solar_coaster

Josh and Jay host Sharon Suzuki, President of the Maui Electric Company (MECO) and Greg Kresge MECO Director of Renewable Energy! Covering everything from the early days of Maui Electric, all the way to the latest programs available from the utility and some glimpses into the future of renewables on Maui, the state of Hawaii and potentially the nation!

Following up on John Borland's deeply technical show last week (see episode 45), Josh and Jay look at the varying levels of energy security available to us today, and how you can adapt zero grid buy techniques to not only save money, but be secure in your energy supply in case of emergency.

Special Guest John Borland rides the coaster over from Oahu to give us the scoop on his unprecedented 2.7 year return on solar and hot water in his virtual off-grid system. How can you duplicate his success and achieve a zero grid buy system? Jump on and find out!

Josh and Jay sit down to discuss the Future of Renewable energy in Maui W/Energy Committee Chair & Councilman Don Guzman & Renewable Energy Commissioner Fred Reidell.

Josh and Jay sit down with Garret Marrero Founder and Owner of Maui Brewing Company for a unique look at how Maui Brewing Company puts sustainability first and foremost in every aspect of their process.

The guys take a long look at the history of the use of solar energy, and it's possible future with special call in guest Andre Richter of Meyer Berger.

Hear of Bitcoin? Cryptocurency? Wondering what this is all about? Renewable Energy Consultant and crypto-currency Aficionado Jason Fellerman gives a brilliant overview of an emerging currency tied to solar energy production that could ad a third layer of incentivization to solar energy: saving $, energy resiliency and now solar coin values the carbon your system has offset in the environment! A lot to take in here! Tune in for the full story.

• GLOBAL

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-solar-owners-post-hurricane-demand-for-batteries-could-impact-utilitie/516806/

• NATIONAL

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-is-going-to-win-bigly

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/a-solar-panel-on-every-roof-in-the-us-here-are-the-numbers/

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/expanding-solar-in-low-income-communities

• HAWAII

http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/02/experts-new-solar-panel-tariff-wont-hurt-hawaii/

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2018/01/26/heco-sees-109-mw-of-new-hawaii-solar-2017/

• MAUI

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37441560/new-solar-project-could-mean-lower-electric-bills-for-molokai-residents

http://mauinow.com/2018/02/08/the-hawaiian-electric-companies-to-launch-two-new-rooftop-solar-programs/

PRODUCT/MAIN FOCUS / ( 30 min): SOLARCOIN

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/could-solarcoin-help-acwa-boost-its-profits-from-solar

https://electrek.co/2018/02/12/egeb-project-bo-singapore-trump-tariff-wto-solarcoin-tesla-community-solar/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolarCoin

https://solarcoin.org/en/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2018/02/15/u-s-cftc-commissioner-says-cryptocurrency-exchanges-adopting-self-regulation-could-spur-standards/#b9bbf4245e12

https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/gizmodo.com/atari-is-launching-a-cryptocurrency-because-thats-just-1823042620/amp

https://www.cnet.com/news/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-big-in-investing-but-still-lousy-for-buying-a-sandwich/

https://www.cnet.com/blockchain-decode/

TALKING POINTS!

1. History of crypto currency – What the heck is it?

2. Blockchain?

3. Bitcoin?

4. Environmental concerns

5. Solarcoin?

6. Mining with solar?

FUTURE FOCUS

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-powered-bitcoin-mining-could-be-a-very-profitable-business-model

Aloha from Maui ! Have you ever wondered about how Drones are playing a role in Solar?! Well here is the overview presented by Host Jason Varkaart's Brother, Brian Verkaart. Brian joins the coaster representing his company Blue Sky Aerial Solutions! Tune in to get the full overview of how drones will cut costs increase efficiencies and make renewable energies work better in more ways than any of us thought.

NEW & EVENTS

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/feb/26/drones-robots-solar-power-plant-energy

https://internetofbusiness.com/drones-solar-farms/

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/07/5-reasons-why-drones-are-going-to-work-for-solar-asset-managers.html

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/why-drones-are-game-changing-for-renewable-energy#gs.JmniKXo

https://www.popsci.com/china-solar-powered-drone

Using solar power FOR drones.

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/solar-powered-drone-could-fly-nonstop-five-years/

http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/alta-devices/

Flexible thin film tech

https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/10/16875382/boeing-drone-evtol-cav-500-pounds

The fellas are Joined by Martain and Raghu co-founders of renewable energy juggernaut Enphase Energy. They walk us through the early days from the first prototypes getting blown off their own roofs to the current launch planned for the remarkable Ensemble Line in 2019, infinitely scale - able described as mini hoover dams on your roof? Tune in to get the full story of this remarkable company past, present and future!

NEW & EVENTS

NATIONAL

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/01/26/san-diego-padres-building-mlbs-largest-solar-system/

HAWAII

https://www.pv-tech.org/news/nrg-breaks-ground-on-110mw-pv-portfolio-in-hawaii

TALKING POINTS

1. History and vision for Enphase ( early days)

2. What’s your company culture like. Has it changed over the year?

3. Product evolution?

4. Programs in Hawaii: CGS+, NEM EXPANSION, Smart Export, SIA

5. Storage Modules Strategy?

6. History in Hawaii?

7. Upcoming Ensemble Line!

8. Why do most grid tied systems currently shut off when the grid is down?

9. The prospect of operating in backup mode during the day without storage?

10. How to integrate with storage modules. Does that provide longevity/night time use?

11. Other things you would like to share?

ENPHASE FUTURE FOCUS

• https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603497/10-breakthrough-technologies-2017-hot-solar-cells/

• http://www.techradar.com/news/the-future-of-our-technology-and-our-planet-depends-on-one-thing-the-battery

The Guys jump into their first political interview and get an earful from Mayor Alan Arakawa. The Mayor delves into an overview of Maui Past, Present and Future. A primary takeaway being the huge impact energy ownership has on the quality of Maui Citizen's Lives. Listen in for a future vision of 100% renewable energy perhaps as little as 5 years off!

NEWS & EVENTS

• GLOBAL

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4140483-trump-solar-tariffs-winners-losers

• NATIONAL

http://theconversation.com/can-mirrors-boost-solar-panel-output-and-help-overcome-trumps-tariffs-90663

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180125PD201.html

• HAWAII

https://www.pv-tech.org/news/nrg-breaks-ground-on-110mw-pv-portfolio-in-hawaii

• MAUI

http://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/01/first-utility-scale-solar-project-on-maui-to-be-fully-operational-in-first-quarter/