utility

Cesar Barbosa’s Articles www.linkedin.com/in/cesarbarbosa

 

Reach out to Jon Williams Here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cesarbarbosa

Nu Life Website: www.nulifepower.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/pvcms

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