SunCast

• 874: Building Solar as a System: Inside Nextpower’s Integration Playbook

  Most solar projects are still built the hard way—treating structure, electrical, and software as separate scopes that have to be stitched together in the field. But the teams delivering gigawatts today know something different: solar plants work best when they’re designed as systems, not parts.In this Tactical Tuesday, Nico sits down with three of the people shaping that shift inside Nextpower: Jake Morin (Chief Product Officer), Ryan Schofield (VP of Electrical Systems), and Jyoti Jain (Head of Software Product Management).Together, they break down what actually changes when you integrate structure, eBOS, data, and software upstream—and why EPCs, developers, and owners are turning toward system-level thinking to reduce rework, prevent failures, and build faster.Expect practical insights like:🔹 Why early electrical integration eliminates jumpers and avoids 80% of DC field failures🔹 How integrated tracker + foundation design removes entire construction steps🔹 How tools like NX Pulse speed up commissioning by 50%🔹 How robotics and fleet data are reshaping hardware design🔹 Why “internalizing complexity” at the OEM level is becoming a competitive advantage for buildersIf you're trying to build smarter and reduce surprises, this episode gives you the playbook the most experienced teams are using right now.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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• 873: From Backup to Backbone: How Batteries Are Reshaping the Grid

  Batteries aren’t just supporting the grid anymore, they are defending the grid.Chris Finley, CCO of TruGrid, joins Nico on stage at PowerUp Live to explain how battery storage has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a mission-critical asset class. Whether it’s enabling arbitrage in ERCOT or powering hyperscale data centers, battery systems are now leading the charge, literally.From the complexities of supply chains to the myths about lithium tech, Chris shares a practical, from-the-field perspective on what it takes to deliver large-scale battery projects in today’s challenging market. He also breaks down how policy shifts and interconnection delays are forcing EPCs to rethink how they plan and execute storage projects.Expect to learn:🔹 What developers get wrong about battery risk profiles🔹 How TruGrid streamlines integration from EMS to commissioning🔹 The hidden economics behind data center battery deployment🔹 Why project standardization remains elusive, and what to do about itToday’s convo is must-listen material if you’re building in the battery sector.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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• 872: The Landfill Explosion That Changed Tesla’s Fire Strategy

  A Powerwall delivery truck flipped. No fire. No smoke. Seemed safe.They tossed those Powerwalls into a landfill. Four days later—explosion!That incident didn’t just make headlines; it changed Tesla’s fire strategy. In this Tactical Tuesday, retired Battalion Chief Kathleen McCaffery explains how that one mistake led Tesla to create a Global Fire Liaison role—and why every developer, EPC, and AHJ should borrow the playbook.Kathleen walks through the real science of lithium-ion incidents and the simple operational changes that stop projects from turning into disasters. It’s short, practical, and built for people who build.This episode is a rare peek behind the curtain of Tesla Energy’s fire safety strategy—and a must-listen for developers, installers, and fire safety professionals building battery storage projects in 2025 and beyond.You’ll learn:🔹 Why lithium-ion fires can reignite days later (delayed thermal runaway)🔹 Why the old rule “big fire, big water” fails—and what to do instead🔹 How misting/cooling tactics cut water use and cleanup time🔹 What Tesla got right (and what most companies still get wrong)🔹 A real-world miss that destroyed a facility—and how to prevent itFrom Australia’s mega sites to small-town stations, Kathleen’s job was to bridge battery tech and fire ops. Steal the lessons—and save yourself time, money, and a lot of risk.Quick Links / Timestamps (16:00)00:00 Landfill explosion: what really happened01:33 Why Tesla built a Global Fire Liaison04:05 “I thought I’d seen it all”—the hazmat wake-up call07:37 Global pushback on EVs/BESS & how training changed it10:16 Fire Triangle: why lithium-ion “creates its own oxygen”12:55 Misting > Big water (cooling beats smothering)13:52 Dev mistake that drives Kathleen nuts (and the fix)PSA: If you build solar + storage, share this with your safety lead and your local fire chief. Then listen to the full episode for the deeper playbook.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter -...

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• 871: 10 Years Later - Adam James on Building Teams, Time & Impact

  This episode marks ten years of SunCast - and the return of its very first guest. In 2015, a young GTM Research analyst named Adam James joined host Nico Johnson for the debut episode exploring the rise of solar in Latin America.A decade later, Adam is a Partner at Energy Impact Partners and Chair of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI). Together, he and Nico reflect on how far both they—and the clean energy industry—have come.This isn’t just a reunion; it’s a conversation about how work, leadership, and life evolve over time. Adam shares what he’s learned about managing people, building systems that scale, and staying grounded through seasons of growth and fatherhood.They explore: 🔹 What it takes to build great teams and sustainable systems inside fast-growing organizations 🔹 How to hire for responsibility, not just experience 🔹 The lessons fatherhood teaches about leadership and presence 🔹 Why consistency—and showing up—is the real differentiator in both parenting and managementWhether you’ve been listening since that first episode or you’re just discovering SunCast today, this 10-year anniversary conversation captures the heart of what the show has always been about: how we grow—personally, professionally, and collectively—in the work of powering a better future. Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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• 870: How FEOC Rules Are Reshaping Solar Procurement in 2025 | 4 Experts Weigh-in

  “Is your project really compliant?”That’s the billion-dollar question developers across the U.S. are asking as Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules tighten their grip on clean energy tax credits. If you are(were) banking on the ITC, PTC, or 45X, you can’t afford to miss this Tactical Tuesday deep-dive.The rules are shifting. Supply chains are murky. And guidance is still evolving. Host Nico Johnson pulls together an expert panel to decode how FEOC is reshaping the way projects are sourced, engineered, financed, and papered across the U.S. solar and storage market.You’ll hear from:Christian Roselund (Clean Energy Associates) — decoding ownership, material assistance, and effective controlRaj Pawar (EVS) — revealing how inverter-level definitions trigger real engineering redesignsAaron Gomolak (Ampt) — showing how string-level optimization keeps projects on schedule and compliantMona Dajani (Baker Botts) — outlining how to structure deals and mitigate legal risk while guidance evolvesExpect to learn: 🔹 Why Treasury’s guidance on "qualified facility" could force developers to rethink procurement 🔹 How to vet supplier self-certifications and avoid “phantom compliance” 🔹 How top counsel advise clients when regulations are still in flux 🔹 The engineering tradeoffs and cost-neutral approaches developers are taking to stay bankableThe FEOC clock is ticking — this episode gives you the clarity (and tactics) to stay compliant, on schedule, and in control.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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