SunCast

Hydro-Québec (HQ), North America’s largest renewable energy producer, is expanding its footprint into battery storage through its subsidiary, EVLO Energy Storage. Born from decades of expertise in grid management as one of Canada’s largest utilities, EVLO is the result of much research & development by HQ into utlizing batteries for grid stabilization.  EVLO specializes in battery energy storage solutions (BESS) to solve the grid challenges faced by the energy transition. Their solutions emphasize not only performance but also security, ensuring that modern grid technologies are protected from cyber threats.

Martin Rheault, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, shares his journey from a successful career running the renewables practice at a major engineering firm to taking on the challenge of scaling EVLO into a global player in the energy storage market. Along the way, he provides insights into domestic manufacturing in Canada and the U.S., and the mission to build safer, more reliable batteries that are grid-friendly.

Expect to learn:

• Hydro-Québec's extensive research and development track record, including pioneering work on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries
• Their approach to cybersecurity, including real-world testing 
• The role of domestic manufacturing in meeting energy storage demand and strengthening supply chains
• EVLO’s transparent, collaborative engagement with customers to build trust and “derisk” project deployments.

Catch this conversation recorded live at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage during RE+2024 in Anaheim. You can watch this and every other interview over at www.suncast.live!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

“Environmental justice is definitely an area that I’m passionate about because it’s deeply entwined with racial justice. Communities of color have been disproportionately victimized by environmental hazards, discriminatory environmental policy, and are far more likely to live in areas with heavy pollution.

At Volt, we are trying to reverse these injustices by building clean non-polluting solar plants in our communities.” - Gilbert Campbell

Pioneering innovative solutions like the Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement (EJPPA) to drive wealth creation and improve health outcomes through solar projects, Campbell has partnered with tech giants like Microsoft to supply 250MW of clean power. His model demonstrates how clean energy can simultaneously foster sustainability and social equity.

Marginalized communities across the country have long faced environmental injustice, overlooked for the kinds of development that bring economic opportunities - like renewable energy. As the shift to clean energy accelerates, prioritizing these communities and addressing both their health and financial needs is a key component of building a more equitable and just energy transition. With intentional deployment, solar projects have the power to close these gaps and create a more equitable future for all communities.

Gilbert Campbell, Founder & CEO of Volt Energy Utility, has dedicated his career to making renewable energy accessible, particularly for communities that have historically been left behind. A Howard University graduate and Board member of SEIA, Gilbert is a prominent leader and influential voice in clean energy. 

Expect to learn:

• How Gilbert’s values of service and community shaped his clean energy journey
• How Gilbert leveraged his Corporate training into entrepreneurship and the origin of his energy businesses
• Why mentorship and developing diverse clean energy leaders led to programs like the Sharing the Power Foundation's HBCU Clean Energy and Environmental Justice Fellowship
• What are the challenges of clean energy communication and the need for better storytelling

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation on how intentional clean energy investments can transform communities and create lasting impact.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

The battery storage sector is [finally] stabilizing with 90% of the IRA tax credit rules now in place, providing developers more clarity and perhaps more certainty. However, domestic production, financing, and evolving tax credit policies still pose challenges, particularly to product development. As developers, you must contend with government policies, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and safety concerns, all of which can delay projects and affect their long-term viability. And battery suppliers/manufacturers are all sorting out the wants versus the needs of developers as the market gets increasingly crowded & pushes the envelope on size & density.

In a recent live discussion, Fluence President John Zahurancik addresses these complexities, highlighting efforts to expand U.S. battery production and improve safety through rigorous fire safety testing.

Expect to learn:

• How storage wasn’t traditionally driven by policy, until the IRA & 45x, but policy is now reshaping storage projects and driving domestic production.
• Why 4-hour storage systems are most common and what’s needed to advance longer-duration technologies.
• What is the potential impact of the upcoming election on renewable energy and trade policy.

To watch this and other insightful conversations recorded live at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage in Anaheim during RE+ 2024, check out www.suncast.live!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

The energy storage market is truly moving faster than ever, and with it, the complexity of building and managing these projects and products that serve our need for 24/7 renewable power.  It does, however, raise a number of interesting, if not troubling questions:

How does this rapid change impact the Total Cost of Ownership for battery energy storage projects?

Are there hidden costs to this pace of growth?

As we watch the industry scale, it has started to feel a bit like companies are rushing projects (and products) to market in a race to meet market demand and be “first” in a number of key areas, not the least of which is power density and battery size. 

So we have to ask, “how big is too big?”

And, as sites begin to move closer to population centers, what do we do about the inevitable concerns surrounding noise ordinances?

Is Noise the next challenge in front of the industry?

I asked these and many others of today’s special guest while we were live on our PowerUp Live stage recently at RE+ 2024.

With over 12.5 gigawatt-hours of contracted storage systems, including 8.5 gigawatt-hours already in operation, Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation (ES&O) is rapidly expanding its global footprint across key markets, from the US and Canada to Chile, the UK, and beyond. With the market moving faster than ever, Wärtsilä is tackling both technical and logistical challenges, ensuring that its battery storage systems are ready to meet demand.

Andy Tang, Vice President of Wärtsilä ES&O, brings nearly two decades of expertise in battery storage and grid edge development to the table. And in our conversation, he addresses head on the impacts of rising energy density on Total Cost of Ownership (TCOE) and the hidden costs associated with larger, more complex systems. 

Expect to learn:

• Whether the race to greater energy-density batteries is really “good” for the market.
• The emerging challenge of noise and how Wärtsilä is addressing it through advanced design and site planning
• Tang’s advice for procurement managers in vendor & product selection.

Watch this and other insightful conversations recorded live at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage over at www.suncast.live!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Seventeen years ago, two young boys from Washington, DC set a ball in motion that would spark a nationwide solar movement. What inspired them? 

Al Gore.

Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a national nonprofit, began as a grassroots effort when two preteens, inspired by An Inconvenient Truth, rallied their neighbors to adopt solar energy. Their initial door-to-door campaign grew into a solar co-op, which has since evolved into SUN, has driven key policy changes across the USA and fosters a network of solar advocates that stretches coast-to-coast. In fact, their neighborhood-focused inkling of an idea has now facilitated over 10,000 residential solar projects, making localized, affordable solar accessible to communities everywhere and catalyzing the largest known community of solar owners we’ve found.

In this episode, Anya Schoolman, Executive Director of Solar United Neighbors, shares how her son, Walter and his friend Diego’s vision for neighborhood-wide solar purchasing planted the seed for a national movement.

 Expect to learn:

• What is the Solar for All program and how it is expanding solar access to underserved communities.
• How Solar United Neighbors expanded into a nationwide movement now representing one million solar homeowners.
• Why we can’t decarbonize without distributed solar
• Who wins because of the organization’s efforts in consumer protection, ensuring transparency in solar contracts.

Listen in to hear how a local project transformed into a national effort driving clean, working toward affordable solar energy for all!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Advancements in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are setting new standards in renewable energy integration and at a break-neck pace. Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Optimization (ES&O) has long been a leader of this innovation, developing solutions to meet the growing demand for larger, more efficient battery systems, while recognizing the limitations of scale in the race to pack in the most energy density. With a diverse portfolio of products, from their flagship DC block Quantum series to the newly introduced Quantum3, a 5 MWh AC block with integrated string inverters, Wärtsilä continues to push the boundaries of energy storage technology.

Listen in to this Live-recorded session as Dave Hebert, Director of Sales Management, and Neha Sinha, Product Manager for Energy Storage Systems at Wärtsilä, discuss how their products address critical challenges like space constraints, auxiliary power, and noise reduction while adapting to evolving market demands and the complexities of product development.

Expect to learn:

• Auxiliary power optimization that reduces costs and prevents early battery degradation.
• Innovative approaches to managing noise in densely populated areas.
• Benefits of maintaining both AC and DC block products in their portfolio.
• Design and manufacturing choices in a policy-driven market

Catch this conversation recorded live at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage in Anaheim. Watch now at www.suncast.live!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Domestic manufacturing is making a COMEBACK!

There, I finally admit it. I never thought it’d happen, to be honest, as you’ll here in today’s episode.

On August 8th, we were invited to Houston, Texas for the grand opening of SEG Solar's new solar module factory. In the heart of oil & gas country, this state-of-the-art facility raises the bar for domestic solar manufacturing. With fully automated production lines producing two gigawatts of panels annually—and plans to expand to five gigawatts by 2030, SEG Solar is leading the charge in bringing manufacturing back to U.S. soil.

If you’ve not been inside a real solar manufacturing facility, neither had we - we take you INSIDE for this unique first-hand look.  

And, if you haven’t yet, subscribe to SunCast Media & watch the factory tour.

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

What if you could go online, get a solar quote in under a minute, and bypass door knocking sales reps? That's the promise of Project Solar, a Utah-based startup with over $23 M in Series A funding, that's changing the way residential solar is sold. 

Founders Matthew Smith and Trevor Hiltbrand are disrupting the solar market with a direct-to-consumer model that eliminates the middleman, offering transparency and simplicity. Leveraging their deep e-commerce expertise and entrepreneurial backgrounds, they created a platform that empowers homeowners with clear, low pricing and a streamlined process. Their journey has been defined by significant early success, even acquisition offers, and almost immediately finding the coveted “product-market fit”, all while maintaining a rabid focus on customer experience. 

It’s rare that I think someone is truly, actually, changing the way we do things - Project Solar is one of those rare finds.

Expect to learn:

• How Project Solar’s quoting tool delivers accurate solar quotes in under a minute.
• Why Project Solar’s focus on simplicity and transparency is reducing the inflated costs commonly found in traditional solar sales.
• What regulatory efforts are needed in addressing the “bad actors” in the current market
• Where hiring the right team fits into Project Solar's long-term success in saving customers $42M and counting.
• When the founders realized the need to refine their business model to meet the changing financing needs of their customers.

Want to know how Project Solar is bringing transparency and simplicity to the solar buying process? Listen in to learn how their direct-to-consumer online platform is transforming the way solar is sold!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Many of our regular listener energy nerds are aware that the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO), under the leadership if Secretary Granholm and Jigar Shah, has evolved from a near-dormant entity with just one loan in the previous administration to committing over $31 billion to projects across critical clean energy sectors like hydrogen, storage, solar, EVs, Carbon sequestration and more. With an expanded pipeline of 209 applications requesting $281.1 billion in financing, the LPO is driving innovation and growth in the clean energy sector, and we’re even seeing a veritable rebirth of the Nuclear industry here with Vogle 3 & 4 coming online as well as the Palisades plant in Michigan coming out of retirement!

Jigar Shah, as Director of the LPO, has engaged 6,500+ organizations, ensuring the energy transition is private-sector led and government-enabled. And the sheer numbers in the results are eye-opening. In particular, the support for the nearshoring of our critical manufacturing infrastructure.

Expect to learn:

• How utilities can utilize virtual power plants (VPPs) and grid modernization to effectively manage growing energy loads.
• The evolving partnership between utilities and the solar industry
• The importance of reshoring energy technology manufacturing for U.S. energy independence
• How the LPO is unlocking the renewable potential of tribal lands and creating broad-based wealth
• The critical role of geothermal and nuclear energy in replacing coal plants with clean, firm power

Catch this and other impactful conversations recorded live at the PowerUp Live Podcast Stage in Anaheim. Watch now at www.suncast.live!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

When I started SunCast, it seemed like there were lots of “Pioneers”; I even did a series focused on Solar Pioneers.  That was 9 yars ago.  Nowadays, most people are following playbooks others have written, and true pioneers are few-and-far-between. But I do still get to bring real pioneers on the show.  Today’s guest has taken all 9 years to lock down, despite having first met Billy Parish in 2011, fully 4 yrs before I started SunCast! Good things come to those who wait.  And you’ve waited a long time for this story, as Never Before Told…The Billy Parish, Mosaic Anthology!

How does a social activist unexpectedly become a pioneer in solar financing, helping shape the industry while funding over $15 billion in residential solar loans?

Billy Parish, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Mosaic, turned his passion for activism into a mission to make solar power accessible and affordable for millions of homeowners. Before founding Mosaic, Parish was a youth activist and impatient budding entrepreneur.  His first real breakout success was Energy Action Coalition, a youth-driven climate movement, which laid the foundation for his work in clean energy. His work brought him international acclaim, including being a Rolling Stone Climate Hero and Mother Jones Student Activist of the Year, all while he was “taking time off” from Yale!  When he turned his focus to solving solar energy’s finance & scalability problem, little did he realize it’d turn into a nearly 2-decade journey, much naysaying, and a few ‘pivots’. Nevertheless, through Mosaic's innovative financing models, they have empowered thousands of contractors and funded billions in residential solar loans - and in many ways, it seems they’re just getting started.

Billy traveled from his residence in Berkeley, CA, to Washington, DC, to sit down with Nico and share his journey, insights, and Mosaic’s standout innovations. One of Mosaic’s major achievements includes launching the first 20-year solar loan product and a fully digital point-of-sale system credit application process that revolutionizes solar financing. Parish explains his "theory of change," focusing on making clean energy accessible to all through engagement and equity—a journey that earned him a feature in Rolling Stone for his climate leadership.

Expect to learn:

• Billy Parish’s blend of activism and entrepreneurship as a driving force for opening solar as an accessible asset class to millions.
• Mosaic’s shift from crowdfunding to institutional investors, scaling to $15 billion in loans.
• Mosaic’s innovations in digital infrastructure that makes solar financing fast and easy for homeowners.
• Why U.S. solar installations take months, and how Mosaic is working to cut delays.
• How tools like SolarAPP can save thousands per project by speeding up solar permitting.

Listen now as Nico finally gets to deeply connect with one of Solar’s widely-accepted iconic pioneers, Billy Parish.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2