Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

Michael Wise, Commercial Operations Manager at LS Energy Solutions, talks string inverter technology, battery-agnostic design, and how scalable 140 kW units’ power everything from 5 MW commercial systems to the 200 MW Big Rock installation at Intersolar San Diego. The conversation covers voltage flexibility, container configurations, safety considerations, and what's next for energy storage — incl...

Get an insider preview of Solar 2026, the American Solar Energy Society's 55th annual national solar conference, coming to Austin's Palmer Event Center October 19–21. Host Sean White and Conference Director Ella Nielsen cover keynote speakers, student programs, award nominations, technical divisions, and why this year's collaboration with the Texas Solar Energy Society makes it a can't-miss event....

SunPower co-founder Dick Swanson discusses his pioneering work developing Interdigitated Back Contact solar cells at Stanford and the industry's evolution from the 1973 energy crisis to today's cost-competitive technology. Topics include Bell Labs' accidental solar cell discovery, the learning curve predicting cost declines, critical partnerships with Cypress Semiconductor, major technical pivots...

At Intersolar San Diego, Tim Price (CRO) and Trace Jenkins (Senior Sales Engineer) of SOLO LLC discuss how modern solar software is transforming residential sales, from accurate system design and interactive proposals to integrated financing tools. They reflect on the evolution from early platforms like OnGrid to today’s AI-driven solutions, highlighting how increased transparency and consumer awa...

Rapid shutdown was designed to protect firefighters, but could simpler systems be the smarter path forward? A 10-year fire veteran turned solar installer shares hard-won lessons from the field, including why fewer electronics in the array might mean safer, more reliable solar for everyone. A bold conversation about building a better solar future.   Topics Covered Rapid Shutdown Firefighter Energy...

Energy industry veteran Sasson Peress examines why standard metrics like watts and kilowatt hours fail to capture real-world performance. From solar panel ratings under idealized test conditions to battery storage variables, including degradation, C-rates, temperature constraints, and cycle limitations, the gap between nameplate specifications and actual delivered value has significant implication...

What does it take to install solar in one of the most regulated cities in the country? From specialty flat-roof racking in Brooklyn and Queens to navigating NYC's newly adopted 2020 electrical code, this episode explores the technical and business realities of urban solar plus why younger designers see opportunity where others see complexity.   Topics Covered How to make solar more exciting Decrea...

At Intersolar San Diego, Sean sits down with Curtis Merring, Director of Product Marketing at Aurora Solar, about how Aurora and its C&I product HelioScope help installers design and sell solar remotely using aerial imagery, lidar, and accurate simulations, reducing soft costs and improving safety. Merring explains Aurora’s go-to-market marketing approach and notes the company has 7,000+ custo...

Solar industry veteran Mike Bishop discusses two decades of photovoltaic market transformation on Sean White’s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast. From California's $4/watt rebates and OnGrid financial modeling software to current net metering policy, AI data center power demands, and Energy Net protocols, they analyze economic trends, regulatory impacts, and technological developments. The discussi...

At Intersolar San Diego, Sean meets again with Eric Holvik of EnergySage (which was acquired by Schneider Electric) about the shifting U.S. residential solar market. Holvik says residential solar is projected to contract by about 30% this year and notes the customer-owned residential tax credit has expired, swinging the market toward 80–90% third-party ownership after a recent 50/50 owned-versus-l...

At Intersolar San Diego, Sean White meets Michael Schwarz, General Manager for growth at Arch O&M, about operations and maintenance for solar projects. Schwarz describes O&M as the “service shop” for PV systems, with days driven by shifting schedules, customer and technician calls, and occasional field work. Arch focuses mainly on commercial/industrial and ground-mount systems roughly 400...

Solar Steve Sherman highlights his solar energy projects and shares updates from Aruba on Sean White’s podcast. They talked about Steve's musical project using AI to create solar-themed songs, his recent completion of the ESIP exam, and his installation of solar systems in Michigan before the tax credit expired. Steve shared his experiences working on rooftops in snowy conditions to meet the deadl...

Shawn O’Brien, president and CEO of NABCEP, previews the NABCEP 2026 conference in Milwaukee, describing it as a high-training, high-networking event with Irish-themed festivities because St. Patrick’s Day falls during the conference. He outlines the nightly schedule—Monday sports-themed reception after the keynote, Tuesday St. Patrick’s Day dinner with karaoke and an Irish pub after-party, and We...

Darren Tan, CEO of Unigrid Battery, discusses sodium-ion battery technology as a safer, temperature-resilient alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The conversation explores the chemistry differences, safety advantages, manufacturing approach, and emerging applications in residential energy storage, commercial buildings, data centers, and electric vehicles.   Topics Covered: Sodium-ion vs. lithium...

At Intersolar San Diego, Sean White and Bill Brooks discussed about the growing U.S. momentum for “plugin” or balcony solar, where small PV systems plug into a home branch circuit. Brooks explains that what happens with excess power depends on the utility meter: old spinning meters may run backward and credit you, some modern meters can charge you for exported power, and others ignore exports unle...

A satirical look at how solar energy aligns with conservative values like energy independence, national security, and free-market competition. Sean White reframes renewable energy through a Republican lens, emphasizing self-reliance, lower costs, and freedom from utility monopolies rather than environmental concerns. The message: solar isn't partisan, and there's more common ground than you'd thin...

Erika of Gismo Power discusses their innovative plug-in solar system that challenges traditional solar installations. The conversation covers the regulatory barriers facing plug-in solar technology, her company's groundbreaking deployment on the Lakota Nation, Pine Ridge Reservation, and the future of democratized renewable energy generation in America.   Topics Covered: Plug-in solar technology a...

At Intersolar San Diego, Sean talks with Tim Bridgewater, CEO of ZEO Energy, about the company’s shift from 100% residential solar into behind-the-meter solar-and-storage solutions for large loads like data centers. Bridgewater shares ZEO Energy’s growth path (including acquiring Synergy Solar and Heliogen and going public in March 2024) and announces an MOU for a 280 MW solar farm with energy sto...

Explore the real-world transformation of America's energy landscape through candid conversations with solar industry insiders like Andrew Holmstrom of Arch Solar. From innovative vertical installations and Wisconsin's unique capacity credits to deep-fried cheese curds and maple syrup experiments, discover how rising electricity costs, AI-driven data center demands, and grid modernization are makin...

In this podcast episode, Sean interviewed Meghan Wood, CEO of Raya Power, about their innovative solar and storage system. Meghan explained how Raya Power's all-in-one appliance connects directly to home appliances and provides both energy savings and backup power during outages. They discussed the system's features, including its ability to handle both 120V and 240V loads, and its potential appli...

The residential solar tax credit (25D) is gone, but commercial solar tax credits are still alive! In this podcast, we break down the critical deadlines and requirements for the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under the modified Inflation Reduction Act.   Topics Covered IRA = Inflation Reduction Act ITC = Investment Tax Credit Commercial Tax Credit Residential Tax Credit Section 48E TPO = Third Par...

Titan Containers has developed the Arctic Store Horizon, a solar-powered refrigerated container that reduces energy consumption by over 50% through integrated photovoltaic panels, vacuum insulation, and environmentally friendly refrigerant technology. This episode explores the engineering innovations behind sustainable cold storage, including applications in food preservation, pharmaceutical stora...

Inspired by the Colbert Report, where Stephen pretends to be a right wing show host, in this podcast, Sean pretends to be an oil-loving, dinosaur-loving, coal-rolling podcaster and delivers some really stupidly funny and immature podcasting. He makes fun of people that might be even dumber than himself.   Topics Covered Fossil Fuel Dinosaurs Oil Global Cooling Sea Level Rising EV = Electric Vehicl...

Interconnection regulations are quietly blocking solar projects across America. Vaughan Woodruff, distributed energy resources consultant and former VP of Regulatory Reform at IREC, reveals why outdated utility rules are stalling clean energy adoption. Discover how Maine became #2 nationally for solar capacity per capita, why Delaware's community solar program failed spectacularly, and which techn...

Phil Horwitch of AMH Holdings discusses utility-scale solar engineering, covering their work on 1 gigawatt of projects in 2025. Topics include the dramatic shift toward standalone battery storage, the engineering trade-offs of large-format modules (up to 700 watts), tracker systems with bifacial panels, and grading challenges. Phil explains how bigger modules reduce earthwork costs, shares insight...