Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

Ravi Mikkelsen of Atmos Financial examines why cash and loan purchases remain vital in residential solar despite the expired tax credit. The discussion covers FEOC equipment pricing gaps, predatory lease buyout structures, dealer fee commissions, and door-to-door sales practices that inflate costs. Mikkelsen advocates for tax credit elimination, pricing transparency, and reaching a $2 per watt national benchmark for residential installations.

 

Topics Covered

Cash vs Financing

Solar Tax Credits

Lease Buyout Traps

Dealer Fee Commissions

Door-to-Door Sales

Pricing Transparency

Atmos Financial

$2/Watt Benchmark

Tariffs and Equipment Costs

International Solar Pricing

FEOC = Foreign Entity of Concern                                                                   

NEM = Net Energy Metering

VPP = Virtual Power Plant

TPO = Third-Party Ownership

Reach out to Ravi Mikkelsen here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ravimikkelsen
Website: www.joinatmos.com

Email: ravi@joinatmos.com

Previous podcast with Ravi Mikkelsen

• Apple Podcast
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Podbean

 

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/pvts

Frederick Brooks, founder of Pacific Panel Cleaners in Hawaii, discusses solar photovoltaic operations and maintenance, covering proper panel cleaning methods, deionized cleaning solutions, and common installation errors. He explains his certifications in energy management and auditing, then details how thermal imaging and drone technology identify failed diodes, malfunctioning microinverters, and soiling patterns across solar arrays, improving maintenance efficiency and warranty claims.

 

Topics Covered

Pacific Panel Cleaners

Solar Panel Cleaning

Deionized Cleaning Solutions

O&M Contracts

PPA Responsibilities

CEM Certification

CEA Certification

Thermal Imaging

Drone Inspections

Diode Failure Detection

Hawaii Solar Boom

Installation Quality Issues

Employee Training

O&M = Operations and Maintenance

PPA = Power Purchase Agreement

CEM = Certified Energy Manager

CEA = Certified Energy Auditor

 

Reach out to Frederick Brooks here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fred-brooks
Website: www.pacificpanelcleaners.com

Email: fred@pacificpanelcleaners.com                                                    

Podcast with Eric Woodruff CEM

• Apple Podcast
  

 

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/esip

Gil Hough, Executive Director of TenneSEIA, discussing the upcoming TenneSEIA Valley Solar Plus Storage Conference scheduled for September 2nd and 3rd in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gil explained that the conference has been moved earlier in the year and will feature Sean as the featured trainer for a full-day training session on Thursday. They discussed the significant growth in solar and energy storage projects in the Tennessee Valley region, including utility-scale projects, local power company initiatives, and residential installations. Gil highlighted the new TVA Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that will be approved in August and its potential impact on the market, as well as the booming energy storage market, particularly with local power companies implementing substation-level storage projects. The conversation covered various industry topics including manufacturing growth in the region, data center development, and quantum technology applications, with a special panel planned on quantum technology and its connection to solar and storage.

 

Topics Covered

TenneSEIA Conference

Energy Storage Growth

Residential Solar Market

TVA Federal Structure

Rare Earth Materials

Conference Registration

Training Track

Solar Manufacturing

Data Centers

Quantum Computing

US Competitiveness

TVA = Tennessee Valley Authority

EPB = Electric Power Board

Manufacturing Tours

IRP = Integrated Resource Plan

Local Power Companies

RFP = Request for Proposals

 

Reach out to Gil Hough here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gilhough/
Website: www.tenneseiasolar.com/

Email: execdirector@tenneseiasolar.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/esipexam

Scott Wharton, CEO of Tandem PV, discusses his company's tandem perovskite silicon solar panel technology, which recently achieved a record 30.4 percent efficiency. He explains how a thin perovskite layer boosts power output, lowers manufacturing costs, and supports domestic production. The conversation also covers utility scale deployment, rising demand from data centers, manufacturing tax credits, and the future of solar energy in the United States.

 

Topics Covered

Tandem PV Origin

Perovskite Technology

Solar Panel Efficiency

Silicon Cell Integration

Company Board Members                                                                   

Panel Degradation Testing

Solar Manufacturing Timeline

Utility-Scale Solar

Silicon Valley Talent

US Manufacturing Tax Credits

Data Center Demand

Solar Cost Reduction

Bifacial Solar Panels

Automated Factory Production

Future Efficiency Roadmap
PV = Photovoltaic

IPP = Independent Power Producer

SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association
IRA = Inflation Reduction Act

Podcast with Dick Swanson

• Apple Podcast
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Pandora
  
• Podbean

 

Reach out to Scott Wharton here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scottwharton/
Website: www.tandempv.com/

Email: scott@tandempv.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/esip

Thomas Stubblefield, a NABCEP-certified solar installer who travels across multiple states (Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois) to rescue and repair failing solar systems. Thomas explained that he has handled over 300 service calls in the past year, with 100% resolution rate, helping homeowners whose systems were installed by now-bankrupt companies like Power Home Solar and Pink Energy. He described finding numerous installation issues including improper wiring, squirrel damage covered with electrical tape, and dangerous electrical conditions, with some systems sitting incomplete for up to five years. Thomas emphasized that homeowners should never sign job completion forms until systems are fully operational and producing power, and recommended checking NABCEP certification and local contractor licensing boards when selecting solar installers.

 

Topics Covered

Orphan solar systems

Company bankruptcies

Job completion form scam

Dangerous wiring hazards

Homeowner financial ruin

Contractor license verification

Solar system rescues

Yelp review trust

Third-party ownership (TPO)

Multi-state service coverage

Roof damage issues

Stolen SolarEdge home runs

Unlicensed electrician errors

Solar panel shading

Design tools (Aurora/PVWatts)

Koala Solar Pros branding

 

Reach out to Thomas Stubblefield here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/koalallc/

Website: www.koalasolarpros.com/

Email: support@koalasolarpros.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/pva

Eric Woodruff, a PhD and CEM who served as past president of the Association of Energy Engineers. Eric explained the CEM (Certified Energy Manager) program, which has been around since 1981 and is recognized in 100 countries, serving as a foundational course covering energy management across buildings, industrial systems, and power systems. They discussed technical topics including power factor correction, the California duck curve showing 66% renewable grid power on many days, and the benefits of solar installations, with Eric sharing his experience getting 15% returns on solar investments. The conversation also covered Eric's international work training energy professionals in countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and the Philippines, and his belief that energy efficiency should be non-political and focused on financial benefits for everyone.

 

Topics Covered

Keynote speaker interviews

Sailing and pilots                                                   

Power factor billing

Variable frequency drives

Harmonics and filters

International energy training

Clean energy politics
Premier Program

Solar investment returns
Presidents and politics

AEE = Association of Energy Engineers www.aeecenter.org/

CEM = Certified Energy Manager

EV = Electric vehicle emissions
kVA = Kilovolt-Amps apparent power

Reach out to Eric Woodruff here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ericwoodroof/

Association of Energy Engineers: www.aeecenter.org/

Profitable Green Solutions: www.profitablegreensolutions.com/
Email: eric@ericwoodroof.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/pvipexam

Bill Taylor, CEO of DCE Solar, DCE Services, and DCE Design, discusses building three complementary companies spanning solar structure manufacturing, installation, and electrical design. He explains his commitment to domestic steel sourcing, his people-first management philosophy, and hiring based on behavior rather than credentials.

 

Topics Covered

DCE Company Overview
Solar Structure Manufacturing
Domestic Steel Sourcing
Company Culture & Leadership
Hiring Philosophy
Employee Retention
Solar Module Trends
Battery Storage
Tax Credits & Incentives
AI Power Demand
EPC = Engineering, Procurement, Construction
IPP = Independent Power Producer

Carport

 

Reach out to Bill Taylor here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/billetaylor/
Website: www.dcesolar.com

Email: btaylor@dcesolar.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/pvip

Stanislav Kvochak, a commercial project engineer at Exact Solar, about solar energy projects at nuclear power plants, particularly focusing on the Chernobyl site. Stanislav shared his experience visiting Chernobyl in 2016 as part of a company tour, describing the decommissioning process and the presence of a 1-megawatt solar installation that continues to operate there. They discussed how Ukraine's energy landscape has shifted due to the war, with increased focus on decentralized solar and energy storage systems, and Stanislav explained safety procedures for working in radioactive areas including dosimeter monitoring and security protocols during air raid alerts. The conversation also covered Ukraine's historical reliance on nuclear power, current solar installations across the country, and recent developments including Ukraine’s contract with Holtec International for small modular reactors.

Topics Covered

Solar Chernobyl Project

Chernobyl Nuclear Plant History

New Safe Confinement

Chernobyl During the Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine's Grid Resilience Through Solar

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant                                                                 

Solar at Nuclear Sites

SMR = Small Modular Reactor

 

Reach out to Stanislav Kvochak here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stas-kvochak/

Website: www.linkedin.com/company/exactsolar/

Email: stanislav.kvochak@exactsolar.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/esip

Aaron Thurlow, Chief Commercial Officer at Caelux, about the company’s perovskite solar technology. Aaron shared his career journey from working at SunPower during its rise to market dominance to his current role at Caelux, where they are developing double-power-layer solar modules that can increase efficiency by 3% absolute (from 24% to 27%) while providing cost benefits including a 20% reduction in levelized cost of energy for utility-scale projects. They discussed the technical aspects of perovskite technology, including how it captures different parts of the solar spectrum that crystalline silicon cannot, and its potential applications in space, residential, and commercial markets. Aaron emphasized that efficiency remains the single biggest lever for driving down overall system costs and enabling 24/7 solar power through reduced storage requirements, positioning Caelux 's technology as a key enabler for the industry's continued growth and the transition to more distributed and localized manufacturing

Topics Covered

Caelux Commercial Readiness
SunPower Market Launch

Power Optimizer Origins

Solar Efficiency History

Solar Cost Reduction

24/7 Solar Future

Localized Manufacturing

Perovskite

Dick Swanson

Solar Glass

Thin Film

Space Based Solar

Triple Junction Cells

Silicon Efficiency Limits

Energy Storage Integration
CapEx = Capital Expenditure

BIPV = Building-Integrated Photovoltaics

HJT = Heterojunction Technology

TopCon = Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contac

DC = Direct Current

NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory

EV = Electric Vehicle

 

Reach out to Aaron Thurlow here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aaronthurlow

Website: www.caelux.com

Email: aaron.thurlow@caelux.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/esip

In this episode we have Shawn Shaw, founder and CEO of Camelot Energy Group, discussing energy storage and renewable energy development. Shawn explained how Camelot helps investors, asset owners, and project developers build reliable clean energy projects, highlighting challenges with community resistance to renewable energy installations including over 200 energy storage moratoria across the United States. The conversation covered technical aspects of energy storage safety, with Shawn sharing that commercial and utility-scale batteries experience fires at approximately 0.3% per year, similar to residential house fires, and discussing how safety standards have improved significantly since incidents like the Moss Landing fire. They also explored historical perspectives on energy storage, from medieval mill ponds to modern battery technology, and discussed how energy storage benefits extend beyond renewable energy integration to improving grid reliability regardless of energy source. Shawn mentioned his recent book publication on energy storage systems by the International Code Council and his work training professionals through Heat Spring platform, while both participants agreed to potentially collaborate on future podcast episodes covering the history of energy storage

Topics Covered

Camelot Energy Group www.camelotenergygroup.com

Moss Landing Incident

Thermal Runaway
History of Energy
Camelot Name Origin

King Arthur Inspiration

Medieval Energy Storage

Mill Pond History

Genghis Khan Energy

Firefighter Training

Project Development

Investor Decision-Making

Clean Energy Mission
Big Bang Philosophy

Electricity Bill Costs

Grid Infrastructure Overbuilding

BESS = Battery Energy Storage System

AHJ = Authority Having Jurisdiction

UL 9540A

Reach out to Shawn Shaw here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shawnshawpe

Website: www.camelotenergygroup.com

Email: shawn.shaw@camelotenergygroup.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/esip