Batteries are the new black for solar (solar is already black so maybe batteries are the double black?). If you’re a solar contractor you MUST go long into battery storage. As the value of net metering goes away (NEM 3.0 beware), the importance of BESS goes up. In California, ESS attachment rates have gone above 80 percent. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Vince Ambrose, the Chief Commercial Officer of Franklin Whole Home (WH), one of the hottest batte...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Faviola Angulo, a performance improvement engineer at CPS America, to explore the intricate world of solar inverter technology and performance monitoring. Faviola shares her journey into the solar industry, highlighting her transition from oil and gas to renewable energy, driven by a desire to contribute positively to the planet. Having joined CPS America six years ago after completing her master's in electrical systems...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague engages with industry leaders Dr. Zhehan Yi and Ryan Mayfield to discuss the critical topic of safety in grid-scale battery systems. As the demand for renewable energy surges, understanding the safety protocols and standards surrounding battery storage has never been more essential. The conversation delves into the rapid growth of battery installations across the United States, which have skyrocketed from approximately one gigawatt to near...

In this episode of Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague interviews Drew Bond, CEO and co-founder of Powerfield Energy, about their innovative solar racking system. The company's flagship product, the PowerRack, represents a significant departure from traditional solar mounting solutions. At its core, it's a highly engineered HDPE plastic tub that holds solar panels at a 25-degree angle, requiring no tools or ground penetration for installation - installers simply fill the tubs with local mater...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague welcomes Evan Upshur, a senior account representative at Chint Power Systems, to discuss the transformative role of inverters in the solar industry. The conversation delves into the recent introduction of single-phase inverters by Chint, a company renowned for its leadership in three-phase string inverter manufacturing.Listeners will gain insights into how these innovations are reshaping commercial solar projects, particularly in term...

In this episode of Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Gary Skulnik, founder of Neighborhood Sun, to explore the transformative world of community solar. From his early days creating a solar science fair project in 1979 to founding a revolutionary community solar platform, Skulnik shares insights into making clean energy accessible to everyone, regardless of their housing situation or income level.The conversation delves into the evolution of community solar markets across different...

In today’s episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Dr. Zhehan Yi (aka, Dr. Z), Director of Utility and Battery Energy Storage Products at CPS America, to explore their groundbreaking 5 MWh battery solution. As data centers expand at break-neck speed, driven by AI and cryptocurrency demands, the need for reliable, scalable energy storage solutions has never been greater.Dr. Z delves into CPS America's innovative Power Block system, which combines a 5 MWh battery container ...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Jon Previtali, Senior Principal Engineer at VDE Americas, to discuss the growing challenge of hail damage in large-scale solar projects. As hail-related insurance claims skyrocket and premiums increase, the solar industry is searching for innovative solutions to protect their investments.Jon shares his extensive experience in the solar industry and explains how VDE Americas is developing new testing methods to assess mo...

In today’s episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Dr. Barry Davis, a veteran college baseball coach and leadership consultant. With 35 years of coaching experience, Dr. Davis shares valuable lessons on leadership, team building, and creating a culture of excellence that applies both on the field and in business. Dr. Davis discusses the importance of passion, communication, and setting clear expectations in leadership roles. We explore strategies for developing indiv...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Albert Bielinko, General Partner at Titanium Ventures, to explore the fascinating intersection of venture capital and clean technology. With over $1 billion invested across 100 technology companies, Titanium Ventures has become a key player in funding the energy transition.This discussion reveals how smart capital is driving innovation in climate solutions and why certain technologies are attracting significant investme...

In today’s episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Bryan Wagner, President and General Manager, and Anton Patton, Vice President of Product Management at CPS America. They dive deep into the company's groundbreaking 250kW 600V string inverter, a product poised to revolutionize the solar industry.The discussion covers the evolution of string inverter technology, the shift from central to string inverters in utility-scale projects, and how CPS America's new product addresse...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague interviews Gil Hough, Executive Director of the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA). The discussion offers a comprehensive look at the unique energy landscape within the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region, which spans Tennessee and parts of six other states.Key points:TVA Background: Created as part of the New Deal, TVA initially focused on flood management, electrification, and economic development. Its ene...

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Brendan Miller, Deputy Director of the Land and Liberty Coalition, to discuss building support for renewable energy projects in rural communities across America.Brendan shares his unique journey from farmer and local school board member to renewable energy advocate, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics of rural politics and property rights. Learn about the innovative approaches the Land and Liberty Coalition uses to co...

Today on the Clean Power Hour we explore the world of data-driven strategies for supercharging solar O&M (operations and maintenance) with expert guests Alex Nussey, CEO of Wattch and Trish Graf, VP of Sales at Omnidian.The conversation kicks off by exploring the current state of monitoring and analytics in distributed generation (DG) solar, with a focus on commercial, industrial, and small utility-scale projects. Alex and Trish shed light on the challenges faced by the rapidly growing so...

In this fascinating episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Chuck Schwartz, head of business development at Sun'Agri, to explore the cutting-edge world of agrivoltaics. Chuck shares his journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, ultimately leading him to the forefront of solar technology in agriculture.The conversation delves into Sun'Agri's innovative software platform, which intelligently steers solar panels to optimize both crop growth and energy production. Ch...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Jordan Macknick, a senior researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to explore the fascinating world of agrivoltaics. With over a decade of experience in the field, Macknick offers a comprehensive look at the intersection of solar energy and agriculture, shedding light on the current state and future potential of this innovative approach to land use.The conversation begins with Macknick's journey into ag...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Tim Lichti, founder and CEO of Swap Robotics, to discuss innovative solar farm vegetation management solutions. Lichti shares insights into how his company is tackling one of the most significant ongoing expenses in solar farm operations - vegetation control.Swap Robotics has developed a fleet of custom-built, all-electric robots designed to maintain large-scale solar installations. These machines feature unique capabilities...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with John Carson, managing partner at Armagh Capital, to explore the world of tax credit finance for distributed generation solar projects.John shares his expertise on how companies can monetize solar tax credits, particularly focusing on projects ranging from 0.5 to 40 megawatts. He explains the process of transferring tax credits, the benefits for both buyers and sellers, and how this financial strategy is making previousl...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Greg Barron-Gafford, a professor at the University of Arizona and a pioneer in the field of agrivoltaics. Recorded at the Solar Farm Summit, this conversation dives deep into the exciting world of dual-use solar, where crops and solar panels coexist in mutually beneficial arrangements.Barron-Gafford shares his journey into agrivoltaics, which began with studying the potential heat island effect of solar farms. His research l...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Iain Ward, founder of Solar Agricultural Services (SolAg), to explore the exciting world of agrivoltaics - the practice of combining solar energy production with agriculture. Ward, with his background in conservation planning and environmental science, shares insights on how the solar industry and farming communities can create win-win scenarios through innovative dual-use projects.The conversation delves into the current st...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour host Tim Montague sits down with Steve Schwerd of Schwerd Consulting to discuss the state of commercial, industrial, and small-scale utility solar and storage engineering.Steve shares his journey from electrical engineer to solar industry expert, highlighting the evolution of sustainable design and the growing viability of solar projects. The conversation delves into the current state of the C&I solar market, touching on challenges like third-party ...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Ethan Winter and Austin Kinzer from American Farmland Trust (AFT) to explore the world of agrivoltaics. We discuss AFT's "Smart Solar" program, which aims to balance the acceleration of clean energy with the preservation of thriving farms. We explore the challenges and opportunities of dual-use solar projects, examining how agrivoltaics can provide additional revenue for farmers (and farming communities) while keeping l...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, to explore the exciting world of perovskite solar technology. Graybeal reveals how his company is on the cusp of revolutionizing the solar industry with their innovative perovskite-based coatings for traditional solar panels.Graybeal dispels the myth that perovskite technology is still confined to laboratories, announcing that Caelux has already ramped up to 50 megawatts of production capacity ...

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, to explore the exciting world of perovskite solar technology. Graybeal reveals how his company is on the cusp of revolutionizing the solar industry with their innovative perovskite-based coatings for traditional solar panels.Graybeal dispels the myth that perovskite technology is still confined to laboratories, announcing that Caelux has already ramped up to 50 megawatts of production capacity ...