Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

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

In this episode, recorded at the SNEC Conference in Shanghai, the world’s largest solar and energy storage event, Sean meets with Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, former member of the German Parliament and Hydrogen Commissioner for the German government. Dr. Kaufman is now a consultant in the private sector and co-head of the hydrogen sector of the Clean Tech Business Club. They discussed the power of international collaboration through the Clean Tech Business Club. How hydrogen is transforming the industries: steel, shipping, aviation and more. The challenges and opportunities of transporting and storing hydrogen and why ammonia is the key for global hydrogen logistics.

 

Topics Covered:

Hydrogen Economy

German Parliament

CleanTech Business Club

Hans Josef-Fell

Green Party = Conservative Party

Tomasz Slusarz

Hydrogen Plants

Hydrogen in Mobility Sector

Green Molecule

Green Hydrogen

Ammonia

Fertilizers

Shipping the sunshine

Compressed hydorgen

Natural Gas Pipeline

Synthetic Aviation Fuel

 

You can reach Dr. Stefan Kaufmann here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-stefan-kaufmann   

Website: 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

In this episode, Sean White interviews Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicrogrid, who brings a unique perspective with a business degree and an electrical engineering degree. They dive into the intricacies of microgrids, energy as a service (EaaS), and the future of renewable energy. Topics include the unique business model of SolMicrogrid, the role of batteries in energy storage, the impact of community choice aggregation, demand response programs, and new initiatives like the Energy as a Service Partners Program. They also discuss energy tariffs, load shedding, peak demand management, and more.

 

Topics covered:

SolMicrogrid www.solmicrogrid.com

SaaS = Software as a Service

EaaS = Energy as a Service

Microgrid

Resiliency

Grid

IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

MID = Microgrid Interconnect Device

SDG&E = San Diego Gas & Electric

PG&E = Pacific Gas and Electric

Battery

ESS = Energy Storage System

SMA

Inverter

Peak Demand

Utility

Tariff

NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

Energy Charge

Demand Charge

DER = Distributed Energy Resources

Array to Microgrid

CCA = Community Choice Aggregation

PPA = Power Purchase Agreement

C&I = Commercial and Industrial

Morgan Stanley

JP Morgan

Incentives

AHJ = Authorities Having Jurisdiction

Demand Response Program

Duck Curve

Trackers

Energy as a Service Partners Program

Microgrid Knowledge Conference

EEI = Edison Electric Institute

Edison Electric Institute Key Accounts

 

Reach out to Kirk Edelman Here:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-edelman/

SolMicrogrid www.solmicrogrid.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 interviews Grant Gunnison, founder, and CEO of Zero Homes. They discuss Grant's innovative company, which aims to simplify home upgrades and electrification for homeowners through a seamless digital platform. The conversation covers topics including nomadic lifestyles, the future of solar and energy storage, privacy concerns, and Grant's background in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT. They also touch upon Grant's previous work with NASA on space systems and the potential impacts of advanced home-energy solutions.

 

Topics covered:

Zero Homes

SNEC

RE+ = Renewable Energy Plus

AWEA = American Wind Energy Association

ACP = American Clean Power

Rooftop Solar

Utility Scale Solar

Grid

Net Metering

Democracy

Elon and Trump Spat

Home Upgrades

Digitized Home

Homeowners and Contractors

NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Flat Earth

Outbound Salesperson

Laser Communication Terminal

Earth Imaging

NPS = Net Promoter Score

Smart Panels

Smart Home

Grid Defection

Natural Gas

Batteries

Fossil Fuel

Electrifying Homes

Starlink

Zero Homes App Android www.play.google.com

Zero Homes App IOS apps.apple.com

 

Reach out to Grant Gunnison Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/grantgunnison

Zero Homes Website: www.zerohomes.io

 

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

In this episode of the Sean White Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, recorded at the world's largest solar and storage conference, SNEC, host Sean White interviews Willis Ren, the marketing director for Osda Solar. They discuss the history and growth of Osda Solar, which was founded in 2009, and its extensive manufacturing capabilities including PV cells, modules, and energy storage systems. The conversation delves into the global reach of Osda Solar, their focus on markets like MENA, Southeast Asia, and Brazil, and their ability to provide both OEM, OBM and ODM services. He also explains different inverter types and their applications from residential to utility-scale projects, and the particularities of balcony solar markets in different regions.

 

Topics Covered:

Osda Solar

Growth of SNEC

Osta Solar's Global Reach and Product Range

Manufacturing and Production Capacity

Introduction to OEM and Branding

Explaining  OEM, OBM, and ODM

Original Equipment Manufacturer = manufacturer for another company and put their label on it

Original Brand Manufacturer = you put your own label

Original Design Manufacturer = OEM plus design

Residential and Commercial (C&I) Inverters

MENA = Middle East and North Africa

Manufacturing Capacity Definition = How much you can manufacture if operating 24/7/365 in a year

Manufacturing Processes and Capabilities

Inverters and Product Range

Balcony Solar Market

 

Reach out to Willis Ren here:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/WillisRen

Website: www.osdasol.com.cn/en/ 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OSDA2009

 

Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean Getting a NABCEP certification gives you job security.

In this episode, Sean White talks with Ignacio Carellan, founding director of Inverter Advisor, a company dedicated to helping large-scale solar projects avoid costly inverter failures. They explore the growing importance of grid-forming inverters, the role of reliability testing, and key considerations when designing utility-scale systems. With insights from real-world projects across the US, Europe, and Australia, this episode highlights what it takes to build more resilient solar infrastructure.

 

Topics covered:

Grid Forming Inverter

Grid Following Inverter

Inverter Advisor www.inverteradvisor.com

HeatSpring Classes

Utility-Scale Inverters

String Inverters

Central Inverters

NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

Solyndra

MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking

PCB = Printed Circuit Board

Spanish Blackout
Stand-alone Inverter

Synthetic Inertia

ESIG = Energy Systems Integration Group www.youtube.com/@energysystemsintegrationgroup

ERCOT = Electric Reliability Council of Texas

Smarter E / Intersolar

NEC = National Electrical Code

PCB = Printed Circuit Board

System Availability

Reliability Testing

Tropical Climates

Root Cause Analysis

LCOE = Levelized Cost of Energy

Tariffs

Inverter Warranty

Microinverter

Three-Phase Systems

 

Reach out to Ignacio Carellan Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-carellan

Website: www.inverteradvisor.com

 

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

Avery Dennison makes solar tape!  In this episode, Jenna Miles talks about how their specialty tapes are finding new roles in solar panel manufacturing, helping with things like ease of installation, cleaner production, and design flexibility. It's a look at how materials from outside the solar world are quietly contributing to innovation in the industry.

 

Topics covered:

Avery Dennison

Labels

Solar Tape

Foam Tape

Adhesive and Carrier

PSA = Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive

Acrylic Based Adhesive

Solvent Based Adhesive

Solar DIY

Solar Made in America

 

Reach out to Jenna Miles Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-golic-miles-11316b68/ 

Website: www.averydennison.com

 

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 and special guest Stephen Smith, CEO of Solvida Energy Group, talked about what’s going on in the solar world today, including tax credits, market changes, and new ideas helping the industry grow. They also touch on policy shifts and how solar is spreading around the world.

 

Key Topics:

History of the investment tax credit (ITC)

Impact of losing the investment tax credit  (ITC)

Politics behind solar incentives

Rising electricity prices and grid reliability issues

Statistics on solar adoption in Australia

Issues with tax equity and financing

Project acceleration at the end of the year

Executive orders affecting solar industry

How the Industry Handles Political Shifts

China’s Influence on the Solar Industry

California and New Jersey rebates

German Feed in Tariff

Recycling of batteries and other minerals

Encouragement for the solar industry

 

Reach out Stephen Smith here:

Solvida Design Website: www.solvidadesign.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjsmithjr

 

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 sit down with Ken Bossong, executive director of the Sun Day Campaign and a clean energy advocate who’s been active since the very first Earth Day in 1970. With over 50 years of experience pushing for renewable energy solutions, Ken shares stories from the early solar movement, the rise of wind and solar power, and why nuclear might not be the climate solution some think it is. From his time in the Peace Corps to working with Ralph Nader, Ken has seen the evolution of energy policy up close and he’s not slowing down.

 

Topics covered:

Sun-Day Campaign

Earth Day

Podcast with Aidan Charron of Earthday.org www.podcasts.apple.com

Fossil Fuels

Nuclear Power

Solar Price

Utility

Solar and Wind

Natural Gas

Coal

Climate Change

Nuclear Waste

ESS = Energy Storage System

Decentralized Systems

Smarter E

Rooftop Solar

Transmission

Nuclear Fusion & Nuclear Fission

Peace Corps

Energy Policy

Chernobyl Fallout

Offshore Wind

 

Reach out to Ken Bossong Here:

Email: sun-day-ampaign@hotmail.com

 

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

Sean welcomes Ben Batchelder, Multi-Family Engineering Manager at Aspen Power, for an in-depth conversation about the solar energy industry. They discuss Ben’s career journey, from his early days at Sunlight and Power to his current role. Topics include the evolution of solar technology, the distinction between residential and commercial solar projects, the significance of energy storage, and innovative solutions in the field. Ben also shares fascinating experiences from his time working in Antarctica and highlights the importance of designing for the long term in solar energy projects.

 

Topics covered:

SLP = Sunlight and Power www.sunlightandpower.com

C&I = Commercial and Industrial

SatCon Technology Corp

SNEC www.snec-pv.com

SolarEdge www.solaredge.com/us

UL 3741, Rapid Shutdown, and Firefighter Safety

Legacy Systems

Power Garden

Sean’s Solar Training Center

Recycling old modules

Solar thermal vs. PV

Decline of solar hot water

Pool thermal systems

Ben’s experience in Antarctica

Life at McMurdo Station

Shift to large-scale PV

NEM 3.0 and electricity rates

Demand charges and storage

Energy monitoring strategies

PPAs and system ownership

Site visits and real-world issues

Bad solar practices in the industry

Aspen Power Solar Long-term design mindset

Find out more on:

Aspen Power Solar Website: www.aspenpower.com

Episode with Michael Shonka: www.podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/michael-shonka-solar-thermal-and-solar-in-the-80s/id1441958371?i=1000708495417

 

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