SunCast

Smithville, Texas, a town known for its giant gingerbread man and Hollywood cameos, is making headlines for something even bigger—its solar future. With a 1.4MW solar power plant now generating clean energy for over 100 homes, this small town is proving that the energy transition isn’t just for big cities. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Smithville’s solar transformation, from the uniq...

Solar and battery prices have dropped so low that energy independence is truly NOW within reach—no permits, no utility red tape, just DIY power that any homeowner can harness. Kerim Baran, CEO of SolarAcademy, breaks down why this shift is happening now and how it could reshape the way we think about electricity as homeowners. From “ balcony solar” to microgrids , Nico & Kerim explore why thes...

Community solar promises to lower energy costs while expanding access to clean power—but does it deliver? Aviv Shalgi, CEO of Solar Simplified, joins Nico to expose the hidden challenges and big opportunities in this growing market. From financing hurdles to state-by-state policy shifts, we dig into what’s really happening behind the scenes. If you want the inside scoop on the future of community...

Solar’s growth isn’t just steady—it’s compounding. If current trends hold, half of the world’s energy could come from solar by 2035. That’s the prediction Andrew “Birchy” Birch has modeled using real-world data and the S-curve of technology adoption. He explains why mainstream forecasts underestimate solar, how exponential growth works in energy markets, and what policies must change to support a...

With 45 percent of U.S. water sources containing toxic contaminants, according to the EPA, access to clean drinking water is becoming increasingly uncertain. Worse still, according to a UN study, over 40% of the world's water bodies are considered severely polluted, meaning a significant portion of Earth's water is contaminated; this translates to around 1 in 3 people not having access to safe dri...

The distributed generation market is shifting rapidly as capital tightens, power prices rise, and smaller developers bump up against capital and market constraints. Independent power producers (IPPs) like Aspen Power are stepping in to bridge the gap—partnering with developers, securing financing, and scaling solar assets in key markets. But what does it take to succeed in today’s distributed ener...

Industrial facilities depend heavily on natural gas for steam production; in California, food processing, which is one of the largest users of steam, consumes an incredible amount of energy as a result. Because the price of steam is directly tied to the price of natural gas, industries face volatile costs that can directly impact competitiveness. And there are precious few alternatives for produci...

Jigar Shah spent the last few years shaping the future of clean energy finance as the Director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office. He approved billions in investments that helped scale solar, storage, nuclear, and emerging technologies. With that position coming to a close with the change in administration,what’s next for him? And what lessons can he share from funding some of the...

InterSolar North America is always the first ‘big’ clean energy industry conference that kicks off the year! And who doesn’t want to kick off the year with a trip to sunny San Diego?! To ensure you are up-to-speed on this year’s event, we’ve curated a "Know Before You Go" episode that will help maximize your experience at InterSolar and Energy Storage North America 2025 next week! With thousands o...

What if the key to solving our rising materials costs and hurdles to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries lies in a radical shift in thinking—laying solar panels directly on the ground and using the cheap electrons they produce to make hydrogen? When I first heard of Erthos, I thought, like many of you  I’m sure, “What a radical idea! Will that even work?  Lay the panels directly on the...

Solar projects depend on strong design engineering to move from concept to construction. Design engineers assess site feasibility, optimize layouts, navigate permitting challenges, and ensure projects are financially viable. Without their expertise, developments can stall. This role is also a key entry point into the solar industry, offering a path to more senior positions in project development a...

The global energy storage market is skyrocketing, with battery capacity more than doubling year over year . With over 60 gigawatts of storage installed worldwide, the sector is poised for even more rapid expansion.  In this special roundup episode, we look back at some of the top episodes on SunCast discussing key trends, policies, and technologies shaping the future of energy storage. We bre...

What is the real economic impact of a utility-scale solar farm on rural America? That’s one of the questions I had in mind when I visited one of the largest solar projects recently inaugurated right in my own home state of North Carolina.  As one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, EDP Renewables has expanded its footprint into North Carolina with the 74-megawatt Misenheim...

What if it were actually possible to power your EV from the sun collected on it’s surface?  Or what if you were not constrained by only one battery chemistry type but could mix chemistries?   Want to charge 400 volts with a 3V unit?  For 150 years, electrical engineers have relied on magnetic induction for power conversion, using coils and magnetic structures to transfer energy.&nbs...

How do we unlock the final frontier of lowest-cost solar and deploying it at scale? The U.S.-India nexus is emerging as one of the most pivotal relationships in the fight against climate change. As the solar industry faces steep challenges, from navigating the cyclical nature of renewables to integrating advanced technologies and addressing workforce shortages, what can we learn from others who’ve...

How do you successfully scale & exit a startup enterprise? The art of entrepreneurship is part science, part stick-to-it-iveness, part grind and part good luck.  So what does it take to sell your companies to major players like SolarCity(now Tesla), Nextracker, and even attempt to change how the EV market works with one of Tesla’s co-founders? That’s what I’ve been dying to ask the only p...

It is estimated that by 2027 nearly half of all new solar installations will have energy storage attached, and today’s guest, Adam Knudsen of Dynapower, asserts that almost half of those will have DC coupled storage. The choice between AC or DC coupled systems has become a critical consideration for developers, utilities, and energy planners. While AC coupled systems have long dominated the market...

Join us for an in-depth discussion with three different perspectives on the future of energy. We'll explore the potential impacts of Trump's policies on renewable energy, fossil fuels, and the environment. With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) driving historic clean energy investments, we're at a critical juncture as Trump begins his second term. Tune in as we navigate the complex landscape of th...

Increasingly, it seems that corporate philanthropy (and even personal giving) are reactive rather than proactive.  Today’s episode challenges that notion with an insightful look into the relationship REC Solar’s Cary Hayes has formed with Alex Honnold and his Honnold Foundation, which REC has supported for years with both cash and in-kind donations.  Why does Cary believe this is a meani...

Alex Honnold , the world-famous rock climber and philanthropist, has pushed the physical boundaries of human potential with his climbing pursuits, but in his travels to some of the world’s most remote and beautiful locations he’s come face-to-face with one of the world’s most urgent challenges: energy access. Alex has never been one to stand by and let others do the hard work. Before his rise to f...

No matter how you think about marketing your product or service in clean energy in 2025, your marketing plan is incomplete until you have nailed down your events schedule!  Attending the right event(s) sets the stage for networking, collaboration,  innovation, and ultimately business growth. That’s why nailing your events strategy (and budget) is critical. Most of you have already gotten...

Despite decades of progress, the commercial solar market remains bogged down by slow development cycles and complex approvals, leaving millions of buildings and temporary power needs underserved. This challenge extends even to large-scale events like the Super Bowl & Burning Man, where fossil fuel generators dominate, contributing to significant carbon emissions. With the right innovation, thi...

This special episode compiles insights from some of the most influential voices in the solar and clean energy sector. Introducing a fun new “5 in 5” segment to SunCast, Nico asks industry leaders to answer five key questions (in 5 minutes) reflecting on the year that has gone and the future ahead. Each offers fresh perspectives on the industry’s most pressing challenges and bold predictions for 20...

A little gratitude for the holiday season. 🙏

Can solar projects do more than generate clean energy? How about enhance the health and diversity of local ecosystems?  Sometimes viewed critically for their land use, solar farms can actually offer a unique opportunity to restore habitats and integrate agricultural practices. Lightsource bp, one of the world’s largest utility-scale solar developers, is a pioneer in what they refer to as “res...