SunCast

By Nico JohnsonScience Technology Education How To Natural Sciences

SunCast episodes

February 26904: How the Biggest EPCs Keep Energy Projects on Track | Brandon Moss, Shoals
Most energy projects look solid on paper. Fewer stay on track in the field.
Brandon Moss sees the difference every day.
Energy demand is rising. Load growth is real. Timelines are tightening.
So what actually keeps large energy projects on track?
In this conversation, Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals, shares what he sees from the center of utility-scale deployment. Shoals touches a significant portion of U.S. solar projects, giving Brandon a rare vantage point into how projects are planned, where they slip, and what separates strong operators from the rest.
We discuss:
What the biggest EPCs are prioritizing right now
Where early decisions create downstream risk
Why partnership is replacing transactional procurement
How labor constraints are shaping engineering and design
What “bankable” and “buildable” really mean in today’s market
How AI and load growth are changing the urgency around delivery

Brandon also reflects on the shift from private to public leadership, the responsibility that comes with scaling a business, and why simplicity and execution still win.
If you’re building projects, financing them, or planning infrastructure in a volatile policy and trade environment, this episode offers practical insight from someone who sits at the center of it.
Hit play and learn from a leader who sees where projects succeed and where they break.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
1 hr 1 min
February 24 903: T.J. Rodgers’ 13-Minute Management Masterclass

Listen to the full 2.5 hour episode here: https://suncast.media/episodes/900
Most companies don’t fail because of strategy.
They fail because standards slip.
In this 13-minute vignette, T.J. Rodgers breaks down the management system he’s used across more than 25 acquisitions to build and scale billion-dollar companies — and why discipline, not charisma, determines whether a business survives.
Inside:
• Why 19 out of 20 decisions in your company are made without you
• Why quality must be enforced, not admired
• Why speed of correction matters more than avoiding mistakes
• What “owner means 100% responsible” actually looks like
• How written principles — enforced daily — shape culture
This isn’t theory. It’s operational structure from someone who has spent decades building machines that work.
If you lead people, run a company, or care about performance, this is worth 13 minutes.
Press play; Listen in.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
20 min
February 21902: Why Most Grid-Scale Batteries (BESS) Underperform - And How to Fix It Before It Costs Millions
Battery storage is scaling fast.
But scaling portfolios exposes weaknesses most owners never see coming.
As projects move from single sites to gigawatt-hour fleets, many IPPs discover something uncomfortable: they have dashboards - but not decision-grade visibility.
In this Episode, Lennart Hinrichs, EVP and General Manager of the Americas at TWAICE, explains what actually changes once batteries begin operating at scale.
We discuss:
Why state of charge (SOC) is foundational — but insufficient
How LFP chemistry complicates measurement more than most assume
What derating really does to revenue and dispatch confidence
Why overbuild can mask deeper performance issues
What actually causes most battery fires (and what doesn’t)
How data transparency reshapes warranty disputes and financial risk

This isn’t a founder story.
It’s a practical conversation for asset owners, operators, and performance engineers who want fewer surprises over the life of their storage assets.
If you operate or finance battery projects, this episode will sharpen how you think about KPIs, safety, and operational confidence.
Listen in.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
1 hr 1 min
February 17 901: Google Didn’t Buy Intersect for Solar. Here’s Why. | Sheldon Kimber

“This is not an offensive play. It’s a defensive play. It’s a must win.”
That’s how Sheldon Kimber describes AI for companies like Google.
If your business depends on organizing and serving information, AI isn’t optional. It’s existential.
And if AI is existential, power becomes strategic.
In this conversation — recorded before Google’s acquisition of Intersect Power — Sheldon lays out the durable thesis that led here:
The U.S. grid isn’t collapsing.
It just can’t scale.
Transmission is stalled.
Business models are misaligned.
Permitting reform won’t arrive in time.
So instead of waiting for the grid to be fixed, Intersect built around it.
Gigawatt-scale co-location.
Wind, solar, batteries.
Flexible gas.
Control systems designed to act as one asset.
The result? A hybrid solution that can deliver four-nines reliability - potentially more reliable than the grid itself.
This isn’t about chasing incentives.
It’s about building a better product.
In this episode:
🔹 Why AI is a defensive must-win moment for hyperscalers
🔹 Why the grid’s structural limits created opportunity
🔹 How hybrid plants can outperform traditional baseload
🔹 Where the real moat lives: optimization and control
🔹 What “win the win” means for clean energy
Google didn’t acquire Intersect as a climate statement.
It acquired it because reliable, controllable power is now strategic infrastructure.
Press play and decide for yourself.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
15 min
February 12 900: T.J. Rodgers’ Billion-Dollar Playbook | Building Companies That Last

T.J. Rodgers has built — and rebuilt — billion-dollar companies across semiconductors, energy, storage, and manufacturing.
In this 2.5-hour Episode 900 deep dive, he walks through the operating principles behind that track record — in detail.
This isn’t a surface-level conversation. It’s a masterclass in how durable companies are actually constructed.
We unpack:
🔹 The mental models he uses to evaluate technologies and markets
🔹 The acquisition and integration process he’s deployed dozens of times
🔹 Why revenue per employee tells the truth — and what most CEOs hide behind
🔹 What “quality is free” really means in practice
🔹 How ownership, incentives, and culture get reinforced — not just talked about
🔹 Why most solar companies fail, and some survive
If you’re a founder, operator, investor, or executive building in a hard industry, this episode will challenge how you think about metrics, structure, and leadership.
It’s long. It’s dense. And it’s worth your time.
This is not a fluffy discussion about climate optimism.
It is about discipline. Incentives. Quality. And the brutal honesty of markets.
Episode 900 feels like the right moment for a conversation like this.
Listen in.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
2 hr 32 min
February 10 899: Everything You Need to Know Before Intersolar 2026

Conference season is back, and if you are heading to Intersolar and Energy Storage North America 2026, this episode is your unfair advantage.
Nico Johnson sits down with the people who know the show better than anyone. Event Director Beckie Kier, Solar Games mastermind Shannon Twombly, and Conference Chair Gene Hunt. Together, they break down how to get the most value from your time in San Diego, whether this is your first Intersolar or your tenth.
This is more than a show preview, it’s a snapshot of where the clean energy industry stands right now. From the rapid rise of energy storage and domestic manufacturing to the growing importance of grid flexibility, DERs, and ultra long duration batteries, Intersolar 2026 reflects an industry that is evolving fast and learning in real time.
You will also hear how the show floor itself reflects the strategy. Solar Games installer competitions, virtual reality activations, mini golf networking, and the always buzzing Hub Stage are all designed to spark real conversations, not just badge scans.
Expect to learn:
🔹 How the Intersolar audience is shifting toward integrated solar and storage solutions
🔹 Why energy storage has moved from side topic to center stage
🔹 What Solar Games reveals about installer quality, safety, and best practices
🔹 How state leadership, supply chains, and long duration storage shape the 2026 outlook
👉 Listen or watch now to walk into Intersolar prepared, focused, and ready to make the connections that matter.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
37 min
February 05 898: What Comes After the Acquisition | Andy Klump

Modern founders spend years building toward a hopeful exit or liquidity event. Almost no one talks about what comes after the acquisition.
In this episode, Nico Johnson sits down with Andy Klump, founder of Clean Energy Associates (CEA), for a thoughtful conversation about leadership after transition. After fifteen years growing CEA and completing a multi-year earn-out, Andy is in a rare season of pause — stepping back from the CEO seat and reflecting on what actually mattered.
Rather than revisiting the early days, Andy shares lessons from leading through change, protecting culture during uncertainty, and recalibrating his identity once the nonstop pace slowed. They discuss why communication cadence matters more than vision statements, how internal Net Promoter Score became a tool for listening, and what founders often underestimate about earn-outs and transitions.
This episode is for founders and operators who are scaling fast — or quietly wondering what comes next.
Press play. You don’t hear conversations like this very often.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
1 hr 21 min
February 03 897: The Bamboo Strategy: Building Flexible, Scalable Teams in Clean Energy | Adam James, Energy Innovation Partners

Want to grow a billion-dollar business? You need better systems, not just better ideas.
Adam James has had a front-row view as Energy Impact Partners has scaled from a $500M fund into a multi-billion-dollar force as a clean energy VC. But, as he shares, the secret to success isn’t capital or flashy pitch decks. It’s an obsession with infrastructure, team building, and doing the messy work of aligning people and process.
In this candid conversation, Adam breaks down his methodology for scaling fast-growing organizations. From audits and goal-setting to the surprisingly overlooked art of hiring with intentionality. He also shares why most business books are garbage (except one), and why being “like bamboo” might be your best leadership model.
Expect to learn:
🔹 How to simplify operations in a high-growth environment
🔹 Why data transparency beats endless KPIs
🔹 What to look for in interviews beyond technical skill
🔹 How to prepare your company for its “Easter Sunday” moment
Here’s a lesson in operational excellence for anyone serious about scaling in clean energy.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
20 min
January 30 896: The Solar Industry’s Unfinished Business | with Suvi Sharma, SolarCycle

The solar industry scaled faster than almost anyone expected. But in the rush to deploy, one part of the system never fully got built.
In this episode, Nico Johnson sits down with Suvi Sharma, founder of Solaria and now co-founder and CEO of SolarCycle, to talk about what happens after solar works. Suvi explains why end-of-life planning, repowering, and material recovery are no longer edge cases - they’re becoming core infrastructure challenges for the industry.
This conversation goes beyond recycling. It’s about maturity. About what it means for solar to grow up as an industry, and how decisions made twenty years ago are shaping today’s constraints - from glass durability to supply chains to capital planning.
Suvi shares why he came out of “retirement” to start another company, how he’s building a system designed for scale, and what developers, operators, and policymakers are still underestimating.
If you work anywhere near solar deployment, ownership, or manufacturing, this episode may change how you think about the full lifecycle.
You made it this far — hit play.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
1 hr 4 min
January 28 895: What Elite Climbing Taught Alex Honnold About Focus, Fear, and Legacy

What goes through Alex Honnold’s mind when he’s thousands of feet off the ground without a rope?
After his first-ever Taipei 101 Live Broadcast ascent of one of the world’s tallest buildings, we thought it’d be useful to revisit what we learned from Alex about mental fortitude and his singular admonition to “do the thing”. Curious how Alex channels discomfort into growth? This episode explores the surprisingly grounded mental habits that drive one of the world’s most extreme athletes and how those same frameworks apply to business, energy, and impact.
You’ll hear why Alex values silence over self-talk, how he trains for precision, and the personal philosophy that powers both record climbs and energy access projects. In addition, Nico reflects on the nature of preparation for such a mind-bending feat and how it extends to the world of business and clean energy.
Expect to learn:
🔹 Why muscle memory matters more than motivation at the highest level of performance
🔹 How climbing helped Alex master “working backwards” and why it matters for entrepreneurs
🔹 How free soloing shapes Alex’s views on risk, focus, and long-term legacy
🔹 Why small details matter more than big goals
Whether you’re scaling a company, a building or a granite wall, this episode will sharpen how you think about goals, fear, and execution.
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.
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 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
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
17 min