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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
2 days ago
2 days ago
Explore the real-world transformation of America's energy landscape through candid conversations with solar industry insiders like Andrew Holmstrom of Arch Solar. From innovative vertical installations and Wisconsin's unique capacity credits to deep-fried cheese curds and maple syrup experiments, discover how rising electricity costs, AI-driven data center demands, and grid modernization are making renewables more competitive than ever. Get unfiltered perspectives on net metering policies, battery storage economics, and the practical realities of the clean energy revolution—complete with dad jokes and unexpected tangents about supply-side connections to maple trees.
Topics Covered:
NABCEP Conference
Lake Michigan = the 3rd Coast
PV Associate Class
NABCEP Milwaukee’s Party Theme
St. Patrick’s Day at Milwaukee
Beer breweries
Cheese curds
Solar in Milwaukee and Wisconsin
.77 Factor
Co-generation customer use
Capacity credit
Avoided capacity cost rate
PV Walls
PV Cladding
Mitrex Canada
Glass
Rates (commercial and residential)
Maple syrup
Tree activist
NABCEP Conference
Lake Michigan = the 3rd Coast
PV Associate Class
NABCEP Milwaukee’s Party Theme
St. Patrick’s Day at Milwaukee
Beer breweries
Cheese curds
Solar in Milwaukee and Wisconsin
.77 Factor
Co-generation customer use
Capacity credit
Avoided capacity cost rate
PV Walls
PV Cladding
Mitrex Canada
Glass
Rates (commercial and residential)
Maple syrup
Tree activist
Reach out to Andrew Holmstorm on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-holmstrom
Website: www.archsolar.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at:
www.heatspring.com/sean
www.solarsean.com/10hress
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-holmstrom
Website: www.archsolar.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at:
www.heatspring.com/sean
www.solarsean.com/10hress
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
In this podcast episode, Sean interviewed Meghan Wood, CEO of Raya Power, about their innovative solar and storage system. Meghan explained how Raya Power's all-in-one appliance connects directly to home appliances and provides both energy savings and backup power during outages. They discussed the system's features, including its ability to handle both 120V and 240V loads, and its potential applications for electric vehicles and residential use. Meghan also touched on the growing interest in balcony solar and the regulatory challenges it faces. The conversation concluded with a brief discussion about upcoming events and potential future collaborations.
Topics Covered
Raya Power www.rayapower.com
Battery
Grid
Mini Split
Plug-in
Air Conditioner
EV = Electric Vehicle
EV Charger
Balcony Solar
Stove
UL
Code
Guerilla Solar
Reach out to Meghan Wood here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/woodmeghan
Website: www.rayapower.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
The residential solar tax credit (25D) is gone, but commercial solar tax credits are still alive! In this podcast, we break down the critical deadlines and requirements for the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under the modified Inflation Reduction Act.
Topics Covered
IRA = Inflation Reduction Act
ITC = Investment Tax Credit
Commercial Tax Credit
Residential Tax Credit
Section 48E
TPO = Third Party Ownership
TPO = Thermoplastic Polyolefin
The 5% Rule
Bonus adders
Standalone Storage Tax Credit
Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeships
Physical Work Test
FEOC = Foreign Entity of Concern
OBBB = One Big Beautiful Act
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Titan Containers has developed the Arctic Store Horizon, a solar-powered refrigerated container that reduces energy consumption by over 50% through integrated photovoltaic panels, vacuum insulation, and environmentally friendly refrigerant technology. This episode explores the engineering innovations behind sustainable cold storage, including applications in food preservation, pharmaceutical storage, and potential solutions for crop loss in developing regions. The discussion covers technical aspects of solar integration, mobile battery storage concepts, and the business case for reducing both operational costs and environmental impact in temperature-controlled logistics. Learn how container technology is evolving to address global sustainability challenges.
Topics Covered
Titan Containers www.titancontainers.com
Containers
ESS = Energy Storage System
Arctic Store Horizon
Refrigeration
Cold Storage and Hot Storage
Battery
Portable Energy
Solar on Container
Grid
Reach out to Søren Mogensen here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/s%C3%B8ren-skov-mogensen
Website: www.titancontainers.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Inspired by the Colbert Report, where Stephen pretends to be a right wing show host, in this podcast, Sean pretends to be an oil-loving, dinosaur-loving, coal-rolling podcaster and delivers some really stupidly funny and immature podcasting. He makes fun of people that might be even dumber than himself.
Topics Covered
Fossil Fuel
Dinosaurs
Oil
Global Cooling
Sea Level Rising
EV = Electric Vehicle
Privatizing Sunshine
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Interconnection regulations are quietly blocking solar projects across America. Vaughan Woodruff, distributed energy resources consultant and former VP of Regulatory Reform at IREC, reveals why outdated utility rules are stalling clean energy adoption. Discover how Maine became #2 nationally for solar capacity per capita, why Delaware's community solar program failed spectacularly, and which technical solutions could unlock grid capacity without expensive upgrades. This conversation explores the regulatory maze where only 37 states have formal interconnection standards, each different, many decades old. Learn why smart policy matters as much as smart inverters for achieving our renewable energy future.
Topics Covered
DER = Distributed Energy Resources
Interconnection
ESS = Energy Storage System
EV = Electric Vehicle
Diablo Canyon
Inverter
Heatspring
Utility
Grid
ISO = Independent System Operator
SREC = Solar Renewable Energy Certificate
Renewable Energy Certificates
Market
EquinoxDG www.linkedin.com/company/equinoxdg
IREC = Interstate Renewable Energy Council
CCA = Community Choice Aggregiation
Paul Finn
Balcony Solar
Interconnection Agreement
Guerilla Solar
Home Power Magazine
Podcast with Alfred Ignacio (AI)
Podcast with Khanti Munro
Podcast with Paul Fenn Part 1
Podcast with Paul Fenn Part 2
Reach out to Vaughan Woodruff here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaughan-woodruff-9a7a0821/
EquinoxDG: www.linkedin.com/company/equinoxdg
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Phil Horwitch of AMH Holdings discusses utility-scale solar engineering, covering their work on 1 gigawatt of projects in 2025. Topics include the dramatic shift toward standalone battery storage, the engineering trade-offs of large-format modules (up to 700 watts), tracker systems with bifacial panels, and grading challenges. Phil explains how bigger modules reduce earthwork costs, shares insights on hail protection strategies, and reflects on the solar industry's newfound resilience and maturity in the face of political and market pressures.
Topics Covered
AMH Holdings
Utility Scale Projects
Market
ESS = Energy Storage System
Tracker
Photovoltaic Module Size
Hailstorm
UL Testing
Golf Ball
String Inverters vs Central Inverters
Reach out to Phil Horwitch here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/phil-horwitch
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
In this episode, Dr. Laura A. Ward, Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and Sean White explore the practical realities of grid-forming inverters and their role in modernizing power grids. Drawing from her experience in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria and her work as a Ph.D. intern on the analysis and modeling team for the PR100 project, Dr. Ward discusses the technical and policy challenges of adopting IEEE 1547-2018 and integrating renewable energy at scale. The conversation covers grid resilience, the importance of updated standards, and the future of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). Listeners will gain insight into how the next-generation of power electronics technologies are being designed and implemented to create more reliable, sustainable, and resilient energy systems.
Topics Covered
- Grid-Forming Inverter Technology for enabling more integration of renewables
- Dr. Ward’s career and her Ph.D. in electrical engineering under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Bayne at Texas Tech University in Lubbock
- Experience as a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) intern
- Impact of Hurricane Maria
- Former University of Puerto Rico Teaching Assistant in Mayaguez Campus
- Former Arizona State University (ASU) Research Assistant in Tempe
- Resilience hubs, reliability, and stability studies
- Dr. Ward’s career and her Ph.D. in electrical engineering under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Bayne at Texas Tech University in Lubbock
- Experience as a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) intern
- Impact of Hurricane Maria
- Former University of Puerto Rico Teaching Assistant in Mayaguez Campus
- Former Arizona State University (ASU) Research Assistant in Tempe
- Resilience hubs, reliability, and stability studies
- EIF Fellow at DOEE adopting and implementing the IEEE Standard 1547-2018 for DC grid modernization
Dr. Ward is an evangelist, technology innovator, and application engineer. Regarding the adoption of standards, she notes that Washington, D.C. has one of the most complex secondary network grids in the country, making the implementation of IEEE 1547-2018 significantly harder than in a suburban radial grid. Dr. Ward provided the technical leadership and engineering solutions to adopt IEEE 1547-2018 in the District of Columbia, specifically overcoming the technical barriers of high-density secondary networks to enable 100% decarbonization goals by 2032 and 15% solar generation by 2041.
Technical Contribution Citation:
"For leadership in supporting the adoption and applying IEEE 1547-2018 to complex urban secondary networks, enabling the transition to high-penetration renewable energy systems." — Dr. Laura A. Ward
"For leadership in supporting the adoption and applying IEEE 1547-2018 to complex urban secondary networks, enabling the transition to high-penetration renewable energy systems." — Dr. Laura A. Ward
Reach out to Dr. Ward here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drlaura-ward
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4550-1581
Instagram: stem.laurandre
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Join Clean Counts’ leadership as they discuss the real-world impact of renewable energy certificates (RECs) on today’s energy markets. This episode explores how robust verification, evolving market demands, and new attributes like pollinator-friendly certifications are shaping the sector. The conversation details how Clean Counts’ systems operate, the economic and policy context, and the practical implications for renewable energy producers and buyers nationwide.
Topics Covered
Clean Counts www.cleancounts.org
REC = Renewable Energy Certificate
SREC = Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (Solar Energy Certificates Market)
Clean Energy Verification
Utility
Pollinator Friendly SREC
Agrivoltaic
IPA = Illinois Power Authority
Illinois Adjustable Block Program
Voluntary vs. Compliance Markets
Net Metering
Alternative Compliance Payment
Hourly Matching / Time-based RECs
Energy Storage and RECs
Co-benefits (Pollinator, Water Quality, Tribal Lands, Localized Benefits)
Market-based Mechanisms for Clean Energy
MISO = Midcontinent Independent System Operator
Nuclear Certificates / Alternative Energy Certificates
Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Annual vs. Hourly Accounting)
Software Development for Clean Energy Tracking
Third-party Certification and Attribute Tracking
Clean Energy Standards
PPA = Power Purchase Agreement
State-by-State REC/SREC Programs
REC = Renewable Energy Certificate
SREC = Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (Solar Energy Certificates Market)
Clean Energy Verification
Utility
Pollinator Friendly SREC
Agrivoltaic
IPA = Illinois Power Authority
Illinois Adjustable Block Program
Voluntary vs. Compliance Markets
Net Metering
Alternative Compliance Payment
Hourly Matching / Time-based RECs
Energy Storage and RECs
Co-benefits (Pollinator, Water Quality, Tribal Lands, Localized Benefits)
Market-based Mechanisms for Clean Energy
MISO = Midcontinent Independent System Operator
Nuclear Certificates / Alternative Energy Certificates
Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Annual vs. Hourly Accounting)
Software Development for Clean Energy Tracking
Third-party Certification and Attribute Tracking
Clean Energy Standards
PPA = Power Purchase Agreement
State-by-State REC/SREC Programs
Reach out to Ben Gerber & Rob Davis here:
Ben’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-gerber
Ben’s Email: ben@cleancounts.org
Rob’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robdavis
Rob’s Email: rob@cleancounts.org
Website: www.cleancounts.org
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Join Sean White and Aaron Nichols as they turn the world of solar energy upside down with humor, stories, and a fresh take on education. Discover why facts and graphs aren’t enough, and how laughter and creativity can make even the most technical topics memorable. From fake ads to satirical brainstorms, this episode proves that learning about solar can be fun, engaging, and unforgettable. Tune in for a brighter perspective!
Topics Covered
Sitcom = Situation Comedy
Making Boring Stuff Fun
Graphs & Acronyms
Exact Solar
This Week in Solar
Substack www.exactsolar.substack.com
The Modern Mythmaker www.themodernmythmaker.substack.com
Podbean
Colbert Report
Solyndra
Fake Advertisement
Big Oil
Beverly Hillbillies
YouTube Channel Repurposing
Reach out to Aaron Nichols here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-nichols
Substack: www.exactsolar.substack.com
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at