SunCast

• 788: Solar = Hydrogen? Can Erthos Use Ultra-Low-Cost Solar To Unlock Hydrogen? Jim Tyler’s Convinced

  What if the key to solving our rising materials costs and hurdles to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries lies in a radical shift in thinking—laying solar panels directly on the ground and using the cheap electrons they produce to make hydrogen?When I first heard of Erthos, I thought, like many of you I’m sure, “What a radical idea! Will that even work? Lay the panels directly on the ground???” Yet, the more I learned about the company, it’s leadership, and their approach to creating the cheapest cost of solar energy, I decided I needed to suspend my reservations and go see it for myself. And, to my surprise, Jim Tyler and his all-star leadership team didn’t even want to talk to me about the “earth-mounted solar” innovation, and instead, focused much of the attention and time on their next big move - Hydrogen!Jim Tyler, CEO of Erthos, has been on a mission to reduce the cost of solar for a long time. He’s been part of some of the most iconic and important innovations in the solar industry, and was one of the early pioneers to focus on driving cost out of the installation process. With his background in semiconductors, industrial energy, and food processing, Jim saw an even bigger opportunity: using low-cost, DC-coupled solar to produce hydrogen in the most cost-effective way possible.In this conversation, Jim explains why Erthos’ culture of breaking industry norms is now driving them into hydrogen—and how their disruptive approach could redefine the future of clean energy. Regardless what you think of Erthos, there’s no denying that Jim and his team are yet again shaking up the industry and forcing people to think different.Expect to learn:Why earth-mounted solar could push the cost of solar energy closer to zero.Why industrial steam—one of the largest energy demands globally—could be the breakthrough use case for green hydrogen.How Erthos’ created a direct DC-to-hydrogen system that eliminates inefficienciesWhy investors from Tesla, SpaceX, and First Solar are betting on this model.Why the Navajo Nation could become a key hub for renewable energy manufacturing—and how solar could drive jobs and economic growth in the region.I’m curious to hear your thoughts, skeptical or otherwise, once you’ve had a chance to give this a listen!And we have some fun b-roll from or visit to Jim’s office, testing lab and skunk-works facility where they’re building their hydrogen electrolyzer prototypes.Check it out on our YouTube channel!If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to

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• 787: What Makes A Great Solar Design Engineer, And Why We Need More Of Them! Phil Hofmeyer, New Leaf Energy

  Solar projects depend on strong design engineering to move from concept to construction. Design engineers assess site feasibility, optimize layouts, navigate permitting challenges, and ensure projects are financially viable. Without their expertise, developments can stall. This role is also a key entry point into the solar industry, offering a path to more senior positions in project development and engineering.Phil Hofmeyer, Design Engineering Manager at New Leaf Energy, a pure-play renewable energy developer, brings over a decade of experience in solar project design and engineering. With a background in both technical execution and team leadership, he has helped scale engineering teams and streamline development processes for utility-scale and distributed energy projects. Phil shares what makes design engineering such a crucial part of the development process, how design decisions impact project bankability, and why permitting and interconnection remain major hurdles for solar projects.If you’d like to go deeper into how to become a Solar Design Engineer, you should check out Heatspring where there are dozens of courses like this 3-course bundle that can help you get the skills you need to grow in your career!Expect to learn:How design engineers influence project feasibility and financial viabilityAdvice for attracting and retaining top design engineering talentThe most valuable skills for breaking into and advancing in solar engineeringWhat other roles would you like us to cover? Where do YOU see skills or talent gaps holding the solar and clean energy sector back?Chime in - our [email protected] would love to hear from you.If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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/nickalusMentioned in this...

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• 786: Energy Storage: Policies, Tech & Trends Moving The Market

  The global energy storage market is skyrocketing, with battery capacity more than doubling year over year. With over 60 gigawatts of storage installed worldwide, the sector is poised for even more rapid expansion. In this special roundup episode, we look back at some of the top episodes on SunCast discussing key trends, policies, and technologies shaping the future of energy storage. We break down the domestic manufacturing boom, how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is driving investment, and the hurdles of scaling storage safely and efficiently. Plus, we discuss cell-to-grid strategies and a revolutionary non-battery approach to energy storage.Our experts for this Energy Storage deep dive are: Joan White (SEIA) , Andy Tang (Wärtsilä), Adam Knudsen (Dynapower), Drew Lebowitz & Swetha Sundaram (The BESS Book), and Robert Piconi (Energy Vault)Expect to learn:How the U.S. is ramping up battery manufacturing—new factories, policy incentives, and projected supply timelines.Key challenges in scaling storage—from supply chain constraints to fire safety and grid integration.Why DC-coupled storage is gaining momentum—cutting conversion losses and improving economics.Where to get expert BESS training—including a must-read industry book.The rise of alternative storage technologies, such as gravity batteriesWhat most excites you about energy storage right now? Who should we have on the show next?Let us know [email protected] If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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/nickalusMentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2

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  56:14
• 785: The 74MW Solar Farm in My Backyard

  What is the real economic impact of a utility-scale solar farm on rural America?That’s one of the questions I had in mind when I visited one of the largest solar projects recently inaugurated right in my own home state of North Carolina. As one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, EDP Renewables has expanded its footprint into North Carolina with the 74-megawatt Misenheimer Solar Park, a project big enough to power 12,000 homes while generating more than $30 million in long-term benefits to the local community. Built on rolling terrain the site required innovative problem-solving and strong local partnerships, and years of consensus building before the first pile was driven into the ground. Navigating remote collaboration, regulatory hurdles, and evolving construction challenges, EDP successfully brought its first solar facility in the state online, and I got a first-hand look at what utility-scale solar could mean for rural America.In this episode, I ask three individuals involved in the project to help break down the tactics behind making a utility-scale solar project successful:Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America, shares how EDP builds lasting community relationships and approaches market expansion.Emily Morilla, Priority Project Manager, explains how the team managed project acquisition, permitting, and construction readiness.Sabrina Fleischman, Development Project Manager, details the strategies for securing land agreements, maintaining regulatory compliance, and keeping the project on track.We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to realize our renewable energy future on a timescale that helps mitigate climate emergencies; yet with scores of projects like this one coming online, why do we still so seldom hear about it? This conversation offers actionable insights for developers, project managers, and anyone looking to understand the complexities of bringing large-scale solar to new markets, but also provides an interesting discussion point about how we are telling our clean energy story. Hear how the EDP team tackled challenges, refined their approach, and executed a project that will deliver clean energy for years to come, then let’s discover new ways to tell that story to the millions of Americans who still believe this is somehow not an economically viable path to our energy security.If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling:

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  33:37
• 784: This Chip Could Save Billions in Energy | Udi Daon of Daanaa

  What if it were actually possible to power your EV from the sun collected on it’s surface? Or what if you were not constrained by only one battery chemistry type but could mix chemistries? Want to charge 400 volts with a 3V unit? For 150 years, electrical engineers have relied on magnetic induction for power conversion, using coils and magnetic structures to transfer energy. These constraints result in energy waste, size restrictions, and chemistry challenges, preventing seamless transfer between low and high voltages. But what if you could control, manipulate, and augment the near-field reactive space by shaping it to do whatever you need? If you wrapped that kind of power up in a single element, it could deliver a potent “omni-converter” that could do things literally impossible by other technologies.Udi Daon, CEO of Daanaa Resolution Inc., is on a mission to eliminate power conversion inefficiencies, and redefining what’s possible in energy efficiency. This serial entrepreneur quickly identified Daanaa’s groundbreaking technology to revolutionize power conversion as soon as he saw it, which is why he was the fist investor and soon took the reins as CEO. Under his leadership, the company has developed a device that breaks free from magnetic reliance, instead using the entire electromagnetic spectrum, manipulating near-field reactive electromagnetic space to achieve ultra-efficient conversion. This technology can transform very low voltage into high voltage (and vice versa) in a single step with over 95% efficiency, opening up new possibilities for electric vehicles, solar panels, and data centers…and all in a package the size of your car’s key fob!Tune-in as I tease out:How Daanaa’s technology enables efficient power transfer without relying on traditional magnetic induction methods.The practical benefits of converting ultra-low voltage from solar cells into usable energy for EVs.How Daanaa’s “omnipotency” boosts energy output from uneven surfaces with single-stage hyperconversion and bidirectional power.Udi Daon’s unique approach to scaling deep-tech solutions and aligning teams for success.When I first met Udi (at Intersolar N. America a little over a year ago!) I was as skeptical as the next person when he told me what his pocket-sized device could achieve. And Udi says that this disbelief has been the hallmark (and primary hurdle) preventing their technology from scaling. But I, for one, think they’re on the cusp of something truly remarkable. And you get to say “I heard it first, on SunCast!” ;-) Oh yeah, he’s also got a Lot to share about startup culture, lessons learned, etc from dozens of companies he’s founded or funded.You will definitely get your money’s worth with this one!If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at

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