solar_coaster: Recent Episodes
solar_coaster
PreCharge Your Knowledge and Your Network Hosted by Josh Porter (SOLARCOASTER) and Nico Johnson (SunCast Media).PreCharge is a series of events taking place before the most important regional events in the industry. We bring together key players and learn more about the market in an intimate setting before going into the conference itself. Participants work together to refine their messaging and objectives so they arrive at the conference confident and prepared.Core market experience ranges, but each participant brings their own expertise to bear in the discussions. The event is comprised of a series of workshops with guest experts in and from the region, followed by breakout sessions designed for participant interaction.
RE+ 2023 Las Vegas Ninth Island Tour Details.Contact solarcoaster.com@gmail.com to participate.
Coming off the install of the SolarEdge home system in Makawao, Maui and the recent all-island power outage, we discuss with Christopher Thompson and Michelle Spina how an "abundance of electrons" changes the way we live, work and play.
Just coming off an install of the SPAN load control panel in Makawao, Maui - we talked with Chad Conway at SPAN as well as Elemental Excelerator and Hawaii Energy Folks on how this technology changes the solar plus battery game in Hawaii.
Great chat with Moss Construction, Clearway Energy and Nextracker - the participants in the recently commissioned Mililani Solar Project in Oahu. RFP Phase 1 getting underway as Hawaii takes big strides towards our 100% RPS!Mililani Solar Project in Oahu Photo by Moss Construction.
177 - Andre Richter, PV Manufacturing Overview and Agrivolatics at Blue Green Power by solar_coaster
Vineyard's 800 MW of GE's Haliade X Wind Turbines births an offshore wind industry in the USA.
Big show today with Raghu Belur, co-founder Enphase Energy...stick around for some bloopers at the end of the 90 minutes as Josh and Jay each attempt a 20 second pre-show overview...to varying degrees of success.
Checking in with CEO of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, David Bissell, on their approved pumped storage hydro facility helping Kauai reach 90% renewables with a special long duration storage solution.
Josh and Jay are back covering their favorite energy trade show ...CES ....right...actually not an energy trade show but one that features more and more sustainability and energy tech. Most importantly all the "Killer Aps" of the world ahead.. where electrons are abundant..
Josh, Jay and Brian reflect on the past year (60 + hour long episodes) in which Brian Thomas of Fairwinds Wealth Management joined the SolarCoaster Radio show.
With an eye towards better understanding how solar stocks and other areas of ESG investing are impacting the financial markets, the team dug deep and monitored what turned out to be the "best performing sector in the financial universe" during the year.
Upon this realization, the team announces its commitment to developing a stock index that reflects the full force of the new energy economy.
Stay close as we air shows illustrating the principals in how these stocks are picked and monitored over time. In the upcoming months we look forward to preparing our portfolios together for the decade of solar; The 2020's and the biggest moves in 2021 ahead.
SPECIAL NOTE: Upon airing this video at North American Smart Energy week Thursday 6PM EST on 10/22, the third and final debate aired only a couple hours afterwards in which Former Vice President and current favored candidate for the office of president, Joe Biden, stated:
“We’re going to get to zero net emissions for the production of electricity by 2035 and it’s going to create millions of jobs. But, we can’t be cavalier about the impact it’s going to have and how we’re going to transition to do all this. I just think its a gigantic opportunity to create really good jobs.”
“The fastest growing jobs are in solar and wind — paying prevailing wage — $45 to $50 bucks an hour, plus benefits.”
“The president of the U.S. has control of signing $600 billion in federal contracts and one of the largest auto and trucking fleets in the world.”
Biden said the U.S should “own the EV market.” “We need to invest billions on transmission.”
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/10/2...
We caught up with Brent Alderfer of Community Energy and talked all things grid integration. His recent activity puts him in a class all his own with a new partnership in place with Princeton University and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment.
Josh and Jay wrap up 3.5 years of weekly 1 hr talk shows with KAOI studios on this show #168. With virtual trade shows, video marketing projects and speaking platforms burgeoning around the world, the Solar Coaster is devoting its Fall schedule to a series of events starting off with a stellar video documentary on the much lauded SolarEdge Energy Hub System set right here in Maui County to be distributed nationally as installer and customer facing content.
Podcasts will continue to be accessible in all current platforms.
Show 169 will be the first digital only show we have offered EVER and will recap the second half of our 169 shows. We will take a look at upcoming projects as well from trade show venues ...to streaming television shows..to video documentaries on cutting edge technology.. and ALL without our FCC and Radio time/format limits...
OOOoohh how we do look forward to throwing of the yolk of formality and digging into all the best content we have touched on ...ITER Fusion in france....Sonnen VPP in Bavaria...Toronto...SMR's ...To name a few ...get all the behind the scene content this week on your SolarCoaster!!
Alooooha Josh & Jay
Third time is a charm! If you weren't able to join the first ever virtual Hawaii Energy Conference this year, and you missed the SolarCoaster's coverage last week on air in Maui, now you have your chance to listen at your leisure via podcast!
https://hawaiienergyconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/HEC-Virtual-Program-2020.pdf
Along with our usual news and events we covered the keynote by CEO Hawaiian Electric Scot Seu as well as a panel on Solar Jobs – "Being Part of the Solution?"
The Executive Director of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association lead a discussion of how jobs in solar and other parts of the “clean“ energy sector can contribute to a Just Recovery.
Moderated by: Will Giese, Executive Director, Hawaii Solar Energy Association
Joining: Scott Glenn, Chief Energy Officer, Hawaii State Energy Office Dawn Lippert, CEO, Elemental Excelerator Odette Mucha, Regulatory Director, Southeast, Vote Solar
Continuing in our Hawaii Utility Scale Series we sit down with Wren to learn more about Long Road Energy from the early First Wind days (developers of our Wind farms in Maalaea Maui) to the many dozens of successful projects and 2.6 gigawatts total of wind and solar under management spread throughout the USA.
Wren is a local fella with Maui county roots, having been born in Molokai and attending the Kamehameha school system in his youth. He is heavily engaged in coordinating with the community and learning about and responding to needs on a project by project basis.
At Long Road Energy Wren represents the largest IPP (Independent Power Provider) in Hawaii and the recently awarded Oahu project, at 120 MW AC, is the largest single project awarded to date.
https://www.longroadenergy.com/
Doug McLeod jumps on a zoom call with Josh to review the upcoming Hawaii Energy Conference streaming event.
https://hawaiienergyconference.com/
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Imagining a Just Recovery. What would that look like for the grid? Please join us online July 30th for a robust discussion of how the energy sector can and should respond to our current challenges by creating a “just” electrical grid.
The Hawaiʻi Energy Conference understands our energy systems do not exist in a vacuum. COVID-19 has laid bare the stark reality of pre-existing inequalities in our society. The elderly, the poor, and minorities have suffered tremendously in the pandemic’s wake. Peaceful, sometimes violent, forms of protest make it painfully evident that an equitable or just recovery is the only path forward to heal our communities.
Not everything is bad news. The planet experienced an unexpected respite from air pollution, and a slowdown in carbon loading to the atmosphere. But the lessened impact to our ecosystem came at an extraordinary economic cost. As we move forward, what strategies will policy makers and regulators use to achieve results that benefit broad swaths of society? How will utilities and companies in the energy sector contribute?
Recognizing the importance of these issues across the globe, and as a Mahalo (Thank you) for all those who have supported the Conference in the past, admission for this three-hour event will be FREE.
DATE: July 30 TIME: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm HST VENUE: Online
After receiving a press release from Hawaiian Electric, Josh sits down with Jim Kelley to review the impacts of this major investment in Hawaii's electricity generation infrastructure.
"news release from Hawaiian Electric outlining how 29 planned renewable projects represent $3.5-$4 billion in clean energy investment in Hawaiʻi. The jobs and revenue generated by these projects can contribute to the state’s economic recovery.
These projects, along with the continued expansion of private rooftop solar, have the potential to move Hawaiian Electric to a renewable portfolio standard of more than 60 percent by the end of 2025, up from about 28 percent today."
Here’s a link to b roll: https://hawaiianelectric.box.com/s/d2vx2i5ymrry70hmv1qf5iixylssft19
Good fun chatting with Kyle of Solar.com in the Midwest Solar Expo's Virbela Virtual Tradeshow Platform!
Solar.com is in the process of taking its service to all 50 states and is on the lookout for installers in the state of Hawaii at this time.
Back into the studio with restrictions in Maui finally lifting, the team has a chance to revisit the energy of SolarCoaster shows past.
There's nothing like a live show with your guests at the Mic!
Jason Fellerman - Crypto & Smart Contract enthusiast joins Brian Thomas of Fairwinds Wealth Management to dig into the potential of virtual interaction platforms ....currently being used for Solar Trade Shows like MWSE and NASEW.
Having just emerged from their first week of virtual shows the guys push the envelope and consider where this technology might take us in the upcoming months and years?!!
Could there be a virtual software and hardware tech bubble ahead as Host Jason Verkaart postulates?!
We certainly can see a bright future for this technology and look forward to upcoming shows where co-developers of the VR headset Occulus are poised to make some big announcements..only on the SolarCoaster!!!
Another wonderful chat with the Innergex folks to talk two new projects culminating in four successful bids across Big Island, Oahu and Maui.
RFP Phase 2 awards when complete will take Maui from high 30% renewable position to the 80% range. Our pursuit of 100% clean energy is happening.
Tune in and get your BIG solar updates here at the SolarCoaster Maui!
Join us in the Midwest Solar Expo's Virbela platform with Jake Rozmaryn and get a taste of what to expect from this upcoming virtual solar trade show!
Ooooh the days of CES 2020 !!
We just loved digging into the real world tech that's about to be put to use and tested in the Woven City concept at the base of Mount Fuji!
Autonomous driving is basically here and this interview speaks to the changes we can expect to encounter in this new space. How do we fill our new found free time? What luxuries await?
From aromatherapy to massage chairs to personalized music and video choices all coordinated to help you play your new role in the navigation of the future.
Another two great interviews from the beginning of SPI 2019. This time with Brenda Chew and Mac Keller of SEPA.
Brenda is a Senior Manager, Research and Mac is a Senior Analyst, Research at SEPA.
They both shared fresh insights into SEPAs work and plans for the future.
If your into non-wires alternatives and pairing flow batteries with lithium to get the best out of both storage technologies this might just be your type of show!
Aloha !!
FOR OUR THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW!!:
Our first Zoom Webinar! aired on AMFM Radio in Maui County and subsequently Podcasted!
North America Smart Energy Week 299 subscribers
How are companies in the solar & storage industry adapting to the COVID crisis? With shutdowns and slowdowns across the U.S. and the world, what are solar & storage companies doing to mitigate this economic downturn, while also keeping an eye on future growth? This webinar will explore different perspectives on navigating the current market conditions that lead to future success.
On this webinar:
Lior Handelsman - Vice President, Marketing and Product Strategy & Founder at SolarEdge Technologies Brian Warshay - Principal, Energy Storage and DERs at DNV GL Josh Porter & Jason Verkaart - Hosts at SolarCoaster
Jen Szaro formerly SEPA(Smart Electric Power Alliance) VP of Research - helped us kick off SPI NASEW back in 2019 in Salt Lake City.
We love spending time with the SEPA folks at the start of every show as it is always such an education for us. It gets our minds stirring and on the lookout for the breakout winners at the conference ahead.. tech, companies, people and ideas..SEPA is a great organization to keep tabs on!
https://sepapower.org
Session #2 doesn't disappoint as Roger walks us through some of the more nuanced value propositions of Shipping Container Living.
Josh is sold and plans on taking full advantage of Maui County's new double ADU for R TMK's!
Keep on the lookout www.tinyhousecontainer.com
David Grinspoon outlines our approach and timeline to travel & settlement within our solar system. Plan B?
Linh Tran of LG Chem calls in and shares LG's expereince donating 30k masks to installers around the USA.
Josh and Jay take some time to look at the Green tech' s revised outlook on the solar industry in 2020 in news and events.
Lanai's Sensei Retreat looks more like a "tech startup than a wellness retreat"
Jump on the Coaster with Josh & Jay and hear all about new methods to integrate and monitor solar, storage and EV systems in one platform.
https://www.manamonitoring.com/
Zoltan has created a top 15 global monitoring company right here in Maui harnessing the cutting edge experience here in the Hawaii marketplace and exporting this expertise to the world.
SHOW NOTES:
Global https://www.pv-tech.org/news/spanish-pv-hits-historic-generation-record-in-month-of-lockdown https://finance.yahoo.com/news/solar-firm-azuri-helping-off-155400660.html https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/03/golden-pv-panels-for-balcony-solar-systems/ https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/02/solaria-sues-canadian-solar-for-patent-infringement-on-pv-cell-shingling-tech/
Tech https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/02/solaria-sues-canadian-solar-for-patent-infringement-on-pv-cell-shingling-tech/ https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/tech/solar-windows-ubiquitous-energy-california/index.html https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-panel-landfill-deemed-safe-as-recycling-options-grow
Resi https://energynews.us/digests/residential-solar-installers-see-work-disappear-amid-pandemic/
National https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/sungevity-again-lays-off-nearly-400-employees-citing-coronavirus https://www.record-bee.com/2020/04/02/californias-next-renewable-energy-goal-a-million-solar-batteries/ https://www.wired.com/story/solar-panels-best-social-fad-ever/
Hawaii https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/03/27/morning-brief-hawaii-is-installing-batteries-to-support-solar-and-wind-ted-danson-on-energy-storage/ https://www.energy-storage.news/news/virtual-community-meetings-held-for-input-on-hawaiian-electrics-1378gwh-ene https://cleantechnica.com/2020/04/01/hawaiian-electric-plans-nearly-1-gigawatt-hour-of-battery-storage-mostly-from-tesla-megapacks/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2020/04/03/100-renewable-energy-hawaii-adds-1-gigawatt-hour-battery-storage-mostly-tesla-megapacks/ https://electrek.co/2020/03/29/tesla-biggest-batteries-world-hawaii-megapacks/ https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trumps-war-on-solar-power-968511/
Maui https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2020/04/hawaiian-electric-proposes-its-own-self-build-battery-storage-in-pulehu/ Transpo https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/04/03/social-distancing-makes-powering-evs-with-solar-a-good-idea/
Finance https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-solar-market-hit-2020-134501384.html
The SolarCoaster covers the fast evolving community, business and government response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
We start out with a call in from Linda Puppolo from Maui County, discussing the new website to cover unemployment claims, training, SBA loans.
https://www.mauiamericanjobcenter.com/
William Giese of HSEA calls in and reviews how the solar industry in Hawaii is responding.
http://www.hsea.org/
We wrap the show with a call in from Jen Oberg sharing her experience of Sewing masks for medical professionals around Maui county.
Email to:
Julie MacMillan - HaleMahina1@gmail.com
SHOW NOTES:
Global https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/economics-of-european-solar-braced-to-ride-out-coronavirus-storm https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/global-solar-wind-growth-will-be-erased-this-year-rystad-says
Tech https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/26/solar-fuel-yep-its-a-genuine-artificial-leaf/ Resi C&I National https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidblackmon/2020/03/25/solar-ceo-expand-investment-tax-credit-to-include-domestic-oil-and-gas/#5a8a4ff63c06 https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/03/26/guide-to-installing-residential-solar-amid-a-global-pandemic/ https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/much-u.s-solar-manufacturing-continues-despite-covid-19-restrictions https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/03/tesla-plans-to-retool-solar-panel-factory-to-make-medtronic-ventilators/ Hawaii https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059832 https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/03/27/morning-brief-hawaii-is-installing-batteries-to-support-solar-and-wind-ted-danson-on-energy-storage/ https://bigislandnow.com/2020/03/13/rising-sun-solar-implements-precautions-due-to-covid-19/ https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2020/03/11/uh-team-wins-heco-challenge/ https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/25/breaking-news/developer-of-palehua-wind-farm-in-waianae-withdraws-its-bid/
Finance https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/26/why-general-electric-vivint-solar-and-clean-energy.aspx https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/global-solar-wind-growth-will-be-erased-this-year-rystad-says
Interested in breakthrough new PV module that you can literally "stick" on your roof?
Sunflare (https://www.sunflaresolar.com/) is an amazing technology that offers some unique value propositions:
- Ease of installation on certain roof types like standing seem
- Reduced labor and BOS expenses
- Lower weight for structurally compromised buildings
- 10X reduction in carbon emissions during manufacture in comparison with silicon
- Great method to incorporate solar energy into vehicles
Tune in to hear Elizabeth Sanders of Sunflare give us the run down of this fun new product with big industry implications.
Show Notes:
Global https://www.pv-tech.org/news/china-solar-exports-fall-over-57-month-on-month-in-february-2020 https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/covid-19-to-stop-solar-power-world-record-in-tracks/ https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/03/20/how-covid-19-is-halting-solar-development-in-germany/ https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2020/03/19/forget-toilet-paper-consumers-are-panic-buying-solar-pv/
National https://www.pv-tech.org/news/tesla-to-provisionally-shutter-buffalo-pv-factory-amid-covid-19-concerns https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/03/19/how-to-keep-selling-solar-in-an-era-of-social-distancing/ https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/infrastructure/488402-solar-energy-industry-disrupted-by-coronavirus
Hawaii https://bigislandnow.com/2020/03/13/rising-sun-solar-implements-precautions-due-to-covid-19/
Transpo https://www.sunreef-yachts.com/en/news/the-greener-side-of-luxury-on-board-the-sunreef-60-e
Finance https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/20/why-solar-energy-stocks-are-a-great-buy-now.aspx https://seekingalpha.com/article/4333085-vivint-solar-is-facing-major-challenges
Speaking with ISP solar we learn about the many advantages of the ISP tracking module.
http://ispsolar.com/
Show Notes:
Global https://www.eenews.net/stories/1062562335 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-china-solar/tesla-advertises-for-solar-energy-storage-staff-in-china-idUSKBN20T2C0 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/12/wind-and-solar-plants-will-soon-be-cheaper-than-coal-in-all-big-markets-around-world-analysis-finds
Tech https://www.inverse.com/innovation/solar-cell-design https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-03-05/is-hydropower-key-to-a-clean-energy-future https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/12/ossiaco-has-built-the-one-home-solar-inverter-to-rule-them-all/
C&I https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/goldman-sachs-and-greenskies-alums-launch-new-distributed-solar-venture-telos
National https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-storage-industry-achieved-biggest-ever-quarter-year-in-2019 https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/falling-us-solar-plus-storage-prices-start-to-level-as-batteries-supersize-56971432 https://www.businessinsider.com/states-upholding-paris-climate-agreement-combat-climate-changehttps://energynews.us/2020/03/10/midwest/minnesota-couples-idea-aims-to-keep-solar-panels-free-of-snow-buildup/ https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/vivint-solar-ceo-admits-to-being-behind-on-storage-but-promises-to-catch-up
Hawaii https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/27/hawaii-news/hawaii-added-nearly-2500-solar-jobs-in-2019-ranked-10th-in-growth-report-says/ https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2020/03/11/uh-team-wins-heco-challenge/ https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/12/breaking-news/renewable-energy-rises-28-in-2019-hawaiian-electric-says/ https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/microgrids/ https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/20/1987607/0/en/SPI-Energy-Co-Ltd-Completes-sales-of-5-Solar-Plants-in-Oahu-Hawaii.html https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2020/03/05/utility-scale-7-5-mw-solar-project-to-come-online.html https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2020/02/26/oahu-solar-permits-up-95-year-over-year.htmlhttps://bigislandnow.com/2020/03/13/rising-sun-solar-implements-precautions-due-to-covid-19/ https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2020/03/08/hawaii-news/bill-to-plant-1m-trees-each-year-in-hawaii-moves-to-senate/
Maui https://hawaiienergyconference.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RbUWVD3ylY&feature=youtu.be.
Transpo https://www.techradar.com/news/the-fisker-ocean-has-a-solar-roof-that-provides-1000-miles-of-future-proof-power
Finance https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/12/sedg.aspx
Innergex continued its lengthy community engagement process with an open house last week at MEDB's Malcom Center in Kihei to:
"share some of the preliminary results of the archaeological and environmental studies that were conducted over the past year."
Date: Time: Location: Thursday, March 5, 2020 Anytime between 10 am to 8 pm Malcolm Center, MEDB Ke Alahele Center Suite 5 - 1305 North Holopono Street, Kihei, HI 96753
SolarCoaster staff attended and was able to sit down with representatives of Pacific Legacy and Tetra Inc to learn about these findings first hand.
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Paeahu-Biological-Survey-Report_Initial-Draft_January-2020.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PAEAHU_SOLAR_2018-11-22_COLLIERS_MEMO_LAND_ADJACENT_SOLAR_FARMS.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PAEAHU_SOLAR_2018-12-15_TETRATECH_MEMO_DIRTY_POWER_SOLAR_FARM.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Paeahu-Archaeological-Inventory-Survey_Initial-Draft_Report_January-2020.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/COMMUNITY-FEEDBACK_PAEAHU_V3_FINAL_2019-08-15.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PAEAHU_SOLAR_PROJECT_FAST_FACTS_20190426.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Paeahu_Handout.pdf
https://www.innergex.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Paeahu-Community-Outreach-and-Engagement-Report-Interviews-and-Recommendations_FINAL_Janauary-2020.pdf
NEWS & EVENTS LINKS/NOTES:
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Solar-Energy/China-Could-Start-A-New-Solar-Price-War.html
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/03/05/egypt-evaluating-solar-desalinators/
• Tech https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200304141441.htm https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/03/05/how-will-the-new-generation-of-500-watt-panels-shape-the-solar-industry/
• Hawaii https://www.thegardenisland.com/2020/02/26/hawaii-news/kiuc-ahead-of-the-production-goal/
• Maui Hawaiian Electric invites community to help shape Maui’s clean energy future Panel discussion, information stations sharing efforts to meet clean energy goals
KAHULUI, Feb. 24, 2020 – Ever wonder how Hawai‘i will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy by 2045? As communities will play an important part in achieving this goal, Hawaiian Electric invites Maui residents to learn more about the work to meet clean energy milestones and take part in the company’s planning process to identify options for moving the islands toward a clean energy future.
The public is invited to join this community discussion on Thursday, March 12 at the Hawaiian Electric - Kahului Auditorium (210 W. Kamehameha Ave., Kahului). From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., attendees are invited to visit information stations and meet staff to learn about topics ranging from rooftop solar programs to electrification of transportation. A panel discussion will follow from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Participating in the discussion will be: • Rhiannon Chandler-‘Iao, Executive Director, Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Islands • Colton Ching, Senior Vice President, Planning and Technology, Hawaiian Electric • Rebecca Dayhuff Matsushima, Director, Renewable Acquisitions, Hawaiian Electric • Dick Mayer, Coordinator, Alliance for Maui Community Associations • Michele McLean, Director, Department of Planning, County of Maui • Chris Reynolds, Director, Operational Technology, Hawaiian Electric
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RbUWVD3ylY&feature=youtu.be.
• Transpo & Renewables https://www.techradar.com/news/the-fisker-ocean-has-a-solar-roof-that-provides-1000-miles-of-future-proof-power
Finance
• RECORDING OF MACRO VOICES Podcast - ERIK TOWNSEND #209 with Jesse Felder
With the close of a precipitous drop in the financial markets on our heels, the SolarCoaster team digs into the latest happenings in all things energy.
Global uncertainty brought on by the Coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic is a big topic of discussion with Jason giving first hand accounts of the effect on Japanese commerce and daily life in Osaka.
Brian Thomas reflects on the week in the markets and how ESG stock, ETF's and his strategies are fairing. Check out Fair winds wealth management to learn more. https://www.fairwindswealth.com/
Doug Mcleod, Conference chair joins us in studio to talk Equity in Energy at the upcoming 7th annual Hawaii Energy Conference scheduled for 3/18-3/19 at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center right here in our home Maui county.
*SPECIAL UPDATE - At the time of airing/uploading the conference is scheduled to proceed as planned.
Main Show Focus Notes with HEC Chair:
https://hawaiienergyconference.com/
https://hawaiienergyconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020_HEC_Media_Kit.pdf
https://hawaiienergyconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-HEC-Program.pdf
https://www.smud.org/en/Corporate/About-us/News-and- Media/2019/2019/SMUD-reaches-1000-all-electric-homes-milestone-in-innovative-approach-to-reducing-greenhouse-gases
News and Events Notes contributing to this show:
Global https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-02-28/china-solar-coronavirus https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/the-solar-industrys-new-power-player-oil-majors https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/02/28/chinese-solar-production-juggernaut-rumbles-on/
Tech https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1127287_electrify-america-gets-30-solar-powered-ev-charging-stations-for-rural-california
National https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/natural-gas-is-crushing-wind-and-solar-power-why-isnt-anyone-talking-about-it https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/tesla-panasonic-said-to-end-joint-solar-cell-production-at-buffalo-factory.html
Hawaii https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/28/hawaii-news/council-committee-moves-out-energy-code-bill/ https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/27/breaking-news/hawaii-added-nearly-2500-solar-jobs-in-2019-ranked-10th-in-growth-report-says/ https://mauinow.com/2020/02/24/hawaiian-electric-to-host-public-meetings/
https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/20/02/g15372253/spi-energy-co-ltd-completes-sales-of-5-solar-plants-in-oahu-hawaii https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/02/schneider-electric-solars-new-hybrid-inverter-added-to-heco-qualified-equipment-list/ https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/02/05/how-to-solve-hawaiis-solar-and-storage-problems/ https://www.greenbiz.com/article/learning-aloha-hawaiis-energy-transformation
Maui https://www.forbes.com/sites/dipkabhambhani/2020/02/10/talks-near-finish-line-for-larry-ellison-plan-to-buy-islands-utility-assets-from-hawaiian-electric/#50cc0a7a2088 https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2020/02/kahoolawe-fire-burns-2635-acres-spares-base-camp/
Transpo & Renewables https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/10/21131754/nikola-badger-hydrogen-electric-pickup-truck-specs-photos-battery-range https://insideevs.com/news/398762/porsche-e718-detailed-probably-coming/ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/at-a-crossroads-the-connected-future-of-evs-solar-energy-storage-and-sof/571370/
Finance https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-correction-4-sector-130001321.html https://finance.yahoo.com/news/aes-achieves-2019-strategic-financial-110000287.html
You gotta check out our last two focus areas from CES 2020:
https://enginuitypowersystems.com/ & https://ridecake.com/
Next Friday's show Hawaii Energy Conference 2020 Pre-event Radio Show!!
Wondering where your water may come from in the future? How about your solar panels? Well not actual PV panels but the source module goes on your roof and creates water with no input other than a little solar energy derived from an integrated solar panel.
And the next generation of Air conditioners will not only eliminate the need for toxic Freon but also run off of natural gas and eventually hydrogen. Check out Oxicool online to learn more.
While our first show from CES highlighted two different companies focusing on air and vehicular electrification ( Daimler and Bell), we now turn our heads to one organization remarkably doing BOTH, Hyundai Mobis ( a supplier for Hyundai) and Hyundai/Uber partnership together showing a comprehensive vision for air mobility and ground transport in the future.
Can you see a future where your ride hail extends out from an autonomous human machine merge Uber pickup at your home, to get to the Uber VTOL helipad only 15 minutes away, and after a quick 60 mile hop to the nearest international airport where your board a fully electric commercial airliner? ( another story for sure but.. FYI there's one on Israel being pitched today.. ah yet another show)
CES Show #3 and we focus on innovative EV Charging technology.
Wallbox and EVbox are two companies to make sure you check out.
Aloha from Maui!
CES coverage continues with two companies poised to change the way our food is produced, transported and consumed.
Impossible Foods, the company that convinced Burger King to feature a plant-based meat to the heart of the meat eater world, fast food! How did they do it? Whats next? Hear directly from the scientists who made it happen.
And ...Grov Tech, new LED tech allows for seeds to get the perfect day every day in these hyper-efficient vertical farms. Will these systems help our existing food supply system reduce energy inputs, land use, shipping costs ...while improving produce quality and nutrient density and speeding up the whole grow process.
Checkout the future of food from CES 2020 with Josh, Jay and Brian!
We get a chance to chat with Wes Doane on the reintroduction of Intersolar to North America, San Diego as a home city and new plans including the first ever Solar Games, where four teams compete to install two different solar plus storage system types on the show floor. Tune in and better still sign up for Intersolar today to be a part of this historical event!
https://www.intersolar.us/
With CES 2020 Las Vegas in full swing, Josh joins the fray and scours the dozen plus venues, 4500 exhibitors and 177,000 attendees to find energy innovation where-ever it may be hiding.
Air mobility and new EV concepts captured all of our imagination and Bell's Nexus and Mercedes AVTR were two major highlights. Check out the inside of the future of air mobility with one of Bell's head designers on site and explore the full technical ecosystem it'll take to finally get us to a "Jetsons" future.
Then join us with Mercedes, 130 years in the future, as James Cameron's AVTR plugs into Josh, reading his heartbeat as man and machine merge.
A dozen more CES interviews are in the can and pending release. Stay close to the SolarCoaster where the worlds new energy future is uncovered one innovation at a time!
SolarCoaster welcomes Eric Foellmer of XLFleet to discuss EV's in light of a hybrid fleet technology that has been around for a hundred million miles. Imagine a current day F150 with a plug-in hybrid system that saves 33% ghg's and adds about 50% to you mpg's. Sounds pretty good right?!
As the decade comes to a close Josh and Jay invite next-gen Coasters on the air to talk about their expectations for 2020, the upcoming decade, climate change, the new energy economy and all things SolarCoaster!!
This week the Dynamic Duo at Electric GT, Eric Hutchinson & and Brock Winberg help us see a future where the classic cars that we love can be transformed, preserved, re-powered with electric motors!
Saving GHG's and making life all around better ..the guys imagine a world where the cars we grew up dreaming about are easier to drive, on the road more reliably and perhaps we can even power them with the sun from our home solar systems!!
What dream car do you want to electrify??
After a robust dialogue re the Peaehu contested case hearing, The team invites back CarrollAnn of Pono Power Coalition to continue the discussion about how community members can better participate in the decision making process around our ramp to 100% renewables.
Should community members be a part of the land choice discussion at the earliest stages of the RFP process? Can DEBEDT's solar modeling program HAVEN help to visualize what a 100% renewable energy Maui will look like? Are compromised or contaminated lands a viable source for location of these utility scale systems? Are new technologies like Sunflare and other lightweight CIGS panels a good option for these locations with unsettled lands like landfills. If not solar how about SMR's, or other sources of energy and firm power. How does the IPCC's assessment of 12 years left to mitigate climate change play into the urgency of our decision making. Or to quote Tyler Durden in FIght Club are we only "polishing the brass on the Titanic?" Should community members be given back NEM and as a part of the utility scale solar roll out. Josh says yes! Tune in to hear all the juiciest Maui and Solar bits!!!
Meanwhile ...Musk says
“If you wanted to power the entire United States with solar panels, it would take a fairly small corner of Nevada or Texas or Utah; you only need about 100 miles by 100 miles of solar panels to power the entire United States,” Musk said at at the event in Rhode Island. “The batteries you need to store the energy, so you have 24/7 power, is 1 mile by 1 mile. One square-mile.”
All hands on deck!
The Pono Power Coalition contested case hearing against the Paeahu Solar Project to be located in between Maui Meadows and Kula was held last week at the Maui Tech Park. What does it mean when 50,000 solar panels are installed 250 ft away from our communities? Is this a small price to pay for our state's path to 100% renewable energy independence or an eye sore that should be located elsewhere? This show brings all the participants together, the PUC, the Consumer Advocate, the utility itself.. Hawaiian Electric Companies, the developer, Innergex, as well as the plaintiff, the Pono Power Coalition. Thought provoking questions are raised! Is VPP and distributed customer sited solar an alternative to utility scale solar? Was the use of one common attorney by the many developers a violation of anti-trust laws? Is our community getting the best deal possible for this energy? Should the RFP process itself bring in community members' perspectives earlier when considering solar farm locations? Will our community be able to meet its RPS milestones if this level of public scrutiny is received on the many other projects ahead of us in RFP Phase 2? Change is upon us folks. Tune in to get your daily dose of utility scale Sunshine controversy!!!
Hear a recorded field interview takeaway with Innergex representative Eddie Park post hearing and a call-in by Pono Power Coalition representative Carolann Barrows. Consumer advocate declined comment while both the Public Utility Commission and Maui Electric issued statements as listed below:
XXXXXX
PUC
The following is a statement from Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair James Griffin:
“The parties and participants may file post-hearing briefs two weeks after the hearing transcript is completed. The PUC will notify the parties when the transcript has been filed with the Commission. The PUC will issue a decision after receiving the briefs and no timeline has been set for the decision.”
Thank you and have a great weekend! Jodi
Jodi Endo Chai Executive Officer State of Hawaii - Public Utilities Commission
XXXXXX
Aloha Josh,
Nice chatting with you over the phone and thank you for your email. The Consumer Advocate’s office does not have any further comment to add to which was already made on record into the docket. If you have any specific questions for this, we can answer them at a later time (with more lead time would be appreciated, too). 😊
Have a great show!
Mahalo, Jessica Chillingworth Education Specialist State of Hawaii, DCCA – Division of Consumer Advocacy
XXXXXXX
Hi Josh!
Thanks for your phone message today!
"Paeahu Solar is a good project that will provide benefits to all of our customers and it will help accelerate the transition from imported fossil fuels to local renewable energy.
Throughout this process, Innergex has done extensive community outreach.
The developer also listened to concerns about the location of the project by moving it even further than it already was, which was already further than the required setback under county regulations.
Maui Electric recognizes siting any kind of energy project on an island is challenging because space is limited. There will always be tradeoffs and even more renewable energy projects are coming. If we’re serious about taking action on climate change and getting off fossil fuels, we all have to work together to manage the tradeoffs.
There will be no perfect choice. Waiting for the perfect project at the perfect price in the perfect location isn’t realistic if we are going to make any significant progress in replacing fossil fuels and meeting our clean energy goals."
Thanks again!
SHAYNA DECKER Manager, Communications Maui Electric PO Box 398 / Kahului, Maui, HI 96733-6898
______________________________________________
A show like no other...Brian Thomas of Fairwinds Wealth Management discusses ESG( Environment and Social Governance) with Josh & Jay in the context of both the renewable energy revolution and personal wealth management. The fellas take a close look at breakout new energy economy stocks like Enphase and SolarEdge, their performance on their own, in ETF's ( electronically traded funds) and their role in a greater macro trend in energy markets. The Coaster have had multiple shows over the years with these and other leaders ..that have pulled back the curtain on what may be fostering this performance past and present. Now we take a look at what we can expect in the future and how we can all participate in this growth ahead!!
Rounding out our SPI NASEW 2019 series the guys touch base with Pantech Design for recent updates on their smart panel tech as well as Sonnen as the four day show draws to a close.
Brian & Jay kick in some great perspectives and insights on the Tesla Cybertruck reveal from the SolarCoaster party the night before...Why so fugly? Well there is a reason and its all in the pursuit of structural rigidity...and some other lofty goals ..
Josh and Jay get a chance to follow up on their first Lumin show from earlier in 2019...this time with Alex Bazhinov CEO of Lumin at SPI - SPINASEW in Salt Lake City. Tune in to hear the backstory on how this visionary company got its start and how smart panels will play a role in the energy transition....If your buying a solar system today you are probably thinking about storage and if you are considering storage you really need to be aware of smart panels...
Early in the show Josh and Brian Thomas of Fairwinds Wealth Management get into the most recent energy stir in Hawaii. CEO Jeffrey Ubben of Value Act Capitol (a $14 billion dollar Impact Investment Hedge Fund) had sent a letter to Hawaiian Electric Companies urging a transition of leadership with a new CEO from outside of the current company culture.
Lot of action in Hawaii these days... enjoy the show!!
Oahu HSEA William Giese launches the 2nd annual All things Solar Expo at Aloha Tower Marketplace in Oahu. Guys head out to join the fun and discover many of the same companies they met in Salt Lake City a month ago at SPI. After some chatting with Oahu installers its pretty clear that the industry is heating up. Since pretty much all of current installs are storage based, its high time to start the conversation about smart panels...Span IO interview from SPI 2019 with CEO Arch Rao is aired. Subsequent shows will dive deep into other manufacturers. We start off with a bit of government discussion as La La Nuss shares her new role working on exploring and ensuring equity in our community concerning climate change and renewable energy.
Join Josh and Jay as they continue their SPI NASEW 2019 solar plus storage series. Meet Erik Anderson of Panasonic and learn about how this familiar brand has brought to market a new level of power and energy flexibility offering both AC coupled and DC coupled system types for residential solar plus battery installations.
The Grandfather of all solar, Sunpower SPR, has taken the game to new heights...on the roof SPR has not only introduced a stellar 66 "enlarged cell" high wattage back side contact module but also in recent years ...a full compliment of roof mounting equipment & micro-inverters called Equinox.
Now the Total SA( French energy giant) backed juggernaut SPR ads a LFP energy storage system to the mix. It's AC coupled and come with a system to significantly reduce the bird's nest on the side of house that we often see when installing solar plus!
Sunpower's Soup to Nuts Equinox system is now very likely the most complete solar plus storage offering as a result.
Keep close as SPR roles out this new offering and lets see if they take a queue from earlier years backing their systems with financing options!
Josh postulates dominance if they follow in the footsteps of their earlier marketing method "cash or lease for the best of the best and look to harness the long life potential of LFP in value-stacking as a utility aggregator"!
Nick Carter of LG Electronics meets up with Josh and J at SPI 2019 to review all the most recent updates of the LG product line.
From Top Tier Innovation in the PV space to integrated LG micro-inverters in their ACE modules to a single brand warranty wrapper across LG Chem storage products, this interview sheds light on it all!
Keep an eye out for LG appliances and the potential veeeeery relevant integration of an LG heat pump in the upcoming period as Intersolar Europe showed only a few months back.
Thermal capabilities and a move towards whole house automation may be on the horizon J&J postulate....?!?!?!
Join Josh and Jay as they dig DEEP with new on air commentary reviewing their Salt Lake City SPI 2019 - taped SolarEdge interview with Lior Handelsmen!
Back home in Maui KAOI Studio's on air AM/FM the fellas discuss the impact of SolarEdge's culture of "relentless innovation" on installers, homeowners and even the financial markets.
The discussion reads like a list of industry wide superlatives. Whether its the new battery company acquisition allowing integration of up to 60kwh useable of world's leading NMC Chemistry to their solar systems...
....or their recently launched integrated level-2 EV charger( the highest power spec of any level 2 charger with the lowest install costs)
....or their awesome scaleable HD wave inverter technology allowing up to three (11.4 kw battery ready inverters to stack in one install..at 1.55 DC/AC ratio, does that mean you could stack 53kw DC max on roof!??!!)
...or the linear solar hot water system controller (very cool in post NEM/non grid back-feeding environs for absorbing the back of the duck curve when your batteries are already full!)
or..............................YES THERE IS MORE !.... their newly offered smart switches allowing load curtailment during grid outages....
...SolarEdge is swinging for the proverbial fences offering all of us a glimpse of what the future of the world's energy companies ( not just "solar companies" anymore) will look like!
Brian Thomas of Fairwinds Wealth Management, a regular contributor to the SolarCoaster explains that the markets are responding favorably to all of the above ...with #1 Market Leading ETF( electronically traded fund) at the time of airing, the absolute BULL that is TICKER SYMBOL :TAN.....is lead by .... you guessed it ...SolarEdge..with the single largest percentage in the basket at 9.24%
TUNE IN, you don't want to miss this one!
Tune into learn all about the MOST recent updates of the Enphase Ensemble program, direct from Salt Lake City - Solar Power International - North American Smart Energy Week 2019 !
Jay and Josh dig deep in a 30 minute pre-SPI interview at the Peery Hotel with Raghu Belur Cofounder of Enphase Energy.
If you want to know the future of solar plus storage this is the place to hear about it! How will this industry evolve to impact our lives and even change our concept of energy itself?!
Whether you made it to SPI NASEW 2019 or not, please have a listen to the Podcast Lounge Daily Roundup with Suncast Media's Nico Johnson, PV Magazines John Weaver and Former NPR Reporter and Founder of Technica Communications Lisa Ann Pinkerton.
This show combines two daily roundups sessions day 2 and 4 squeezing out the concentrate of the entire show within 53 minutes of air time.
Enphase, Solar Edge, Lumin, Sonnen, Span, Pantech Design, LG, Panasonic, REC, Sunpower...and many many more
Whether your looking for smart home controls, on grid energy storage, VPP, or cell HJT cell technology, this is the show to dig in to!
Aloha from Salk Lake!
Dr. Ernst Galutschek knows a thing or two about maritime!
At 2% of global GHG's, the high seas are in for a wave of renewable energy integration much like cars, trucking and aviation.
Check out this discussion as we navigate hydrogen, LNG, sails, solar on ships of the future!
Join Josh, Jay and Brian Thomas as they welcome Gary Dolberg to the airwaves to discuss PV panel coatings and his company Perfectly Clear powered by EnduroShield. Use this panel coating pre-installation to optimize energy generation by reducing soil accretion and optimizing your operating and maintenance strategy... all equating to extra power and energy over the system lifetime!
Josh and Jason sit down to here from MECO Director Mat McNeff about recently integrated plans to bring Hawaii Island and Maui Islands under one single organizational structure. RFP Phase 2 and what our island home might look like with a dominant shift to renewables in the upcoming years is explored and considered.
Join us as we dive deep into the challenges and benefits of developing C&I solar at the Maui Country Club in Spreckelsville, Maui with Tom Glesne, Matias Besasso and Chauncey Brown.
Join Josh and Jay as they sit down with George Bye CEO of Bye Aerospace. George walks us through the upcoming revolution from trainers, to air taxis, heavy payload hybrids all the way through to high voltage commercial applications and the megawatt level engines of the future.
Aloha and welcome to the future of solar.
Hawaii is leading the way with its post NEM solar model and while utility scale solar is booming, residential solar is having a rough time!
Whats the best model to preserve citizen's choice and solar company jobs once the utility decides its ready to embrace solar wholeheartedly?
On our way to our 100% RPS ( renewable portfolio standard) will the local companies that paved the way be left to the wayside? Will homeowners energy autonomy be compromised or will we arrive at a new balance protecting all interested parties not just the big companies looking to make a profit?
Who shares in the opportunity that clean energy provides?!
Tune in to hear Will dig deep and provide tremendous insight into this world this week on the SolarCoaster!
Tune in as Josh and Jay release their big VPP show from a trip to Wildpoldsried in Southern Germany earlier this Spring.
The guys meet up with Global head of PR Mathias Bloch and Managing Director of e services Jean-Baptiste Cornefert to talk all things Sonnen and the coming battery revolution.
If your interested in .. battery backup, battery chemistry, value stacking of grid services and the myriad advantages presented by Virtual Power Planting you'll want to tune into this one.
Josh and Jay get the inside story, direct from PUC Chair Jay Griffin about Hawaii's recent RFP Phase 2 - Calling for 900MW of renewables across 5 islands!
Join Josh and Jay as they navigate more than one technical and organizational challenges to bring David Sands into the studio and explore bamboo as a building material!
Josh and Jay call in the big guns for an overview of one of the largest renewable energy RFP's in history. Jen Szaro of SEPA, Former Maui Energy Commissioner Doug Mcleoud and Recent Phase 1 RFP Awardee Innergex's Eddie Park join the coaster to talk Phase 2! 900 MW and 2 million MWH of energy! How will it take shape and get deployed in record time to catapult Hawaii forward in achieving its 100% renewable energy mandate!
Join Josh and Jay as they meet up with renewable energy project pioneer Bruce Levy of BMR Energy!
Bruce deployed some of the first large scale solar and wind operations in the Caribbean and learned loads about how these projects can be made more resilient in the face of extreme weather conditions.
BMR was recently acquired by the Virgin group and now is a part of Richard Branson's plans for incorporating more renewable energy projects throughout the Caribbean.
Maui and greater Hawaii are on the cusp of the Phase 2 RFP for massive utility scale renewable energy deployments at this moment! Bruce's insights may very well play a role in helping our community make informed decisions about these projects to help them last in the face of more and more extreme weather conditions ahead.
Tune in to hear Shea discuss his upcoming two wheeled electric motorcycle streamliner land speed record attempt!
Josh and Jay welcome new sponsor LG Chem into the studio to talk plans for the first ever Panel, Inverter and Battery system available to residential solar customers from one brand, the trusted and very well known appliance manufacturer LG!
Guest Brian Thomas, independent owner of Fairwinds Wealth Management joins the team to open a weekly dialogue about ways to invest in the solar revolution beyond putting solar on your house.
Join Josh and Jay as they dig into their third show with Maui Electric staff. This time Chris Reynolds, Greg Kresge and Shayna Decker are all in studio and discussing the upcoming collaborative 100% renewable energy forum with Sierra Club and Maui Tomorrows. This show opens a series of deep dialogue with the utility moving forward and an expansion of the Island Microgrid series covering new ground with an overview of Lanai, Oahu and Big Island upcoming.
Josh and Jay join up with Doug Mcleoud and Brian Kealoha to discuss Hawaii Energy and the new on bill financing programs from HGIA and GEMS. Energy efficiencies take center stage on this episode of the SolarCoaster in Maui!
Josh and Jay head across the world from Maui to Munich to attend Interolar Europe. 50k attendees, 1300 exhibitors, 500 registered press makes this the single largest gathering of solar people in Europe. Learn about Sonnen, Senec, BYD and others as we pick some highlight interviews from the show to share!
Joel Solomon of Renewal Funds talks with Josh and Jason on the impact of the clean money revolution and how to steer our world and use capital to create positive impact.
Graham Hill, founder of the famous Treehugger blog and of Life Edited, Talks all things sustainable architecture with Josh and Jay in this very special episode of the SolarCoaster.
Join Josh & Jay as they discuss the handover of MSP to the next generation. Jay calls in from Germany and the fellas cover news and events globally and the future of PV in Maui.
Josh and Jay meet up with Brent Alderfer and talk scaling up solar to save the planet!
$11 trillion investment over the next few decades!
Minnesota and New Mexico make headlines with 100% clean energy pledges, and utilities spanning state lines are setting their own carbon-reduction goals.
So, what's next? Community Energy Inc. (CEI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a leading clean energy project developer. The company is responsible for many of the largest and "first-ever" wind and solar projects across the country. In the process, CEI has developed best practices and strategies for how to effectively deliver renewable energy to utility, commercial and residential customers.
Brent Alderfer, CEO and Co-Founder of CEI speaks to that simple yet essential question of "what's next", as stakeholders across sectors and geographies work towards the decarbonization of our energy systems.
Josh & Jay get to chat with the executive director of the Hawai’i Green Infrastructure Authority Gwen Yamamoto Lau about the new On-Bill financing option available to all HEI customers! This program offers everyone with a HECO, MECO or HELCO account in good standing, the opportunity to install energy improvements without an additional loan. Listen to the show, and go to the gems.hawaii.gov website to learn more and apply.
In our continuing series on alternative living, Josh has the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Roger Brul, founder of Tiny House Container, to learn all about the homes he builds, and why container homes can make a lot of sense.
Now that the conference has truly wound down, Josh and Jay discuss it's impacts both on Maui and the world. Featuring a live call in from Ted Peck of Holu Ho Energy, and a sit down with conference chair Doug McLeod!
Josh catches up with Kyle Datta at the Hawaii Energy Conference, and has a frank discussion about his history, and the growing partnerships between utilities across the globe.
Special guest BriceNzeukou of Ampaire comes in studio to share their vision for the electrification of flight and more details about their pilot program happening right here on Maui!
The guys sit down with Energy Sage CEO Vikram Aggarwal to find out how a simple to use website can potentially save you THOUSANDS on your solar system installation!
Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and. . . nuclear fission?!?
There seems to be a legitimate question about whether or not solar and other renewable technologies can help us reach our decarbonization goals. Josh and Jay sit down withTim Peterson of Global First Power to find out more about the current state of nuclear fission technologies, and where it may be smart to deploy these reactors around the world.
The guys get to sit down with Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman to discuss the current state of research into sustainable living practices. How through technology and smart choices in how we build our homes, we can tip the balance in making not only the world a better place, but improve your own lifestyle as well.
Through their interviews at SPI 2018, Josh and Jay take a tour through a number of solar design software options, and also get a look at new mapping technology that is changing the way we plan not just solar, but possibly all building projects!
Once you have a solar system, the work isn't done. Josh and Jay sit down to have a frank conversation about how to keep your solar system running at peak efficiency. With special guest, Sun System Technology CEO Derek Chase!
In the news today, we discuss the purchase of Sonnen by Shell, Large scale hydrogen generation facilities begin construction in Dubai, Amazon invests $700 million in electric truck startup Rivian, and more!
Then, in our feature segment, Josh and Jay get a chance to sit down with the "top men" of Lumin, a Charlottesville based technology company who are helping to bring our homes into the twenty-first century. The Lumin Smart Panel can help take control of energy use by allowing circuit level control and monitoring.
Join Josh and Jay as they revisit their earlier show (episode 39) covering the microinverter innovator and current market leader Enphase Energy. Cofounder Raghu Belur talks about their new amazing product line including:
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Ensemble • Introduction of the IQ8 series • 7 series compatibility with upcoming 3.3kw modular battery • Launch timeline Q3 • Grid creation • Backup Power Without batteries?! • Alexa Command. "Hey Alexa Go Offgrid!"
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Enphase & NEM+ in Hawaii • Overview • Design – cracking the code • Why this is a great solution • Massive parallelism / NREL praising micros • What does it do for other verticles C&I and Utility Scale
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Legacy Upgrade Program • Who is eligible • What are the costs and benefits
Josh and Jay finally get to have the real fusion conversation with Physicist Mark Henderson from the ITER project (without having to contend with airport security).
Come along as they learn about man made fusion's history, progress, and potential future!
Josh and Jay get the opportunity to discuss Pantech Design's Adapt energy automation suite with CEO Troy Morgan. Find out how Adapt can literally transform your house into a home of the future.
Canadian Solar's David Reasenberg joins Josh and Jay in studio to talk story about how Canadian Solar grew from one founding engineer and an idea to trickle charger VW car lot batteries to the 3rd largest producer of solar panels globally and the 2nd largest owner of solar assets around this little blue marble of ours. It's quite a ride. Buckle up and check your height restrictions for your next ride on the SolarCoaster in Maui, HI!
Join Josh and Jay as they explore the coolest new tech of 2019 at CES in Las Vegas!
Call in from the show floor by CEO of Yolk Electronics Nutrient Sen Chang. The guys discuss Sen's amazing Solar Cow project http://yolkstation.com/solar-cow-project/ among other renewable energy standouts like:
https://www.cnet.com/news/solar-and-heat-powered-matrix-powerwatch-2-can-run-a-marathon-with-gps-and-heart-rate/ https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/goal-zero-yeti-tank-ces-2019/ https://www.cnet.com/news/gosun-shows-off-new-solar-oven-at-ces-2019/ https://innovation.engie.com/en/news/news/sustainable-mobility/ces-2019-solar-connected-bike-a-shared-mobility-solution-for-greener-and-more-enjoyable-trans/10869 http://solpad.com/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/the-bell-nexus-air-taxi-concept-could-be-ubers-first-flying-car/
Josh and Jay sit down with the announcements from a large number of major manufacturers to take a look at what products are coming in 2019 , or even available right now, in order to help you decide which ones are right for your entry into the new energy economy.
Josh and Jay go over what they've learned throughout the 51 previous episodes of 2018. Together with one Porter spawn ( Giullia 14) and one Verkaart spawn (Dylan 11) they take a moment to reflect on the kind of world they want us to leave them. The team announces the newest member of the SolarCoaster Sponsorship Ohana, Pantech Designs. Don't miss this year-end show recap and hear some clues of upcoming big shows and plans for 2019!
Jay and Josh go after the biggest of energy questions and enlist nuclear Physicist, Mark Henderson, to share his experience and quest to create Nuclear Fusion on a scale never before attempted. One million components, ten million parts ... the ITER Tokamak will be the largest and most powerful fusion device in the world. Designed to produce 500 MW of fusion power for 50 MW of input heating power (a power amplification ratio of 10), it will take its place in history as the first fusion device to create net energy. Can the benefits of ITER be realized in the form of commercially available Fusion in time to meet our energy needs before climate change inextricably alters planet earth? How will renewables play a role in getting us to this point in time? How can Fission play its part? Tune in to hear the big energy story you've never heard before.
Jay and Josh own up to their neglect of the year's most exciting Future Focus content. Each show schedule the fellas look to hit the Future Focus section at shows end but due to extreme disorganization and dysfunctional time management capabilities they rarely get to this coveted section of the show. Tune in and hear all about the best tech (that isn't yet but soon could be) on this - our Future Focus Orphans Show!
Jump on the SolarCoaster with Josh and Jay and get an insiders view of Maui at a Community forum held Thursday 11/29/18 by Maui Electric that covered Climate Change and its many implications. See how Maui county is taking steps protect its citizens with speakers from UH, HYPER Comm, MECO, Maui County, Pacific Disaster Research Center and MEM. Solar plus storage continue to be a shining light when a fragile electric grid is put to the test from Typhoon, Tsunami, Wildfires, King Tides among other threats. The new NEM Plus category that will allow existing system owners to integrate batteries is a great example of how more citizens can take steps to become energy independent contributing to Maui's resiliency.
R u Ready to take a ride on the world's first Legit Electric Truck, The Rivian R1T, with Josh and Jay?!! Direct from the LA Auto Show Floor, Day One! Michael Mikail from Rivian talks about the history, specs and implications of this game changing technology. Boris Von Borman of Renu Ventures chimes in and sets the stage putting LA Auto Show into its proper EV evolution context. Boris helps the Coaster get an inside track on where the auto industry sits at this critical moment and the impending EV takeover timeline ahead. Will Maui get a Rivan first by dropping paddle boarders to their favorite launch site for a north shore downwind? then only to make its own way back to pick them up in Kahului Harbor...L5 AUTONOMOUS? Level 2 and beyond autonomy here we come and the mind blowing potential of outdoor adventuring being bolstered with autonomous electric vehicles gets its due air time right here ..only on the SolarCoaster Maui!
On the eve of the fourth federal climate change report Josh and Jay take a serious tone. With impending climate disaster coming into focus and Hawaii on the front lines, time is of the essence. Guest appearance by Erik Kwam sharing his soon to be published book covering how to reverse climate change. Join us and lets take action to allow positive feedback loops of the biosphere to take hold and start pumping!!!
Josh and Jay get a chance to touch base with reps from the recent awardee of Meco's utility scale RFP - Innergex - at the Kula Community Center Meeting in upcountry Maui. Councilwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura, Doug Mcleoud, Rancher Somner Erdman and others weigh in on the plans for, what will be one of Maui's largest solar farms, comprised of over 50 thousand solar panels. Single axis tracking? Bifacials? Tune in to learn more!
A big day for solar in Hawaii! Josh and Jay discuss the new NEM Plus program AND help you pay for it with an SPI interview introducing Michael and Stacy from Sunnova, and their "Sun Safe" program.
With a veritable menu of programs on tap HEI has expanded solar paths considerably with offerings including: CGS, CGS+, CSS, SIA, SMART EXPORT, NEM PLUS, AMENDMENT, CBRE! Check this show out to get the details on this unprecedented offering as Jay and Josh try to keep up and understand a whole new world of solar options in Hawaii!!
Josh & Jay sit down with Mayoral Candidate Elle Cochran to discuss renewable energy across the globe, and how Maui is now front and center in our energy transition.
SEPA, The Smart Electric Power Alliance, is an organization that provides the renewable energies industry with research on both technologies and policy in order to spread the adoption of renewables and ease the transition to a cleaner energy sector. Josh and Jay sit down with a number of SEPA representatives to discuss their particular areas of focus.
Josh and Jay sit down at SPI 2018 with Lior Handlesman, Founder of SolarEdge, to hear all the updates planned for 2019 including a linear hot water heater, EV charging optimization, smart energy storage and more.
Our first in a series of SPI interviews.
This week we talk with Sonnen about their newly launched ecoLinx system which takes solar and battery storage into a whole new realm of home automation and configurability.
The Solar Coaster presents the EcoShip project as a discussion topic at Solar Power International during North American Smart Energy Week 2018. Join us, along with Remy Millot, Project Coordinator for EcoShip, Boris Von Bormann, CEO of Renu Ventures and Michael Intrieri, CEO of SunDrum Solar, for an examination of the EcoShip, and where and why it's technologies need to be created and applied.
Josh and Jay make the rounds at all the automobile dealers in town, and surprisingly find a lot of advocates working in the industry!
Josh and Jay sit down with DJ Alamayehu of Samuel Engineering for a deep conversation about utility scale renewables and the long view on future progress.
How can communities and residents prepare for & recover from increasingly common extreme weather events while simultaneously realizing day to day cost savings? CEO & President of SimpliPhi Power, Catherine Von Burg speaks to this on this week's Solar Coaster radio show. She will be speaking about the value of non-toxic, reliable & long-lasting energy storage.
In a special field trip episode, Jay is welcomed to Cuttyhunk island (off the coast of Massachusetts) for the dedication of their new solar + battery installation. A system that will decrease their reliance on imported diesel fuel by over 60%!
With Hurricane Lane bearing down, Josh and Jay coral as much information as they can on energy safety and security. A team of guests talk us through both what products are available, and what to do if you already have a solar energy system or a home battery.
Josh and Jay sit down with Councilman Mike Victorino, fresh off his mayoral primary win, to discuss the energy news of the day, and to find out what the Councilman sees for Maui's energy future.
The third and final chapter in our epic journey through in-home solar batteries, and where and why they make sense in our energy future.
Special guest Michael Riley from HNU energy walks us through the Hive energy storage system.
The second part of our three part mini-series examining the myriad solar battery products available, and how, and where, they make sense in our lives.
In the first of a three part mini-series, Josh and Jay examine some of the many solar battery products available, and how they fit into our lives.
Josh and Jay learn all about the new programs from Hawaii Energy, and why those "big box store LED lights" can be so cheap!!! Save money and the world with Hawaii Energy's new programs.
Russel Adkins, CFO of Maui Brewing Company, takes us through the numbers to see if Maui Brewing co's big bet on renewables really makes financial sense.
Josh and Jay take you on a tour of MECO (Maui Electric Company)facilities on the island of Molokai, one of the most progressive but at risk grids in the world. Together with Greg Kresgy, MECO's Director of Renewable Energy, they explore how the utility is leading the way with innovative equipment and programs focused on supporting and cooperating with the community.
Solar Rock Star Andrew Yakub, founder of Rayton Solar, talks about how to use PARTICLE ACCELERATORS to bring efficiencies to the manufacture of solar cells, and how that enables the use of more efficient semiconductor materials that would normally be too expensive for traditional manufacturing techniques.
President and CEO of SunDrum solar makes a surprise appearance on Maui (on business), and Josh and Jay convince him to come by the studio to talk in depth about the various use cases for thermal energy harvesting, and the SunDrum.
Josh and Jay "meet" with Mike Kruger of SEPA to find out why our very own utility has won a "power player" award for 2018, and what that really means. They also discover along the way some really compelling stories from all over the nation.
Daemon of Jackson Electric talks with Josh and Not Jay (Neil) about how solar energy can be leveraged to negate your air conditioning bill.
Josh and Jay host website contributor Amy Webb and former Maui Solar Project partner Eddie Alberton for a discussion of how real estate and solar systems have begun to interact on a very fundamental level.
In his second appearance on the Solar Coaster, Mr Andre Richtor begins to detail a plan for regional manufacturing of solar modules that could significantly affect both the local economies, and the actual solar panel performance. Josh and Jay discuss the implications of policy going forward.
Josh and Jay talk about Maui's first "utility scale" solar farm that's just come online, the upcoming second, and introduce us to Emily Erickson, one of the key figures in putting it all together!
They also discuss the possibility that renewable energies may tie us further to natural gas or other quick ramping fossil fuels to pick up when the sun or wind isn't available, or even the possibility of nuclear still being a good option?!? Well, it's certainly something to talk about.
Tune in every week at solar-coaster.com
J & J call over to the island of Hawaii where volcanic activity threatens the island chain's largest geothermal power plant. Marco Manglesdorf, President of ProVision Solar and former Hawaii Electric Industries, provides a local perspective on the state of renewables on the island of Hawaii, and the threat that the eruptions pose to both the energy grid and the population.
In this 52nd episode of the Solar Coaster, Josh and Jay talk with Boris Van Bormann, former CEO of Sonnen Batterie America and Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas about how the energy revolution will be mobile, and how deeply these affects will be felt across both the transportation and energy industries.
Josh and Jay pull in some wall street muscle in the form of Mr. Brendan Keane from Dividend Finance to get the inside scoop on how financing in the solar energy space has evolved, and what the potential options are for customers as they join the renewable energy revolution.
The guys sit down with Walter Enomoto of Hawaii Energy to discover exactly what Hawaii Energy does, and how they're helping the state achieve it's lofty energy goals through conservation rather than raw production.
As news of SolarWorlds insolvency spreads, Josh and Jay take a look at the many faces of SolarWorld, and their historic place in the industry.
Josh and Jay have a conversation with Kelly King, Councilwoman, and Vice President of Pacific Biodiesel on the history of Biodiesel in Hawaii and throughout the world, Biodiesel's roll in our 100% renewable energy goals, and the challenges in making those goals a reality.
Josh and Jay host Sharon Suzuki, President of the Maui Electric Company (MECO) and Greg Kresge MECO Director of Renewable Energy! Covering everything from the early days of Maui Electric, all the way to the latest programs available from the utility and some glimpses into the future of renewables on Maui, the state of Hawaii and potentially the nation!
Following up on John Borland's deeply technical show last week (see episode 45), Josh and Jay look at the varying levels of energy security available to us today, and how you can adapt zero grid buy techniques to not only save money, but be secure in your energy supply in case of emergency.
Special Guest John Borland rides the coaster over from Oahu to give us the scoop on his unprecedented 2.7 year return on solar and hot water in his virtual off-grid system. How can you duplicate his success and achieve a zero grid buy system? Jump on and find out!
Josh and Jay sit down to discuss the Future of Renewable energy in Maui W/Energy Committee Chair & Councilman Don Guzman & Renewable Energy Commissioner Fred Reidell.
Josh and Jay sit down with Garret Marrero Founder and Owner of Maui Brewing Company for a unique look at how Maui Brewing Company puts sustainability first and foremost in every aspect of their process.
The guys take a long look at the history of the use of solar energy, and it's possible future with special call in guest Andre Richter of Meyer Berger.
Hear of Bitcoin? Cryptocurency? Wondering what this is all about? Renewable Energy Consultant and crypto-currency Aficionado Jason Fellerman gives a brilliant overview of an emerging currency tied to solar energy production that could ad a third layer of incentivization to solar energy: saving $, energy resiliency and now solar coin values the carbon your system has offset in the environment! A lot to take in here! Tune in for the full story.
• GLOBAL https://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-solar-owners-post-hurricane-demand-for-batteries-could-impact-utilitie/516806/
• NATIONAL https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-is-going-to-win-bigly https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/a-solar-panel-on-every-roof-in-the-us-here-are-the-numbers/ https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/expanding-solar-in-low-income-communities
• HAWAII http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/02/experts-new-solar-panel-tariff-wont-hurt-hawaii/ https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2018/01/26/heco-sees-109-mw-of-new-hawaii-solar-2017/
• MAUI http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37441560/new-solar-project-could-mean-lower-electric-bills-for-molokai-residents http://mauinow.com/2018/02/08/the-hawaiian-electric-companies-to-launch-two-new-rooftop-solar-programs/
PRODUCT/MAIN FOCUS / ( 30 min): SOLARCOIN https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/could-solarcoin-help-acwa-boost-its-profits-from-solar https://electrek.co/2018/02/12/egeb-project-bo-singapore-trump-tariff-wto-solarcoin-tesla-community-solar/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolarCoin https://solarcoin.org/en/frequently-asked-questions
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2018/02/15/u-s-cftc-commissioner-says-cryptocurrency-exchanges-adopting-self-regulation-could-spur-standards/#b9bbf4245e12 https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/gizmodo.com/atari-is-launching-a-cryptocurrency-because-thats-just-1823042620/amp https://www.cnet.com/news/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-big-in-investing-but-still-lousy-for-buying-a-sandwich/ https://www.cnet.com/blockchain-decode/
TALKING POINTS!
- History of crypto currency – What the heck is it?
- Blockchain?
- Bitcoin?
- Environmental concerns
- Solarcoin?
- Mining with solar?
FUTURE FOCUS https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-powered-bitcoin-mining-could-be-a-very-profitable-business-model
Aloha from Maui ! Have you ever wondered about how Drones are playing a role in Solar?! Well here is the overview presented by Host Jason Varkaart's Brother, Brian Verkaart. Brian joins the coaster representing his company Blue Sky Aerial Solutions! Tune in to get the full overview of how drones will cut costs increase efficiencies and make renewable energies work better in more ways than any of us thought.
NEW & EVENTS
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/feb/26/drones-robots-solar-power-plant-energy
https://internetofbusiness.com/drones-solar-farms/
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/07/5-reasons-why-drones-are-going-to-work-for-solar-asset-managers.html
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/why-drones-are-game-changing-for-renewable-energy#gs.JmniKXo
https://www.popsci.com/china-solar-powered-drone Using solar power FOR drones.
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/solar-powered-drone-could-fly-nonstop-five-years/
http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/alta-devices/ Flexible thin film tech
https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/10/16875382/boeing-drone-evtol-cav-500-pounds
The fellas are Joined by Martain and Raghu co-founders of renewable energy juggernaut Enphase Energy. They walk us through the early days from the first prototypes getting blown off their own roofs to the current launch planned for the remarkable Ensemble Line in 2019, infinitely scale - able described as mini hoover dams on your roof? Tune in to get the full story of this remarkable company past, present and future!
NEW & EVENTS
NATIONAL https://cleantechnica.com/2018/01/26/san-diego-padres-building-mlbs-largest-solar-system/
HAWAII https://www.pv-tech.org/news/nrg-breaks-ground-on-110mw-pv-portfolio-in-hawaii
TALKING POINTS 1. History and vision for Enphase ( early days) 2. What’s your company culture like. Has it changed over the year? 3. Product evolution? 4. Programs in Hawaii: CGS+, NEM EXPANSION, Smart Export, SIA 5. Storage Modules Strategy? 6. History in Hawaii? 7. Upcoming Ensemble Line! 8. Why do most grid tied systems currently shut off when the grid is down? 9. The prospect of operating in backup mode during the day without storage? 10. How to integrate with storage modules. Does that provide longevity/night time use? 11. Other things you would like to share?
ENPHASE FUTURE FOCUS • https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603497/10-breakthrough-technologies-2017-hot-solar-cells/ • http://www.techradar.com/news/the-future-of-our-technology-and-our-planet-depends-on-one-thing-the-battery
The Guys jump into their first political interview and get an earful from Mayor Alan Arakawa. The Mayor delves into an overview of Maui Past, Present and Future. A primary takeaway being the huge impact energy ownership has on the quality of Maui Citizen's Lives. Listen in for a future vision of 100% renewable energy perhaps as little as 5 years off!
NEWS & EVENTS • GLOBAL https://seekingalpha.com/article/4140483-trump-solar-tariffs-winners-losers
• NATIONAL http://theconversation.com/can-mirrors-boost-solar-panel-output-and-help-overcome-trumps-tariffs-90663 http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180125PD201.html
• HAWAII https://www.pv-tech.org/news/nrg-breaks-ground-on-110mw-pv-portfolio-in-hawaii
• MAUI http://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/01/first-utility-scale-solar-project-on-maui-to-be-fully-operational-in-first-quarter/
The guys jump into a exciting discussion on Solar and climate with Henk Rogers, 2018 HILT champion of the land. Henk dives into his four core goals for humanity.
Questions included:
What was the catalyst for your transition from video games to Energy and here in Hawaii? We were able to visit you at the ranch in 2017. How did that build come about? Tell us about your Four or Five? core goals or areas of vision. What are your expectations for the future of renewable energy in the US? Short Term. Tarifs? SEIA Import License? ( Abby) Do you think that the term Renewable Energy is clear in its application? Maui Energy Conference. Decarbonization. ( Doug) What can you tell us about your decision to work with LIFEPO2 as a storage chemistry? How do you feel about the hybridization of the grid? Emerge Alliance. Pika REBUS.(Brian Patterson) We have a mutual friend that was also on the Coaster recently. Yoshioka Tatusya from Peaceboat and Ecoship. Is you’re BPE tech a possible candidate for storage? 17% Co2, Tesla of the Ocean. ( Yoshioka) How about Tesla, Roofs, Storage, Cars? What say u? We are interviewing the outgoing Mayor Alan Arakawa and the front runners for the ’18 mayoral race do you have any advice for them as it relates to RE/Solar? What is your wish-list for solar throughout the USA and the world? We asked same Question to Abby president of SEIA. What is happening at the LEM this week and upcoming month? HILT event is pretty exciting. We have the press release here. Lunar Base? What the hell is it? Anything you would like to ad that we didn’t cover?
NEW & EVENTS http://www.hilt.org/special-events-calendar/2018/buy-back-the-beach-maui https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustrick/2018/01/18/why-a-solar-tariff-in-the-u-s-could-benefit-other-countries/#56c6382e5c8b http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/368751-energy-department-is-seriously-underestimating-solar-power-abroad?amp https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/trump-says-solar-tariff-decision-is-coming-pretty-soon#gs.32yqzKM Babcock Ranch https://www.cbsnews.com/news/americas-first-solar-powered-town-babcock-ranch/ http://m.hawaiinewsnow.com/hawaiinewsnow/pm_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=od:BXDztpor
Mayor Alan Arakawa joins Josh & Jay for a frank discussion. Coming to the end of his final term, The Mayor speaks candidly about both his long experience and future vision for renewable energies in Maui County. Everything from the utility’s (MECO) history with the county, the coming of electric autonomous vehicles, transitioning to 100% alternative energies, culminating with a heartfelt message to his successor.
Tune in this Friday, January 26th at 1:05pm HST on KAOI 1110AM radio for the Solar Coaster with both our take on the Mayor’s points, as well as the three main potential candidates for the upcoming mayoral race.
The guys take on the second show of the year and first in a series of high profile guests confirmed in the upcoming months. SEIA president Abigail Ross Hopper calls in and reviews her take on the Nations Renewable Energy direction from the front lines in Washington DC offering deep insights into where we are headed.
www.seia.org
Questions covered included:
- Please tell us about SEIA and your background.
- What is the general feeling or mood from both industry and government across the nation?
- Tell us about your proposal to the white house for solar.
- What are your expectations for the pending tariff issue?
- What can you tell us about how the new tax code could affect solar if at all?
- We are here in Maui, with a variety of progressive utility programs and technologies being deployed and tested (like rapid shutdown inverters, on-grid energy storage.) Do you have a message for our listeners?
- Are you familiar with how our representatives from Hawaii are playing a role in the discussion in DC?
- What is your wish-list for solar throughout the USA and the world?
- Anything you would like to ad that we didn’t cover?
Additional areas of focus included:
• Community solar • Abby's message to residents of Hawaii and Maui • Where we will be in 5 years? Adoption rates nationally? Storage? EV’s • What's happening to the industry and how are businesses changing
In post interview and future focus the fellas dig into some aspects of the tax plan that will negatively impact solar deployments: BEAT and reduced tax equity available for funded projects PPA's are core points to look at.
DOE begins rounds of funding for R&D into two key forecasting models that will help energy producers predict the total amount of energy available on the grid. 24-48 hour model for weather forecasting 0-6 hour model specifically focused on cloud cover and production availability
NEW & EVENTS https://www.facebook.com/Teslarati/posts/1370421276396404 http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-china-solar-theft-20180109-story,amp.html https://www.greentechmedia.com/amp/article/panasonic-ramps-up-solar-cell-production-at-teslas-buffalo-gigafactory https://www.mauielectric.com/Documents/clean_energy_hawaii/producing_clean_energy/DER_newsletter_Jan2018.pdf
FUTURE FOCUS https://www.greentechmedia.com/amp/article/doe-invests-12-million-to-improve-solar-forecasting
TAXES https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-energy-202/2017/12/21/the-energy-202-the-gop-tax-plan-is-a-windfall-for-oil-and-gas-industry/5a3afa4d30fb0469e883fd40/?utm_term=.8a7635f2ae2d
The team welcomes Jon McEnroe the show. Smartflower Pacific has distribution rights throughout the Pacific of this Austrian designed all-in-one solar system. Smartflower is explored during the product section of this show and is revealed to be more than a solar energy system but also a statement of energy consciousness. With over 1600 units deployed throughout the globe smart flower looks poised to be a unique solution for NEM non export system expansion, CGS + and CSS HECO utility programs.
The guys wrestle through a host of news stories from climate change and extreme whether in Boston to solar industry solutions being put to the test in Puerto Rico.
Josh and Jay offer differing viewpoints on the an article lauding the benefit of the pending tariff.
Local news takes a critical look at the state energy office as auditors can't determine exactly what it is they do.
Future focus hones in on new energy storage approaches as well as a 32% efficiency hetero-junction cell under R&D at the US airforce.
GLOBAL NEWS https://insideclimatenews.org/news/28122017/sea-level-rise-coastal-cities-flooding-2017-year-review-miami-norfolk-seawall-cost https://twitter.com/MBTATransitPD/status/949006234618925056?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet https://amp.businessinsider.com/noreaster-bomb-cyclone-boston-floods-2018-1 https://www.facebook.com/7NEWS/videos/10156932164593332/
https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-01-04/hurricanes-blew-away-puerto-ricos-power-grid-now-solar-power-rising-fill-void
NATIONAL NEWS https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregautry/2018/01/04/solar-power-capturing-the-fruits-for-our-labor/#4494ccb6d34f
HAWAII NEWS http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37184935/auditors-couldnt-figure-out-what-the-state-energy-office-does-or-what-it-plans-to-do?utm_content=buffer25880&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/12/400-kw-solarstorage-carport-project-completed-hawaii-spectrum-cable/
PRODUCT FOCUS / Smartflower Pop https://electrek.co/2017/10/25/solar-smartflower-bring-sexy-premium-quality-dual-axis-tracking-to-your-front-yard/ Smartflower background
FUTURE FOCUS http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/12/three-ways-science-is-targeting-energy-storage-cost.html http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1408275/afrls-advanced-multi-junction-solar-cells-deliver-high-efficiency-reduced-costs/
The '17 year-end episode takes a call in from Mellisa Miyahsiro of Blue Planet Energy to discuss the just announced community solar program CBRE for Hawaii.
The team goes through the top ten quotes of the year encapsulating all the coolest stuff the guys have learned throughout the year.
TEN: Tabuchi – Owner /President
Episode #19 (42:36) - “We learned the lesson (about the dangers of too rapid growth of solar) because of the earthquake disaster in Fukushima”
NINE : Sonnen Battery / VP Marketing Greg smith Episode #10 (35:55) - “If you go to the German website it shows a live update of the power that is being transferred real time.” -VP Marketing Greg smith
EIGHT: Blue Ion /VP --Engineering Kyle Bolger EPISODE #28 (10:28) - “just like the fuel gauge in your car you don’t have to call your mechanic to figure out if your fuel tank is empty or full.. we have a huge level of clarity” VP --Engineering Kyle Bolger
SEVEN: " ONE SYSTEM - LG Full PV, Battery, and inverter" EPISODE #27 (37:45) -"As LG Electronics, we are working on a energy storage solution, it's going to involve LG Chem's batteries, Inverter and PCS will be manufactured by LG Electronics, we'll have an integrated solution." - David Chang
SIX: Solar Edge EPISODE 10 (29:18) - “It’s the first ever PV inverter with integrated EV charger. It’s kinda cool because it really gives you the fastest level 2 charger on the market and you can run your car on sunshine” - Lior Handelsman
FIVE: Doug Mceloud , Maui Renewable Energy Conference EPISODE 26 (24:22) - “What were scared of is ending up like Germany, What we don’t want to have here in Hawaii is we spend all this money on something called renewable energy….and then uh oh what if that wasn’t dealing with climate change issues at all” - Doug Mcleoud
FOUR: - ECOSHIP EPISODE 33 (32:00) - “Already in marine transportation, CO2 production is quite huge, the same as Germany, a whole country production of CO2 is the same.” Yoshioka, Tatsuya
THREE: Pika – Gerbil/ Dishwasher Episode #30 (41:03) - “Yeah, the Tesla Dishwasher is the first thing we’ll be integrating” (it’s a joke). Bosh is working hard in collaboration with Pika to create DC Nano-grid lighting, and that will most likely be the first product line. Jeremy Niles/Jeff Mcandrew/Andrew HIckock, Pika Energy
TWO: “I’ve got this wonderful garden off smart technology growing I my home an I’m watering it with a fire hose” – Emerge Alliance Episode #19 (19:20) - “I have this beautiful garden of smart technology growing (in my home), and I’m still trying to water it with a firehose” - Bryan Patterson Emerge Alliance
ONE: SUNDRUM - Michael Intieri Sundrum Solar Energy Episode #31 (45:50) - "Pools are fantastic batteries." Take the heat from the house during the day, throw it in the pool, at night put the heat back in the house." - Michael Intieri, Sundrum Solar
Happy New Year form the SolarCoster
The guys review the news touching on solar roadways in China, Tesal's Solar Slump and how residential solar may b e changing. In local news Big Island of Hawaii sees Solar permits soar 78%!
Product focus for the day brings Yoshioka Tatsuya-san from Tokyo's Ecoship project to the Coaster. The fellas welcome this amazing technology to the which is launching to the forefront of the marine industry using renewables. It turns out the marine industry is booming and currently responsible for 17% of global CO2 emissions. Josh shares his experience with Peaceboat traveling the world in his twenties. Jason shows off some if his Osaka-ben! His Japanese is pretty solid! Yoshioka reviews the history of Peaceboat starting in 1983 and now nearing 100 global voyages. Ecoship is the future! Future focus digs into a bio-luminescent trees!
LINKS
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a14479240/china-is-building-a-solar-power-highway/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/teslas-solar-slump-is-there-a-better-model-for-sales_us_5a3b67d3e4b06cd2bd03d814
https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2017/12/19/solar-pv-permits-soar-74-on-hawaiis-big-island.html
http://ecoship-pb.com/
http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/11/technology/green-cruise-ship-ecoship/index.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5178531/MIT-creates-bioluminescent-trees-glow-like-fireflies.html
The guys tackle the concerning feeling that roofs are not quite as populated as years past. Why?
News suggests that installs are down nationally and various reasons are cited and they even go so far as to explore how one company could be responsible? Tesla/Solarcity? But the World bank has other plans ceasing all funding for upstream oil and gas projects moving forward seems to suggest that renewables squarely have a place at the energy table. Matt Egan of CNN also suggests that there are signs that renewables may continue to gain ground on fossil fuels, especially coal. "The seismic shift in renewables economics" will cause "large reductions in carbon intensity in the global power sector," Morgan Stanley wrote in a recent research report. Several major markets have reached an "inflection point where renewables are the "cheapest form of new power generation," Morgan Stanley wrote. It expects that trend to spread to "nearly every country we cover by 2020."
In local news Ensych and Holu Energy create a Solar plus storage PPA for the Cameron Center in Maui.
Today’s Product focus on Enphase Energy offers the guys a chance to review a Juggernaut in the renewable energies industry. Jay and Josh explore the rise of microinverters from the m175 all the way up to the current 6th gen IQ series. They are offered an interview with the founder of Enphase in an upcoming episode to explore the 8th generation microinverter coming in 2019 which is rumored to operate in backup mode during the day time without batteries!...yes without batteries….thats what I said without batteries.
https://electrek.co/2017/11/09/solar-inverter-enphase-to-works-without-batteries-grid/
The day’s future focus is about an amazing new tech coming out of NREL transparent photoelectric glass solar panels that achieve an astounding 11% efficiency.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nonprofit-incubator-signs-a-solar-plus-storage-ppa-with-ensync-energy-300571118.html https://electrek.co/2017/12/15/egeb-us-solar-slowing/amp/ https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Tesla+largely+responsible+for+slide+in+U.S.+home+solar+sales/13604538.html http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/12/12/world-bank-group-announcements-at-one-planet-summit https://electrek.co/2017/11/29/solar-smart-windows-11-percent-efficiency/
Jay and Josh take the plunge into a discussion about SEIA and their Make America First proposal.
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The guys jump into a new product line with multiple guests both in studio and calling in. A new sponsor is announced in Pika Energy bringing the SolarCoaster stable of sponsors to four: MSP, Tabuchi, Sonnenbattery and Pika Energy. The team has broadened out to various podcasts sites including: Itunes, Iheart radio, Sticher and Tunein. In studio guests are announced including: Jonah Heller from MSP and Jibo, the first ever social robot on a renewable energy radio show!
News and events is chock full of great stuff including: • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42013625 • Charge-point 10 year anniversary - https://www.chargepoint.com/ • Tesla LA auto show: https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-energy-house-of-the-future-la-auto-show/ • https://www.utilitydive.com/news/alexa-please-balance-the-distribution-grid/511678/ And in Local news covers: • Costco update. Got the call. Article was accurate. 674kw in total! • https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/holu-energy-brings-solar-to-hawaii-organization-that-services-homeless-and-disabled-300564047.html
Our product focus section dug deep in to Pika Energy with Jeremy Niles calling in from New England:
o Hybridization of the grid and DC vs AC overall o General overview of Pika, recapping in brief origin and present status with HECO and an intro of yourself. o Core value points in the market relative to some competitors o REbus rollout roadmap appliances etc. and partnerships o How bout the generator input coming soon? o Commercial three phase versus resi single phase. o Cases of people that have weathered power outages. o Solar AC in the schools out here? We hear its happening. o Anything your stoked about yourself for Hawaii and Pika.
Future focus section dives into AI and the possibility of Jibo or Alexa balancing our electric grid in the future! • https://www.utilitydive.com/news/with-artificial-intelligence-its-a-brave-new-world-for-utilities/511008/
The guys dig into global news with a 1.77c/kwh project coming on line in Mexico, Tesla's Powerpack install in Australia. The Semi Truck reveals it's price and business case at a surprisingly low $100-$150k. Costco Kahului gets a new Carport at 670kw's in size.
Dave on the roof makes his second appearance and describes recent MSP installs in Kapalua and Lanai.
Josh's American Sun Oven Turkey Bake takes a rain check literally!
SMA & LG announce new partnership of a AC coupled 6kw storage inverter paired with up to 3 X 10 H Resu battery banks. Possibly one of the most compelling new offerings for the NEM expansion arena. Lynh Tran of LG and Alehandro from SMA call in the show to give their expert report on these new technologies and when we can expect an appearance in the marketplace!
With a little Future Focus time available Jason brings up AI and machine learning's impact on Solar in the near future.