I have been looking [and waiting] for this book for years.  

And if you’re in Utility-scale battery storage, I’m going to boldly suggest that you have too.

The wait is over, as the most comprehensive compendium on utility-scale battery energy storage is finally on shelves (or it was, it’s about to sell out!) 

Looking to expand your knowledge of utility-scale batteries and the evolution of solar+storage and standalone battery projects? Whether you're a developer integrating batteries into your solar projects, an engineer trying to wrap your head around which technology to spec, or a layperson trying to stay ahead of industry trends, The BESS Book: A Cell to Grid Guide to Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems is the book for you.

Hear from the book's authors, Swetha Sundaram and Drew Lebowitz, as they draw from their extensive experience in energy storage engineering to provide what I believe is likely the most complete attempt to map the battery energy storage landscape A-to-Z. With deep expertise gleaned working for leading engineering firms like DNV and RWE, they’ve crafted a comprehensive resource that covers the full lifecycle of utility-scale battery projects—from cell chemistry to financing the projects and workforce to build these plants at scale.

Discover:

• Why Nico believes this is the battery storage manual every engineering department should have on-hand.
• The latest advancements in lithium-ion battery technology, illustrated with real-world case studies.
• The key technical and financial aspects of [nearly all] utility-scale Li-ion BESS.
• Critical considerations for integrating batteries with solar and wind projects.
• Essential instruction on safety, environmental concerns, and industry standards compliance.
• And so, so much more

Grab your copy of The BESS Book and listen in to gain the insights you need to lead in the energy storage industry.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

With an anticipated  40% increase in energy consumption by 2035, the grid faces immense pressure.

How do we service the rising demand driven by AI, data centers, and home electrification?

The solution, distributed energy resources (DERs) allows homes to generate, store, and smartly consume their own energy. This shift from a centralized to a decentralized energy system aims to address the growing demand and enhance the efficiency of energy distribution.

Raghu Belur, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Enphase Energy has led Enphase in pioneering microinverters and comprehensive home energy management systems. Raghu shares his insights on how the industry is evolving, from the shift from solar consultants to energy consultants, to the inevitable rise of energy markets and the homeowner as an energy trader. His work ensures that millions of homes can seamlessly integrate solar energy, batteries, and EV chargers. 

Raghu spoke with Nico about:

• How DERs solve current and future grid capacity challenges
• The importance of simplicity and user experience in home energy systems
• The transition from net metering to real-time energy markets
• Global energy market trends
• Why every home needs an intelligent energy system and how to “reinvent the grid from the inside out”

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

Deciding where and which customers to focus on can make or break a business. How do you go about choosing one market over another? Furthermore, how do you build a business in an otherwise overlooked market that makes the nation’s largest solar company, Sunrun, take notice?

Hunter Trenary, co-owner of Sun Collectors, recently shared his journey of establishing a solar company in Peoria, Illinois. Starting from scratch in a market with untapped potential, Trenary and his partner navigated the complexities of local regulations, brand building, and sustainable growth while being self-funded. By doing things the “hard way”, Hunter and his team have managed to not only educate the community about the benefits of solar but also establish a reputation for delivering premium installations in house earning them rave reviews from their customers. No surprise, Peoria is now the home to Sunrun’s 2nd IL office (I wonder what took them so long!?) 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Sun Collectors navigated the challenges of growing a solar business in a market with little existing demand
• Sun Collectors community engagement initiatives that keep the flywheel turning
• The strategies Hunter and his team employ to make solar accessible and affordable for its customers

By focusing on one market and investing heavily in the local community, Sun Collectors has built a thriving business that stands out from the competition.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

From thermonuclear weapons that helped stop the Cold War, to a Le Mans 24 Hour Eco Car, and now pioneering a revolutionary battery, today’s guest has a truly remarkable career path.

We're revisiting one of our top episodes from 2022 featuring a real, actual rocket scientist - Michael Burz, the CEO and Co-Founder of Enzinc.  His startup is is commercializing a truly innovative zinc-based battery that promises the power density and re-chargeability of lithium at lead-acid prices. Michael's journey from designing cruise missiles to creating eco-cars at Nissan's Design Studio showcases his exceptional ability to innovate across industries.

In this Flashback Friday clip, you’ll discover:

• How Burz's upbringing and his mother’s aviation background influenced his career.
• Michael’s work designing Cruise Missiles at General Dynamics and engineering thermonuclear weapons during the Cold War. 
• Michael's leadership in designing and building an all-carbon composite race car for Le Mans in record time and under budget.
• The collaboration with the US Naval Research Laboratory that led to defining and designing their zinc battery technology.

If you’d like to hear more than just this snippet, then I’d encourage you to queue up episode 448 and learn more about how one engineer's relentless pursuit of innovation is shaping the future of battery storage.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

Have you ever considered the environmental impact of the non-solar components we deploy in the solar industry? It’s good that we generate clean energy, and even better that we quantify the embodied energy of things like the solar panels we use.  But, it takes a relatively “dirty” and old-fashioned industry to actually deliver those solar modules - logistics.  And, one of the lowest-common-denominator, least-thought-about products in the logistics toolkit is a century-old ‘technology’ made of wood…the pallet. 

While essential for transporting solar panels (among millions of other products), these pallets contribute to significant waste (over 6,000 pounds of wood waste per megawatt); they also emit on average about 8kg of CO2 per unit! Millions of wooden pallets end up in landfills each year.  Worse still, the breakage of solar panels during transport costs the industry billions. This overlooked issue impacts both profitability and sustainability, reducing the overall positive impact of the clean energy sector's green footprint.

During his 15 years in the solar industry, Philip Schwarz has witnessed the waste, costs, inefficiencies, and safety issues associated with using wooden pallets. Inspired by a napkin sketch from his original co-founder, Philip went all-in on the potential for reusable packaging in the solar industry. The resulting company, PVpallet, has grown to become the industry’s leading provider of reusable packaging solutions.

There are numerous lessons to be learned throughout this conversation:

• The novel engineering behind their reusable pallet design
• How PVpallet uses reverse logistics and recycled materials to improve customers’ ESG scores
• Why product innovation is a costly endeavor, and how they almost lost it all
• The underlying economics that make this product make sense (and why people are still resistant to change)

Queue up this innovator’s story if you’re looking for inspiration to help you build your dream.  By the way, Philip has also built a great culture and is Always looking for good people. ;-)

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

You might think of community solar as a “Groupon for your energy bill” - you get discounted access to clean energy without needing to install solar panels, and leverage the buying power of a group purchase!

Aviv Shalgi, CEO and co-founder of Solar Simplified, is dedicated to expanding the reach of community solar. Solar Simplified acts as an aggregator, linking subscribers with solar project developers. And as the industry grows, the role of aggregator plays an ever-increasing part in helping folks who ordinarily can’t go solar (shade issues, don’t own your home, or a myriad of other reasons) plug into the sun…virtually. How is Aviv helping change how solar is built, bought and bartered?

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The vital role of clear communication and building trust in advancing community solar

• The need for better risk-sharing models and industry standards

• How aggregators ensure the success and growth of community solar

• How aggregators manage billing protocols with utilities and ensure regulatory compliance

Learn how Solar Simplified fills the gap by connecting customers to community solar projects.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

What is the unsung hero of solar installations?

Racking…  It's a "set it and forget it" component for contractors, as its reliability is essential to avoid costly service calls, making that critical product choice a “near-religious experience” for most installers. 

Kai Stephan, the founder and CEO of Pegasus Solar, has developed one of the fastest growing solar mounting software and hardware solution providers here in the United States on the vision of simplifying the product and giving homeowners and installers more peace of mind.

His entrepreneurial journey was not all smooth sailing. After leaving a kush Utility job at SoCal Edison to found Pegasus, Kai encountered more than a few challenges.  What do you do when your launch-customer files for bankruptcy? Pivot.  What do you do when regulations change the rules of engagement? Reinvent yourself. Pegasus is not exactly the business Kai thought he’d leave his corporate nest to create, but it’s proved a worthy competitor in a very competitive landscape for more than a decade, and seems to only be getting better.

Despite the hurdles, Kai has remained committed to his vision to make rooftop solar easy with a product that’s “better by design”. I’d encourage you to watch the video version of this one if you can, as I had an AHA Moment myself when Kai finally explained to me the genius of the product design. Here’s a significant stat for you - 5 Million units shipped over the past decade with ZERO product failures and…ZERO Roof Leaks!

There are numerous lessons to be learned along the way:

• The design features that make Pegasus solar installations fast, easy and more reliable
• Kai's approach to navigating financial setbacks
• A novel approach to water-intrusion testing that includes a kiteboard 
• How software automation accelerates solar panel layouts
• Pegasus’ creative process behind new product development

Hit play to gain insights into Kai’s entrepreneurial journey and how Pegasus’ hardware and software solutions are improving residential solar installation.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

“Unclear expectations are a downpayment for future resentment.” 

Maria Kingery is the Founder & Principal of 360Impact and Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Southern Energy Management. With over two decades of experience, Maria has honed her coaching practice to shepherd leaders through the gauntlet of business growth. Previously working within the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework, Kingery now offers a “delightfully independent” coaching style that helps business leaders unlock their potential and build a culture that empowers others. Her approach is rooted in practical, actionable advice tailored to each unique business, incorporating frameworks like the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. 

There is wisdom gleaned from her 20+ years of entrepreneurship, and it’s an honor to share some of her business philosophy with you here.

You’ll discover:

• The importance of clear core values in guiding business behavior
• How coaching frameworks can streamline business operations
• The “Drama Triangle” and strategies for building a drama-free workplace
• How to select the right coach to help achieve personal and professional aspirations

Listen in now and discover how core values and coaching can be the catalysts for your business success.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

two years before the end of the Cold War to broker a licensing agreement for what would become the best-selling video game of all time: Tetris.

Either of those feats would be remarkable; to accomplish both is a whole other level of entrepreneurial achievement.  While some of you may not be familiar with today’s guest, you’ll definitely be familiar with his work, and you may have even watched a movie about him!

Henk Rogers is known as the father of role-playing games in Japan and for introducing Tetris to the world. Leveraging his software development and licensing expertise, Henk is now tackling what he considers the greatest problem of our time: climate change. And, yes, he was even played by Taron Edgerton in the 2023 Apple TV+ movie ‘Tetris’!

A mid-life health scare helped Henk realize that he needed to trade pixels for a higher purpose. Through founding the Blue Planet Foundation, he is helping to do just that, starting in his home state of Hawaii where he was instrumental in driving their goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. With his most recent venture, Blue Planet Energy, he is developing advanced battery energy storage systems to enhance safety, reliability, and output for renewable energy.

In this Flashback Friday clip, you’ll discover:

• How Henk Rogers discovered Tetris and revolutionized the gaming industry
• The pivotal moment that redirected his career towards environmental activism and the fight against climate change
• The unwavering determination that has propelled him to the forefront of the renewable energy movement in Hawaii
• The strategies he's employed to transform the Aloha State into a model the rest of the planet can follow

If you’d like to hear more than just this snippet, then I’d encourage you to queue up episode 150 and explore how a gaming legend became a driving force in the fight against climate change.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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

What does it take to build a 100-year business? How does one expand beyond integration of off-the-shelf products to branding power plants as a unique identifiable product? What does it take to secure an entire City’s rooftops…like Atlanta? 

Michael Chanin, the CEO and founder of Cherry Street Energy, is bringing this ambitious vision to fruition. Chanin's team is embracing the power of renewables for transforming our infrastructure, and my meeting with him left me inspired. Chanin is not your typical investment-banker-turned-renewable-energy-entrepreneur.  How this Macon, GA native found his way to banking is in itself an unlikely turn in his career. So, when he decided to leave Wall Street for Main Street, it was in many ways a return to his roots as a social anthropologist and activist at heart.

Chanin found his calling in the clean energy sector through his banking work with early financial pioneers like Vivint who were leveraging public markets to bring solar to neighborhoods around the country.  But, he saw a gap (Opportunity) beyond the residential solar revolution in how these products (power plants) could benefit municipalities, universities, and communities writ large.  What he built as a delivery mechanism, Cherry Street Energy, has quickly become Georgia’s foremost non-utility provider of renewable power!  And, with over 1000 projects in the queue, Michael and the Cherry Street team are just getting started.

In this episode, discover:

• Cherry Street Energy’s unique approach to finance and deploy distributed energy resources.
• Culture, collaboration, kindness, and a long-term vision as essential ingredients to success.
• How Warren Buffett changed Michael’s career prospects
• Their Shine On program for workforce development “from blue collar to new collar”
• The operational fabric supporting Cherry Street Energy's progress.

Hit play to learn how Cherry Street Energy is paving the way for a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

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

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

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

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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