Description: I first met Mark Mrohs in 2008 and have always been fascinated by his experience in the industry. Some years ago, I made a list of people I wanted to be on my podcast, and Mark’s name was at the top. Mark has been in the industry since terrestrial solar was a pipedream. He started out working at Spectrolab, which is still making solar cells for space and is not a Boeing company. I once tried calling Spectrolab to see how much solar cells were and they told me they needed government clearance to tell me. They also discuss his work at Arco Solar and Siemens Solar and transitioning the industry from space cells to terrestrial solar. Mark also shares his journey into training and the evolution of the solar industry. Here are some of the topics discussed:   SunPower Certification in Richnmond California Ecosolar:  https://us.sunpower.com/dealers-installers/ecosolar-usa SunEdison Mark Mrohs’ Solar journey – beginning Spectrolab: www.spectrolab.com Space Solar Cells Charlie Gay Bill Yerkes ArcoSolar  Carrizo Project Arco Module Matt Pace Siemens Solar: https://www.siemens-energy.com Mark Mhros in Papua New Guinea Sean teaching in Islamabad IREDA = Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Mark Fitzgerald SSP NABCEP IIT = Indian Institutes of Technology Mark Mhros life in India (Indian Program) AstroPower Peter Aschenbrenner Maxeon Solar Technologies: www.maxeon.com Module Inverter Ward Bauer Solar City Financial Engineering Interoperability Changes in Policies Space Cells Interplay Learning Amicus: www.amicusom.com   Reach Mark Mrohs here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/markmrohs/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Title: David Chen of Cold Electric talks Batteries, Predicting the Future and Anthropology   Description:   In this podcast Sean and David Chen take a deep dive into the grid, where it is going, what it needs and how human behavior effects technology. They discuss David Chen's journey from Murata Electronics to Cold Electric, a Taiwanese battery company. They also tackle green technologies, challenges in clean energy adoption, and the intricacies of global energy markets.   Topics covered: Murata Electronics www.murata.com Capacitors Hydrogen Blue Economy Circular Economy Anthropology Sociology Cold Electric Future of Renewable Energy Battery Climate Tech Ray Kurzweil The Singularity is Near The Singularity is Nearer Better Place  EV = Electric Vehicle Solar Today Magazine www.ases.org/solartoday HVAC = Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC = High Voltage Alternating Current HVDC = High Voltage Direct Current Solar of China Market IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Climate Change Prices Going up and down Utility Fossil Fuel ESS = Energy Storage System Transmission and Distribution Grid Solar Coaster Formosa Plastics www.fpcusa.com Thermal Runaway UL9540A Margaret Chen Founder of Cold Electric Phil Chen CEO of Cold Electric www.linkedin.com/in/phil-chen Non-Flammable Electrolyte Inverters Inertia Migration Sea Level Rising   Reach David Chen here: Email: [email protected] Linked in: www.linkedin.com/in/dachen   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean  

Do not listen to this podcast, unless you are an ESS nerd! Sean Reads the International Fire Code Section 1207 Electrical ESS.  This podcast of Sean reading Code, and is not intended for normal people to listen to. Skip this, unless you already know what the IFC is and are interested in this topic.  The International Fire Code (IFC) has the rules for non-residential ESSs that are used in the US and adopted by most states. A few starters use the NFPA 1 Fire Code. There is another NFPA Standard NFPA 855 The Standard For The Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, which is used as a reference for writing the IFC, but is not meant to be adopted by any state. Here is the Code: www.codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFC2024P1/chapter-12-energy-systems#IFC2024P1_Pt03_Ch12_Sec1207  www.up.codes/viewer/mississippi/ifc-2024/chapter/12/energy-systems#1207  Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean's classes at www.heatspring.com/sean 

They delve into Brit's journey in the solar industry, exploring her experiences from door-to-door solar sales to her work on community solar projects and farm management. The conversation highlights the vital need for more women in solar and the innovative courses offered by Heatspring. Join us for a mix of valuable insights, captivating stories, and plenty of laughs!   Topics covered:   Brit’s role in HeatSpring as the Director of Program Management PVIP = PV Installation Professional ESIP = Energy Storage Installation Professional Solar Roadways PVTS = PV Technical Sales Solar Sales Taylor Jackson of HeatSpring Solar Sales Class Americorps Grid Alternatives Solar Corp Fellowship Program Community Solar Gardens Brit’s hostel in Chile Sun Bottle Farms Women to do Solar Siblings in Solar Industry NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners HeatSpring involvement in NABCEP NABCEP Conferences   Reach Brittany Heller here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-heller https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-heller/  HeatSpring.: www.heatspring.com Email: [email protected] Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy storage podcast, I'm excited to welcome back my long-time friend and industry expert, Greg Smith. We dive into his book, The Battery Powered Home, and explore the NABCEP ESIP certification, along with a wide range of topics in solar and energy storage technologies. Greg shares some valuable insights from his experiences during the peak of the lockdown and his work with companies like SMA, Sonnen, and Tigo. We also talked about practical tips for new installers, the importance of reading manuals, and share some funny stories from our careers. Topics covered: Greg Smith's book - The Battery-Powered Home: Foolproof Grid-Tied Lithium Storage SM Sunny Island 5048U Tokelau Island Greg Smith Working with various companies RTFM = Read the F_N Manual Advice for Solar Industry Newcomers CCA = Community Choice Aggregation ATS = Automatic Transfer Switch Tigo Ei Inverter Net metering NABCEP ESIP Funny Solar model images NABCEP PVIP NABCEP JTA committee NFPA 855 Ward Bower  Sean White as the first to pass NABCEP ESIP exam Greg Smith's barbecue and personal stories   Check him out here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gregsmith007 Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SnarkySolarGuy Website: www.snarkysolarguy.com Amazon: The Battery-Powered Home: Foolproof Grid-Tied Lithium   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean's classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, host Sean White has an engaging conversation with Riley Neugebauer, a renowned solar influencer and installer. Riley shares her journey into the solar industry, the founding of her organization 'Solar for Women,' and her insights on the challenges women face in the solar trades. They also discuss her role as a residential electrician, the social aspects of the solar community, and the future of solar technology and policy.   Topics Covered: Solar for Women Facebook www.facebook.com/SolarForWomen Website www.solarforwomen.com Instagram www.instagram.com/solarforwomen ASES conference Riley's Background Red Cloud Renewable www.redcloudrenewable.org Women in the Solar Industry Namaste Solar Website www.namastesolar.com Linkedin www.linkedin.com/company/namaste-solar NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Electricians Derek the Solar boi www.solarboi.com O&M = operations and maintenance Flashing and butyl Tesla Powerwall DaVinci Shingles MCI = mid Circuit Interrupter Rapid Shutdown UL 3741 Increasing Module size NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory Solar tile The Future Question and answer for Sean   Check out Riley here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/riley-neugebauer Solar for Women: www.solarforwomen.com Namaste: www.namastesolar.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/riley.neugebauer Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@solarinstallergirl   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean's classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Sean White hosts Tim Townsend in an extensive discussion on the historical and technical evolution of solar energy. They delve into Arco Solar's pioneering work in the 1980s, the PVUSA project, and personal anecdotes that bring to life the early days of the solar industry. The conversation also explores the practicalities of solar energy systems, from degradation rates to the enduring reliability of older and newer modules. Tim shares insights earned from decades in the field, peppered with amusing and thought-provoking stories, including a scare involving a stray bullet at the PVUSA site. Topics Covered: PG&E = Pacific Gas and Electric Company PVUSA = Photovoltaics for Utility Systems Applications. Eclipse Arco Solar Off grid On grid AEE Solar Real Goods Solar Carrizo Solar Grid-tie Inverter History of Solar Led Acid Battery 33 cell modules and 36 cell modules System Sizing and Site Analysis Darren Bouton SCE = Southern California Edison Radio Shack Science Kit NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners PVUSA test conditions EPRI = Electric Power research Institute NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory M660 NOCT = Nominal Operating Cell Temperature VOC = Open Circuit Voltage NMOT + Nominal Module Operating Temperature CEC = California Energy Commission test conditions AC = Rating Evergreen solar PVUSA Testing Center (near a target range) PVUSA Testing Center Tour NREL Performance and Reliability Workshop PV Degradation   Reach Tim Townsend here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tim-townsend   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean  

In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean White interviews Wayne Garrett, Chief Commercial Officer for Viridi. They discuss Viridi's innovative energy storage solutions, including their use of LG 18650 cells, passive cooling technology, and applications in microgrids and commercial settings. They also touch on Viridi's partnerships, particularly with Sunbelt and potential connections to construction equipment. Additionally, Garrett shares insights about their military applications, emphasizing the importance of silent and efficient battery systems in tactical scenarios.   Topics covered: Microgrids Microgrid training Viridi Parente www.viridiparente.com Energy Storage Solar on Traffic lights Scalable systems Battery Management Systems Lithium Ion Batteries Passive Cooling Active Cooling NMC = Nickel Magnesium Cobalt LG 18650 LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate First Fail safe Lithium Ion Battery System UL 9540A ESS = Energy Storage System Phenolic plate Sunbelt Parallelable Battery System Hybrid Cars EV = Electric Vehicle EV Charging Station Bobcat Battery Energy Storage Systems VPP = Virtual Power Plant AI = Artificial Intelligence Wayne Garrett Army Background Energy Storage System Benefits for Military use   Reach Wayne Garrett here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-garrett Viridi: www.viridiparente.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Join Sean White on this episode of the Solar and Energy Storage Podcast as he sits down with Jessica Harris, President of Harris Energy Solutions. They explore Jessica’s role in shaping her company’s focus on energy consulting versus engineering, and what sets them apart. Discover her approach to establishing a successful consulting firm, and the role of energy modeling in her work. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of energy consulting and the future of sustainable practices. Topics Covered: Harris Energy Solutions: www.hesconnect.com PE = Professional Engineer Difference between Energy Engineering and Consulting Title 24 laws in California C&I = Commercial and Industrial NABCEP PVDS Energy Modelling in Equest – Jessica Harris’ Heatspring class www.heatspring.com/courses/energy-modeling-in-equest VRF = Variable Refrigerant Flow HERS Rater = Home Energy Rating System Rater Energy Audit Solar Incentives Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency:  www.dsireusa.org NYSERDA = New York State Energy Research and Development Authority: www.nyserda.ny.gov CPS Energy Strategies in building and expanding a successful Company Decarbonization Heat Pumps HeatSpring Different types of companies Reach Jessica Harris here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-harris Harris Energy Solutions: www.hesconnect.com Heatspring: www.heatspring.com/courses/energy-modeling-in-equest Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Illumine – I is a pioneering solar engineering firm driving innovation and efficiency in renewable energy solutions. CEO and illumine – I’s co-founder, Nithish Sairam discusses his journey, the challenges of the renewable energy sector, and the innovative approaches Illumine-I is bringing to the table. Here are some of the topics discussed:  Arizona Entrepreneurship vs working in Corporate Industry Stanford Seed Program Illumine – I Tesla NextEra Surfing British Wiring Standards Illumine-I’s Services and Market Focus Introducing IVE Formula Race Cars Analyzing the Wind flow over meteor crater Strategies in handling small and large scale projects   Reach Nithish Sairam here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nithish-sairam-26358156 Illumine-i.: www.illuminei.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this engaging episode, Sean White welcomes back Herve Billiet, who shares insights from his recent experience selling his company Ipsun Solar. They discuss the intricacies of selling a business, the evolution of the solar industry, and delve into Herve's current venture, Sunvoy. The conversation also touches on the importance of efficient business management, leveraging AI for business operations, and the importance of thorough preparations when selling a company.   Topics covered: Selling your company Sunvoy www.sunvoy.com Ipsun www.ipsunsolar.com B corp C corp S corp NABCEP www.nabcep.org Zepp Solar Solar City/Tesla Joe Marhamati Broker Stock deal no asset deal Non-compete regulation AI = Artificial Intelligence EPC = Engineering Procurement Construction EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization White House Energy Incorporated SaaS = Software as a Service Sunvoy API = Application Programming Interface Q&A for Sean White Matt Pace Arco Solar Modules Jeff Spies Solar Roots Movie Ezra Auerbach www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-a Ward Bowers 1954 Bell Labs Solar Bill Brooks www.linkedin.com/in/bill-brooks NEC = National Electrical Code Article 690 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) 705.13 Energy Management System Check Herve out at: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/hervebilliet Sunvoy: www.sunvoy.com Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean ’ s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Perch Energy is a leading community solar service provider dedicated to making renewable energy accessible and equitable. We support solar project owners and subscribers by offering services that maximize ROI, including subscriber acquisition, lifecycle management, and expert guidance on local regulations. Our mission is to connect everyone—renters, homeowners, businesses, and municipalities—to community solar projects, ensuring that all can benefit from clean energy.   Bruce Stewart is a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience driving business growth and transformation across various industries. Formerly President of Direct Energy Home, he played a key role in its successful sale to NRG for $3.6 billion and achieved significant operational improvements. Bruce’s expertise spans telecommunications, technology, and energy sectors, where he emphasizes data-driven decision-making and customer experience.   Topics covered in this podcast include: The current landscape of community solar in the U.S. Benefits and challenges of community solar versus traditional utilities. State-specific community solar programs and the potential for legislative change. Accessibility of solar energy for low-income individuals and renters. The interplay between community solar, rooftop solar, and energy storage solutions. Core Values: p purposeful We're passionate about making clean energy access easier and more rewarding e entrepreneurial We're visionary disruptors, challenging the status quo, unafraid to fail forward r respectful We treat our planet, our customers and each other with humility and respect c collaborative We value each other's contributions and work inclusively to make things better h honest We communicate openly, act transparently and promote environmental justice   Reach Bruce Stewart here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brucestewart Perch energy Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/perchenergy Perch energy website: www.perchenergy.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean  

SNEC is by far the largest Renewable Energy conference in the world with a half-million people attending, and SNEC has also branched out with a conference that is just for Energy Storage and will happen soon in Shanghai   SNEC ES: Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition: September 24-27 2024 https://es.snec.org.cn   Also go to the other SNEC conference and exhibition: June 10-13 2025 https://pv.snec.org.cn/?locale=en-US   We talk about coming to SNEC ES+ and learning how the ES industry works and what it takes to make a factory in the US, and how you can learn to build and efficient factory in the US and create American jobs! Praise the Inflation Reduction Act!   I have known Madame Mi for 19 years and she is a good friend. I have seen her go from someone leading a small conference to a conference that is bigger than many cities. Jenny Tong is Madame Mi's daughter and has helped translate some of the conversation. Both are good friends.   In this podcast we also talk about the history of SNEC to where it is now.   This big SNEC show floor is 380,000 square meters = 4.3 million square feet = 71 football fields = 54 acres and then there is a lot more space than the exhibition!   Jenny is now taking Sean's Energy Storage Boot Camp class on Heatspring and you should too!    www.heatspring.com   To learn more and become super successful like Madame Mi, go to www.solarSEAN.com  

This is a bootleg copy of a live podcast that RE+ and Nico Johnson of Suncast were nice enough to let us perform. The published title is: Soothsaying / Keeping Solar Jobs Fun and Cool Predict the future of the industry with AI, VPPs V2X and our future Codes and Standards wish list with Sean White and Bill Brooks of Brooks Engineering. Afterwards, Sean and Johan Alfsen of K2 Systems will discuss making solar education and the industry fun and cool. This podcast is a blast!   Power Up Live:www.re-plus.com/poweruplive   Suncast YouTube Channel where it was posted live:www.youtube.com/suncastmedia   Youtube Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/skc7_FUSwyA   Get your fun and future looking solar knowledge at www.solarSEAN.com

Fluence is one of the big names in Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and Mark Berger explains what Fluence is, the relationship between Fluence, Siemens and AES.   Topics covered:   Siemens/AES AES = Applied Energy Services TX grid-what makes it unique? ERCOT = Electric Reliability Council of Texas www.ercot.com AC vs DC coupled (interconnected) LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) EV battery vs ESS battery UL 9540 and A Thermal runaway-propagation Sizes of different products Beyond fire test AI Bidding Software-Mosaic Working with Oi l and Gas industry in TX Duck curve Fluence Ultrastack Grid forming inverters 2.2GWh of batteries BMS = Battery Management Systems IRA manufacturing Cube vs. Cuboid (rectangular cube/container) AI and VPPs Is Fluence hardware and software Product and Program Management in Fluence   Fluence Dictionary Definitions:   flu·ence1 /ˈflo͞oəns/ mysterious, magical, or hypnotic "you've put the fluence onme, haven't you?" The number of radiant-energy particles emitted from or incident on a surface in a     given period of time, divided by the area of the surface. The best ESS company! The energy of a laser pulse per unit area The energydensity from an optical source impingent on a sample The Latijn word fluere, meaning"to flow" Reach Mark Berger here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/markberger-hou Suncast: www.fluenceenergy.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

David Maher has over 30 years of experience in secure computing and is responsible for Research and Development at Intertrust. In addition, he is currently President of Seacert Corporation, a certificate authority for the Internet of Things, President of WhiteCryption Corporation, a developer of application security software, and Co-chairman of the Marlin Trust Management Organization which oversees the world’s only independent digital rights management ecosystem. Before joining Intertrust in 1999, Maher was chief scientist for AT&T Secure Communications Systems, Head of the Secure Systems Research Department, and security architect for AT&T’s Internet services platform. After joining Bell Labs in 1981, he developed secure communications, information vending, and e-commerce systems. He was Chief Architect for AT&T’s STU-III secure voice, data, and video products used by the White House and Department of Defense for top-secret communications. In 1992, Maher became a Bell Labs Fellow in recognition of his accomplishments in communications security. Maher holds dozens of patents in secure computing; has published papers in the fields of mathematics and computer science; and has consulted with the National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. Maher holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Lehigh University. He has taught electrical engineering, mathematics, and computer science at several institutions.   CTO of Intertrust Dave Maher, was recently selected to join the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a Department of Commerce initiative established by NIST. Dave can discuss the electric demands of AI and what innovative energy resource will save the electric grid.   Topics:   VPP = Virtual Power Plants AI Safety Institute Consortium Using AI to optimize energy systems Hash Functionality Blockchain Bitcoin Satoshi Nakamoto Hal Finney Stuart Haber Diffie–Hellman Soviet Union Transatlantic cable US-UK wartime communications Secure Systems Design Cyber attack prevention Data Communication Digital Communication Zero Trust Architectures Quantum Computing Operational Technology Systems SCADA = Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition TEIA = Trusted Energy Interoperability Alliance GCHQ = Government Communications Headquarters NSA = National Security Agency Asset Protection Dual Use Technologies   Check him out here: Dave’s email address: [email protected] Intertrust Website: https://www.intertrust.com TEIA Website: https://www.trusted-energy.org   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In an urban environment, it can be difficult to find roof space for installing solar. One method is to jack up your solar system, so that it is above all the “junk” on the roof, such as air conditioners and heat pumps. TR Ludwig had a solar installation company, Brooklyn Solar Works, which developed a solution. He has also adopted this solar canopy technology to work on the ground, which is a great place where you can park your car and mount your EV charger. TR is also on the board of NYSEIA and is currently treasurer. In this podcast we also talked about: Electric Boats Brooklyn Solar Works Brooklyn Solar Canopy Company Canopy Design/Structure Height requirement for pathways under solar canopies Canopy Installation (Attachments) Rooftop Canopy and Carport Canopy Tilt Rack UL (Underwriters Laboratories) NYSEIA: New York Solar Energy Industry Association www.nyseia.org  NYSERDA: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority www.nyserda.ny.gov  NYC and the 2008 NEC Net Metering 3 NABCEP Amicus Solar Cooperative www.amicussolar.com What happens to the solar industry if Trump gets elected? New York City Solar Canopies   Reach TR Ludwig here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/trludwig Brooklyn Solar Canopy Co.: www.brooklynsolarcanopy.com Brooklyn Solar Works: www.brooklynsolarworks.com EMO Electric: www.emoelectric.co   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode of the Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean White sits down with Michael Bahtiarian, an expert in acoustics and noise control engineering. They delve into the intricacies of sound in various environments, from solar and battery energy storage sites to wind turbines and submarines. They explore the science behind sound measurement, noise regulation, and innovative solutions for noise reduction. They also share personal anecdotes and discuss the broader implications of noise on human health and environmental impact. Whether you're a sound enthusiast or a professional in the energy sector, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of acoustics. Topics covered: Solar and powerplant sounds Inverters Noise Ordinances Decibels Earplugs Mike’s profession Sound Barriers Decibel levels The Big Dig TTS = Temporary Threshold Shift Salesforce Wind Shear Nikola Tesla SBSP = Space based solar power Pile drivers Construction noises Infrasonic sound Renewable Energy - Wind Transmitting energy with sound SBSP = Space Based Solar Power O&M = Operation and Maintenance Noise Cancellation Noise underwater (Submarine) How noise and sound acoustics affects every field Acentech www.acentech.com Institute of Noise Control Engineering BBN = Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc. INCE Institute of Noise Control Engineering www.inceusa.org/ Reach Michael Bahtiarian here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbahtiarian Acentech linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/acentech/ Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this engaging episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean White interviews Nico Johnson, the renowned solar podcaster behind Suncast with over 700 episodes. They delve into Nico's journey in the solar industry, key moments from his podcasting career, and his passion for storytelling.   Their conversation spans topics from networking in unexpected places to the evolution of the solar industry. Nico shares insights on podcast preparation, storytelling techniques like the five T's, and the exciting potential of digital archiving. This episode is full of valuable tips and inspirational anecdotes for anyone interested in the solar industry and podcasting.   Topics covered:   NABCEP www.nabcep.org Suncast www.mysuncast.com Fidelity Roof Company www.fidelityroof.com Stuart Wentworth Conergy  EnZinc www.linkedin.com/company/enzinc Michael Burz www.linkedin.com/in/michael-burz Rechargeable Lead Acid Batteries AltE Store https www.altestore.com Sascha Deri www.linkedin.com/in/sascha-deri Real Goods Digital Archiving Hart Akerson Hart Transverter NorCal Solar www.norcalsolar.org Jigar Shah www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc Alpha Brain ASES = American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org ISES = International Solar Energy Society www.ises.org Storytelling Tactics Nextracker www.nextracker.com Daniel Shugar www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-shugar Lead Acid Batteries The five Ts Lisa Ann Pinkerton www.linkedin.com/in/lisaannpinkerton Earthlings Podcast www.earthlingspodcast.com Technical Communication John Engel www.linkedin.com/in/johnengelboise Renewable Energy World www.renewableenergyworld.com Lex Fridman www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman Dwarkesh Patel www.youtube.com/@DwarkeshPatel Valence: Content that Connects: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence Reach Nico Johnson here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus Suncast: www.mysuncast.com   Youtube Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/YsQcZ31a1CE Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this conversation with Ezra Auerbach, we cover a lot of topics, especially solar sales, and ethics. Ezra is especially passionate about ethical solar and storage sales practices. Ezra and Sean both teach NABCEP PV Technical Sales (PVTS) classes.   Ezra also has lived off-grid on an Island on the West Coast of Canada for 50+ years. He started his first solar company in 1986.   Most people know him for his involvement with NABCEP, including being there at the founding of NABCEP and especially his time running NABCEP as the Executive Director from 2009 to 2013. Ezra is still active with NABCEP, and I still see him around at various conferences and events. Perhaps you do too!   Topics Covered: NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Microgrids Virtual Power Plants = VPP Energy Storage Systems = ESS SEIA = Solar Energy Industry Association                                                                                                      NABCEP ESIP = Energy Storage Installation Professional certification Net-Metering California Net-Metering policy (NEM 2.0 and NEM 3.0) California Solar Initiative Jeff Spies (see Sean’s podcast with Jeff 4/28/2024) EA = Energy Alternatives www.energyalternatives.ca/ Solar Thermal NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar Energy Association Scanifly LiDAR = Light Detection And Ranging EV = Electric Vehicle SMA solar = System Mess and Anlagentchnik   Reach Ezra Auerbach here: Ezra’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-a-4905123b/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode, Sean White is joined by Sierra Fan, co-founder of cleantech software platform Illu (www.illu.works) and fellow board member of NorCal Solar. They discuss everything from the importance of nature education for children to the balance of pollutant vs carbon mitigation in Chinese regulatory policy to the difficulties of running a microgrid installation crew in Myanmar. Finally, they dig deep into the new software technology that Sierra is building at Illu and why ongoing digital tools are a critical component for the buildout of the new clean energy workforce in the US and beyond.   Topics Covered: Climate Change Pollution Carbon Emission Greenhouse Gas Climate Deniers Global Warming Silicon Valley Highschool Henry M Gunn Highschool An Inconvenient Truth www.wikipedia.org/An_Inconvenient_Truth SunPower Foundation www.sunpower.com/foundation One Million Lights Philippines www.onemillionlights.org Sacha Baron Ali G www.youtube.com Illu www.illu.works Benefits of Illu Check out Sierra Fan here: Sierra Fan Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sierrafan/ Illu Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/illuworks/ Illu www.illu.works   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Matthew is the Communications Lead at the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub ( MACH2). As one of the leading figures in the hydrogen energy sector, he recently delivered a compelling Opening Keynote at the North American Hydrogen Summit 2024, highlighting the transformative potential of green and pink hydrogen in achieving significant environmental goals.   1. Green and Pink Hydrogen Initiatives:Explore how MACH2 plans to integrate green and pink hydrogen into its operations and the broader implications for the energy industry. 2. Environmental Impact: Delve into MACH2’s ambitious goal to reduce up to 25 million Metric Tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and criteria pollutants per year through innovative hydrogen solutions. 3. Hydrogen Hub Development:Gain insights into the progress and challenges of developing one of the seven hydrogen hubs across the United States and the role of MACH2 in this nationwide effort. 4. Future of Clean Energy: Discuss the broader vision for the hydrogen economy in the U.S. and how MACH2's initiatives align with national and global sustainability goals.   This interview presents a rare and exclusive opportunity to gain insights into the future of hydrogen energy directly from a key leader in the field. Matt Krayton’s expertise and insights will provide invaluable perspectives on how clean hydrogen solutions can drive significant environmental and economic benefits.   Topics covered include: Hydrogen colors and definitions Green hydrogen Blue Hydrogen Turquoise Hydrogen Yellow hydrogen Brown hydrogen and black hydrogen (coal) Pink hydrogen (nuclear) Orange hydrogen Grey hydrogen (most common) SMR = Steam Methane Reformation Hydrogen hub Smart pipe Sensors Using existing methane (natural gas) pipe Re-sleeving Retooling Refurbishing IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Ammonia NH3 Hydrogen H2 Methane CH4 Lithium Ion Batteries EV = Electric Vehicle Climate Change Amtrak Bipartisan Infrastructure Law   Reach Matthew Krayton here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkrayton/ Publitics Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/publitics-solutions-llc/ Influence IQ: www.influenceiq.publitics.com/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Christopher has and has had many roles in the solar and storage industry. Currently he is a consultant and has fractional leadership roles in various companies, such as Kevala. Christopher was also the CEO and COO of Blue Planet, which is pioneer in using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) lithium-ion batteries. Christopher has worked with SEPA and Seneca Environmental. Christopher Johnson takes things off the plate of busy CEOs. He lives and works in San Francisco, the climate tech capital of the world!   Topics Covered: Kevala www.kevala.com Blue Planet www.blueplanetenergy.com Tesla Distributed Energy Ford F150 Bidirectional EVs California 100% EVs by 2035 Clean Energy Buyers Association www.cebuyers.com NorCal solar www.norcalsolar.com Rice University Batteries AI = Artificial Intelligence Seneca Nation EV = Electric Vehicle SEPA = Smart Electric Power Association www.sepapower.com SEIA = Solar Energy Industry Association www.seia.com RE+ www.re-plus.com VPPA = Virtual Power Purchase Agreement Tesla Powerwall NEM = Net Energy Metering Bidirectional Electric Vehicle   Reach Christopher Johnson here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/enlighten/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by takingSean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Back in the 2009/2010 Ontario FIT era, Sean was teaching classes for the Ontario Solar Academy and the Solar Coaster ended that job and the Ontario Solar Academy, however Sean discovered 14 years later that solaracademy.com has a 2nd live and Kerim is posting videos on the site. This podcast can also be seen on YouTube and on solaracademy.com. Kerim is an entrepreneur with a passion for renewable energy and a history of many things.   Kerim founded Civic Solar and sold it to CED Greentech Kerim is the Managing Director of Enki Solar Investments   Topics covered: Kerim Baran www.linkedin.com Ontario Solar academy Nico Johnson www.linkedin.com Civic Solar CED Greentech Solar Academy solaracademy.com Feed-in tariff  HeatSpring www.heatspring.com Infinite solar Jacob Travis CCA = Community Choice Aggregation   Paul Finn History of Solar Industry Sean White’s background Stuart Wentworth Quick mount PV HeatSpring courses and bundles www.heatspring.com/sean NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioner www.nabcep.com NorCal solar = Northern California Solar Energy Association www.norcalsolar.org ASES = American Solar Energy Society www.ases.com   Check Kerim out at solaracademy.com and at www.linkedin.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

This podcast episode, hosted by Sean White, features an extensive conversation with Paul Subzak about solar energy and energy storage. Recorded in Orinda, California, Sean and Paul discuss a range of topics from utility-scale solar projects to the technical details of electrical infrastructure, including wire sizing and inverters. They also delve into the impacts of regulatory aspects on renewable energy projects and explore the future of solar technology and practical field implementation. Both Sean, with his solar education background, and Paul, with his engineering experience, offer deep insights into the current trends and future directions of the renewable energy industry.   Topics covered: Paul Subzak www.linkedin.com DG = Distributed generation Clear sky Solar Impulse Inverters Trunk bus Power outage and brownouts Recloser IPC = Insulation Piercing Connector IPP = Independent Power Producer Aluminum and copper wire AHJ = Authority Having Jurisdiction Copper Clad Steel CYME www.cyme.com/software/cymcap/ Solar and energy storage Small Grid Interconnect Utility Scale Solar Projects Grid interconnect application NESC = National Electrical Safety Code High Voltage DC DG = Distribution Grid Transmission Grid Grounding Overcurrent Protection String inverters vs. Central inverters Transmission lines Grid following inverters Grid forming inverters Spinning reserves IBR = Inverter Based Resource MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking TE Connectivity Frequency regulation Geothermal Heat Pumps Transmission lines Solar in Texas and California DC and AC wire Duct banks ERCOT = Electric Reliability Council of Texas www.ercot.com NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar Energy www.norcalsolar.org ASES = American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org ISES - International Solar Energy Society www.ises.org   Reach Paul Subzak here: Conductor Power: www.conductorpower.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com   Youtube Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/0NCuooFVf1Q   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by takingSean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode Sean White welcomes Ed Rottman, CEO of Chroma Energy Group, for a comprehensive discussion on renewable energy, particularly focusing on solar power and energy storage developments. They delve into Ed's background, Chroma Energy Group's operations, and the intricacies of distributed generation, utility scale storage, and the evolution of the solar industry. The conversation also covers innovative trends like agrivoltaics and bifacial photovoltaics, the impact of AI on renewable energy, and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, including workforce development and infrastructure investments.   Topics Covered: Chroma Energy Group www.chromaenergygroup.com Stowers Machinery Caterpillar Dealer www.stowerscat.com MDA = Missile Defense Agency www.mda.mil Booz Allen Hamilton www.boozallen.com Conservative Climate Caucus www.conservativeclimatecaucus.com Inflation Reduction Act TVA = Tennessee Valley Authority www.tva.com Al Gore www.algorewiki.com LPS = Local Power Companies  EPC = Engineering Procurement and Construction www.epc.com ACP = American Clean Power www.cleanpower.com AI technology  RE+ in Texas C&I = Commercial and Industrial DG = Distributed Generation Paul Subzak Electric Vehicle People against solar energy Agrivoltaics Fencing Bifacial PV Monofacial PV Nellis Solar Power Plant 14 megawatt (MW) Utility Scale Storage Projects EMS = Energy Management Systems Climate Week NorCal Solar www.norcalsolar.org SaaS = Software as a Service AI = Artificial Intelligence Impacts on how renewable energy does in the future   You can reach Ed Rottmann here: Ed Rottmann www.linkedin.com/in/edward-rottmann/  Chroma Energy Group www.chromaenergygroup.com Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this podcast, Sean White is joined by Tony Diaz, a seasoned roofer and solar expert, and Johan Alfson, a solar installation specialist. They dig deep into the evolution of solar roofing techniques, discussing early practices, industry standards, and the importance of quality installations. The conversation covers the challenges of maintaining roofing integrity, the impact of using modern materials like butyl, and the need for continuous education and proper business practices in the solar industry. They emphasized the value of quality over speed and cheap methods and highlighted the necessity for industry standards and certifications.   Topics Covered: Stuart Wentworth Claudia Wentworth Ezra Quickmount PV Goop in a prayer Unirac www.unirac.com K2 www.k2-systems.com Rooftech www.rooftech.com Comp Shingle Roofs Bernoulli effect Metal Flashing Butyl roof DirecTV www.directv.com SnapNrack www.snapnrack.com O&M NABCEP www.nabcep.org Golden pledge warranty GAF roofing www.gaf.com Pitch Pocket RE+ Northern California Sales training Crap Solar on Facebook  Solar Hall of Shame NABCEP Conference NRCA = National Roofing Contractors Association www.nrca.net RISE = Roof Integrated Solar Energy SCI Jeff Spies Richard Lawrence   Check them out here: Facebook: Century Roof & Solar  Instagram: @centuryroofandsolar LinkedIn: Century Roof And Solar No Utility Bills Inc: www.noutilitybills.com Century Roof and Solar: www.centuryroofandsolar.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by takingSean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Sean White talks to John Coffman from Commercial Solar about the innovative hybrid power tree. This new technology combines solar and wind energy. John shares insights about the design, engineering, and potential of these hybrid power trees, which are being manufactured in the Philippines. They also discuss partnerships, financing options, and the advantages of combining solar and wind power. Tune in to learn more about this exciting development in green technology.   Topics Covered: Martin Navales Commercial Solar www.commercialsolar.biz Hybrid Power tree Solind Technology Corporation www.solindtechcorp.com Maxeon solar cells Sun Power www.us.sunpower.com Sunpower vs. Maxeon difference SKEPS www.skeps.com Primus wind turbine Enphase Battery System UL 61730 Solar Windows Colored Solar Artistic Solar Solar Roadways Paint on Solar Smart Flowers Works at night   Solar Tree description: PV-7.5 and 8kW- Wind-turbine is 13ft up   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by takingSean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this episode, Sean White hosts Joe Marhamati, the visionary behind Sunvoy, as they explore the revolutionary solar and energy storage solutions reshaping the industry. From discussing Sunvoy's innovative customer portal and fleet management app to delving into wider topics like the impact of solar on the grid, the program offers insightful discussions on the future of energy. Join us as we uncover the intersections of technology, sustainability, and business in the solar sector.   Topics covered: Joe Marhamati www.linkedin.com/in/marhamati/ SUNVOY www.sunvoy.com Ipsun solar www.ipsunsolar.com Lex Friedman White Label US Department of Energy www.energy.gov President Office of Sustainability Support and the Office of the Loan Programs. Jigar Shah www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc/ NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Herve Billiet www.linkedin.com/in/hervebilliet/ Herve Billiet on Sean White's podcast  SaaS = Software as a Service CRM = Customer Relationship Management API = Application Programming Interface Rapid Shutdown B Corp = Benefit corp SREC = Solar renewable energy certificate Hubspot SunCRM www.suncrm.solar Salesforce IRS = Internal Revenue Service Largest PV Plant in the US Electric Vehicles The first large scale commercial solar thermal plants Nevada CSP = Concentrated Solar Power Tesla Revenge of the electric car Solyndra vs Solar module Question and answer for Sean White Infinite Solar Bill Brooks www.linkedin.com/in/bill-brooks-6782616/ derek the solarboi www.solarboi.com derek the solarboi on Sean White's podcast   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by takingSean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Celebrating 50 Years with NorCal Solar: Insights, Innovations, and Impact   In this special episode, join Sean White at the 50th NorCal Solar Anniversary Party in Oakland, California. Sean captures the essence of this vibrant gathering, filled with pioneers, innovators, and advocates for solar and energy storage. Each conversation shines a light on the diverse contributions to the solar industry and environmental sustainability. As we celebrate 50 years of NorCal Solar, join us in exploring the future of solar energy, the importance of community, and the advancements in technological and environmental advocacy.   Topics covered and people I talked to: BMO - Bank of Montreal Oliver Zahn of Climax Foods Check his cheese out on Colbert https://youtu.be/085iMEoqyAI?si=FiFriqxzYgFlLB5p&t=4m18s Claudia Wentworth Past President of ASES Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza or Probably True Solar Stories podcast Rosemary Howley past BOD NorCal Solar Carlo Federiconi past BOD NorCal Solar SEER - Solar Energy Expo and Rally Jim Augustyn BOD NorCal Solar 48 years ago and recently! Author of Solar Cat Book - www.solarcat.com Jerry Brown Kevin Gao Will Wiseman of Climatize - https://climatize.earth Investment Sean's www.solarcellregistry.com idea (anyone want to take it on). EPC Helix Electric Wallbox Chargers Franz Feuerherdt former NorCal BOD and of Solar4america PV manufacturing in California Elaine Hebert former NorCal Solar President ASES - American Solar Energy Society Tor Allen former NorCal BOD of RAHUS INSTITUTE www.rahus.org PG&E Urban Solar Energy Association Mass Bay Solar Energy Association NESEA New England Solar Energy Association NESEA Northeast Sustainable Energy Association California Energy Commission PV USA Siemens Solar Modules Ken Wu of International Ocean Film Foundation https://intloceanfilmfest.org Will Draven SF Climate Week Lana Suvorova 🕊 CEO ESGentle and New NorCal Solar Board Member John Min Saya Impact Kenny Warren of SunrunSun Run Sierra Fan Co-Founder of illu www.illu.works and New NorCal Solar Board Member Paper Cuts Greg Smith RTFM   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

Johan Alfsen is the Senior Director of Training at K2 Systems. He was also the Director of Training at Quick Mount PV for 12 years. Johan started the Solar Battle of the Bands, the Solar Comedy Slam and seems to me that he must be in charge of the Solar Games at Intersolar. All super fun competitions!   Topics covered: Quick mount PV K2 and Everest www.k2-systems.com/en-us/ Solar battle of the bands Solar Comedy Slam competition at Intersolar Solar installer competition-Solar Games Warfield Theater Solar Siblings (Sister Jennifer Alfsen) Fidelity Roof Company www.fidelityroof.com Quality Solar Claudia Wentworth ASES www.ases.org NorCal Solar www.norcalsolar.org Nich Pak, Johan’s Solar Band member 111 Minna www.111minnagallery.com Intersolar www.intersolar.us Quick Mount Band Fronius Band Solar City Band Sun Power Band SMA Band Solectria Band “DC/AC” Hotel Utah CALSSA California Solar and Storage Association www.calssa.org RE+ www.re-plus.com Johan’s Band www.northernerband.com HeatSpring classes Brittany Heller Alex Heller Stand up comedy San Francisco Comedy College Rolls Battery Solar Games Intersolar Smarter E www.thesmartere.com (formerly Intersolar) Eicke Weber - Listen to Podcast with Eicke on 4/29/2024 Herman Scheer Fraunhofer Institute www.fraunhofer.de Solar tour Tesla tours Diversified www.divcom.com CSLB www.cslb.ca.gov K2 formerly known as Everest Company Century Roofing and Solar www.centuryroofandsolar.com Metal flashing Sealant based flashing and mounts “Goop and a prayer” was Johan’s quote Norcal Solar/ASES was first solar experience with Solar Homes Tour and the Wentworths Comp shingle roof in japan Asphalt shingle Asphalt impregnated underlayment Butyl Roofing Tim Montague's podcast www.cleanpowerhourpodcast.com Heatspring Classes SEIA Solar Energy Industry Association www.seia.org NYSERDA = New York State Research, Energy Research Development Association www.nyserda.ny.gov CALSSA formerly known CALSEA   You can find Johan Alfsen here: LinkedIn: Johan Alfsen Facebook: Sol Riders Instagram: 510Johan Johan’s free HeatSpring class for NABCEP credit: www.heatspring.com/courses/k2-pro-certified-installer-training-composition-shingle-roofs   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Richard Lawrence has a long history in the solar industry and is very knowledgeable in many areas (He was formerly the Executive Director of NABCEP among other things). Our main focus of this podcast was apprenticeship programs. This is a big deal, since to qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for projects over 1MW, fulfilling the apprenticeship and prevailing wage standards are required.   Topics covered: Richard Lawrence career: IREC Program Director currently 5 years irecusa.org IBTS 2 years - Institute for Building Technology and Safety NABCEP Executive Director 3.5 yrs Solar (PV) Instructor Training Network Hudson Valley Community College Topics covered and questions answered: What is an apprenticeship? What is prevailing wage? Union vs. non-union Is prevailing wage different for different places? Right to work states (anti-union) Registered apprenticeship programs Unregistered apprenticeship programs How does someone set up an apprenticeship program? Who to register an apprenticeship program with, like the DOL (Department of Labor) Local and federal programs IRA-apprenticeship - tax credits - pay workers prevailing wage 1MW and up 15% of labor hours requirement What is IREC doing for apprenticeship and What is IREC Drama with different unions and non-unions-everyone wants the work $200k/yr electrician cost Prevailing wage for small vs. large projects Can election results take away these benefits Veterans California C46 solar license and batteries Solar PV Instructor Training Network Hudson Valley Community College SPI NYSERDA www.nyserda.ny.gov Massachusetts Clean Energy Center www.masscec.com Burnham Energy AHJ Multi Junction Technology Apprenticeship programs. Solar Energy International Department of Energy www.energy.gov Larry Sherwood Soul Smart Program in Puerto Rico Zoning laws Donations Cod community college Non-Profit Organizations SEAC Sustainable Energy Action Committee www.sustainableenergyaction.org ANSI Standards Jane Weissman Solar ABC's www.solarabcs.org Solar ready veterans network John Kim American Battery Factory IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers www.ibew.org UBC United Brotherhood of Carpenters www.carpenters.org ITC Eike Weber Herman Scheer NREL www.nrel.gov   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Cameron works and lives in New York where having a NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) helps you qualify for the NY State program that helps fund projects.   Here are some of the topics we discuss: NYSERDA = New York State Research, Energy Research Development Association www.nyserda.ny.gov NY Sun Program NABCEP Certifications Indent Builders www.indentbuilders.com IBEW = International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers www.ibew.org 3 Pathways Dobbs Ferry Best Investment is Education Heatspring Courses Bundles NFPA  855 NFPA  70 = National Electrical Code (NEC) IBC = International Building Code IFC = International Fire Code IRC = International Residential Code ICC = International Code Council NFPA 70E OSHA = Occupational Safety and Health Administration www.osha.gov NABCEP PV Commissioning and Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Exam NABCEP Energy Storage Installation Professional exam = ESIP NAPCEP Website www.nabcep.org Professional Directories Companies directory Spanish Class Tim Montague C&I = Commercial and Industrial Clean Power Hour www.cleanpowerhour.com NABCEP PV Technical Sales = PVTS NABCEP PV Installer Specialist Certification = PVIS NABCEP PV System Inspector Certification = PVSI FAA  Drone Pilot Class = Federal Aviation Administration https://www.heatspring.com/courses/nabcep-solar-pv-associate-faa-part-107-drone-pilot-exam-prep?aff_id=t3nlgw UL Certification 120 percent rule for backfeed breaker NEC 690 Photovoltaic Systems NEC 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Italian Class for NABCEP PV Associate Giulia Suriano Check out his website and connect on LinkedIn: www.indentbuilders.com Linkedin: Cameron Fearey   Youtube Video Podcast:https://youtu.be/aoeex-QK3bw   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Hermann Scheer (RIP) was a German politician who is responsible for making grid-connected solar profitable in about the year 2000 as he brought the German policy for reimbursing people for solar energy, so that they would make a profit. This brought about years where over half of the World’s installed PV was in Germany. This created the modern solar industry and kick-started modern PV manufacturing. If it were not for Hermann Scheer, we would probably be 10 years behind where we are now with PV prices and installed capacity. Eicke Weber was a friend of Hermann Scheer and Eicke was also the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems for 10 years, which is the European equivalent of NREL. Eicke brought Intersolar to San Francisco, he was on UC Berkely Faculty and has done a million other things, while remaining a really nice person. I am proud to call Eicke a friend.   Hermann Sheer’s Legacy www.ilsr.org/hermann-scheers-feed-tariff-legacy-75-worlds-solar-pv/ Bill Brooks www.brooksolar.com Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en Madam Mi Fusion National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) www.NREL.gov Governor Jerry Brown California Solar Initiative (CSI) SNEC World’s Largest Renewable Energy Conference www.pv.snec.org.cn Nancy and George Lightman Hans-Josef www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Josef_Fell Swanson’s Law Feed in Tariff (FIT) Sultan Al Jaber Irena www.IRENA.org International Solar Energy Society (ISES) www.ises.org PV manufacturing in China Deng Xiaoping IRA John Kerry Deng Xiaoping CO2 PV Technology and Market Developments Global Shifts in Energy Policy Clean Tech Business Club www.cleantechbusiness.club   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Where do we start, in this podcast we covered many things and Jeff Spies is very active and connected in the solar industry.   Here is a short list of what Jeff does and has done:   Owner of Planet Plansets www.planetplansets.com NABCEP Board of Directors www.nabcep.org/about-us/board-of-directors CALSSA Board of Directors www.calssa.org Solar Roots, the Pioneers of PV Documentary, Executive Producer www.solar-roots.com The Solar Panel Podcast www.linkedin.com/company/the-solar-panel-podcast   Here are some of the many topics we covered: Solar PV origin in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties in Northern California Marijuana wars with guns in Northern California: solar using weed growers vs. the Feds Hippie Definition Rednecks and Hippies Hipnecks AEE Solar David Katz is a genius DC Power Solar Depot Real Goods  Solar Living Institute Ironridge Quickmount Stuart Wentworth Claudia Hansen Wentworth Johnny Weiss Go Green Solar Home Power Magazine Humboldt Country Nika Show Oregon Solar Energy Industry Boogy rough cut version Plastics Blue grass Solar Pioneer Party Bell Labs BriceLand, CA Brian Tittlebaum Solar PV Magic Nobel Prize Solar Pioneers group in Facebook John Burdner Brian Teitelbaum Davey Rittner Jason Vetterli Wendy Dankof Gov. Jerry Brown Bob McKee Joseph Marino Keisha Johnny Hill Sam Vanderhoof Ron Kennedy John Schaefer Arthur Rudin Ezra Auerbach Richard Perez Bob O. Schultz Kathleen Schultz Mark Moroz Charlie Gay Albert Einstein Edmund Becquerel Adams and Day Charles Fritz   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

This is my first interview with a real US Military General and I am honored that he took the time to meet with me. I am not worthy!   John Kem is in the civilian sector now and is the President of American Battery Factory! In this podcast we discuss their huge Gigafactory, which they are building in Arizona and which will go online towards the end of 2025 making made in the USA lithium iron phosphate (LFP) lithium-ion batteries. They are working on prismatic battery cells, which are as big as 1kWh each! In the podcast we talk about the manufacturing processes and how the battery materials are put together in a factory that can produce 4GWh per year of battery cells.   Topics covered: American Battery Factory Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Army Corps of Engineers Civil WorksMining Battery cell production and safety Investment and manufacturing scale of American Battery Factory The process and challenges of battery cell manufacturing Battery factory American Lithium Mining Cobalt in the Congo Gigafactory Abundance and toxicity of Lithium, Iron and Phosphorous Big Battery Cell Folding Cells Prismatic Battery Cell 314 Ah cells x 3.2V = 1kWh/cell Half of a shoebox size cell Bigger is better Pouch and cylindrical battery cell comparison Prismatic folding speed increased Longer cycle life Fiji Water bottle shape comparison Chemical Mixing Anode and Cathode layers Thin coating Isotropic graphite = consistent shape Narrow film LFP is the cathode LFP mix in vats Absorption capacity for ions to flow Buy pre-mixed LFP Separator between anode and cathode Foils Cans - Aluminum Food can people making battery can for prismatic battery (cell casing) Stationary Energy Storage Systems Smart grid Underground mining operations Drag racing and LFP Range anxiety Home to GWh ESS Tax credit survival vs. competitive manufacturing Made in America with Chinese parts Smartest people in the world come to America Energy storage is required for net zero Investing and buying American Battery Factory Privately held now Series A and Series B funding defined Accredited investors and venture capital   Check out the American Battery Factory website: www.americanbatteryfactory.com   For good luck, give this podcast 5️s   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Joe McCabe has been in the solar industry since before there was a solar industry. In this podcast we talk about many things.    Here is a list of topics: ASES Fellow American Solar Energy Society www.ASES.org International Solar Energy Society www.ISES.org MREA = Midwest Renewable Energy Association SMUD = Sacramento Municipal Utility District PVUSA Davis California PV Policy SAM software PV Reliability Workshop Nerdfest Golden Colorado SANDIA Community Solar Gardens Bifacial Solar Vertical Bifacial produces more than tilted south no matter what the direction Higher latitude better for vertical bifacial Vertical bifacial requires smaller wires because of lower Isc Clipping Hanging vertical bifacial to swing in the wind. North facing PV for used PV PV module size increasing PV efficiency not important; LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) is important.  Monofacial Agrivoltaics Agrisoltaics Dual use of land Mark Fitzgerald Jane Wiseman IREC = Interstate Renewable Energy Council NABCEP Entry Level Praise Ward Bower! George Kelly NREL NABCEP Exam Committees Photovoltaic effect Conduction band Photoelectric effect Becquerel Einstein Quantum mechanics Thermodynamics Nuclear engineering Schrödinger’s equation Straw bale construction SERF = Solar Energy Research Facility SERI = Solar Energy Research Institute Neutron Scatter Cadmium rods Neutron magazine Smart Inverter Working Group Dan Shugar Howard Wenger PG&E PV for $9/watt in 90s Richard Swanson and Swanson’s curve Colorado Public Utilities Commission CALISO California Independent System Operator BIPV California Energy Commission (CEC) Community Solar Garden Solar Shares Stupid grid vs. smart grid Grid following and grid forming inverters Reactive power Rule 21 Smart Inverter Working Group Smart Inverter Classes Hermann Scherr Frieberg Germany  Smarter E in Munich (formerly Intersolar) Intersolar in San Diego and Long Beach RE+ conferences Making education fun University of Arizona Reactor How PV works Photons Grid Forming and Grid Following Inverters Donating a kidney to Bill Brooks Freiburg Germany NABCEP Certification Energy Ideas Renewable Energy Steward Giant Bifacial module  Joe Mccabe recommends Bill Brooks on LinkedIn  Blue light inside a reactor Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Carl Weinberg Paul Fenn Community Choice Aggregation = CCA  Eicke Weber RE+ Texas Sean Sings ABC 123 at NABCEP Conference   Homework Assignment read: Leverage Points, Places to Intervene in a System by Donella Meadows https://donellameadows.org/wp-content/userfiles/Leverage_Points.pdf   Joe McCabe LinkedIn Page   Joe’s email: [email protected]   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at  www.heatspring.com/sean

In this podcast, we learn how UL issues first certification to UL 9741 (and UL 1741 SA) for an AI-Driven Vehicle-to-Grid Compliant EV Charger to Fermata Energy.   https://www.ul.com/news/ul-solutions-issues-first-certification-ul-9741-and-ul-1741-sa-ai-driven-vehicle-grid   Alex Cattelan has been working on EVs for 2 decades and has experience engineering many famous electric and hybrid vehicles, including the Chevy Volt for GM. She also has extensive experience working for Polaris, Johnson Controls and many others.   At the end we decide to go to Burning Man together on a bidirectional electric bus and she is going to teach me how to do wheelies on an electric motorcycle. Nothing can compete with the torque of electric motors, much more than those old fashioned explosion driven motors.   Here are some of the topics we cover: UL 9741 EVPE (Electric Vehicle Power Export Equipment) John Deere EVs AI for EVPE Software engineering Drive trains Electric vehicles   Nissan Leaf Chevy Volt Lithium-ion batteries Hybrid EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Mechanical Drivetrain CO2 UL 9741 & UL 1741 VPP (Virtual Power Plant) Cost Savings Public utility commission (PUC) Stationary Storage Nissan Leaf Nissan Kicks Bidirectional charging Commercial fleets Bus fleet Johnson Controls Pop a Wheelie Ford F-150 Cyber Truck Tesla Developing Software AI Driven Data Science Residential bidirectional chargers   Check out Alex on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandra-cattelan-59abbb11   Email: [email protected]   Check out the Fermata website: https://fermataenergy.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

One week before recording this podcast, Garret Little passed his NABCEP PVIP exam, scoring impressively after nine years since his first attempt. In this episode, we discuss his exam experience, memory techniques, and the differences between the Ecotech and HeatSpring prep classes. Garret shares insights on what’s essential for passing exams and highlights the NABCEP courses available. Garret also brings his international experience, having installed PV systems in Nepal and Colombia. Topics Covered: Exam prep and strategies NABCEP certifications (PVIP, ESIP, PVA, and more) Online vs. in-person testing Memory techniques and learning methods Insights from Garret’s exam journey Garret expresses his gratitude to Sean for the impactful HeatSpring courses that helped boost his confidence and knowledge: This course really covered everything I experienced on the exam and in all honesty, to me it seemed it presented quite a bit more information and material than the NABCEP covered, at least from my experience . For example, I don't think I had one string sizing question, conduit fill, or even conductor sizing with derates (if my memory serves me right). It was not nearly as much calculations as I had anticipated, aside from interconnection calcs, which were all fairly similar. With that being said, I feel tremendously more knowledgeable than I was even just a few months ago prior to taking this course and I am so thankful for that. Thank you again so much for working with Heatspring on these courses to provide such  thorough, entertaining, and educational content. It feels so incredibly good to not only have passed the exam, but to feel that much more educated. To prepare for any NABCEP exam, check out Sean's online classes at HeatSpring.com/SEAN and explore more at SolarSEAN.com.

I came across a really cool YouTube video, rivaling Mr. Beast, but for solar, which was a purple bearded solarboi going off on Rapid Shutdown UL 3741 PV arrays, I immediately contacted him and a week later, here we are recording this podcast. This guy is entertaining and we are lucky to have him in the industry. This industry needs to be fun!!   derek the solarboi has 3 NABCEP Certifications   PVIP (PV Installation Professional) PVCMS (PV Commissioning and Maintenance Specialist) PVSI (PV System Inspector) Altogether that looks like:   derek the solarboi, NABCEP PVIP, PVCMS & PVSI   That is a total of 18 letters after his name, making him super special!   We talk about some controversial subjects, including Rapid Shutdown and I always try to be bifacial and take both sides for educational purposes, but encourage my guests to have strong opinions. If you have a strong opinion, let’s get you on the show!   Here are some of the topics we covered: Other rad solar creators, like Solar Goat (https://linktr.ee/solargoat) and The Solar Slayer (https://thesolarslayer.com/) Rapid shutdown methods UL 3741 PVHCS (PV Hazard Control Systems) Array level rapid shutdown 2019 NEC (serious joke) NABCEP Certifications Social media Water flow in conduit (link to video: https://youtube.com/shorts/5mmDOiH-Res) DC arc faults and ground faults Ironridge (press release and installation addendum can be found here: (https://www.ironridge.com/2024/02/27/flush-mount-systems-listed-to-ul-3741/) Sollega SMA Residential UL 3741 (solarboi’s video - https://youtu.be/1MTCvYhjHzA) Peter Greenberg the String Inverter Activist RE+ Purple   solarboi has decided to remain anonymous for this podcast. This is really cool, my first anonymous guest!   You can see all of solarboi’s links at www.solarboi.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@derekthesolarboi Mastodon: https://mastodon.energy/@solarboi TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thesolarboi Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesolarboi   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

Great conversation with Tyler Hortin! His company does everything from Wh to GWh and focuses on prismatic cells that are almost 1kWh! This makes for less cells and less connections that can go wrong. The technology here is Lithium-Iron Phosphate (LFP) and we will talk about the supply chain and implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). They are affiliated with American Battery Factory, so we talk a little bit about manufacturing in the USA towards the end.   Key Words: Lithium Iron Phosphate Prismatic Battery Cell Battery Manufacturing in the USA How he get the Iron LPF Lithium (L) Iron (FE) Phosphorus (P) Great Salt Lake Battery management system (BMS) Marine Battery NMC Alternator DC to DC Charger Shore Power Energy Storage System UL 9540 & 9540A DC Interconnected System Cabinet size American Battery Factory How long does it take to build a battery factory?   Check out Tyler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-hortin-90469945/   Check out his website: https://lionenergy.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza is a regular in the solar industry. Tor has a podcast called Probably True Solar Stories, which takes his expertise as a former Hollywood writer and merges that with the solar industry. Some of his Hollywood work was on popular shows, such as Stargate SG-1, Dharma & Greg, and The Dead Zone. Tor's current day job is he is a chief solar public relations geek at UnThink Solar, a solar PR and communications firm.   In this podcast we talk about how Tor Valenza became Solar Fred and how he made stories about solar.   Topics covered: The history of branding about Solar Fred How his fascination in solar energy began as a kid in NYC Central Park Solar on the White House Sungevity Danny Kennedy Solar Head of State Great way to promote solar Probably True Solar Stories Podcast Murder by Solar Drone President of the US as a solar installer The 6000 Year Story of Solar Energy book by John Perlin Clean nuclear power being used as a disguise for a nuclear weapons program Solar installation war (Green War). Nuclear bros Energy deep state Sean almost killed by carbon monoxide as a kid Solar makes you the most money Steam turbines for solar PV energy storage with hot rocks www.powermag.com/volcanic-rock-offers-new-take-on-energy-storage Agrivoltaics CSP = Concentrated Solar Power Cadmium Telluride Recycle, Reuse and Reduce Solar feasibility on the north side of the roof Solar wedding at a Tweet Up at SPI Check out Tor on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tor-solar-fred-valenza-3150015 Check out his website: www.unthinksolar.com Here is where to find Tor's Podcast: www.probablytruesolar.com/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

In this episode we are triple fortunate to have three of the smartest individuals in a discussion on science and policy from the Federation of American Scientists (fas.org), a nonpartisan think tank connecting scientific research with policy making to address today’s most urgent needs. Transition to renewable energy is urgent! We talk about how we can transition to solar fast, and how science and policy need to work together to get the job done, and how individuals can get involved.   Guests: Erica Goldman, on systems thinking and solar Alice Wu, on tipping points Zoë Brouns, on the workforce needed to meet the moment   Topics discussed: American Climate Corps, which is an IRA program intended to mobilize the green workforce on par with the FDR programs (see Civilian Conservation Corps), modeled similarly to the successful AmeriCorps. DOE (US Department of Energy) Virtual Power Plant Commercial Liftoff Report DOE Commercial Liftoff homepage Clean Energy Talent Workforce report FAS History Manhattan Project Los Alamos Clean Energy and Climate Policy Science, Policy and Policy Entrepreneurship SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS! Congress White House Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) 2021 Follow FAS’s work via their newsletter I am honored to have hosted the podcast with the most intelligent people ever on any podcast in history. Erika, Alice and Zoë's backgrounds are very impressive! Be sure to click on their names above, or find them on LinkedIn to see what I mean. We are talking Einstein-level conversation at times, especially when Alice told us about triplet excitons. This is an exciting conversation!   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

In this show we talk about the different stages of development of solar projects, which are projects that are from 1MW in size to GW sized projects.   Matias Sigal is an entrepreneur and has worked with many startups and incubators in different countries. He started off by being born in Argentina, and is currently a resident of Israel (which we discuss at the end of the podcast).   Matias has a company that developed software, which works sort of like Zillow for multimillion dollar solar projects. 80% of potential projects do not get developed, because they are missing some of the criteria. REplace can analyze thousands of potential sites at once, so that early stage developers do not have to spend 30 minutes per site analyzing things independently. His software can do over 100 years of hard work with the click of a button.   Some of the topics we cover:   8 stages of project development Community Solar (contrasting with and not Community Choice Aggregation) Agrivoltaics GIS Israel, Argentina and Europe CapEx & OpEx   Matias Sigal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matiassigal/ REplace website: www.renewableenergy.place   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

In this podcast we talk about safe portable Energy Storage Systems (ESSs). Jon and Viridi are located in Buffalo NY.   Topics covered:   Portable ESS Building and Fire Codes including the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Fire Code (IFC). Occupied Spaces Habitable Spaces UL 9540 UL 9540A UL CSA Thermal Runaway How Viridi is safer Cathodes and Anodes NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate NCA = Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide Specific Energy vs. Energy Density How Viridi Portable ESSs saved Burning Man How Ford won Pike's Peak race in Colorado using Viridi to charge EV race Sunbelt Rentals using Viridi portable ESS How using a portable ESS with a diesel generator is much cleaner and less expensive and uses less diesel for the same amount of energy, than a diesel generator alone.   Here is where to find Viridi: www.viridiparente.com   Here is where to find Jon Williams CEO and Founder: www.viridiparente.com/about/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.HeatSpring.com/Sean

In this podcast we have Bill Brooks and Sean talking energy storage system (ESS) Codes, with emphasis on interconnections, including supply-side and load side connections. Be sure to get Sean and Bill’s latest book, which is the 3rd edition of PV and the NEC, based on the 2023 NEC. To find where to get different versions of the NEC including the 2023 NEC for free check out the NEC tab at solarSEAN.com.  Disclaimer: This podcast was recorded in 2021. Supply-side connections (source connections to a service), 705.13 Power Control Systems (Energy Management Systems), ampacity of service conductors are allowed to have ampacity less than the main breaker in chapter III of the NEC, 200A PV system on 100A service with power control system, conductor sizing for supply-side connection, Article 230 Services, houses not smaller than 100A or old services less than 100A, supply-side overcurrent protection locations, cable limiter distances, cable currents just handle fault currents (not overloads), 250.25, 250.24, bonding supply-side connection like a service required, two single points of system grounding, load-side connections, dedicated overcurrent protection device and disconnect, backfeeding a Tesla at 70W, busbars, 120% rule, suitable for backfeed, feeders, Hawaiian tie-in, tap rules, 10-foot tap rule, 25-foot tap rule, synchronous generators, busbars, 705.12(B)(3)(1) 100% rule, 705.12(B)(3)(2) 120% rule, 705.12(B)(3)(3) sum rule or sum of the branch circuit breakers, two single pole breakers with sum rule, 705.12(B)(3)(4) center fed 120% rule, 705.12(B)(3)(5) engineering supervision/multiampacity busbars and the 200% rule, 705.12(B)(3)(6) feed-through connectors, switchgear, 705.13 Power Control Systems with CTs, power control system certifications, allows more power than 120% rule (705.13 was re-named in 2023 NEC as Energy Management Systems), Article 625 sequencer for EVs, no-export is a power control system, export set at certain kW, physical protection of a Powerwall, residential code vehicle impact protection for ESS in garage, wheel stops, bollards, preventing overloading panel, smart panels, smart load centers. Note: for visuals, download the NEC presentation at www.solarSEAN.com and look for the pdf downloads. Links: Bill Brooks, P.E.: www.brooksolar.com www.solarSEAN.com www.HeatSpring.com/SEAN 

2020 NEC radio 690 was originally published on Dec 30, 2019, but it did not post to other platforms, so we are reposting it.

In this podcast we have Bill Brooks talking energy storage system (ESS) Codes, with emphasis on the National Electrical Code (NEC) and stand-alone/islanding systems. Be sure to get Sean and Bill’s latest book, which is the 3rd edition of PV and the NEC, based on the 2023 NEC. To find where to get different versions of the NEC including the 2023 NEC for free check out the NEC tab at solarSEAN.com.  Disclaimer: This podcast was recorded in 2021. Flow batteries, fuel cells, Article 692 Fuel Cell Systems, electrolyte, zinc, fuel cell maintenance, Article 710 Stand-Alone Systems, plaque or directory, manual load control, stand-alone mode, automatic controller, multiwire branch circuits, 690.10, 120/240V theory, direct PV systems, dc micrograms, functionally grounded, grounded, ungrounded, reference grounded, resistor grounded systems, positively grounded systems, nighttime depolarizer, impedance ground for ac (resistance ground for dc), electric vehicle power transfer system vs. electric vehicle charging system, sequencer, LG Chem vs. LG home battery prices, Fukushima, Nissan Leaf in Japan bidirectional charging, zero net export, overcurrent protection devices, fault currents, ampere interrupting capacity, kA, excel spreadsheet fault current calculator, microgrid interconnect device (MID), Article 702, automatic transfer equipment, load management, lighting controllers, backup power system, optional standby systems, generator systems, automatic transfer switch, manual transfer switch. Links: Bill Brooks, P.E.: www.brooksolar.com www.solarSEAN.com www.HeatSpring.com/SEAN