Solar Power World podcasts

In this special edition of Contractors Corner, solar inverter manufacturer FIMER talks about the status of the solar market in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsored by FIMER.

In this special edition of Contractors Corner, solar inverter manufacturer CPS talks about the status of inverter warranties and how they need to improve to better serve project owners.

Southern Florida is getting rocked by COVID-19 right now, and local solar installation company Goldin Solar says that has made business busier than ever, except with a twist — more people want battery backup. In this episode of the Contractors Corner podcast, Solar Power World editor-in-chief Kelly Pickerel talks with Daren Goldin, CEO and co-founder of Goldin Solar, about why Floridians, who are...

In this special edition of Contractors Corner, solar mounting manufacturer Preformed Line Products (PLP) talks about how to deal with unexpected obstacles on both ground-mounted and rooftop solar installations.

DEPCOM Power has always cared for its employees and communities. The utility-scale EPC and O&M company has largely weathered the coronavirus storm and continued to keep its focus on supporting its core team and 2,000 construction contractors. In this episode of the Contractors Corner podcast, Solar Power World editor-in-chief Kelly Pickerel talks with Johnnie Taul, president of DEPCOM Power, about...

We have a special podcast for Contractors Corner listeners this week! In this sponsored Solar Spotlight podcast, inverter manufacturer SMA America talks about the challenges of traditional PV system optimization, and the new solutions available from the company.

The Midwest solar market was finally starting to hit its stride before COVID-19 arrived. Still, companies like Iowa's Eagle Point Solar are optimistic about the future and plenty busy installing a backlog of projects. In this episode of the Contractors Corner podcast, Solar Power World editor-in-chief Kelly Pickerel talks with Larry Steffen, VP of sales for Eagle Point Solar, about how the company...

Wisconsin isn't the largest solar market (SEIA ranks it 34th in the country by kilowatts installed), but solar installer Carlson Electric is still managing to keep its employees busy working on solar projects throughout the coronavirus shutdown. In this episode of the Contractors Corner podcast, Solar Power World editor-in-chief Kelly Pickerel talks with Tim Dilley, director of business developmen...

Four brothers started Paradise Energy Solutions 10 years ago to help farmers reduce energy costs in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The company has since grown into six additional states and expanded into the residential and commercial markets. Paradise Energy views its mission as building trusting relationships within its communities. In this episode of the Contractors Corner podcast, Solar Power...

We have a special podcast for Contractors Corner listeners this week! In this sponsored Solar Spotlight podcast, RBI Solar talks about manufacturing solar trackers in house from start to finish using mostly Made-in-America materials. Thanks to RBI Solar for supporting solar installers across the country!

Nexamp has established itself as a leader in community solar development across the Northeast, but the company is not just a one-note band. Nexamp is also involved with behind-the-meter, small utility-scale and storage projects and is spreading its footprint across the country. Community solar, though, is the star of Nexamp's portfolio. In this episode of the Contractors Corner podcast Solar Power...

With more than 30 years in the roofing business, Citadel Roofing & Solar has also established a niche in the Northern California region for careful solar installations. Since the company is so experienced in roofing and has relationships with home builders, Citadel expects to capitalize on California's mandate that all new homes be equipped with solar arrays.   In this Contractors Corner podcast  ...

After more than 12 years in the military serving overseas, Troy Van Beek founded Ideal Energy in 2009 in Fairfield, Iowa, to continue serving others, this time down a path of sustainability. Today the company primarily works on commercial and industrial solar installations under 1 MW. Ideal Energy excels at providing C&I customers with a competitive advantage — whether through good PR, attracting...

Happy Thanksgiving! This month we're discussing the PG&E power outages with California solar installer Allterra Solar. They're saying the phone's been ringing a lot more with people wanting solar+storage projects. What's been your own experience with the public safety power shutoffs? Read the full story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/11/contractors-corner-allterra-solar/

Let's go to the southern tier of central New York this month and check in with John Mills Electric. The 75-year-old electrical company also completes residential solar projects and subcontracts on large-scale installs. We talk about the difficulty in finding skilled electricians and why being involved in solar actually gets young people interested in the electrician career. Read the story: https:/...

We recently talked with O3 Energy about the company's work in the C&I solar market. O3 has an office in Guam, and we talk a little about the logistical benefits of being in the Pacific. Are PPAs still king? Find out on this podcast! Read our story here: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/09/contractors-corner-o3-energy/

Preformed Line Products (PLP) has a vast portfolio of mounting products for the solar industry, but it has carved out a specific niche within long-span commercial rooftop projects. The company's POWER RAIL product optimizes roof space to include more solar in tricky areas, like over roof obstructions. In this Solar Speaks podcast, we talk with John Markiewicz and Dustin Graef of PLP about how inst...

We head south this month, talking with South Carolina's Palmetto State Solar. The audio is a little shaky at the beginning, and we sincerely apologize, but it does get better! Kelly enjoyed talking with PSS about the competitive Carolinas market and the steps it takes to stand out. Read more: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/08/contractors-corner-palmetto-state-solar

We go big this week, talking to large-scale solar developer Community Energy about its 20 years of work in the fight against climate change. The company first started in wind and eventually transitioned to solar, so we talk about the energy markets in the early 2000s, how PPAs have evolved over the past two decades, and what else needs to be done to get 80% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030. W...

Racial disparity in rooftop solar PV deployment has historically been attributed to income or home ownership inequality in communities of color. But a study found the problem goes much deeper than that. Read the story that's part of Solar Power World's #TopSolar19 issue at https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/07/installers-racial-disparity-rooftop-solar/

This is one of Kelly's favorite interviews! Join her as she talks with Phil and Nancy Brodhagen, co-owners of Colorado's Peak View Solar. The company has been installing mainly residential solar systems since 2008, but it has seen such a recent uptick in projects that the whole Brodhagen family came on board to help out. We have a frank conversation about U.S. solar panel companies and how batteri...

Kelly talks this month with Florida's A1A Solar Contracting. Although electricity prices aren't too bad in Northern Florida, the solar installer still has a big demand for renewable energy projects. We talk SunPower, Tesla and ITC. Read the story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/05/contractors-corner-a1a-solar-contracting/

This month we head to Delaware to talk to Green Street Solar. Like a lot of residential installers, Green Street is promoting the ITC stepdown to get more fence-sitters to go solar now. Russell Pfaller, Green Street's installation manager, also tells us why his team isn't installing batteries. Check out the story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/04/contractors-corner-green-street-solar/

KP is a history buff, so this month's interview is super exciting! Rosendin Electric is celebrating 100 years of electrical contracting this year, and the company has morphed into one of the largest solar EPCs in the business. We talk about how that 100 years of electrical experience has helped Rosendin make some big moves in both utility-scale and C&I solar. There's even a discussion about how la...

February 2019: This month we talked with large-scale EPC Conti Solar about its work across the country. So many landfill installations! Read our full story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/02/contractors-corner-conti-solar/