Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

In this episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, host Sean White converses with Daniel Dus from Clean Tech Industry Resources (CIR). They discuss CIR's innovative approach to development and construction management in the renewable energy sector, termed as 'development as a service' and 'construction as a service'. Daniel shares insights on large-scale solar projects, including a massive 30-gigawatt project, and how CIR commoditizes project development activities to provide efficient turnkey solutions worldwide. They also discussed industry challenges, the future of solar energy, and the importance of combating misinformation about climate change. Additionally, the episode touches on the upcoming Solar Fight Night event, aimed at promoting industry collaboration and fundraising for renewable energy causes.

 

Topics Covered:

CIR = CleanTech Industry Resources

DaaS = Development as a Service

Construction Management/Construction Service

 RE+ Las Vegas

Power Up Live Stage

30 Gigawatts

DevPC Model

Turnkey systems engineering

Sarnia, Ontario Canada

Dubai

Data room

NTP = Notice to Proceed

Data Integrity Specialist

Dakota

West Virginia

Digital Twin Creation

LiDAR

NABCEP PV Associate

Solar Fight Night

Cleantechfactcheck.org

Solarfightnight.org

Run on Climate

Joe Rogan

Misinformation

MIT World3 Model

 

Reach out to Daniel Dus here:

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

Website: www.cleantechir.com

www.solarfightnight.org

 

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/ess

In this episode, Sean White talks with Wayne Feltman from VELUX about skylights and how they can help bring more daylight and fresh air into homes and buildings. They discuss the difference between solar PV and passive solar, and how skylights can make spaces brighter and more energy efficient. Wayne shares the history of VELUX, explains how modern skylights work including solar-powered and smart skylights and talks about the benefits of natural ventilation for better indoor air quality. The conversation also covers energy savings, new technology like app-controlled skylights, and tips for builders and homeowners.

 

Topics covered:

VELUX company background and history

Passive solar vs. solar PV

Benefits of skylights for daylight and ventilation

Energy efficiency and building envelopes

Natural ventilation and indoor air quality

Types of skylights (fixed, manual, solar-powered, smart)

Fire safety and egress with skylights

Solar-powered skylights and battery technology

Smart skylight controls and app integration

Shades and light control for skylights

CO2 and humidity sensors for healthy homes

Sustainability and electric vehicles at VELUX

Energy savings and automation

Skylight installation tips for builders and homeowners

 

Reach out to Wayne Feltman here:

Email address: wayne.feltman@velux.com

VELUX: www.veluxusa.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

In this episode, Sean White and Cesar Barbosa, CEO of Nu Life, break down the seven “re-”s of solar: Repurpose, Repower, Recycle, Repair, Refurbish, Retrofit, and Remediation. Discover how these strategies are shaping the future of solar projects, from giving panels a second life to tackling the challenges of decommissioning and sustainability.

 

Topics covered:

Nu Life www.nulifepower.com

PPA = Power Purchase Agreement

Repurpose: Use old panels in a new place or application.

Repower: Upgrade a system with new parts for better performance.

Recycle: Break down panels to recover materials.

Repair: Fix specific issues without major replacements.

Refurbish: Restore used panels by repairing minor parts.

Retrofit: Replace or upgrade components across a system.

Remediation: Correct larger-scale problems to restore function.

FabTech www.fabtech.net

Decommissioning

PV Cycle www.pvcycle.org

Used Solar

End of Life

Utility

Cesar Barbosa’s Articles www.linkedin.com/in/cesarbarbosa

 

Reach out to Jon Williams Here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cesarbarbosa

Nu Life Website: www.nulifepower.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/pvcms

When a battery cell heats up a lot, it can propagate to its neighboring cell and usually they do propagate on the cell level and not the battery storage unit level, but Viridi Parente has figured out how to not have cell propagation and has gone through the UL 9540A fire testing to prove it. They are working on a residential battery that will be “listed and labeled for use in habitable spaces” which nobody has ever successfully done to the best of my knowledge. This means that you would not have to follow the 2024 International Residential Code (2021 IRC with different wording), which means they can put as much as they want in any room in a house, once this is a done deal, which will probably happen in the first quarter of 2026.

 

Here it is in the IRC:

https://up.codes/viewer/mississippi/irc-2024/chapter/3/building-planning#R330.1

 

This is big news that could revolutionize energy storage.

 

Viridi Parente has two factories in historical places. The Ford Motor building in Richmond CA where Rosie the Riveter worked and was photographed during WW2 and also the other factory in Buffalo NY was a GM factory built in 1920 which was also building tanks for WW2, so besides kicking Nazi’s butts, these buildings will help with the modernization of the grid.

 

Jon and Sean also talk about virtual power plants (VPPs) and the internet of things (IoT). They cover how using energy storage can lead to a lot less current on wires and how you can run 40 houses on a single 200A service with the right amount of energy storage and coordination.

 

Topics covered:

Viridi Parente www.viridiparente.com

Nikola Tesla

George Westinghouse

AC = Alternating Current

DC = Direct Current

HVDC = High Voltage Direct Current

Arc Lighting

Electric AC Lighting

Devil in the White City (Historical Fiction Book)

Thomas Edison

Battery

Inverter

Pack System

UL Listing

UL 9540A

Preventing Cell to Cell Propagation

Sewage Lift Station

Rosie the Riveter

Transmission And Distribution Deferral

ESS = Energy Storage System

Jigar Shah

EV = Electric Vehicle

Energy Density

LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate

NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide

Thermal Runaway

Cheese Cloth Test

IRC = International Residential Code

VPP = Virtual Power Plant

IoT = Internet of Things

Balcony Solar

18650 Battery

CSA = Canadian Standards Association

EV Charging

California Olympics

Tax Credit

Energy Revolution

 

Reach out to Jon Williams Here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jon-m-williams

Viridi Parente 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

www.solarsean.com/sfev 

Curious about how residential solar could actually get cheaper, and what’s holding it back? In this episode, host Sean White speaks with Ravi Mikkelsen, CEO of Atmos Financial, to explore the realities behind solar pricing, industry challenges, and how smarter financing can make solar accessible for more people. Whether you are a homeowner, industry professional, or simply curious about clean energy, this conversation offers valuable insights.

 

Topics covered:

Atmos Financial www.joinatmos.com

Grandma Maxing

Solar Bros

Transparency to Homeowners

Tax Credit

Atmosphere

Financing

Banks

Credit Unions

Loan / Lending

Solar and Storage

Grid

Utility

Battery

C10

C46

Ravi Mikkelsen’s Origin Story

Tesla

AHJ = Authority Having Jurisdiction

Standardization

NEC = National Electrical Code

Unethical Salespeople

Equipment Cost

DIY Solar

Smarter E / Intersolar

Balcony Solar

 

Reach out to Ravi Mikkelsen Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ravimikkelsen

Atmos Financial: www.joinatmos.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/40hrpv 

In this episode, Sean White talks with Nick Tumilowicz, Director of Product Management Solutions at Itron, about how smart meters and distributed energy resources are changing the way we use electricity. They discuss the role of grid edge technology, virtual power plants, and how consumers can save money and help the grid by managing devices like solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers. The conversation covers practical tips for homeowners, the future of energy management, and how new technology is making the grid smarter and more efficient.

 

Topics covered:

Itron www.na.itron.com

Gas

Water

Electricity

Grid Edge

Solar and Storage

Itron Meter

Grid

Distributed Energy

Battery

Energy Forecasting

Meter

DER = Distributed Energy Resources

EV = Electric Vehicle

Consumer

Utility

VPP =Virtual Power Plant

Nuclear

Central Generation

AMR = Advanced Meter Reading

AMI = Advanced Metering Infrastructure

PG&E = Pacific Gas and Electric Company

EV Charging

Energy Management System

Autonomous Load Following or Automated Load Management

NEC = National Electrical Code

Transformer

Utility Programs

Bi-Directional EV

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

ESS = Energy Storage System

Automated Program

HEMS = Home Energy Management Systems

Smart Appliances

Emergency Load Response Program

Mini Split

Heat Pump

Voltage Sag

Data Center

ASES = American Solar Energy Society

 

Reach out to Nick Tumilowicz Here:

Linkedin: 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

Join Sean White as he talks with John Perlin, a well-known historian and author, about the history of solar energy and how it connects to human progress. John shares stories from his books and career, touching on everything from ancient solar use to the role of forests in shaping our world. It’s a laid-back, insightful episode for anyone into solar, history, or just learning something new.

 

Topics covered:

Intersolar

Eicke Weber

UC Berkley

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

Smarter E

Hermann Scheer

Hans Josef Fell

Feed in Tariff

NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory

International Solar Energy Society

University of California Santa Barbara

Monty Python

Keeling Curve

Solar Water Heater

Roman, Greek & China History

Heliocaminus

Photovoltaic History

Bell Labs

Calvin Fuller

Daryl Chapin

Gerald Pearson

Becquerel

Thermodynamics

Albert Einstein

Solar Selenium Photovoltaic

Solid-State Solar Cell

Pier 39 Fisherman’s Wharf

UC Berkeley Alumni Camp

Barrington Hall`

Lexicon

The Wood Age

Literature

The Great Valves of Roam

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Ship

Solar Thermal

Iron Horses

Coal & Charcoal

UCC Monitor

USS Monitor

CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack)

John Ericsson

A Golden Thread: 2,500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology

From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity

Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy

A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization

Patagonia

Eike Webber (Herman Scheer 80^th Birthday) Podcast www.podcasts.apple.com

 

Reach out to John Perlin Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/john-perlin

Website: www.aforestjourney.com

John Perlin’s books: http://aforestjourney.com/  

 

Links to John Perlin’s book reviews:
Let It Shine: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/seven-of-the-greatest-solar-stories-over-the-millennia 

 

A Forest Journey:
https://botany.one/2023/05/perlins-potentially-perfect-plants-and-people-publication/  

https://time.com/6969478/forests-human-history/  

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/10/interview-with-john-perlin/  

 

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 Dan Lotano, GoodLeap’s Chief Operating Officer, talks about the Treasury guidance that is good news, because it offers a smooth glidepath, rather than a hard landing.

 

This podcast was recorded on August 15, 2025 at 11AM Pacific.

 

Additionally, we talk about GoodLeap and their involvement with virtual power plants (VPPs), solar and storage financing, home energy, the GoodLeap app, Connecticut Green Bank and a lot more.

 

Topics covered:
GoodLeap platform and services

Treasury Guidance Update

Solar Coaster

IRA = Inflation Reduction Act

Energy Incentives

Domestic Manufacturing & Jobs

ITC = Investment Tax Credit

Residential Credit Expiration

Corporate vs Homeowner Tax Credits

VPPs = Virtual Power Plants

Financial Innovation in Solar

Utility Interconnection Timelines

AI’s Role in the industry

Future of Incentives

 

Reach out to Daniel Lotano here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lotano

GoodLeap: www.goodleap.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 host Sean White as he welcomes Stephanie Choi Brookes of Emtel Energy USA to discuss a revolutionary new approach to energy storage. Discover how graphene technology could reshape the future of power and hear stories from the front lines of innovation. Don’t miss this insightful conversation about what’s next in solar and storage!

 

Topics covered:

Solid State Graphene Based Electrostatic Storage

Emtel Energy USA www.emtelenergyusa.com

Masdar

Capacitor

Super Capacitor

Graphene

ESS = Energy Storage System

Energy Density

LDES = Long Duration Energy Storage

Li-ion battery = Lithium-ion Battery

Battery

Silicon

Diamond

Industrial Diamond

Waste-based graphene

Utility

Duke Energy 

Dominion Energy www.dominionenergy.com

Con Edison www.coned.com

EPRI = Electric Power Research Institute www.epri.com

EMWALL

Wall Mounted ESS

C&I Commercial and Industrial

EV = Electric Vehicle

EV Charging

 

Reach out to Stephanie Choi Brookes Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-choi-brookes

Emtel Energy USA: www.emtelenergyusa.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, Sean White talks with Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, about the latest advances in solar panels for space. They cover how thin-film solar technology is changing satellite design, why weight and flexibility matter in orbit, and what makes space solar different from panels used on Earth. Paul also shares insights on manufacturing, industry trends, and the future of solar power in space. If you’re interested in solar energy, satellites, or new technology, this episode has something for you.

 

Topics covered:

Ascent Solar

Mark Mrohs

Space X

Starlink

Project Kuiper

Space Station

Gallium Arsenide

CIGS = Copper Indium Gallium Selenide

Thin Film

Watts per Weight VS Watts per Square meter

Solar in Space

Satellite

LEO = Low Earth Orbit

Crystalline Silicon

ASES Conference = American Solar Energy Society Conference

Geosynchronous Orbit

Hubble Space Telescope

Concentrated Solar

SBSP = Space-Based Solar Power

Vanguard 1

Sputnik

Sesna 150

Solar Cooling in Space

NASDAQ = National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

NASDAQ: ASTI = Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.

Moon

 

Reach out to Paul Warley Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-warley

 

Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean