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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
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
NABCEP Energy Storage Installation Professional Lesson
This podcast is an assignment from Sean’s 40-hour NABCEP Advanced Energy Storage Certification Training class on HeatSpring!
It is recommended by anyone in the industry to get a NABCEP certification for job security and to grow! If you are not already in the industry, you can also learn a few things from this podcast, which is a lesson on how to communicate energy storage with customers.
Sean is known for making technical subjects fun and as simple as possible, so people can learn and pass exams while enjoying themselves.
Check out Sean’s HeatSpring classes at www.HeatSpring.com/sean or go to www.solarSEAN.com to find out about his online classes, in-person workshops and more!
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
Sean has been on Tim’s podcast a number of times and it was time for Tim to be on Sean’s podcast!
Both Tim and Sean have classes on HeatSpring and see each other at all of the big and many smaller solar conferences in the US. In this podcast they talk about various topics including:
Topics covered:
History of Clean Power Hour
Solar Works For Illinois
PV Magazine
John Weaver
RE+
CPS America = Chint Power Systems Americas www.chintpowersystems.com
SUNVOY www.sunvoy.com
O&M = Operation and Management
ESS = Energy Storage Systems
Battery
Sean Whites Solar and Energy Podcast history
Sean’s Radio 690
AI = Artificial Intelligence
Google Notebook LM
Tesla Optimus
Going to Mars
Exploring Uncharted Lands
Fossil Fuel
The Manhattan Alien Abduction
Tim Montague’s Heatspring
NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners www.nabcep.org
Online Learning
ESIP = Energy Storage Installation Professional
Net Metering
Non Exporting
VPP = Virtual Power Plant
Schweitzer Relay
C&I Solar = Commercial and Industrial Solar
Elexity www.elexity.io
Goat Yoga
Reach out Tim Montague here:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cleanpowerhour
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@cleanpowerhour
HeatSpring: www.heatspring.com/courses
Clean Power Hour Website: www.cleanpowerhour.com
Tim Montague's Previous Podcasts with Sean White:
May 10, 2022: www.youtube.com
August 10, 2023: www.youtube.com
December 10, 2024: www.youtube.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 Jan 05, 2025
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
In this interview we talk about reusing and recycling solar PV modules (panels) and other products.
Topics Covered:
Net-metering Policy
Solar Map = map to find recyclers or reuse partners
RE-X = Reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or repurposing
NorCal Solar
Arco Solar Modules
1954 Bell Labs PV Module
SNEC
Crystalline Silicon
Cadmium Telluride PV Modules
Perovskites
AB2 and AB1238
EPR = Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation for Solar Panel
Permanent Recycling Program
RE-X Prize = This three-phase competition is designed to develop innovative ways to extend the lifetimes of products or parts via reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or repurposing (“Re-X”) before recycling
California Product Stewardship Council won during the Phase 1 of the project. The prize was used as funds to create solar map
Reach out Keene and Brasch here:
www.calpsc.org/cpsc-solarstewardship
info@calpsc.org
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
In this episode Sean learns all about quinone flow batteries, ferrocyanide, and a lot more, including how desalination and air conditioning are related and can use the same membrane redox-flow technology.
It was a pleasure to have a very intelligent guest with degrees from Harvard and Stanford. We will learn what a flow battery is and its benefits and how they expect to be a greater part of the renewable mix in the future.
The water-based technology is different from the acid-based vanadium redox flow batteries, which require vanadium, and much of the vanadium comes from Russia, while quinone can easily be made anywhere, lessening dependence on faraway places, which fits with where our economy seems to be headed.
Here are some of the topics we cover:
What is a flow battery?
Thermal runaway
What is LDES? Your definition and benefits
Different types of LDES
Flow batteries benefits
Benefits vs Vanadium or Zinc Bromine or others
Full to no charge how many times
How long does the electrolyte and membrane last?
Toxicity
Power block cost
DOE 250/kW
40/kWh
What did you do with that $100
Can you theoretically use electrolyte for an EV?
How did you get DOE funding?
What is quinone
Pioneered at Harvard
Energy density and specific energy?
R/T efficiency
Ferrocyanide and quinone
Temperatures
Xerox Parc = Palo Alto Research Center
Redox Flow Desalination for Xerox
Beh invented and commercialized a redox flow desalination technology as a researcher at Xerox PARC
Majove Energy Systems
Reverse Electrodialysis
Supply Chain
Liquid Desiccant Airconditioning
Water harvesting
Reach Eugene Beh here:
Company website: www.quinoenergy.com
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/eugbeh
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
In this podcast we talk about a type of solar glass that contains a semitransparent layer of perovskite thin film solar tech that you are encouraged to put on top of your crystalline silicon modules to make a hybrid multijunction solar sandwich. The perovskite catches more of the blue side of the light spectrum and lets the red side of the spectrum that crystalline silicon likes through to get the best of both worlds.
This tech is made in Southern California with real rocket scientists.
Scott has a history with Flex, Nextracker and a lot or important companies in the industry.
Topics covered:
Perovskites
ABX3
Multijunction
Monolithic Tandem
Active Glass
Crystalline Silicon
Thin Film Solar
Sanyo
Panasonic
Hetero Junction Technology
Bifacial Solar
TopCon PERC = Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact
Mono PERC
PERC = Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact
IBC = Interdigitated Back Contact
Caelux Industry
Bandgap perovskite in the future
Vacuum Technology
JPL = NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NexTracker
South East Asian operations
Tariffs
IRA = Inflation Reduction Act
Perovskite’s Technology advancements at Caelux
Caelux customers
Larger modules
Flex Company
Scott’s career at Flex
Triple and Quadruple Junction
Founder of Caleux - John Iannelli
Comparison of Perovskites Initiatives of US vs China
RE+
SNEC
Reach out Scott Graybeal here:
Website: www.caelux.com
Caelux Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/caelux-corporation
News: www.caelux.com/news
Blog: www.caelux.com/blog/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/scottgraybeal
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
PACE was first developed to creatively “finance” solar installations via property taxes, which has evolved over the years. Listen to Sean and Mike talk about the PACE program in Florida.
Be sure to see if there is a PACE program in your area and you can see all the renewable energy incentives at www.dsireusa.org
Topics Discussed:
PACE = Property Accessed Clean Energy
Financing
Property Tax Bill
Hurricane Hardening
Renewable Energy
Loan
Credit Score
Solicitation
PACE Eligibility in Florida
PACE into Commercial and Residential
Florida PACE www.floridapace.gov
Tax
PACE in other states
PPE = Power Purchase Agreement
Mortgage
Reach out Mike Moran here:
Website: www.floridapace.gov
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoranflorida
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Dec 08, 2024
Sunday Dec 08, 2024
An energy storage system (ESS) was always something that included an inverter…. Until now. Tune in and listen to this fun conversation with Sequoya and Sean as they shoot the breeze about how cool this new UL 9540 Edition 3 standard is and how it saves money by not having to get tested with every individual inverter.
Sequoya is also on the California Solar and Storage Association Board of Directors, so send them all your money! They are very important!!
Topics Discussed:
Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions www.energy.briggsandstratton.com
DC only ESS = Direct Current only Energy Storage Systems
NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar Energy Association www.norcalsolar.org
CALSSA = California Solar and Storage Association www.calssa.org
UL 9540 A
UL 9540
LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Battery
Lead Acid Battery
SOC = State of Charge
AEE Solar
Backwoods Solar
48-volt Lithium-Ion Phosphate Battery
Cylindrical Primary Cell Factor
UL 1741
SimpliPHI 6.6 Battery System
Sol-Ark
Off-Grid Solar
Propagation
Stand Alone Battery under UL 9540
IFC = International Fire Code
IRC = International Residential Code
NEC = National Electrical Code
NFPA 855 = National Fire Protection Association (Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems)
UL 9540 edition 3
Electromagnetic Pulse
SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association
Distributed Energy
D Grid
Reach out Sequoya here:
Website: www.energy.briggsandstratton.com
Email: sales@briggsandstratton.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 Dec 01, 2024
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Sean White interviews Paul Bui from Fronius, discussing the company’s history, innovations in welding and solar technologies, new product lines including the Gen 24 hybrid inverters, and the future of energy management. They touch on Fronius' sustainable practices, industry impact, and plans for integrating renewable energy solutions, including energy storage and potential developments in EV chargers and virtual power plants. The conversation sheds light on advancements in solar inverter technologies and Fronius' commitment to sustainability.
topics covered:
Fronius www.fronius.com
Welding
“Energy Thieves”
Inverter
Hybrid Inverter
Robotics
Power Electronics
CMT Machine = Cold Metal Transfer Machine
ESS = Energy Storage System
Fronius’ Smallest Inverter and Largest Inverter
Load-side Connection
CL Inverter = Current Limited Inverter
Rapid Shutdown
Gen 24 hybrid inverters
High Frequency Inverter
Paul Bui’s Background
HeatSpring
NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Emmitt Muckles
Battery
BYD + Build Your Dreams www.byd.com
EV = Electric Vehicle
EV Charging
UL 1741
UL 9540
UL 9540A
Franklin Whole Home www.franklinwh.com
CATL = Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited www.catl.com
Global Warming
Sea Level Rising
How Fronius Started
Transformer
Smart Meter
Electric Meter
CT = Current Transformer
EMS = Energy Management System
PCS = Power Control System
VPP = Virtual Power Plant
Check out Paul here:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bui
Email: bui.paul@fronius.com
Phone: 2196167348
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Description:
I first met Mark Mrohs in 2008 and have always been fascinated by his experience in the industry. Some years ago, I made a list of people I wanted to be on my podcast, and Mark’s name was at the top.
Mark has been in the industry since terrestrial solar was a pipedream. He started out working at Spectrolab, which is still making solar cells for space and is not a Boeing company. I once tried calling Spectrolab to see how much solar cells were and they told me they needed government clearance to tell me.
They also discuss his work at Arco Solar and Siemens Solar and transitioning the industry from space cells to terrestrial solar. Mark also shares his journey into training and the evolution of the solar industry.
Here are some of the topics discussed:
SunPower Certification in Richnmond California
Ecosolar: https://us.sunpower.com/dealers-installers/ecosolar-usa
SunEdison
Mark Mrohs’ Solar journey – beginning
Spectrolab: www.spectrolab.com
Space Solar Cells
Charlie Gay
Bill Yerkes
ArcoSolar
Carrizo Project
Arco Module
Matt Pace
Siemens Solar: https://www.siemens-energy.com
Mark Mhros in Papua New Guinea
Sean teaching in Islamabad
IREDA = Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
Mark Fitzgerald
SSP
NABCEP
IIT = Indian Institutes of Technology
Mark Mhros life in India (Indian Program)
AstroPower
Peter Aschenbrenner
Maxeon Solar Technologies: www.maxeon.com
Module
Inverter
Ward Bauer
Solar City
Financial Engineering
Interoperability
Changes in Policies
Space Cells
Interplay Learning
Amicus: www.amicusom.com
Reach Mark Mrohs here:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/markmrohs/
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Title: David Chen of Cold Electric talks Batteries, Predicting the Future and Anthropology
Description:
In this podcast Sean and David Chen take a deep dive into the grid, where it is going, what it needs and how human behavior effects technology.
They discuss David Chen's journey from Murata Electronics to Cold Electric, a Taiwanese battery company. They also tackle green technologies, challenges in clean energy adoption, and the intricacies of global energy markets.
Topics covered:
Murata Electronics www.murata.com
Capacitors
Hydrogen
Blue Economy
Circular Economy
Anthropology
Sociology
Cold Electric
Future of Renewable Energy
Battery
Climate Tech
Ray Kurzweil
The Singularity is Near
The Singularity is Nearer
Better Place
EV = Electric Vehicle
Solar Today Magazine www.ases.org/solartoday
HVAC = Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
HVAC = High Voltage Alternating Current
HVDC = High Voltage Direct Current
Solar of China
Market
IRA = Inflation Reduction Act
Climate Change
Prices Going up and down
Utility
Fossil Fuel
ESS = Energy Storage System
Transmission and Distribution
Grid
Solar Coaster
Formosa Plastics www.fpcusa.com
Thermal Runaway
UL9540A
Margaret Chen Founder of Cold Electric
Margaret Chen Founder of Cold Electric
Phil Chen CEO of Cold Electric www.linkedin.com/in/phil-chen
Non-Flammable Electrolyte
Inverters
Inertia
Migration
Sea Level Rising
Reach David Chen here:
Email: david@coldelectric.com
Linked in: www.linkedin.com/in/dachen
Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean