Shows / SunCast
SunCast
Nico Johnson takes you into conversations with those at the forefront of Renewable Energy. SunCast gives an inside look into what is happening in renewable energy. From conversations with the biggest Solar Panel manufacturers in the world to the small startups creating the future of renewable energy, such as carbon capture and battery technology breakthroughs. SunCast is dedicated to providing the knowledge, research, tools and expert guidance you need to understand, grow and be ahead of the…
Episodes
- SunCast
800: What 800 Episodes Taught Me About Clean Energy & Leadership, with guest Host: Lisa Ann Pinkerton
800 episodes. 1 unforgettable conversation. For the first time in years, Nico Johnson becomes the guest on his own show, interviewed by friend and fellow…
- SunCast
799: State of the Solar Industry 2025: Inside Intersolar with 3 Industry Experts (and podcasters) | Joe Ordia, Chris Crowell, Sean White
Live from the Hub Stage at Intersolar 2025, Nico gathers a powerhouse podcaster panel to dig into what’s really going on in the solar & battery sectors. Sean…
- SunCast
798: The Hidden Goldmine in Commercial Solar—And How to Tap Into It; with Claire Broido Johnson
There are billions of square feet of commercial rooftops in the U.S. that should have solar—but don’t. Why? Because financing these projects has been nearly…
- SunCast
797: How Solar Can Revitalize America's Rural Heartland
Smithville, Texas, a town known for its giant gingerbread man and Hollywood cameos, is making headlines for something even bigger—its solar future. With a…
- SunCast
796: The $1 Per Watt Energy Shift That Could Upend Utilities
Solar and battery prices have dropped so low that energy independence is truly NOW within reach—no permits, no utility red tape, just DIY power that any…
- SunCast
795: The Truth About Community Solar & How It’s Changing the Game | Aviv Shalgi
Community solar promises to lower energy costs while expanding access to clean power—but does it deliver? Aviv Shalgi, CEO of Solar Simplified, joins Nico to…
- SunCast
794: Solar Will Be 50% of Global Primary Energy by 2035 – Here’s How According to Birchy
Solar’s growth isn’t just steady—it’s compounding. If current trends hold, half of the world’s energy could come from solar by 2035. That’s the prediction…
- SunCast
793: Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) Explained... Free Water?
With 45 percent of U.S. water sources containing toxic contaminants, according to the EPA, access to clean drinking water is becoming increasingly uncertain…
- SunCast
792: What Is Distributed Generation? [Jorge Vargas, Aspen Power]
The distributed generation market is shifting rapidly as capital tightens, power prices rise, and smaller developers bump up against capital and market…
- SunCast
791: Why Hydrogen (+Solar) Can Replace Natural Gas
Industrial facilities depend heavily on natural gas for steam production; in California, food processing, which is one of the largest users of steam, consumes…
- SunCast
790: Jigar Shah On His Next Chapter & Clean Energy’s Future
Jigar Shah spent the last few years shaping the future of clean energy finance as the Director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office. He approved…
- SunCast
789: Heading to InterSolar North America 2025? Listen to This First!
InterSolar North America is always the first ‘big’ clean energy industry conference that kicks off the year! And who doesn’t want to kick off the year with a…
- 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…
- SunCast
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…
- SunCast
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…
- SunCast
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…
- SunCast
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…
- SunCast
783: How AI and India Shape Solar and Hydrogen Futures, with Daniel Dus | Cleantech Industry Resources
How do we unlock the final frontier of lowest-cost solar and deploying it at scale? The U.S.-India nexus is emerging as one of the most pivotal relationships…
- SunCast
782: The Art of Strategic Business Exits, with Mike Miskovsky (Zep, Ojjo, Tiveni)
How do you successfully scale & exit a startup enterprise? The art of entrepreneurship is part science, part stick-to-it-iveness, part grind and part good…
- SunCast
781: AC Vs DC-Coupled Battery Systems with Adam Knudsen Of Dynapower
It is estimated that by 2027 nearly half of all new solar installations will have energy storage attached, and today’s guest, Adam Knudsen of Dynapower…
- SunCast
780: Energy in the Trump Administration
Join us for an in-depth discussion with three different perspectives on the future of energy. We'll explore the potential impacts of Trump's policies on…
- SunCast
779: Cary Hayes (REC Solar) Interviews Alex Honnold - Why Corporate Philanthropy Matters (and why you should be doing it)
Increasingly, it seems that corporate philanthropy (and even personal giving) are reactive rather than proactive. Today’s episode challenges that notion with…
- SunCast
778: Alex Honnold: Life After Free Solo
Alex Honnold, the world-famous rock climber and philanthropist, has pushed the physical boundaries of human potential with his climbing pursuits, but in his…
- SunCast
777: The 10 Must-Attend Energy Events of 2025: Nico Shares His Top Picks (Plus FREE Resource!)
No matter how you think about marketing your product or service in clean energy in 2025, your marketing plan is incomplete until you have nailed down your…
- SunCast
776: This Could Revolutionize Commercial Solar | Ryan Wartena's Dragon Wings
Despite decades of progress, the commercial solar market remains bogged down by slow development cycles and complex approvals, leaving millions of buildings…
- SunCast
775: Exclusive: Industry Titans Share Year-End Reflections And Strategies - What Jigar Shah, Abby Hopper And More Have To Say!
This special episode compiles insights from some of the most influential voices in the solar and clean energy sector. Introducing a fun new “5 in 5” segment to…
- SunCast
773: What Does Responsible Solar Look Like? Lightsource bp’s Alyssa Edwards & Virginia Brown Explain
Can solar projects do more than generate clean energy? How about enhance the health and diversity of local ecosystems? Sometimes viewed critically for their…
- SunCast
772: Is C&I Solar Finally Ready To Scale? New Energy Equity Says “Yes” With Versiris Energy Spinoff
The commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market, often called the "messy middle," has lagged behind the rapid growth of residential and utility-scale…
- SunCast
771: How Footprint Project’s Helene Response Repowered Communities
When Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville and western North Carolina, it left communities with widespread power outages, overwhelmed hospitals, and destroyed…
- SunCast
770: How to Leverage IRA Grants for Solar Growth
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has unlocked unprecedented federal funding for solar energy, promising billions of dollars to transform the industry. But…
- SunCast
769: Crowdfunding Solar Projects Made Easy with Climatize CEO Will Wiseman
While global climate movements highlight the urgency of the crisis, many are left wondering how to take meaningful, personal action. Climatize is changing…
- SunCast
768: Giving Tuesday Special - Making a Difference Where It Matters Most: Honnold Foundation, Let’s Share the Sun & Climate Action Pathways make your donations go further!
Each year, we give you an opportunity to join us in supporting a non-profit on Giving Tuesday. This Giving Tuesday, we are shining a light on not one but three…
- SunCast
767: The Key to Retaining and Developing the Next Generation of Clean Energy Professionals with Jen Szaro & Paul Douglas
Expanding the clean energy workforce means focusing on more than just filling jobs; it calls for a commitment to equity, diversity, and creating tangible…
- SunCast
766: Empowering Solar Expansion: Unlock Workforce Potential Through Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are the bridge between the clean energy industry's rapid growth and its critical need for a skilled, reliable workforce. With the Inflation…
- SunCast
765: Unlocking the Power of Word-of-Mouth Marketing: How Snoball is Revolutionizing Customer Acquisition
In the home services industry, many contractors deliver high-quality work but struggle to leverage satisfied customers for growth. Yet, we know that more than…
- SunCast
764: How to Land a Job in Clean Energy With No Experience—Aaron Nichols of Exact Solar
Can someone without a traditional background still make an impact in clean energy? Aaron Nichols, the Marketing & Advocacy Specialist at Exact Solar, answers…
- SunCast
763: Battery Power: Strengthening Resilience with Energy Storage - Anne Hoskins, Kavita Ravi, & Joan White
With exponential growth year over year, there has never been a more pivotal moment than this for battery energy storage in the renewables market. This momentum…
- SunCast
762: Why The Dept. Of Energy Is Funding These 2 Startups
Resource Labs Network founding member, Lisa Ann Pinkerton of Earthlings 2.0 podcast, hosts a discussion with the DOE’s Becca Jones-Albertus, Director of the…
- SunCast
761: Unlock Solar Success: Insider Tips from Top EPC Firms - Burns & McDonnell
An experienced EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) partner is the backbone for the successful execution of solar projects, turning ambitious plans…
- SunCast
760: Gemini: A Game-Changer in Solar and Storage Systems, with Adam Larner, COO at Primergy
"The new Silicon Valley is going to be about energy." This shift is evident as solar and battery storage combine, pushing renewable energy to achieve firm…
- SunCast
759: EPC Strategies for Successful Battery Storage Integration with Chris Finley of TruGrid
The growing demand for energy storage has transformed the renewable energy sector, but what are the key steps to successfully executing battery storage…
- SunCast
758: Transforming Transport: Lime Co-Founder On E-Mobility’s Role In Decarbonization
About a third of global carbon emissions come from transportation, with most generated by private vehicles. Cities face a critical challenge: the “last mile”…
- SunCast
757: Election Special: The Path for Clean Energy Under Trump or Harris
Do you envision that the IRA could be rolled back with a new administration? This question seems to permeate the conversation(s) heard around the industry in…
- SunCast
756: Expert Analysis, 3 Perspectives On What's Trending In Solar
Curious what were the top product insights from RE+ 2024? Our industry experts scoured the show floor to uncover key solar technology and market trends. Hear…
- SunCast
755: Cultivating A Community of Clean Energy Professionals; Jen Szaro of AESP
Building an efficient energy ecosystem requires collaboration, knowledge-sharing, strategic design, and workforce development. It also requires cooperation and…
- SunCast
754: Is This Renewable Energy’s Hidden Bottleneck? Ben Macias Explains
One of the major bottlenecks in the renewable energy sector is tied to one of the oldest components of the energy grid and is an essential piece tying FAR More…
- SunCast
753: How To Achieve 10,000% Growth & Market Dominance, Bryan Wagner of CPS Americas
To have record-setting growth and earn the number one spot in your market, it takes more than a good product. How do you build a team mindset and strategy…
- SunCast
752: The Nation’s Largest Building Products Distributor Turns to Solar; James Mason, ABC Supply Co
ABC Supply is the nation’s largest building products distributor, responsible for 1 in 3 American roofs, and now they are setting their sights on what goes on…
- SunCast
751: How EVLO Energy Storage Is Working to Solve Tomorrow’s Grid Challenges with Martin Rheault
Hydro-Québec (HQ), North America’s largest renewable energy producer, is expanding its footprint into battery storage through its subsidiary, EVLO Energy…
- SunCast
750: Clean Energy as a Wealth Creation Vehicle, Gilbert Campbell | Volte Energy Utility
“Environmental justice is definitely an area that I’m passionate about because it’s deeply entwined with racial justice. Communities of color have been…
- SunCast
749: 45X-tra Things To Worry About With Battery Storage In 2025, John Zahurancik | Fluence
The battery storage sector is [finally] stabilizing with 90% of the IRA tax credit rules now in place, providing developers more clarity and perhaps more…
- SunCast
748: Scaling Energy Storage: Why Bigger Isn't Always Better | Andy Tang, Wärtsilä
The energy storage market is truly moving faster than ever, and with it, the complexity of building and managing these projects and products that serve our…
- SunCast
747: The Fight for Solar Energy Rights | Anya Schoolman of Solar United Neighbors
Seventeen years ago, two young boys from Washington, DC set a ball in motion that would spark a nationwide solar movement. What inspired them? Al Gore. Solar…
- SunCast
746: What To Watch In The Evolving BESS Market, with Dave Hebert & Neha Sinha - Wärtsilä
Advancements in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are setting new standards in renewable energy integration and at a break-neck pace. Wärtsilä Energy…
- SunCast
745: The Return of American Solar Manufacturing
Domestic manufacturing is making a COMEBACK! There, I finally admit it. I never thought it’d happen, to be honest, as you’ll here in today’s episode. On August…
- SunCast
744: Direct-to-Consumer Solar? Project Solar Founders Matthew Smith & Trevor Hiltbrand Explain
What if you could go online, get a solar quote in under a minute, and bypass door knocking sales reps? That's the promise of Project Solar, a Utah-based…
- SunCast
743: Jigar Shah On Why Nuclear Makes Sense - The Math May Surprise You…
Many of our regular listener energy nerds are aware that the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO), under the leadership if Secretary Granholm…
- SunCast
742: Mosaic’s Journey to $15 Billion in Residential Solar Loans with Co-founder & Executive Chair, Billy Parish
When I started SunCast, it seemed like there were lots of “Pioneers”; I even did a series focused on Solar Pioneers. That was 9 yars ago. Nowadays, most people…
- SunCast
741: RE+ 2024 Recap: Tesla Competition? Bi-Directional EV Charging? What You Shouldn’t Have Missed…
As RE+ 2024 wound to a close last Thursday, Nico Johnson sat down with three of the solar industry’s top content creators to discuss the standout innovations…