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Sean White teaches solar and storage classes and seminars around the world and inside your home (online). He is known for helping people get NABCEP certified. This podcast contains an assortment of topics, with an emphasis on solar and storage technical knowledge. Up your game! Catch a photon! Save the planet! Learn more and go to www.solarSEAN.com
Episodes
43 minutes ago
43 minutes ago
Join host Sean White as he explores the world of renewable energy with Mark Grossen-Smith, founder and CEO of Thresh Power. Learn about practical solutions for energy project diligence, how AI is changing the industry, and what’s ahead for large-scale solar and wind projects. Whether you're experienced in solar or just getting started, this episode offers useful insights and real-world advice. Tune in to the Sean White Solar and Energy Storage Podcast for a smart conversation on technology and sustainability.
Topics covered:
Thresh Power www.threshpower.com
Automated Diligence
AI = Artificial Intelligence
Interconnection
9 Zero www.9zero.com
Wind Energy
Lease
Climate Industry
EV = Electric Vehicle
Grid
Data Center
Cryptocurrency
AI Training and Inference
Toyota Prius
Reach out to Mark Grozen-Smith Here:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/grozensmith
Website: www.threshpower.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
3 days ago
3 days ago
Join Sean White and Greg Smith, the Snarky Solar Guy, as they talk about the ups and downs of solar energy and battery storage. They cover everything from dealing with unexpected weather to the latest updates in the solar world. This episode has honest conversations, useful tips, and a look at what Greg’s working on next. Tune in for a fun mix of jokes, know-how, and real stories from two solar pros.
Topics covered:
NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy
Tax Credits
Greg Smith’s YouTube Channel www.youtube.com
The Big Beautiful Bill www.youtube.com
Solar Bros
ITC = Investment Tax Credits
Door-to-Door Salespeople
Tariff
Oil and Gas
Incentives
SMA
Sonnen Energy
TIGO Energy
Hofbräuhaus
Greg Smith’s Books
O&M = Operations and Management
Curriculum
Codes
Rapid Shutdown
IRC = International Residential Code
IFC = International Fire Code
NEC = National Electrical Code
Inverter
Short Circuit
MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking
AC Coupling and DC Coupling
VPP Virtual Power Plant
Lumen Panels
Home Automation
Connected Home
AI = Artificial Intelligence
Defecting from the Grid
Off Grid Solar
Balcony Solar
Mini Splits
Reach out to Greg Smith Here:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregsmith007/
Tigo Energy: www.tigoenergy.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
6 days ago
6 days ago
In this episode of the Sean White Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean White is joined by two of his good friends, both named Juan Carlos, in Shanghai. The discussion revolves around their experiences in the solar industry, particularly in Panama, where they have implemented solar and storage systems. They share their journey of achieving NABCEP certification, their choice of microinverters for Panama’s conditions, and the benefits of net metering. The conversation also touches upon attending various conferences and a factory visit in Shanghai, and their plans for solar technology in Panama. Sean highlights the importance of ethical practices in the solar industry and emphasizes gradual policy changes.
Topics Discussed:
Solar and Storage
NABCEP Certification
Las Vegas
Computer-based exam
Juan Carlos
Microinverters
Solar Bros
Ethical Sales
Casco Viejo
San Jose Island
Hacienda Delmar
C250 Enphase
Yingli Solar Modules
PV Technical Sales
Net Metering
Policy Change
Shanghai Maglev train = Magnetic Levitation Train
Microinverter
Glasses with thin film
BIPV
Racks
Panama Canal
Solar in Panama with Juan Andrés Navarro of NSolar Podcast Link:
www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-in-panama-with-juan-andre-s-navarro-of-nsolar/id1441958371?i=1000685533681
Reach out Juan Carlos Navarro Barb & Juan Carlos Arango de Dianous here:
Juan Carlos Navarro Barb LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-navarro-barb
Juan Carlos Arango de Dianous LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-arango-de-dianous
NSolar Website: www.nsolar.net
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean.
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Sean interviews JP DZahr, an expert in digital marketing with experience at Microsoft, Boeing, and the banking industry. JP shares his journey from corporate marketing to creating niche market platforms for the solar industry. They go through topics like pay-per-click advertising, geotargeting, and generating leads through content-rich platforms. JP explains how solar companies can minimize costs and maximize revenue by leveraging Google's AdSense program and organic traffic. Whether you're a solar installer or a marketer, this episode is packed with valuable insights on optimizing solar marketing strategies.
Topics covered:
JP Dzhar background
Pre-press
Lawinfo www.lawinfo.com
PPC = Pay-per-click
Geotargeting
Information platform
AdSense
Permutations and Combinations
AI-generated articles for ad pages
Solar Bros
Door Knockers
Tax Credits
Lead generator
Looky-loo
Researcher
Buyer
Generating income using Google Ads
Trolling the Spammers
Find out more on:
The World of Codes Website: www.theworldofcode.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Sean talks to himself like a crazy person about the Big Bad Bill and why we should stay optimistic and kick fossil fuels ass!
One way of compensating for anything that the government throws at you is to work hard and make yourself irreplaceable. One way of doing this is proving yourself invaluable with a NABCEP certification.
With or without tax credits, solar, storage and wind will kick fossil fuels behind.
Topics Covered:
Solar Industry’s Resilience
Soft Costs and Complexity
Job Security and Layoffs
Solar Coaster
Fossil Fuel Phase-Out
Net Meetering in California
Call to Action
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Sean talks with Navdeep Martin, CEO and co-founder of Flypower, at the American Clean Power (ACP) Clean Power 25 conference in Pheonix. Flypower is leveraging AI to enhance renewable energy projects. Navdeep, a former speaker at the big NorCal Solar event recently in Oakland, discusses Fly Power's mission to streamline the process of securing permits and overcoming community resistance by analyzing public data. They dive into how AI can optimize renewable energy site selection and community engagement, the hurdles faced by solar and wind energy developers, and how AI innovations enhance decision-making. They also touch on the social dynamics and opposition from various groups towards renewable projects, how developers can navigate these challenges, and the broader significance of renewable energy adoption.
Topics discussed:
NorCal Solar 50th Anniversary
Flypower
AI
Clean Power Conference = Clean Power 25
Wind Industry
CIA
Community Resistance
Data Centers
Trevor Noah at ACP
Analyzing Commissioners
Public available data
Census AI based
Perplexity
Gemini
Cloud
ChatGPT
Deepseek
Allies
Cancel culture
Teddy Kennedy
Reach out Navdeep Martin here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/navdeepmartin/
Website: www.flypower.io
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean.
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Solar energy was the most expensive energy in the world 25 years ago and now it is the least expensive energy in the world. This is because Hans-Josef Fell invented a policy called the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) that made it a good financial decision to invest in solar back when solar was very expensive. This caused mass production of solar technologies and the price of solar systems went down orders of magnitude. The first FIT program was in Hans-Josef’s hometown in Bavaria Germany and was capped at 15kW for the entire program (now that is how much solar that is over my head). The FIT price was 2 Marks (pre-Euro money) per kWh, which was about $1 US. With the FIT, there was a law requiring the utility to pay the solar system owner a price for the electricity for usually 20 years, so that people will have the incentive to purchase grid-tied solar. 1000 years from now, Hans-Josef will be recognized as saving the planet and as the most important person of our era.
Topics Covered:
Hans-Josef Fell’s Credentials:
Started the world’s first Feed-In-Tariff
Co-author of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act 2000 with Hermann Scheer
Member of the German Parliament representing the 15 years (Green Party)
President of Energy Watch Group
Author of Global Cooling
Past Vice President of Eurosolar
City Counselor
School Teacher
Awards:
Global Leadership Award in Advancing Solar Energy Policy – In Honor of Hermann Scheer, January 2019
LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilization, Recognizing lifetime achievements for sustainable global development, January 2018
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, January 2015
Bavarian Order of Merit, January 2012
Bonda Award – European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), January 2006
Nuclear-Free Future Award, January 2001
Energy Globe Award, January 2000
Solar Award – European Solar Energy Association (EUROSOLAR), January 1994
I met Hans-Josef Fell at the Intersolar Germany conference in May (also known as The Smarter E) thanks to Tomasz Slusarz, who invited me to a Cleantech Business Club dinner near the Hofbräuhaus München, (where I drank beer as a teenager). I was fortunate to sit next to Hans-Josef and have non-alcoholic beer with him! #TogetherWeAreStronger
Contact info:
Website: www.hans-josef-fell.de
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean interviews Sachin Gupta at the American Clean Power conference in Arizona. They discuss the lengthy lead times for huge transformers, the challenges of supply chains, and the capabilities of Pennsylvania Transformer Technology. Gupta explains the details of manufacturing and delivering massive transformers, some of which take up to three years to produce. They cover the significance of Made in America products, the impact of tariffs, and the growing demands in the solar and energy storage sectors. Additionally, they talk about the future of transformer technology, including potential developments in high voltage direct current (HVDC) applications.
Topics discussed:
American Clean Power (ACP)
Affordable Wire Management
144 to 146 weeks lead time
Supply chain
50 to 500 MVa transformer
MVA (VA=volts x amps)
Tariffs
765,000 volts transformer
Single Phase Transformer
Bushing
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
Utility Scale
Rooftop solar
Small pad transformers
Collector transformer = Large power transformer
Pad mounted transformer
Civil pad
FAT = Factory Acceptance Test
Minimum 25 years life span up to 40 to 50 years
HVDC = High Voltage Direct Current
Reach out to Sachin Gupta here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sachin-gupta-b1997b1a
Pennsylvania Transformer Technology LLC: www.patransformer.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Matt Hirsch is a writer and has been writing about the solar industry before there was a modern solar industry in California. Sean and Matt shoot the breeze and find out they crossed paths a few different times in the industry, when Matt was writing about the birth of solar CCAs in California in the 1990s and writing about Sean’s friend Paul Fenn, who got Sean into solar. Matt and Sean were both affiliated with Photon Magazine and now they are both hanging out in Berkeley and hanging out at NorCal Solar events.
Matt Hirsch is the Chief Marketing Officer of TerraCurrent
Topics covered:
Terra Current www.terracurrent.com
Photon Magazine www.photon.info
Grounding and electrical current flow
Single Wire Earth Return
Sean White’s creative songs to promote NABCEP certification
NorCal Solar = Northern California Solae www.norcalsolar.org
CALSSA = California Solar and Storage Association www.calssa.org
ASES = American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org
Solar Coaster
Challenges in solar policy and public perception
Bundesnetzagentur
Net metering
Starlink
FIT = Feed in Tariff
Grid defection
Paul Fenn
CCA = Community Choice Aggregation
Ava Community Energy www.avaenergy.org
Sean’s Journey in the Solar Industry
Life and Politics in Berkeley, California
SEIA = Solar Energy Industry Association www.seia.org
IREC = Interstate Renewable Energy Counsil www.irecusa.org
SEAC = Sustainable Energy Action Committee www.sustainableenergyaction.org
Planet Plan Sets www.planetplansets.com
Solar Roots Party [Register now]
Reach out to Matt Hirsch on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbhirsch
Terra Current Website: www.terracurrent.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Sean met Wilson at the RE+ Texas Conference and they hit it off. Wilson also does training and just started an apprenticeship program on HeatSpring.
Check it out!
https://www.heatspring.com/electrical
Topics covered:
NCCER = National Center for Construction Education and Research www.nccer.org
Energizeus www.energizeus-edu.today www.energizeus.today
RE+ Vegas
Blue Collar & White Collar
Training Roof
SunPower www.sunpower.com
Mark Mrohs
Infinite Solar
Feed in Tariff
Solar Coaster
San Francisco Comedy College
Ontario Solar Academy
Texas Trade Technical
Skill Trades
Apprenticeship
License & Certification
NEC = National Electrical Code
JTA = Job Task Analysis
IRA = Inflation Reduction Act
IBEW = International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
ABC = Associated Builders and Contractors
NorCal Solar = The Northern California Solar Energy Association www.norcalsolar.org
Journeyman Card
Contractor’s License
FAA = Federal Aviation Administration www.faa.gov
Drone Certificate
SEIA = Solar Energy Industry Association www.seia.org
Curriculum
Interstellar
Interstellar
LMS = Learning Management System
Reach out to Wilson Batances Here:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/energizeus
Enrgizeus Instagram: www.instagram.com/energize_us_edu
Energizeus Websites: www.energizeus-edu.today www.energizeus.today
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean