Energypreneurs

In this episode, our guest is Amie Vuyong. She works on AI-powered identity verification, AML, and fraud prevention, areas she frames as "compliance AI agents." She also shares how she used modern AI coding companions to turn a manual spreadsheet into a sleek personal finance web app, with expense tracking, budgets, and net‑worth views, built through iterative MVPs using Cursor/Windsor and GPT. Be...

In this episode, our guest is Clinton O'Neil, a distributed energy veteran whose journey began in Hawaii's rooftop solar boom and evolved into driving innovation in grid modernisation and virtual power plants (VPPs). Clinton shares deep insights into the transition from net metering to non-export solar, the pivotal role of energy storage, and how DERs are transforming utility-scale grid operations...

In this episode, our guest is Ned Funnell, a test engineer at Lincoln Electric and long-time electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast. Ned shares a decade of personal and professional insights from the EV world—discussing high-power chargers, grid resiliency, home batteries, and the evolving role of electrification in achieving net-zero goals. From transit buses and ferries in the Nordics to solar-powered...

In this episode, our guest is Gregory McGarvie, founder of Ace Electric Vehicles—Australia's pioneering homegrown EV startup. Gregory shares his eight-year journey building locally assembled EVs, from trolley collectors for Woolworths to advanced, grid-integrated vans. We explore the challenges of local manufacturing, the innovation behind Ace's energy management system, and the growing role of mi...

In this episode, our guest is Marc Sheldon, CEO of Red Earth Energy Storage. Marc shares his journey from solar thermal to leading innovations in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems. He explains how Red Earth's Australian-made, plug-and-play solutions are transforming energy access — from rural off-grid sheds to large-scale commercial installations — and enabling grid stability through st...

In this episode, our guest is Alma Roxas-Aguila, a seasoned renewable energy expert with over two decades of experience in the Philippine wind sector. Alma shares her journey from early project development at Alternergy, including involvement in Southeast Asia's first onshore wind farm, to her current focus on scaling up offshore wind. She provides deep insights into the evolution of renewable ene...

In this episode, our guest is Cameron Quin, a serial energy entrepreneur who reconnects with Sohail after years of impactful work across the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Cameron shares his journey from launching off-grid solar ventures to exploring the deeper aspects of human energy and spiritual well-being. He offers unique insights into the economics of solar and battery deployment in rem...

In this episode, our guest is Xiaochen Zhang, a global innovation leader and the driving force behind AI 2030 and FinTech for Good. Xiaochen shares his journey from the World Bank to founding organisations that champion responsible technology. He dives into the six-pillar framework of responsible AI—transparency, accountability, fairness, safety, security, sustainability, and privacy—and discusses...

In this episode, our guest is Mike Westerman, who leads the hydropower team at GHD, a global consultancy with deep expertise in water, dams, and geotech. Mike shares fascinating insights on the evolution of hydropower—from its origins at Niagara Falls to today's high-efficiency, computer-modeled turbines. He explains why pumped hydro remains the dominant form of energy storage globally and how it'...

In this episode, our guest is part of a dynamic roundtable exploring the global trends, economic drivers, and regulatory challenges shaping the future of home battery storage. Building on Part 1, this continuation dives deep into the falling costs of battery production, market implications of subsidies, and the technical and policy complexities of orchestrating distributed energy resources (DERs)...

In this episode, our guest is a diverse panel of Australia's energy experts unpacking the rapid rise of home battery adoption. From manufacturing and policy to regulation and consumer behavior, they explore what's driving the boom, including generous government subsidies, rising energy independence, and grid trading opportunities. The discussion dives into how average system sizes have doubled, th...

In this episode, our guest is Andrea La Nauze, an energy and environmental economist at Deakin University. Andrea discusses her research on Australia's Virtual Energy Network, which allows households to trade excess rooftop solar energy. She explains how pricing can shift energy use patterns and reduce reliance on batteries, and explores the role of behavior, peer influence, and incentives in clea...

In this episode, Sohail Hasnie shares a personal monologue, offering an on-the-road reflection from behind the wheel of his Tesla in Metro Manila. He unpacks how electric vehicles—whether high-end Teslas or modest electric tricycles—can drive profound social, economic, and environmental change. From reducing fuel poverty in Bangladesh to transforming urban transport in the Philippines, Sohail expl...

In this episode, our guest is Diana E. Páez, Senior Director of Energy and Mobility, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan. Diana dives into the dynamic role that electric vehicles can play in decarbonizing transportation across emerging markets. She discusses how EVs—when supported by the right policies, financing tools, and local capacity—can serve as catalysts for energy acce...

In this episode, our guest is Jim Salter-Duke, founder of Spark Horizon, a talent solutions company working between Australia and the Philippines. Jim shares how the global clean energy transition is being hindered not by technology but by a chronic shortage of skilled labour. With 100,000 engineering graduates a year, the Philippines is a rich but underutilised source of technical talent. Jim exp...

In this episode, our guest is Sonya Song, a seasoned private banking professional with 17 years of experience spanning Zurich, Beijing, and Singapore. Sonya shares unique insights into China's booming electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting her views on leading players like BYD and Tesla. She discusses how private banks support ultra-high-net-worth clients with structured investment products an...

In this episode, our guest is Grant McDowell, a visionary entrepreneur and advocate for democratizing access to clean energy. Grant shares his 18-year journey—from dreaming of remote solar matching in Marrickville to launching "Adopt a Panel" in Italy, enabling urban households to access cheaper renewable energy. He discusses the technical and regulatory challenges of integrating solar, batteries,...

In this episode, our guests are Sahil Nair and Pauline Smout, both sustainability consultants based in the Netherlands. They delve into the complexities of sustainable agriculture, highlighting how responsible sourcing, water use, and land conversion are critical to long-term ecological health. Pauline discusses her work bringing together banks, supermarkets, and farmer organisations to align on s...

In this episode, our guest panel explores the opportunities and barriers to Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology in Australia. We dive into policy frameworks, utility business models, customer behavior, and the technical potential of V2G to help stabilize the grid, lower energy costs, and accelerate EV adoption. The discussion brings together experts from across the energy and transport sectors to unp...

In this episode, our guest is Emily Morris, Founder and CEO of Emrgy, a company pioneering modular hydropower systems that bring clean, continuous electricity to remote and underserved communities. Emily explains how her technology integrates water stewardship, floating solar, and energy storage to build decentralized microgrids that don't require new transmission infrastructure. From projects in...

In this episode, our guest is Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council. Sonia shares an energising update on the rapid rise of solar PV and battery storage, outlining how the world is racing toward 700 GW of annual solar installations and aiming for 8 TW by 2030. She highlights rooftop solar as a game changer for resilience, the role of micro-entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia, and why the cost...

In this episode, our guest is Riccardo Pagliarrella, a dynamic force in the world of electric mobility and distributed energy. With a background in motorsports and nearly two decades of experience in vehicle electrification, Riccardo offers deep insights into the future of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. He discusses Australia's unique position as a market ripe for V2G adoption, while also shedd...

In this episode, Anthony Vippond shares his journey from installing off-grid solar systems in the early '90s to pioneering large-scale solar panel recycling. Seeing a major gap in the industry, his company developed an advanced process to recover 98% of materials from discarded panels. He discusses the global need for sustainable recycling, government interest in his technology, and the financial...

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Taher Saif, Professor at the University of Illinois and a pioneering researcher whose unconventional path took him from civil engineering to biomedical breakthroughs. Dr. Saif shares a fascinating journey through academia and research—from nanotech in electrical engineering to fertility diagnostics, and ultimately to cutting-edge cancer and longevity research. He...

In this episode, our guest is Ross De Rango, former Head of Energy and Infrastructure at the Electric Vehicle Council and a leading voice in Australia's EV transition. Ross breaks down the policies driving EV adoption, the pivotal role of home charging, and the emerging power of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration. He shares sharp insights on the challenges and opportunities of electrifying transpor...