Solar Power World

In light of our call to solar installers, developers and EPCs to apply for our 2018 Top Solar Contractors list, we thought it made sense to speak to one for this edition. Not unlike the construction field as a whole, solar installation is a male-dominated industry. Out of 500 companies that made the list last year, only 23 were lead by women. Michelle Greenfield is one of them. She has served as CEO of Ohio-based Third Sun Solar for more than 16 years. In this podcast, she discusses what it’s like to be a female leader in a male-dominated industry, working in a state that isn’t exactly the first that comes to mind when you think of solar.

You’ve likely heard of IHS Markit in research reports or articles about the solar or storage markets. But in this podcast we get to learn more about the organization as we talked to Cormac Gilligan, research manager of solar and energy storage, and Miguel De Jesus, solar energy analyst at IHS. Listen to learn more about inverter trends, as well as the solar and storage markets overall.

We spoke with Martin Hermann, CEO and founder of solar developer 8minutenergy. Prior to founding the company in 2008, Martin worked with solar panel manufacturer Advent Solar, and even owned a semiconductor tools company which he sold to Intel. Martin provides some great insight on the solar and storage markets.

EGT Solar gives us the lowdown on the Idaho solar market. With an expected population increase that is three-times the national rate through 2025, Idaho is going to be a big demand market for new solar. Read our full story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/03/contractors-corner-egt-solar/

If you’ve spotted a man with a signature mustache, bow tie and hat walking around a solar show floor, you’ve seen this month’s vet Marvin Hamon, principal and founder of Hamon Engineering. Besides his signature look, Marvin is known for being an expert electrical engineer, writer and supporter of the green energy movement. Read more here https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/03/ask-a-solar-vet-marvin-hamon-the-man-behind-the-mustache/

We spoke with Chip Palombini, sales and marketing director at Dynapower, for a story on AC versus DC coupling. We wanted to share some of that interview with you. Chip talked about the differences between AC and DC coupling and told us about Dynapower's new DC to DC converter. Listen to learn more and read the whole article here https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/03/ac-dc-coupling-use-next-storage-project/.

We recently talked with Hannah Solar, a mid-sized EPC in the Southeast, about how the company is adjusting to the new 30% solar tariffs (Spoiler alert: not sweating them). We also talk logistics on how to get materials to far away islands in the Pacific. Read our story here: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/02/contractors-corner-hannah-solar/

Paula Mints is the founder of global market research firm SPV Market Research. Learn what it takes to be a solar market researcher, her views of the market and how she is looking to help struggling women find a new life in solar in this latest edition. Read more at https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/02/ask-a-solar-vet-solars-star-researcher-paula-mints/.

Aurora Solar has been researching what makes solar sales proposals successful. The company interviewed homeowners at different stages of the buying process and talked with solar sales professionals to gain insights into the solar sales process. In this Solar Speaks podcast, we talk with Rahul Nihalani, head of growth at Aurora Solar, about what the company learned from this research and how you can apply them to your solar business. See Aurora's blog on its research efforts here: http://blog.aurorasolar.com/what-makes-a-solar-sales-proposal-successful-5-tips-for-proposals-that-close/

Having trained more than 12,000 installers and inspectors in his 25+ years in solar, Bill Brooks can be called the godfather of solar engineering. However, he chooses to call himself an ambassador for solar technology. Listen to learn more about Bill's journey from the early days of solar in the 70s, to his work with the codes and standards that continue to drive the industry today.

We had a great time talking with Sheryl Lane this month from Earth Electric in San Jose, California. The residential solar installer is about to enter its 10th year--a major milestone for the solar industry! We talk about installing solar in Silicon Valley and why honesty is so important. Read our full story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/01/contractors-corner-earth-electric/

By now most solar contractors are aware of how interconnection requirements like Rule 21 in California are changing to allow inverters to play an active role in stabilizing the grid. While this can be a positive move to allow more renewable energy capacity on the grid, aspects like security and safety must also be considered. This is where UL comes in. We spoke to Bruce Bailey, VP of renewable energy, and Ken Boyce, Principal Engineer at UL to learn more.

Solar Power World editors complete their first residential solar installation in Kensington, California. Podcast sponsored by EcoFasten Solar.

We chat with Ohio's GEM Energy on its 10-year history of building solar projects in the tough Midwest market. Repeat customers make up a big chunk of GEM's project pipeline. Read the full story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/12/contractors-corner-gem-energy/

Kristen Graf spent the last eight years leading Women of Wind Energy (WOWE), and now serves as executive director of the group under a new name: Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). She talks about why the group transitioned, what drives her to passion for renewables and empowering women, and shares her thoughts on the industry now and in the future. Read more here: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/12/ask-solar-vet-uniting-women-across-sustainable-sectors-wrises-kristen-graf/

This month's guest is Adaptive Solar, a Houston-based solar installer. Founder Richard Sherwood talks about the tough solar market in the middle of oil country and how Hurricane Harvey affected solar and battery sales. Read our full write-up: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/11/contractors-corner-adaptive-solar/

With the section 201 trade case, it’s very timely to be speaking to a U.S. panel manufacturer. After 14 years at Solaria president and CEO Suvi Sharma has some interesting things to say. At Solaria Suvi was a co-founder of NEXTracker and also founded a CRM provider and a volunteer organization. Listen for more. Read more here: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/11/ask-a-solar-vet-…rias-suvi-sharma/

This month, we get to know Kingspan Energy and its Irish roots. The company entered the U.S. solar market in 2014 and has found success in the Northeast market. Read more: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/10/contractors-corner-kingspan-energy/

This month’s vet, Scott Sullivan, is one of the most well-connected, experienced marketing professionals in solar. He's currently director of inverter sales and marketing for Growatt, but has worked in energy for more more than 20 years. He's also one of the most personable people you'll meet.  In this podcast, he shares what he's learned about sales and solar marketing from being employed in many different sectors of solar. Read more: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/10/ask-solar-vet-selling-solar-connecting-people-growatts-scott-sullivan/

We talk Midwest solar with Cromwell Solar of Lawrence, Kansas, this month. The company has a lot of fans on Facebook; who knew folks in the middle of the country are so supportive of solar? Read more: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/09/contractors-corner-cromwell-solar-champion-solar-midwest/