SunCast

Latest Episodes:

862: Debunking Battery Myths: How Software-Driven Innovations Will Power the Future Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

More batter density = more value, right? Not so fast.

In this episode, we challenge the hype around energy storage density—and reveal what really drives value for battery storage assets.

At RE+ 2025, Nico Johnson got to connect with two powerhouse product leaders from Wärtsilä Energy Storage: Neha Sinha, Head of Hardware Portfolio, and Ruchira Shah, Lead for Software Product Management. Together, they’re crystal clear about how hardware and software integration impacts performance, revenue, and long-term viability in energy storage projects. And how that translates to strategic value for battery operators.

If you think “more megawatt-hours per box” is the endgame, you might be oversizing your system—and leaving cash on the table. Neha and Ruchira explain why “usable energy,” not just nameplate capacity, is the real metric investors should care about. And why that’s not solely defined by the MWH you can stuff inside a container.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why density ≠ value (and when high-density enclosures actually hurt your ROI)

🔹 How software helps unlock stranded energy and accurate bidding

🔹 The surprising role of chillers in degradation—and how to optimize them

🔹 How to navigate site constraints, noise ordinances, and permitting barriers

If you're bidding into markets or scaling storage assets, this episode is your wake-up call: performance, not just packaging, determines profits.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

861: 1 in 5 Solar Panels Are Failing — Here’s Why Oct 04, 2025

Show notes

1 in 5 solar panels are failing—and it’s not because of hail.

A quiet reliability crisis is cracking open across the industry, and it starts with glass.

In this eye-opening conversation, Nico Johnson sits down with Tristan Erion-Lorico (Kiwa PVEL) and Dr. Teresa Barnes (NREL) to uncover why glass breakage has become the #1 cause of solar module failure. Backed by PVEL’s latest reliability data, they expose how design shortcuts, material stress, and quality-control lapses are pushing failure rates to an alarming 20%.

You’ll learn:

🔹 Why “tempered” glass isn’t always truly tempered

🔹 How glass is allergic to metal, actually

🔹 Why thinner, lighter glass can mean bigger, costlier failures

🔹 What manufacturers, EPCs, and buyers must do now to prevent losses

If you build, buy, or bank on solar panels, this episode could save your next project from shattering—literally.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

860: Why Natural Gas is Surging Again (and What It Means for Solar); Justin Locke | Global Energy Monitor Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Is the world’s most powerful energy data set hiding in plain sight?

Justin Locke, former RMI leader and now Executive Director of Global Energy Monitor, joins Nico to uncover how real data—not just rhetoric—is shaping the future of global energy. If you've ever looked at a chart on coal retirements, gas pipelines, or solar growth, chances are it came from GEM. Or at least, the person who created it was likely using this little-known FREE Open-source data set.

In this episode, we go deep into the data warehouse purpose-built to help illuminate what’s really happening behind the curtain of the energy transition. We also spotlight a massive—but little discussed—spike in U.S. natural gas development. What’s behind it? AI-driven demand from hyperscale data centers.

Why is this a warning sign? It’s quietly tipping the energy scales in ways we didn’t predict.

You’ll hear why Justin left RMI to lead this critical watchdog organization, how GEM tracks infrastructure across 26 energy sectors, and why Southeast Asia and Africa are at a clean energy crossroads.

Expect to Learn:

🔹 Why the U.S. is now leading global gas plant development

🔹 The off-grid data centers powering AI—and burning more gas

🔹 How renewables are still growing fast… even amid fossil resurgence

🔹 Why the Global South is the key to solving the climate crisis

The energy transition is messy—but the data doesn’t lie. Find out what’s really going on.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

859: Patrick Crane’s Plan to Cut Solar Costs in Half Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

The $2/Watt Challenge: Can We Get There?

Is $2/watt solar a pipe dream—or a real target we can hit in the next few years?

Patrick Crane, Global Head of Growth at OpenSolar (and solar pioneer since Sungevity), says not only is it possible, but we already know how to get there. In this conversation, Patrick breaks down the most bloated parts of the cost stack—from customer acquisition to permitting delays to clunky tech stacks—and lays out a clear path to radically cheaper solar installs.

Drawing on two decades in solar and his time as CMO for LinkedIn, Patrick shares how smarter software, better referral systems, and AI-driven tools could change the economics of solar forever. If you’re serious about scaling solar and building a profitable, future-ready business, this one’s required listening.

Expect to learn:

🔹Why CAC is still solar’s biggest cost lever (and how to fix it)

🔹How AI-powered design tools are slashing sales timelines

🔹What SolarApp is doing to eliminate permitting bottlenecks

🔹Why simplifying your tech stack could unlock 40+ cents/watt in savings

🎧 Hit play to hear how Patrick and the OpenSolar team are helping the industry move from “solar sold” to “solar bought.”

Not convinced we can get to $2/W for US Resi solar? Sound off - what are we missing?

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

858: This Nonprofit is Revolutionizing Solar Permitting | Nick Josefowitz Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Why is solar so expensive in the U.S.?

Nick Josefowitz has the receipts—and a plan to fix it.

In this episode, we dig into one of the largest hidden reasons rooftop solar costs $35,000+ for the average American homeowner (while in Australia it's closer to $6K). Spoiler: It’s not the panels—it’s the paperwork.

Nick is the founder of Permit Power, a nonprofit laser-focused on making solar faster, cheaper, and easier to install by tackling the bottlenecks that most people overlook: permitting and interconnection. Drawing from his experience as both a C&I developer and public infrastructure policy leader, Nick shares how America’s red tape turned rooftop solar into a bespoke luxury—and why that’s about to change.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by utility interconnection delays, permit backlogs, or unnecessary installation costs, this is the episode that gives you hope—and tools.

🎧 Expect to learn:

🔹 Why U.S. rooftop solar is 5x more expensive than in other countries

🔹 The hidden costs of permitting delays—and how they drive up CAC

🔹 How smart policies in CA, TX & FL are changing the game

🔹 Why Nick chose to build a nonprofit to fix a for-profit industry problem

📣 Whether you're a solar installer or policy nerd, this one’s for you. Listen in and get inspired to fix solar from the inside out.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

857: The Unofficial Playbook to NYC Climate Week | Silas Mähner & Steven Zhang Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Planning to attend NYC Climate Week?

Already there!?

When Nico realized he had to make a last-minute trip to NYC this week during climate week, he reached out to two friends who could give him a solid education on what to expect (and where to focus) for this week’s NYC Week.

Whether you’re flying in from the West Coast or crossing borough lines, this episode is your essential survival guide to one of the most chaotic, inspiring, and decentralized climate events on the planet.

Nico did a live stream last week with Silas Mähner, co-host of the Cleantechies Podcast, and Steven Zhang, the resource genius behind ClimateTechList and Interconnection.FYI. Together, they unpack the who, what, where and of course the WHEN of Climate Week—from invite-only rooftop dinners to jam-packed founder meetups and satellite panels hosted in every corner of Manhattan.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why NYC Climate Week is no longer just a “side event” to the UN General Assembly

🔹 Where job seekers and climate founders go to actually get hired or funded

🔹 The must-know digital tools and maps for navigating events (without losing your mind)

🔹 How to prep, pitch, and stand out—even if you don’t have a ticket to anything yet

If you’re attending—or just curious what all the LinkedIn buzz is about—this episode gives you the inside scoop you won’t find on any official agenda.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

856: Ending Energy Poverty: Nedjip Tozun’s Vision to Reach 1 Billion Lives Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

Nearly 1 billion people still live without reliable electricity. Nedjip Tozun co-founded d.light to change that—starting with a $10 solar lantern and growing into one of the world’s most influential off-grid solar companies.

Today, d.light has already impacted hundreds of millions of lives and aspires to reach 1 billion by 2030, bringing affordable, clean energy to the people and places traditional grids overlook.

In this conversation, Nedjip shares the spark that launched d.light, the toughest hurdles they faced, and the financial and leadership innovations that helped them scale globally. A masterclass in entrepreneurship, energy access, and climate impact.

Expect to learn:

🔹 How toxic kerosen lanterns inspired a decade-long global solar campaign

🔹 Why rural trust was harder to build than the product itself

🔹 Why early failures were key to building rugged, low-cost solar products

🔹 How "Pay-Go" solar financing unlocked ownership and scale in Africa

🔹 What it takes to scale across 70+ countries without traditional marketing

You’ll hear how Nedjip moved to China to manage manufacturing himself, and how d.light pioneered a business model that became a blueprint for the solar industry in rural development. If you’ve ever wondered how social impact and innovation collide—this is the episode for you.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

855: Jigar Shah on <$2.50/Watt Solar + Storage, and Resisting Trump’s Anti-Renewable Push Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

The Wake-Up Call We Can’t Ignore

Clean energy isn’t losing the economics game—it’s losing the political one.

Jigar Shah returns to SunCast live at RE+ 2025 with an urgent message: the energy transition will stall unless we, as an industry, stop underestimating the role of political power. The economics are there. The technology is there. What’s missing? Unity, speed, and ground-level influence.

This isn’t just another policy chat—Jigar breaks down:

🔹How residential solar can reach $2.50/watt (including storage!)

🔹Why storage-first thinking is flipping the solar script

🔹The staggering $4B political spend from oil & gas—and our paltry $150M

🔹How 70,000 boots on the ground could change everything

You’ll come away from this episode with clarity, conviction, and a checklist for action. “The Oracle” delivers again in a rousing episode live from Las Vegas.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

854: RE+ Day 3: Dean Solon, American-Made Inverters, Clean Tech for Native Americans, and More! Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

Straight from Day 3 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up wraps up an incredible week of insights from the clean energy leaders driving the industry forward.

Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, and Sylvia Leyva Martinez close out the final day with bold takeaways, surprising perspectives, and a few laughs. From the future of tribal energy to the flow of investment capital and the race to build a domestic supply chain, this finale captures the urgency and optimism powering clean tech.

Brendan Bell – Aligned Climate Capital

• Why clean tech keeps winning despite policy headwinds

• The global lesson: thriving without tax credits

• Where investor money is flowing in today’s market

Chéri Smith – Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy

• Pathways to Trust program

• Bringing renewable energy and equity to Native American tribes

Seira Kamei – Furukawa Electric Co

• Winner of the 2025 Swag Contest

Dean Solon – Create Energy (formerly Shoals)

• Manufacturing inverters in America today

• What it will take to complete the domestic supply chain

Daily Round Up

• Nico Johnson & Sylvia Leyva Martinez highlight the biggest takeaways of the week

• Derek Mast (derek the solarboi) recaps the show floor and closes with the final “Would You Rather” quiz

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this years RE+, and thank you to those of you who kept up to date with what was happening at the show through our episodes! See you next year!

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

853: RE+ Day 2: SEIA Politics, Long-Duration Storage, Future Homes, String Inverters & More Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

Straight from Day 2 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up continues our mission to bring you insights from the leaders shaping the clean energy transition.

Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, and Sylvia Martinez welcome industry voices who share fresh perspectives on the policies, technologies, and strategies pushing renewable energy forward. From SEIA’s advocacy work to storage breakthroughs and how homes can become part of the grid, this episode captures the fast-moving conversation in Las Vegas.

Stephanie Bosh – SEIA
• How clean energy leaders can shift the political balance of power
Daniel Dus – Cleantech Industry Resources
• Development-as-a-Service for solar + storage
• Solar Fight Night — the wildest debate in renewables
Molly Bales – Wood
• Long-duration storage’s rise beyond lithium-ion
• How Trump-era policies reshaped the supply chain
Laura Cornish – Uplight
• What it takes to turn every home into a mini power plant
Melissa Baldwin – Tigercomm
• The mistakes developers can’t afford to keep making
Derek Mast – derek the solarboi
• A cheeky quiz on oil, Trump, and the future of energy
Pier LaFarge – Sparkfund
• Why utilities are ditching generation for procurement power
Bryan Wagner – CPS America
• Why string inverters could outpace central in the U.S. market

This isn’t just a recap — it’s a front-row seat to the debates and ideas driving clean energy’s next chapter.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus