The Green Room - Energy Innovation & Renewables Industry Podcast

From backyard lemon trees to nuclear reactors and everything solar in between!

In this episode, Veli sits down with George Phani, veteran of Australia’s solar industry and current Business Development Manager at Yingli Solar, for a no-nonsense, deeply personal, and occasionally hilarious journey through the evolution of photovoltaics.

George shares:
👉 His early days tinkering with applied physics and working at Australia’s only nuclear reactor.
👉 How Australia almost led the global solar revolution -  and why it didn’t.
👉 What it was like pioneering new solar materials in Switzerland before most people even knew what “PV" meant.
👉 The rise (and survival) of Yingli through boom-and-bust solar cycles.
👉 The real future of solar - bifacials, building-integrated PV, agri-voltaics, and AI-driven manufacturing.
👉 And, of course, why his dad’s cucumbers and lemon trees might just be the original renewable energy systems. 

This episode is equal parts education, nostalgia, and technical masterclass - told through stories of persistence, migration, and innovation in an ever-changing clean energy landscape.

🎙️ The engineer’s edge: Sanna from Gamcorp unpacks structures, solar, and the art of doing things properly.

In this episode, we sit down with Sanna Afshar, Director of Operations at Gamcorp, to dive deep into the engineering side of solar and renewable energy systems. 
From his family’s incredible journey fleeing Iran in the 1980s to his rise as one of the industry’s most passionate and insightful structural engineers, this chat goes way beyond beams and bolts.

THE GREENROOM explores:

- The untold story behind Sanna’s upbringing, resilience, and values
- How structural engineering shapes safe and reliable solar installations
- Why so many roof inspections are done wrong,  and how to fix it
- The real-world failures and lessons that are quietly shaping the solar industry
- The role of mentorship, family, and faith in building better engineers and better people
- Plus Sanna’s love for music, hand pans, and how rhythm connects to problem-solving
- Roof mount vs. ground mount systems
- Wind load, racking, and fixing failures
- Australian standards and engineering ambiguity

🔧 Sit back, tune in, and enjoy a conversation that’s equal parts inspiring, technical, and brutally honest.

Greenwood Academy partners with Sanna from Gamcorp to discuss best practice on one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of the solar and renewable energy industry: structural safety. 

Together, they break down what installers , designers , and engineers  should look for when assessing rooftops and structures before any solar installation.

The conversation sheds light on key factors such as wind loading, fixing methods, roof integrity, and certification requirements - offering viewers a practical understanding of how structural assessments  directly impact safety, compliance, and long-term system performance. 

With Gamcorp’s engineering  expertise  and Greenwood’s focus on industry knowledge  , the discussion bridges the gap between technical standards and on-site realities.

Whether you’re an installer, Project Manager , or simply invested in the future of safer solar design, this talk provides insights that go beyond the basics. It’s not a training session - it’s a professional  conversation aimed at raising awareness, improving industry standards, and ensuring that solar systems are built on a foundation of safety and structural integrity.

Emily’s story is a powerful look at what it takes to lead in the fast-changing world of renewable energy. 
From her early start in policy and trading to driving innovation in electrification and clean technology, Em has built a career defined by resilience, insight, and a commitment to real impact.

In this episode, she shares her journey through the solar industry, the lessons learned from leadership roles, and her passion for shaping smarter energy solutions. 

With a mix of pragmatism and vision, Em offers valuable insights into how the energy transition is unfolding, and what it takes to be part of it.

Whether you’re an installer, engineer, or someone inspired by the future of clean energy, this conversation is full of takeaways on leadership, adaptability, and creating meaningful change. 

Emily’s story proves that renewable energy isn’t just about technology - it’s about the people bold enough to make it happen.

Welcome to the world of advanced solar technology with Thomas Bywater, a multilingual solar and electrical engineer whose career spans cutting-edge cell manufacturing, large-scale renewable projects, and industry-shaping innovation. 

From mastering Mandarin in high school to working alongside pioneers at the University of New South Wales, Thomas has been at the forefront of solar’s evolution — from PERC to TopCon to Back Contact technology.

In this episode, we unpack the science behind high-efficiency solar cells, the engineering trade-offs in module design, the realities of structural and environmental challenges, and the future of Solar 3.0 — integrating storage, architecture, and next-generation materials. 

Whether you’re a renewable energy professional or a tech enthusiast, Thomas’s insights will expand your understanding of the physics, engineering, and commercial realities shaping the solar industry today.

🎙️ In this episode of the GREENROOM, we sit down with Gil Rhodes – engineer, trainer, and founder of AGR Electrical – for one of the most technical yet practical conversations we’ve ever had.

From the origins of PowerCAD software and why it’s essential for large-scale solar design, through to the real-world challenges of AC/DC cabling, derating, switchboards, and compliance, this podcast is packed with lessons for anyone serious about solar and electrical engineering.

Expect to learn:
✅ When and why PowerCAD is needed for solar & commercial projects
✅ The biggest design mistakes that cost installers time and money
✅ How to avoid pitfalls with cable tray selection, derating, and airflow
✅ What it takes to navigate Energex/Ergon standards & RPEQ requirements
✅ Gil’s career journey – from apprentice to trainer, to running his own consultancy

Whether you’re an installer looking to sharpen your design skills, an engineer aiming to stay compliant, or just someone fascinated by the nuts and bolts of megawatt-scale solar systems, this conversation delivers insights you can take straight to the field.

THE GREEN ROOM - EPISODE 10!
MATT MANSFIELD

Learn the story of Mansfield’s Nursery, a third-generation horticultural business with over 75 years of experience. 
Matt Mansfield shares his journey from working in landscaping and traveling abroad to returning home and taking on the challenges of the family business. 
Hear insights into the realities of running a propagation nursery, from cuttings and tissue culture through to supplying millions of plants a year. It’s a candid look at how tradition, innovation, and family intertwine in horticulture.

For those in agriculture and horticulture, this conversation explores the nuts and bolts of plant production — green roofs in Canada, citrus grafting, propagation techniques, and the rise of tissue culture as a scalable solution. 
Matt also unpacks how Mansfield’s integrates sustainability into its practices, from biodegradable pots to reducing plastics, and how technology and data collection are transforming the nursery sector. 
It’s a practical yet inspiring discussion for anyone passionate about plants and the systems that support them.

In this candid, engaging podcast - THE GREENROOM EPISODE 9, Gerard McAllister opens up about his journey from growing up as one of eight brothers in the Latrobe Valley to founding Assertive Marketing. 

Dive into stories of his European travels, love for history, lessons in leadership, and bold career pivots—from power stations and personal training to pioneering renewable energy marketing. 

This episode unpacks the psychology behind branding, the power of storytelling, and the grit needed to build a niche agency. Whether you're a small business owner, a marketer, or just love a good life story, Gerard’s wisdom will leave you inspired and entertained.

Meet Kevin Manion—Greenwood’s O&M lead and all-round top bloke. 
From drag cars and judo to solar farms and boxing rings, Kevin’s journey is anything but ordinary.

What shines through most, though, is his humility, curiosity, and genuine care for people. He talks leadership, renewables, and why listening is one of the most underrated skills in the industry. 

Kevin is a straight-talking sparkie with a heart of gold and a passion for doing things right. 

🎙️ 30 Years of Renewable Energy Secrets, Off-Grid Living & the Future of Energy Storage – Revealed by Trent Mair from TRENTLECK!

Veli goes on an amazing journey with the man who's spent three decades at the coalface (and solar face) of renewable energy. 
From designing off-grid systems for remote Indigenous communities to managing critical power for the British Museum in London, to building Australian-made solar frames tougher than a cyclone, Trent’s done it all.

But wait till you hear about the flywheel revolution – kinetic energy storage that could outlast lithium batteries by decades and reshape how we power the world. 
And just when you think you’ve heard it all... enter biogas: how your kitchen scraps (and yes, even bones) can fuel your cooking and heat your home.

💥 If you're in renewable energy, off-grid living, farming, manufacturing, or just want to know where the future of power is heading, this is a MUST-WATCH.

🚨 Key highlights include:

- The surprising truth about battery backups (most can't run your house – here's why)
- How flywheels could be the future of grid stability & EV fast-charging
- Turning cow poo and veggie scraps into clean cooking gas
- The ugly truths of cheap solar framing (and how Aussie-made beats imports)
- Building resilience in a volatile renewable energy market

And trust us, we barely scratched the surface.