Solar Maverick Podcast

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy sits down with Chris Grablutz, Principal and Co-founder of Tri-Force Energy—a leading Commercial & Utility Solar Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance company serving NJ, NY, and PA. Chris shares expert insights on optimizing solar project performance through effective O&M strategies, repowering aging assets, and emerging trends shaping the future of the solar industry.

Benoy Thanjan

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.  

This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing

Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. 

Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.  

He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  

Chris Grablutz

 Chris Grablutz has worked in the solar industry since 2010 with a wide network of great solar professionals and deep roots in northeast solar markets. His work in commercial, industrial, and utility scale solar has been focused on the technical aspects such as design engineering, construction management, QA/QC, Testing, and Operations & Maintenance. With a degree in Applied Physics and engineering background, Chris is a very detailed, logical, and process driven leader. Chris was also a NCAA Division I wrestler and grew up working for a family-owned construction company, which has contributed to his work hard attitude.

As the Director of Business Development, Chris's team led the sales of over 1GW of Owner's Engineer, Independent Engineer, and commissioning agent. His team's O&M sales included over 200MW of long-term O&M agreements. The O&M division completed multiple large service projects including PV system removal & re-installations.

He continued his career in technical sales as the Director of Business Development at Clean Energy Associates, a global leader in solar manufacturing quality assurance, supply chain management, engineering services, and supplier/market intelligence programs.

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

Chris Grablutz

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgrablutz/

Email:  [email protected]

Website:  https://triforceenergy.com/

Chris Grablutz’s previous episodes on the Solar Maverick Podcast

SMP 07-SMP 07: Getting down to Earth with Solar: Construction, quality control and O&M insights from Chris Grablutz

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-07-getting-down-to-earth-with-solar-construction-quality-control-and-om-insights-from-chris-grablutz/

SMP 42-LIve How Solar Technology is Changing the world?

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-42-live-event-how-solar-technology-is-changing-the-world/

The book that Chris spoke about during the podcast is Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business.

Two companies that Chris discusses in the podcast.

Ecosuite

https://ecosuite.io

Solargrade

https://solargrade.io

Chris will be attending RE+ in Boston on Feb 12 to 13, 2025. If you want to meet with him at the conference, email him at [email protected].

Thank you to Concentro for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast!

Concentro’s mission is to create and promote accessible financing mechanisms for distributed generation projects. As we work towards a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy system, they strive to empower developers with the financial tools they need to succeed.  Below are the link to the podcast and the contact information of Iñigo and Tao who were on Episode 186.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259?i=1000679191495

Iñigo Rengifo Melia

Email:  [email protected]

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/inigo-rengifo-melia/

Website: https://www.concentro.io/

Tao Mantaras

Email:  [email protected]

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/taomantaras/

Website:  https://www.concentro.io

Join Us at FireAid LA Fundraiser During InterSolar! 

 The recent fires in Los Angeles have impacted so many lives, and now is our chance to give back. Join us on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, at 5:00 PM at The Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave for an evening of networking, community, and making a real difference.

💡 Why Attend?

✅ Support those affected by the LA fires

✅ Connect with fellow solar & clean energy professionals

✅ Enjoy a great evening while giving back

This event is proudly organized by Reneu Energy & the Solar Maverick Podcast, and proceeds will go to FireAid LA to help those in need.

📩 Interested in sponsoring? Email us at [email protected].

Let’s come together as an industry to make an impact. See you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fireaid-la-fundraiser-during-intersolar-tickets-1227144735939?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy and his co-host Nate Jovanelly, CEO of Sunraise Capital, speak about the 2025 Solar Outlook.

Benoy Thanjan

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.  

This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing

Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.

Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. 

Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.  

He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  

Nathan Jovanelly

Nate is the CEO and Founder of SunRaise Capital’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible renewable energy options to homeowners, while reducing carbon footprints and creating a sustainable future for generations to come. They achieve their mission by partnering with industry leading solar installers to provide our customers with the best possible solar experience at competitive rates.

As the CEO of an innovative residential solar lease company, he spearheads strategic initiatives aimed at harmonizing the objectives of our funding partners, installation teams, and homeowners. With a relentless focus on alignment, he cultivates collaborative relationships to ensure mutual success and satisfaction across all stakeholders. Through innovative leadership and a commitment to transparency, he drives sustainable growth while delivering exceptional value to our investors, installers, and customers alike.

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

Nathan Jovanelly

SunRaise Capital Website:  https://www.sunraisecapital.com/

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/natejov/

200the Episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast Party

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/200the-episode-of-the-solar-maverick-podcast-party-tickets-1227144735939?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jocko's Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8

Nate’s other interviews on the Solar Maverick Podcast

SMP 176:  REplus takeaways

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-176-replus-takeaways/

SMP 166: Residential Solar Trends

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-166-residential-solar-trends/

SMP 150: How SunRaise Capital is innovating residential solar financing?

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-150-how-sunraise-capital-is-innovating-residential-solar-financing/

Solar Maverick Episode 147:  RE+ Takeaways

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-147-re-conference-takeaways/

Solar Maverick Episode 139: Opportunities and Challenges with the PJM Solar Market

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u14GHBkqcqo

Solar Maverick Episode 134: 2023 Solar Predictions

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-134-2023-solar-predictations/

SMP 131:  How Technology and Software are innovating the Solar Industry?

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-131-how-technology-and-software-is-innovating-the-solar-industry/

 SMP 100: US Residential Solar, Storage, and Electric Vehicle Trends

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-100-us-residential-solar-storage-and-electric-vehicles-trends/

SMP 74: Impact on COVID-19 on Residential Solar

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smp-74-impacts-of-covid-19-on-residential-solar/id1441876259?i=1000475840259

 SMP 58:  Residential Solar Financing and Other Interesting Topics

https://podcasts.apple.com/tc/podcast/smp-58-residential-solar-financing-other-interesting/id1441876259?i=1000459212910

 SMP 20:  The Solar Intrapreneur Story:  How Nate helped IGS become one of the biggest solar asset owners in the US

https://podcasts.apple.com/tc/podcast/smp-20-solar-intrapreneur-story-how-nate-helped-igs/id1441876259?i=1000432329129

Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #19 Briefing Highlights:

Read the full report: https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Relia...

Welcome to our Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #18 Briefing Highlights:

Read the SEIA Solar Means Business 2024 Report: https://seia.org/research-resources/s...

See the map: https://www.ysgsolar.com/the-map/ Read more: https://www.ysgsolar.com/thought-lead...

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy interviews Peter Schmitt, Director of Project Development at US Solar. Peter shares insights on agrivoltaics, highlights the key states where US Solar is focusing its solar development efforts, and discusses emerging trends in the agrivoltaics industry.

US Solar is a developer, owner, operator, and financier of solar generation and storage projects with a focus on emerging markets, agrivoltaics, and community solar programs with over 200 Megawatts of completed projects and over 2 Gigawatts in construction and development

Benoy Thanjan

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.  

This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing

Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. 

Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.  

He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  

Peter Schmitt

Peter is a Director of Project Development focusing on US Solar's grid scale developments across the country, ranging from 50-300+ MW each.  He also spearheads the company's vegetation innovations, including the advancement of pollinator seed mixes, experimental crops, beehives, and the introduction of sheep to sites.  Prior to joining US Solar, Peter worked as an internal consultant at Xcel Energy in transmission, worked for a public utility in Austria, and founded a commercial compost company.

Peter grew up in Minnesota and received two undergraduate and two graduate degrees, all from the University of Minnesota.

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

Peter Schmitt

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-schmitt-24187645/

US Solar Website:  https://www.us-solar.com/

Agrivoltaics Conferences in 2025

NORTH AMERICA'S AGRIVOLTAICS EXPO

August 4-7, 2025

Chicago, IL

https://solarfarmsummit.com

AgriVoltaics World Conference

July 1-3, 2025

Freibrug, Germany

https://www.agrivoltaics-conference.org/

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Weirich, the Head of Marketing & Stakeholder Relations - North America at EDP Renewables North America. Tom is also the author of the insightful book "We Took the Risk: The Stories Behind the Early Risk Takers in the U.S. Renewable Energy Industry and the Leadership Traits that Made Them a Success." During our discussion, Tom delves into the essence of his book, sheds light on current trends in the industry, and offers valuable insights for those aspiring to build a career in renewable energy.

Benoy Thanjan

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.  

This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing

Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. 

Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.  

He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  

Tom Weirich

Tom Weirich is a key facilitator that has connected pivotal players in the global renewable energy industry for over eighteen years, working with teams that have closed 300+ renewable energy transactions across a variety of technologies. Throughout his renewables journey, it’s been the stories of how colleagues got their start in renewables that continues to inspire and empower him in his daily work.

As an award-winning marketing leader in the energy sector, he’s a frequent industry panel moderator, speaker and OpEd contributor, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship and market opportunities surrounding the US’ clean energy transition. Weirich’s passion for renewables extends beyond the confines of his day job, with countless hours spent promoting philanthropic efforts focused on technology innovation, career mentoring, workforce development and STEM education.

Professional Experience

Weirich previously worked with two key clean energy investment banking advisory firms based in New York as Director of Marketing at Rubicon Capital Advisors and Director of Marketing & Business Development at CohnReznick Capital. Prior to that, Tom was Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations and interim Chief Operating Officer at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) in Washington, D.C., where he managed and oversaw corporate relations and public affairs for 12 years working with key global developers, financiers and power generators.

Weirich served under the Obama Administration twice in honorary roles, advising both the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative on renewable energy trade and manufacturing policies. He has been acknowledged for his contributions to the solar industry by Renewable Energy World as part of its inaugural “Top 40 under 40 in Solar”, and has been listed five years in a row on kWh Analytics’ #Solar100 List, which recognizes key solar energy thought leaders in the United States. Weirich is a previous Emerging Leaders in Energy & Environment Program Fellow with the Atlantic Council, as well as the previous Chairperson for North America for the Word Council on Renewable Energy (WCRE).

He serves as an Advisor to The Cleanie Awards, which recognizes innovators and those making an impact in clean energy, and is a Fellow with Humanity in Action (HIA), an international non-profit that educates and connects young leaders on issues related to human and minority rights.

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

Tom Weirich

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomweirich/

Book’s Website:  https://wetooktherisk.com

Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #17 Briefing Highlights:

If you have any questions or comments, you can reach out to us at [email protected].

Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #16 Briefing Highlights:

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at [email protected].

Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends.

Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy Insights!

Episode #15 Briefing Highlights:

- NY Stand-Alone BESS Market has only 5 operational projects totaling 100MW but there are Gigawatts worth in the queue

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy chats with Iñigo Rengifo Melia and Tao Mantaras from Concentro, a platform specializing in distributed generation clean energy tax credits. Iñigo and Tao explore the opportunities presented by the new transferability rules introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act. They also share insights on how the new presidential administration could influence clean energy tax credits and offer valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Benoy Thanjan

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.  

This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing

Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. 

Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.  

He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  

Iñigo Rengifo Melia

Inigo is the Co-founder & CEO of Concentro. Before Concentro, he spent three years as a consultant at McKinsey, focusing on new business building and clean energy projects. Prior to that, he was the first employee at Neboola, a startup studio, where he was part of the founding team of two startups: Loopas and Bonofit. Inigo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering.

Tao Mantaras

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

Iñigo Rengifo Melia

Email:  [email protected]

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/inigo-rengifo-melia/

Website: https://www.concentro.io/

Tao Mantaras

Email:  [email protected]

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/taomantaras/

Website:  https://www.concentro.io/

Concentro NPM Press Release

https://newprojectmedia.com/news/concentro-ready-to-enable-usd-300m-in-tax-credit-transfers-focus-on-dg-market

Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, Concentro, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the Winter Solstice Fundraiser

Celebrate the holidays with us at the Winter Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, Concentro,, and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Wednesday, December 4th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. 

Event Highlights:

Partnership with Grand Stand Sports & Memorabilia: We're excited to partner with Grand Stand Sports & Memorabilia, who will be offering sports memorabilia and experiences for sale. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Let's Share the Sun Foundation.

Sponsorship Opportunities: If you're interested in sponsoring this event and helping make a difference, please contact us at [email protected].

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1448299