Join Sean White on this episode of the Solar and Energy Storage Podcast as he sits down with Jessica Harris, President of Harris Energy Solutions. They explore Jessica’s role in shaping her company’s focus on energy consulting versus engineering, and what sets them apart. Discover her approach to establishing a successful consulting firm, and the role of energy modeling in her work. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of energy consulting and the future of sustainable practices. Topics Covered: Harris Energy Solutions: www.hesconnect.com PE = Professional Engineer Difference between Energy Engineering and Consulting Title 24 laws in California C&I = Commercial and Industrial NABCEP PVDS Energy Modelling in Equest – Jessica Harris’ Heatspring class www.heatspring.com/courses/energy-modeling-in-equest VRF = Variable Refrigerant Flow HERS Rater = Home Energy Rating System Rater Energy Audit Solar Incentives Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency:  www.dsireusa.org NYSERDA = New York State Energy Research and Development Authority: www.nyserda.ny.gov CPS Energy Strategies in building and expanding a successful Company Decarbonization Heat Pumps HeatSpring Different types of companies Reach Jessica Harris here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-harris Harris Energy Solutions: www.hesconnect.com Heatspring: www.heatspring.com/courses/energy-modeling-in-equest Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Illumine – I is a pioneering solar engineering firm driving innovation and efficiency in renewable energy solutions. CEO and illumine – I’s co-founder, Nithish Sairam discusses his journey, the challenges of the renewable energy sector, and the innovative approaches Illumine-I is bringing to the table.

Here are some of the topics discussed:  Arizona Entrepreneurship vs working in Corporate Industry Stanford Seed Program Illumine – I Tesla NextEra Surfing British Wiring Standards Illumine-I’s Services and Market Focus Introducing IVE Formula Race Cars< Analyzing the Wind flow over meteor crater Strategies in handling small and large scale projects   Reach Nithish Sairam here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nithish-sairam-26358156 Illumine-i.: www.illuminei.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this engaging episode of Sean White's Solar and Energy Storage Podcast, Sean White interviews Nico Johnson, the renowned solar podcaster behind Suncast with over 700 episodes. They delve into Nico's journey in the solar industry, key moments from his podcasting career, and his passion for storytelling.

 

Their conversation spans topics from networking in unexpected places to the evolution of the solar industry. Nico shares insights on podcast preparation, storytelling techniques like the five T's, and the exciting potential of digital archiving. This episode is full of valuable tips and inspirational anecdotes for anyone interested in the solar industry and podcasting.

  Topics covered:   NABCEP www.nabcep.org Suncast www.mysuncast.com Fidelity Roof Company www.fidelityroof.com Stuart Wentworth Conergy  EnZinc www.linkedin.com/company/enzinc Michael Burz www.linkedin.com/in/michael-burz Rechargeable Lead Acid Batteries AltE Store www.altestore.com Sascha Deri www.linkedin.com/in/sascha-deri Real Goods Digital Archiving Hart Akerson Hart Transverter NorCal Solar www.norcalsolar.org Jigar Shah www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc Alpha Brain ASES = American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org ISES = International Solar Energy Society www.ises.org Storytelling Tactics Nextracker www.nextracker.com Daniel Shugar www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-shugar Lead Acid Batteries The five Ts Lisa Ann Pinkerton www.linkedin.com/in/lisaannpinkerton Earthlings Podcast www.earthlingspodcast.com Technical Communication John Engel www.linkedin.com/in/johnengelboise Renewable Energy World www.renewableenergyworld.com Lex Fridman www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman Dwarkesh Patel www.youtube.com/@DwarkeshPatel Valence: Content that Connects: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence Reach Nico Johnson here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus Suncast: www.mysuncast.com   Youtube Video Podcast: www.youtube.com Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

When light comes from the closest star (the sun), it will give us solar power and solar energy. We are going to talk about the difference and how to quantify irradiance and irradiation. We also get into solar insolation, tilt angles, peak sun hours in different locations including Germany, the home of Hermann Scheer who kicked off the solar revolution!

 

To have fun and to learn more about solar and storage, go to SolarSEAN.com

Energy comes in many forms. From kWhs, to Joules, to cheeseburgers,  to a gallon of gas, see how you can convert these different energy containing forms. 

 

We also will get into the speed of electricity, Ohm’s law, Horsepower, the NABCEP PVA exam and PV module level rapid shutdown for PV systems on buildings.

 

To have fun and to learn more about solar and storage, go to SolarSEAN.com

Many people in the solar and storage industry do not know much about electricity and now is the time to have fun and learn. In this episode, we will introduce you to people with names like Volta, Ampere and Ohm, get ready to power your brain cells with all of that stored energy from last nights tacos.

 

This podcast includes both basic and advanced material and this episode is on the basic side. If you are advanced, you still can learn something, such as how to explain things to normal people.

 

To have fun and to learn more about solar and storage, go to SolarSEAN.com

One of the most difficult things to do with the NEC, is to understand how to use it to properly size wires. You can get 10 of the top experts in the world in a room and if you talk about how to properly size a wire, you can be sure there will be exciting conversations (disagreements). The best article I ever read on the subject was in the now retired SolarPro Magazine, where you can still access old articles at www.solarprofessional.com. May SolarPro someday be resurrected!   Wire sizing is very uniform throughout the NEC, so if you truly understand this article, you will be able to wire size about anything, including an energy storage system or a circuit to an air conditioner on the roof.   As I read this article that is based on the 2011 NEC, I make comments and update how to comply with the 2020 NEC. A few differences are that we no longer have 1A fuse increments below 15A (we skip from 10A to 15A now) and we no longer derate for conduit in sunlight on a rooftop.   Warning: This information is difficult, so do not expect to understand it in a day. You are welcome to skip this podcast, or you can do what I did when I first read NEC Article 690. I did not understand it, but got familiar with it and the terminology and after reading it 1000 times or so, I wrote some books on it.   To find out more about solar and storage, checkout www.SolarSEAN.com !

The most misunderstood PV label (“terminals on line and load side may be energized in the open position”), DC and AC disconnects, Capacitors, PV is on when the Sun is up, Pocket Voltage Indicator, Hot Stick Voltage Detectors (only work with alternating current), Lockout Tagout (LOTO), Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), 6-feet = Fall Protection, Guardrail Fall Protection, Safety Net Fall Protection, Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS), Anchor, Harness, Lifeline, Shock Absorbing Lanyard, Ladders Safety, Fiberglass vs. Aluminum Ladders, Working Around Power Lines, 3 points of contact, Tool Backpack, Yoyo (self-retracting lifeline) and Sun Exposure!

NEC, too much current on a wire, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) for employees, NFPA, Battery Bank Locations, AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction), NABCEP, Hydrogen and Ventilation with Lead-Acid Batteries, Guarding Live Parts, Working Spaces NEC 110.26, Panelboards, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Fall Protection, Arc-Flash Protection, Skylights, Ergonomics, Staging, Preventing Lumbar Disc Injuries, Volt Meter Testing, First Aid Kits and Eye Wash Stations.

AC-Modules, Direct PV Systems, Water Pumping with PV, Self-Regulating PV, Hybrid PV Systems vs. Hybrid Inverters, Solar Living Institute (RIP), Pumped Hydro Storage, Utility Scale Solar Farms, Large Scale PV Electric Supply Stations (NEC 691), PV Feed-in-Tariff’s, NexTracker Single Axis Trackers, Distributed Generation (DG), NABCEP, Community Solar, Community Choice Aggregation (CCAs), SEIA Houses per MW, 6kW per house average, Energy Efficiency, Resistance Heater 100% efficiency vs. Heat Pumps that are 3x better than 100%, Spectrolab Space Solar.

Utility Interactive PV Systems, Direct Current, Alternating Current, 5-minute UL 1741 anti-islanding requirements, PV the anti-load, net-metering, residential and commercial voltages, 120/240V, 120/208V, 277/480V, Delta, Stinger, Medium Voltage, High Voltage and Ultra High Voltage Connections, Nikola Tesla, Utility Scale PV, NEC Article 691, Charge Controllers, Stand-alone (off-grid), Rectifier (ac-to-dc), Tesla Powerwall, AC-Coupled PV, DC-Coupled PV and SolarEdge.

 

Stay tuned for Part 3 of PV Markets and Applications Next Week!

PV Markets and Applications, Grid-Tied PV with and without Batteries, Voltage Sags and Peaks, California Rule 21, Energy Storage, Smart Electronics, Bidirectional EVs, UL 1741, UL 1703, CE, NEC, Anti-islanding, Stand-alone, Multimode Inverters, Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID), Interactive Inverter, Solar in Space, Space Based Solar Power (SBSP), Portable Solar Power, Hybrid, Utility Scale PV, Distributed Generation (DG), Concentrated PV, Concentrated Solar Thermal, Solar Thermal vs. Solar PV. Stay tuned for Markets and Applications Part 2 of 3 next week!

PV Markets and Applications, NABCEP Exam, Edmund Becquerel, Photovoltaic Effect, Einstein’s Photoelectric Effect, PV Flash Testing, Bell Labs, Vanguard 1 Satellite, World Installed Capacity of PV, 1 TW of PV Installed, Hockey Stick PV Growth, Space Based Solar Power (SBSP), Dyson Sphere, Swanson’s Law, PV $77/watt in 1977, Solar PV and Eclipses, Guerrilla Solar and Perpetual Solar Flight with the Solar Impulse.

In this conversation with Ezra Auerbach, we cover a lot of topics, especially solar sales, and ethics. Ezra is especially passionate about ethical solar and storage sales practices. Ezra and Sean both teach NABCEP PV Technical Sales (PVTS) classes.

 

Ezra also has lived off-grid on an Island on the West Coast of Canada for 50+ years. He started his first solar company in 1986.

 

Most people know him for his involvement with NABCEP, including being there at the founding of NABCEP and especially his time running NABCEP as the Executive Director from 2009 to 2013. Ezra is still active with NABCEP, and I still see him around at various conferences and events. Perhaps you do too!

 

Topics Covered:

NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Microgrids Virtual Power Plants = VPP Energy Storage Systems = ESS SEIA = Solar Energy Industry Association                                                                                                      NABCEP ESIP = Energy Storage Installation Professional certification Net-Metering California Net-Metering policy (NEM 2.0 and NEM 3.0) California Solar Initiative Jeff Spies (see Sean’s podcast with Jeff 4/28/2024) EA = Energy Alternatives www.energyalternatives.ca/ Solar Thermal NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar Energy Association Scanifly LiDAR = Light Detection And Ranging EV = Electric Vehicle SMA solar = System Mess and Anlagentchnik<   Reach Ezra Auerbach here: Ezra’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-a-4905123b/  

Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

What makes different battery technologies better for different applications, primary and secondary batteries, state of charge (SOC) vs. depth of discharge (DOD), voltage vs. charge, battery open circuit voltage, battery internal resistance, lithium vs. lead acid, battery nominal voltage, 3.6V, 3.2V and 2V, cycle life factors, energy per weight, energy per volume, power per weight vs. energy, arbitrage, self consumption, max discharge current vs. continuous current, charge voltage vs. nominal voltage vs. float voltage, BMS,  algorithms,  NiMH, NiCad, recycling batteries.

To find out more about everything solar and storage, go to solarSEAN.com

Article 705 applies to PV and ESS. Everything we say here is going to apply to anything backfeeding the grid or a microgrid, however we will use ESS examples. We cover anti-islanding, Microgrid Interconnect Devices (MID), IEEE, Microgrid System definition, 705.11 Supply-Side Connections, 705.12 Load-Side Connections, 705.13 Power Control Systems (PCS), Article 705 Part 2 AC Microgrids.

To find out more about everything solar and storage, go to solarSEAN.com

 

In this podcast we cover material in Chapters 6 & 7 in the NEC (not including 706 ESS in detail, which we covered in a previous podcast) from an ESS point of view, including 625 EV Power Transfer Systems, EVSE=EV supply equipment, 692 Fuel Cells, 702 Standby Systems, ATS (automatic transfer switch), MID (microgrid interconnect device), 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources, 706 Energy Storage Systems (ESS), 710 Stand-Alone Systems, 712 DC Microgrids, 750 Energy Management Systems, Power Control Systems, Chapter 8 Communication Systems, Chapter 9 Tables, Conduit Fill Tables, Voltage Drop Tables.

To find out more about everything solar and storage, go to solarSEAN.com

Article 90 Introduction, Art. 100 Definitions, Art. 110 Requirements for Electrical Installations, Art. 200 Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors, Art. 240 Overcurrent Protection, Article 250 Grounding and Bonding (& Soares book), Art. 310 Conductors for General Wiring, Art. 358 EMT, Art. 480 Storage Batteries and Chapter 5 Special Occupancies, including aircraft hangers!

To learn more about energy storage, go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this podcast we will go over and explain NEC Article 706 Energy Storage Systems Part III “Installation Requirements”, Part IV “Circuit Requirements”, Part V “Flow Battery Energy Storage Systems” and Part VI “Other Energy Storage Technologies”.

To learn more about energy storage, go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this podcast we go over:

ESS and the NEC 2020, 2017 and 2014 NEC 706 ESS 710 Stand-Alone Systems 712 DC Microgrids 690 PV NABCEP 1897 NEC 1984 NEC Statistics NEC Chapters 1-4, 5, 6, 7 Article 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Chapter 8 Communications Chapter 9 Tables NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems 2020 NEC pdf Article 480 Storage Batteries NECA, UL 1973, UL 1989, UL 9540, UL 2436 Flywheels Inverters Converters Gravity ESS UPS Flow Battery AHJ Qualified Person Details of Sections 706.2 through 706.16 (Parts I and II of 706). Part I of Article 706 is “General” and Part II is “Disconnecting Means”.

To learn more about energy storage, go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this podcast, we will cover:

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Bloom Energy Bloom Box Hydrogen from Natural Gas Server Module Ethanol Lithium vs. Lead-Acid Solar Family Reunion Nameplate Capacity vs. Usable Capacity Round Trip Efficiency Cobalt Graphite Anode NMC LFP LifePo NCA Reactive Power (Q) Black Start VRLA AGM NiMH Silicon Graphite Anode Tesla batteries Sodium Sulfur UL 9540 UL 1973 LG and more   To learn more about energy storage, go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this podcast, we will cover:

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) growth rates Lithium and other markets Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Molten Salt Storage Fly Wheel Storage Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Ternary Batteries (NMC or NCA vs. LFP) Energy Density vs. Specific Energy Battery Memory Myths Protection Circuits Lead-Acid Deep Cycle Batteries Maintenance Equalization NiMH NiCad Lithium vs. Lithium-Ion Batteries Lithium Air Battery Lithium Polymer Microporous Electrolyte vs. Porous Separator Tesla battery cost advantage rumors Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Anolyte Catholyte Oxidation Zinc Bromine Flow Batteries NEC and more!   

To learn more about energy storage, go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this podcast, we will focus on the following manufacturers: Samsung, LG, Mitsubishi and Sungrow.

(In another podcast we will cover other manufacturers)

Some of the topics included here are:

Diversified manufacturers and bankruptcy risks Warranty insurance Distributed energy storage UPS Residential and telecom smaller scale comparisons Virtual Power Plants (VPP) Cells Racks Containers Peak Shifting Smoothing Power vs. Energy Applications Frequency regulation Pouch Prismatic and cylinder cells Capacity Specific energy Energy density Software PLC State of Charge Power Control Systems (PCS NEC 705.13) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Grid Stabilization Voltage Control Monitoring Voltage Drop (rise) UL 1741 C-rate Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) Lithium vs. Sodium sulfur battery Energy management systems (EMS). 

To learn more, go to www.solarSEAN.com where you can find classes, flashcards, consulting and everything under the sun.

In this podcast, we will cover:

battery charging and discharging voltage levels coulomb counting data temperatures loads warranties battery management systems (BMS) smart batteries dumb batteries self discharge rubber band effect button battery dangers FAA battery rules.   To learn more about batteries go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this episode, Sean White is joined by Sierra Fan, co-founder of cleantech software platform Illu (www.illu.works) and fellow board member of NorCal Solar. They discuss everything from the importance of nature education for children to the balance of pollutant vs carbon mitigation in Chinese regulatory policy to the difficulties of running a microgrid installation crew in Myanmar. Finally, they dig deep into the new software technology that Sierra is building at Illu and why ongoing digital tools are a critical component for the buildout of the new clean energy workforce in the US and beyond.

 

Topics Covered:

Climate Change Pollution Carbon Emission Greenhouse Gas Climate Deniers Global Warming Silicon Valley Highschool Henry M Gunn Highschool An Inconvenient Truth www.wikipedia.org/An_Inconvenient_Truth SunPower Foundation www.sunpower.com/foundation One Million Lights Philippines www.onemillionlights.org Sacha Baron Ali G www.youtube.com Illu www.illu.works Benefits of Illu Check out Sierra Fan here: Sierra Fan Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sierrafan/ Illu Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/illuworks/ Illu www.illu.works   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Topics covered:

Transportation of batteries Lithium metal dendrites Lithium ion International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Surprise Thermal Events Recycling lithium batteries Battery aging Rock content Cutoff Voltage Battery sweet zone Stratification Faded 2nd hand EV batteries used for stationary ESS and data science.

For more excitement and to grow your brain and to increase your value as a human being, go to www.solarSEAN.com

In this episode Sean talks about virtual power plants, which is the aggregation of many small energy storage systems together to end up with the energy storage capacity of a large utility scale energy storage facility. This distributed energy storage, working in harmony with each other can provide many benefits to the grid and to consumers.

To find out more about energy storage, PV and everything else, go to solarSEAN.com.

In this podcast, we will cover, C-rates, hour rates, E-rates, comparing lithium to lead-acid batteries, DOD, battery cells, modules and packs, series and parallel connections, cylindrical, prismatic and pouch batteries, cathodes, anodes, electron flow vs. conventional current direction, electrolytes and the graphite anode.

To learn more, go to solarSEAN.com

This is the fourth and final part of an interview with Greg Smith of Sonnen Battery. In this podcast we cover Greg’s opinion against rapid shutdown (RSD) requirements of the NEC, a book he is writing, whole house backup and how fast a Sonnen can react to a grid outage, which is 100 milliseconds.   To find out more about everything solar and storage, go to solarSEAN.com

When you connect PV to Energy Storage, you have to decide if you are going to have them connected together via ac or dc electricity. There are benefits to each for different applications. We will talk about the nuances of ac coupling and dc coupling and give you the benefits and drawbacks of each.   To find out more and expand your knowledge, go to solarsean.com  

In this podcast, we will learn about the basics of electricity, from voltage to the speed of electricity. We will even get inside of the heads of Charles Coulomb and Henry Ampere. Did you know that 1A is about 6 x 10^18 electrons passing by in a second? And that that many electrons, besides being a lot is also called a coulomb and some batteries do charging by coulomb counting. How can anyone count that high?   For more interesting facts, listen to Sean's podcasts, go to solarsean.com and sign up for Sean's HeatSpring classes or hire him live!

In this series of Podcasts we are going to take an unbiased look at different popular Energy System Components.

In this podcast we will cover Solar Generac/Pika, Sonnen, Solis, Sol-Ark, Fortress, KiloVault, Trojan Trillium, Rolls, Sunverge, Schneider, SimpliPhi, SMA, BYD and Victron.

To find out more about Sean White, solar and energy storage classes, NABCEP exam Prep, books and customized projects, or even solar installations, go to solarsean.com

In this series of Podcasts we are going to take an unbiased look at different popular Energy System Components.

In this podcast we will cover Solar Edge StorEdge, LG Chem RESU, Enphase and Tesla. In upcoming podcasts in this series, we will cover Generac/Pika, Sonnen, Solis, Sol-Ark, Fortress, KiloVault, Trojan Trillium, Rolls, Sunverge, Schneider, SimpliPhi, SMA, BYD and Victron.

To find out more about Sean White, solar and energy storage classes, NABCEP exam Prep, books and customized projects, or even solar installations, go to solarsean.com

Upon finishing this podcast, you will forever remember the top three lithium-ion battery chemistries, which are LFP, NMC and NCA, also known as Lithium Iron Phosphate, Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide and Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide. We will cover more about lithium batteries, such as including the definition of specific energy, which is energy per weight, rather than energy density, which is energy per volume.

To learn more about solar and energy storage, classes and Sean White, go to solarSEAN.com!

Greg used to be the face of SMA America training and now is the face of Sonnen battery education in the US.

This episode, we talk about energy storage self-consumption, energy storage without backup being common in Germany, PG&E public safety power shutoffs and demand for backup in the us, autonomy, ac-coupling, frequency control, module level power electronics, and some companies overestimating the shading losses with string inverters, which Greg is passionate about.

To find out more about solar education and the easiest way to pass NABCEP exams, go to solarSEAN.com

Matthew is the Communications Lead at the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub ( MACH2). As one of the leading figures in the hydrogen energy sector, he recently delivered a compelling Opening Keynote at the North American Hydrogen Summit 2024, highlighting the transformative potential of green and pink hydrogen in achieving significant environmental goals.

 

1. Green and Pink Hydrogen Initiatives:Explore how MACH2 plans to integrate green and pink hydrogen into its operations and the broader implications for the energy industry.

2. Environmental Impact: Delve into MACH2’s ambitious goal to reduce up to 25 million Metric Tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and criteria pollutants per year through innovative hydrogen solutions.

3. Hydrogen Hub Development:Gain insights into the progress and challenges of developing one of the seven hydrogen hubs across the United States and the role of MACH2 in this nationwide effort.

4. Future of Clean Energy: Discuss the broader vision for the hydrogen economy in the U.S. and how MACH2's initiatives align with national and global sustainability goals.

 

This interview presents a rare and exclusive opportunity to gain insights into the future of hydrogen energy directly from a key leader in the field. Matt Krayton’s expertise and insights will provide invaluable perspectives on how clean hydrogen solutions can drive significant environmental and economic benefits.

 

Topics covered include:

Hydrogen colors and definitions Green hydrogen Blue Hydrogen Turquoise Hydrogen Yellow hydrogen Brown hydrogen and black hydrogen (coal) Pink hydrogen (nuclear) Orange hydrogen Grey hydrogen (most common) SMR = Steam Methane Reformation Hydrogen hub Smart pipe Sensors Using existing methane (natural gas) pipe Re-sleeving Retooling Refurbishing IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Ammonia NH3 Hydrogen H2 Methane CH4 Lithium Ion Batteries EV = Electric Vehicle Climate Change Amtrak Bipartisan Infrastructure Law   Reach Matthew Krayton here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkrayton/ Publitics Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/publitics-solutions-llc/ Influence IQ: www.influenceiq.publitics.com/  

Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

In this part of my interview with Brian Hayden, we discuss drones, space, making online class content, how COVID effects the solar industry, a view of the solar industry stepping back and blurring out the ups and downs and what does good online training look like.

To find out more about this podcast or HeatSpring online training, where Sean has now had 15k students sign up for his online classes, go to solarsean.com

This is a reading from the 2020 NEC of Article 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources, which features 705.11 Supply-Side Source Connections, 705.12 Load-Side Source Connections and the new in 2020 705.13 Power Control Systems (PCS). 705.13 is new and will be very useful for making interconnections, so that we are not limited by the options in 705.11 and 705.12. When we have very smart electronics coordinating the currents, such as with smart load centers, CTs and smart inverters, PCSs can make sure our busbars do not melt. Artificial Intelligence anyone?

For someone who is just learning about PV or energy storage and has no idea about the NEC, this might be overwhelming, or at least a way to get familiar with the terminology while falling to sleep. For those of you that are familiar with the NEC, dive into island mode!

For more information about Sean White, Solar and Energy Storage, such as online classes or hiring Sean to teach at your company for NABCEP credit, go to solarsean.com.

This week, we discuss the importance of software, artificial intelligence, controllable breakers, 2020 NEC 690.13 Power Control Systems, home automation platforms, blockchain, benefits to ac coupling, a 10,000 cycle warranty, Shell’s purchase of Sonnen and Shell’s renewable energy history.

To find out more about Sean White’s, online classes or to hire Sean for live trainings for NABCEP credit go to www.solarsean.com.

Greg Smith is a micro-Celebrity in the Solar and Storage industry. He has been the top US technical training manager at two of the top German renewable energy companies. Sonnen is perhaps the most mature lithium ion company in the world that has just celebrated its 10th birthday. If you have been to a big solar show in the US in the last 10 years, you have passed Greg, probably with a crowd around him, as he is excited about the technology he espouses.

This is part 1 of a series of podcasts with Greg. In this episode we cover Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Lithium-ion batteries, UL 9540 listing of complete Energy Storage Systems and what the inspectors sometimes look for.

To find out more about Sean White, go to solarsean.com

This week we learn how HeatSpring came to be by two MBA candidates from Boston based Babson College’s entrepreneur program. Their recipe is to find the best instructors, who are SMEs that like to teach and many often write books. HeatSpring has been a success story.

We also discuss Grid Alternatives, which is an organization that compliments online solar training very well and is often described as the Habitat for Humanity for solar, where people, including our students get free hands-on experience installing solar on real houses, and at the same time getting that feel good feeling for helping people in need get away from under their monthly electricity bills.

To learn more about Sean White or his classes, go to solarsean.com

Brian Hayden discusses how HeatSpring started as an offshoot of two HS co-founders trying to get educated in renewable energy with the idea of becoming integrators. They were unsuccessful at finding the education they wanted, so they started HeatSpring, with the idea that they would get the best instructors in the world who are often authors. They would let the instructors use their own material and split the revenue rather than getting cheap instructors to make curriculum, teach classes and taking most of the profits for their organizations, google add-words and high pressure sales people, which is what they found in the industry.

Sean learns in this podcast how HeatSpring started out with live trainings in Boston and evolved to go at your own pace 100% online education.

Find out more about the “most excellent” free and not free HeatSpring classes at solarsean.com

Sean White gets interviewed as he was getting ready to interview Brian Hayden. They were having a conversation which fortunately was recorded where Brian Hayden, a podcaster himself seemed to be interviewing the interviewer. This part 1 of a multiple part series of conversations with Brian Hayden. Brian has a podcast of his own, which goes well with his Entrepreneurship course at the world renowned University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship.   Brian's podcast is called Finding Your Venture and can be found at FindingYourVenture.com.   To find out more about Sean, to sign up for his courses or to hire him, go to solarsean.com. Stay safe!

In this podcast, we go off on the EV manufacturers for not having a good enough excuse to let us connect our cars up for bidirectional purposes. Rather than blaming it on the warranty only being for 100,000 miles or 10 years, why not add 33,000kWh to the mix and then if you overused your battery powering your house, that could be another way for your battery warranty to expire. Bill picked 33MWh and if it is good enough for Bill, it is good enough for the EV industry.   Let's start a movement and agree to buy the first EV that offers this technology. We know they can all easily do it and it is not an engineering problem. Perhaps the battery industry is more interested in selling batteries for your car and your home separately. EV to grid is also known as V2G.   This podcast is part of a free class titled "Solar Building Codes, Fire Codes, EVs, Rapid Shutdown and Energy Storage Systems", which you can find the link to by going to www.solarsean.com

In this episode, we talk about 2020 NEC Article 625 Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System. It is ok with the NEC that we can use our cars to feed the grid and power our homes, so what is the hold up with the EV manufacturers? We will cover more of this answer in our next episode, but this time we will get into the details, and focus on 625.42 Rating, which will allow us to 4000A of EV chargers (and bidirectional EV Power Transfer Systems) on a 1000A feeder as long as we have the load management to make everything safe. 625.42 was the inspiration for 2020 NEC 705.13 Power Control Systems!

You can also learn more about these topics in our online Heatspring classes, some of them free. Find your way there and to many good places at the address of solarsean.com!

The 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) now allows for 18 inches from the ridge instead of 3 feet. Bill was involved in the process of making these rules and explains how the 2018 IRC works. This is very important for those of you involved in rooftop solar markets in the US. In some states you can go all the way up to the ridge, other states you can go up to 18 inches from the ridge and yet in others it is 3 feet. With the price of solar PV so low, people are wanting to put as much PV as they can on their roofs, including on the north side. This podcast contains material from a recently released Heatspring free online class entitled: Solar Building Codes, Fire Codes, EVs, Rapid Shutdown and Energy Storage Systems.   This free online course counts for 2 hours of NABCEP continuing education credits and prerequisites. You can find out more by going to www.solarsean.com.

Christopher has and has had many roles in the solar and storage industry. Currently he is a consultant and has fractional leadership roles in various companies, such as Kevala. Christopher was also the CEO and COO of Blue Planet, which is pioneer in using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) lithium-ion batteries. Christopher has worked with SEPA and Seneca Environmental. Christopher Johnson takes things off the plate of busy CEOs. He lives and works in San Francisco, the climate tech capital of the world!

 

Topics Covered:

Kevala www.kevala.com Blue Planet www.blueplanetenergy.com Tesla Distributed Energy Ford F150 Bidirectional EVs California 100% EVs by 2035 Clean Energy Buyers Association www.cebuyers.com NorCal solar www.norcalsolar.com Rice University Batteries AI = Artificial Intelligence Seneca Nation EV = Electric Vehicle SEPA = Smart Electric Power Association www.sepapower.com SEIA = Solar Energy Industry Association www.seia.com RE+ www.re-plus.com VPPA = Virtual Power Purchase Agreement Tesla Powerwall NEM = Net Energy Metering Bidirectional Electric Vehicle   Reach Christopher Johnson here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/enlighten/  

Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by takingSean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

Bill Brooks has been in the solar industry for 32 years. He trains inspectors, consults with solar farm owners, is a licensed professional engineer, is on code making panel 4 and is in charge of writing much of the NEC as it pertains to solar energy.  Brooks teaches and writes books with Sean White. This interview is part of the 40-hour Advanced PV and NABCEP Certification exam prep and CEU online class on Heatspring. They were both coronavirus free at the time of this interview.  

NEC Article 710 Stand-Alone Systems is short and this reading will get you thinking about living off the grid or will get you ready for when the apocalypse comes and your prepper tendencies pay off!

Funny interview! Sean White interviews the worlds first solar installer Bob. Bob has been installing solar for longer than you can imagine! Bob sometimes works for the aliens on the History Channel.