The OpenSolar Podcast

Over the past decade, solar technology has become more efficient, batteries have become more popular and the economics of clean energy have never looked stronger. Yet for many homeowners, one challenge still stands in the way: the upfront investment.

In the Season 2 finale of The OpenSolar Podcast, Birchy is joined by Dave Hindle, CEO and Co-founder of Propensio, to explore why Integrated Finance is becoming an essential part of the customer journey.

Together, they discuss how giving customers more payment options can remove friction, improve affordability and help more people confidently invest in solar.

The conversation also explores how OpenSolar's Finance Marketplace is making it easier for installers to offer finance, why accessibility matters just as much as technology, and what the future of green finance could mean for the solar industry.

Guest Profile

Dave Hindle is the CEO and Co-founder of Propensio. With more than 30 years' experience in consumer finance, Dave has helped businesses make major purchases more accessible through simple, customer-focused funding solutions.

Today, he works closely with the renewable energy sector to simplify finance for installers, helping more homeowners access clean energy through a smoother, more transparent buying journey.

Tax credits in the US have changed. Financing is tighter. Many installers are facing slower residential demand, while others are finding new ways to grow.

In this episode of The OpenSolar Podcast, Birchy is joined by Dan Johnson, General Manager of Six Rivers Solar, to explore how successful solar businesses are adapting to today's market.

Drawing on decades of experience and a business built on nearly 100% battery attachment, Dan shares why resilience, operational efficiency and honest sales have become more important than ever. Together, they discuss how shifting into commercial solar has created greater stability, why batteries are transforming the customer conversation, and how installers can continue creating value when incentives alone are no longer enough.

This episode covers:

• Can the US solar industry thrive without tax credits?

• How Six Rivers Solar secured three years' worth of commercial work in a single month

• Why batteries are becoming essential, not optional

• The shift from selling incentives to selling long-term value

• How commercial solar is helping businesses build resilience

• SolarAPP+, permitting and reducing soft costs

• The role of referrals, trust and ethical sales in long-term success

• Why adapting your business model is now one of the biggest competitive advantages

Whether you're looking to grow your business, sharpen your sales approach or better understand where the US solar market is heading next, this episode is packed with practical advice from an installer navigating these challenges every day.

Guest Profile

Dan Johnson is General Manager of Six Rivers Solar, a California-based solar company founded in 1980. Having grown from the off-grid market into one of the region's leading battery specialists, Dan has helped steer the business through changing policy, evolving technology and one of the most significant transitions in the US solar industry.

Follow The OpenSolar Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of solar.

One of the biggest changes to UK solar certification is here.

In this episode of The OpenSolar Podcast, Birchy is joined by Daniel White, Market Development Director at MCS, to unpack MCS 2025 and what it means for installers across the UK.

As the industry continues to mature, the conversation is shifting beyond compliance to focus on installation quality, consumer confidence and preparing for a future where solar, batteries and heat pumps work together as one home energy system.

This episode covers:

• The biggest changes coming with MCS 2025

• Why audits are shifting to focus on installation quality

• How better-performing installers could benefit from a lighter assessment burden

• How the UK solar market has evolved beyond the "solar coaster"

• Why solar, batteries and heat pumps are becoming one integrated energy system

• What installers and electricians should prepare for next

Whether you're already MCS certified or simply want to stay ahead of what's changing, this episode offers practical insights into one of the biggest shifts facing the UK solar industry.

Guest Profile

Daniel White is Market Development Director at MCS, where he helps shape the future of the UK's renewable energy certification scheme. 

Working across market development and industry engagement, Daniel focuses on strengthening installer standards, improving consumer confidence and supporting the continued growth of the UK's clean energy sector as renewable technologies become increasingly interconnected.

Follow The OpenSolar Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of solar.

Australia's solar industry is entering a new phase.

In this episode of The OpenSolar Podcast, Sophie Wright, GM Australia & New Zealand at OpenSolar, sits down with Blair Pester, Managing Director of WINAICO Australia and one of the industry's longest-serving voices.

Together they unpack the battery boom reshaping the Australian market, why panel prices are rising, what installers should expect from the next wave of battery adoption, and why upgrading ageing solar systems could become one of the industry's biggest opportunities.

They also explore the growing role of service, optimisation and electrification as Australia becomes a global case study for distributed energy at scale.

Whether you're a solar installer, retailer, distributor or industry professional, this episode offers practical insights into where the market is heading next and how to stay ahead of it.

The UK solar market is moving fast  and batteries, smart tariffs and solar-plus-storage are changing what homeowners expect from their energy systems.

In this episode Melissa speaks with Hollie Carek, General Manager UK & Global Head of Partner Marketing Strategy at OpenSolar, about how the UK solar industry has evolved since 2019 and where it’s heading next.

Hollie shares her perspective on the “solar coaster”, the impact of the energy crisis, the rise of battery adoption, and what installers need to keep pace in a high-growth market.

They also discuss how OpenSolar Shop is helping installers and distributors work together more seamlessly, and why resilience, agility and diverse perspectives matter in climate tech.

Guest profile:

Hollie Carek is General Manager UK & Global Head of Partner Marketing Strategy at OpenSolar. With a background in advertising and years of experience in solar, she brings a sharp perspective on the UK market, installer needs and the partnerships helping accelerate solar adoption.

What do Dolce & Gabbana, Crocs, and solar panels have in common? Ask Aaron Darvill.

Anker Solix UK's Strategic Sales Director joins Melissa on The OpenSolar Podcast to talk about what it really takes to build a quality solar brand. From installer training programmes that send a rep to your very first on-site job, to a community solar project that cut a Cardiff club's electricity bills by 62%.

This episode covers:

• Aaron’s journey from Dolce & Gabbana and Crocs to leading solar sales in the UK

• Anker Solix's installer training model,  including attending your first on-site install

• The Canton RFC community solar project and saving 62% on monthly electricity

• What the Warm Homes Plan means for installers right now

• Why Ireland is one of Europe's fastest-growing solar markets

Follow us for more episodes of The OpenSolar Podcast.

What does it actually take to build one of Australia's most trusted solar businesses from the ground up and keep it relevant for two decades?

In this episode, Jimi Gatland sits down with Derek McKercher, founder of Perth Solar Warehouse.

Derek opens up about his journey from sole trader electrician to solar industry veteran: the customer journey obsession that shaped his business, how he's tackling the growing installer shortage, and why he believes 2026 is going to be a breakout year for batteries and whole-of-home electrification.

They explore:

The future of the connected home: air conditioning, EVs, intelligent energy ecosystems What a great tech stack really looks like as agentic AI starts reshaping how solar businesses operate. 

Plus, Derek shares why he thinks the industry's greatest competitive advantage is collaboration and not competition.

Guest profile: 

Derek McKercher is the founder of PSW Energy, a solar and battery specialist company focused on delivering practical, high-performance energy solutions for homes and businesses. With a background in electrical work, Derek started his career on the tools, gaining hands-on experience that shaped his deep understanding of how energy systems function in the real world.

Over time, he transitioned from tradesman to business owner, building PSW Energy with a strong emphasis on quality workmanship, honest advice, and long-term customer outcomes. 

Today, Derek is recognised for his straightforward, solutions-first mindset and his commitment to helping accelerate the shift towards more sustainable, self-sufficient energy use.

India’s solar market is accelerating and it is set to reshape the global energy landscape.

In the first episode of Season 2 of The OpenSolar Podcast, Birchy sits down with Preeti Bajaj, CEO of Luminous, to unpack what’s driving the rapid rise of rooftop solar across India.

They explore:

• The surge in residential solar adoption at scale

• How policy and consumer demand are aligning

• Why batteries are already embedded in everyday energy use

• What it takes to build a resilient, long-term solar industry

With millions of homes still to go solar, India is entering a defining phase and the pace is only increasing.

Guest profile: 

Preeti Bajaj is the CEO of Luminous Power Technologies, one of India’s leading energy solutions companies. With a background spanning global markets including Australia and India, she has built deep expertise across the solar ecosystem.

Preeti is focused on scaling accessible, reliable and sustainable energy for millions of households, helping drive India’s transition towards a more decentralised and self-reliant energy future.

What will the ‘Warm Homes Plan’ mean for solar SMEs in the UK? 

In this special episode of The OpenSolar Podcast, our Co-founder and CEO Birchy and Mike Gadd, Head of Renewables at @CEF strip away the political jargon to reveal the reality of clean energy subsidies. 

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

- The Warm Homes Plan and what it could mean in practice for installers and SMEs
- The realities of deploying clean technology, including EVs, batteries and heat pumps
- Grid connections, admin burden and standardisation challenges facing contractors

Follow us for more episodes like this and look out for season 2 of The OpenSolar Podcast.

In this episode of The OpenSolar Podcast, we’re joined by Moira Hanes, co-founder of Empowered by Light, to explore how clean, distributed energy is transforming underserved communities around the world.

With over 100 solar and storage systems deployed across 10 countries, Empowered by Light is creating lasting impact, from rural schools in Zambia to Indigenous communities in the Amazon.

We discuss:

• How distributed solar solutions are scaling faster than traditional infrastructure
  

• Why locally led installations are key to long-term energy resilience
  

• What energy access means for education, women’s empowerment, and community pride
  

• The power of partnerships to unlock meaningful climate and social outcomes
  

• Lessons from building microgrids in some of the world’s most remote and vulnerable regions
  

Whether you're a solar pro, clean energy funder, or someone passionate about climate equity, this episode sheds light on the real-world potential of solar to drive change where it's needed most.

Support Empowered by Light → https://empoweredbylight.org