The Solar Coaster Podcast

Anna Covert
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Technology
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Solarcoaster Podcast — your ultimate guide to navigating the fast-changing solar industry. Each episode delivers actionable insights, industry best practices, and expert strategies to help solar professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders thrive in the renewable energy space. Whether you’re an installer, sales leader, manufacturer, or decision-maker, you’ll learn how to scale your business, optimize lead generation, and stay ahead in an evolving market.

  1. 1d ago

    Beyond Tetris: Henk Rogers’ Vision for a Sustainable Future—On Earth and Beyond | Climate Week Special Series

    What happens when the entrepreneur who helped bring Tetris to the world turns his attention to the future of our planet? For our Climate Week Special Series, Anna Covert welcomes Henk Rogers, co-founder of The Tetris Company and founder of Blue Planet Foundation, Blue Planet Energy and Blue Planet Alliance. Following a near-fatal heart attack in 2005, Henk began rethinking what he wanted to accomplish with the rest of his life. His first mission was to end the use of carbon-based fuels, starting in Hawaii. That decision helped launch a movement that contributed to Hawaii becoming the first U.S. state to establish a legal commitment to 100% renewable electricity by 2045. In this wide-ranging conversation, Anna and Henk discuss how Hawaii became a model for renewable energy, why Henk is investing in new battery technologies, how his work is expanding to islands and countries around the world, and what space exploration can teach us about sustainability here on Earth. They also explore the potential of AI, the importance of engaging children in environmental action, Henk's new Action app and an unexpected idea: Tetris as meditation. IN THIS CONVERSATION The personal experience that inspired Henk's environmental mission. How Blue Planet Foundation helped advance Hawaii's renewable energy legislation. The role of children in creating lasting change. Sodium batteries, supercapacitors and the future of energy storage. Solar, hydrogen and virtual power plants. How Blue Planet Alliance is sharing Hawaii's experience with other islands and countries. What the HI-SEAS Mars simulation can teach us about living sustainably. Gamification, AI and Henk's upcoming Action app. Why Henk believes determination is more important than hope. CONNECT WITH HENK ROGERS Official website: https://www.henkrogers.com/ Blue Planet Alliance: https://blueplanetalliance.org/ Blue Planet Foundation: https://blueplanetfoundation.org/ Blue Planet Energy: https://www.blueplanetenergy.com/ Blue Startups: https://www.bluestartups.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henkrogers/ THE SOLAR COASTER Website and book: https://solarcoasterbook.com/ Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSGKKV8X YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solarcoasterbook FOLLOW ANNA COVERT Website: https://annacovert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annacovert/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annacovert/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacovert SPONSORED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY Website: https://sunenergytoday.com/ Commercial solar: https://sunenergytoday.com/commercial/ Utility-scale solar: https://sunenergytoday.com/utility-scale-solar/ Solar projects: https://sunenergytoday.com/solar-projects/ Get started: https://sunenergytoday.com/get-started/ LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMS Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solar-coaster-podcast/id1832579656 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/342b84c9-ccb9-4cdb-99cc-ed6254503bfa/the-solar-coaster-podcast iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/292376116/ Subscribe to The Solar Coaster for more conversations from our Climate Week Special Series. #ClimateWeek #HenkRogers #TheSolarCoaster #Tetris #RenewableEnergy #BluePlanetAlliance

    Beyond Tetris: Henk Rogers’ Vision for a Sustainable Future—On Earth and Beyond | Climate Week Special Series

  2. 1d ago

    Can America Power the AI Revolution? | Climate Week Special Series | Solar Coaster

    Artificial intelligence is transforming our world, but what will it take to power the technology behind it? For our Climate Week Special Series, Anna Covert welcomes Chip Comins, founder of AREDAY, Chairman and CEO of the American Renewable Energy Institute and Chairman of the American Energy Initiative's HVDC SuperGrid effort. Chip has spent decades bringing together leaders in energy, science, business, technology and entertainment. In this conversation, we explore the infrastructure challenges accompanying the AI boom and Chip's vision for connecting America's electricity resources through an underground, nationwide high-voltage direct current (HVDC) SuperGrid. **In this conversation:** * Why AI data centers are changing electricity demand. * The water and cooling challenges associated with data center development. * How a nationwide HVDC SuperGrid could connect electricity markets. * Why Chip proposes underground transmission along existing transportation corridors. * Potential opportunities for solar, wind and energy storage. * How the proposed grid could work with existing utilities. * Financing, regulatory coordination and the practical challenges of major infrastructure development. * Chip's work with AREDAY and the role of film and storytelling in public education. Chip also shares stories from more than two decades of convening energy and environmental leaders, his work on *Racing Extinction* and his collaboration with Dr. Sandy MacDonald on the SuperGrid concept. **CONNECT WITH CHIP COMINS** LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chipcomins/ AREDAY / American Renewable Energy Institute: https://areday.net/ American Energy Initiative: https://americanenergyinitiative.net/ HVDC SuperGrid: https://areday.net/hvdc-supergrid/ **THE SOLAR COASTER** Website and book: https://solarcoasterbook.com/ Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSGKKV8X YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solarcoasterbook **FOLLOW ANNA COVERT** Website: https://annacovert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annacovert/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annacovert/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacovert **SPONSORED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY** Website: https://sunenergytoday.com/ Commercial solar: https://sunenergytoday.com/commercial/ Utility-scale solar: https://sunenergytoday.com/utility-scale-solar/ Projects: https://sunenergytoday.com/solar-projects/ Get started: https://sunenergytoday.com/get-started/ **LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMS** Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solar-coaster-podcast/id1832579656 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/342b84c9-ccb9-4cdb-99cc-ed6254503bfa/the-solar-coaster-podcast iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/292376116/ Subscribe for more conversations from our Climate Week Special Series. #ClimateWeek #SolarCoaster #ChipComins #ArtificialIntelligence #SuperGrid #RenewableEnergy

    Can America Power the AI Revolution? | Climate Week Special Series | Solar Coaster

  3. 1d ago

    The U.S. SuperGrid: Powering America’s Energy Future | Climate Week Special Series | Solar Coaster

    Welcome to The Solar Coaster Podcast’s Climate Week Special Series, where Anna Covert sits down with innovators and industry leaders exploring the future of clean energy, technology and our planet. Our special guest is Dr. Alexander “Sandy” MacDonald, an atmospheric scientist, former director of NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory, inventor of NOAA’s Science On a Sphere and CEO of American SuperGrid LLC. What if America could move electricity across the country as efficiently as goods travel along our interstate highways? Sandy joins Anna to discuss his vision for a nationwide high-voltage direct current (HVDC) SuperGrid and what it could mean for renewable energy, grid resilience and America’s energy future. **In this conversation, we explore:** * How Sandy’s career in meteorology led him to renewable energy. * His proposal for an underground, nationwide HVDC transmission network. * Why the Great Plains could play a major role in supplying electricity to other regions. * How the SuperGrid could work alongside existing utilities and AC infrastructure. * Opportunities for solar developers, wind farms and energy storage. * Extreme weather, cybersecurity and the importance of a resilient electric grid. * The technological, economic and policy challenges of building a national system. **GUEST LINKS** Dr. Alexander “Sandy” MacDonald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-macdonald-6825667 The SuperGrid Working Group: https://americanenergyinitiative.net/ NOAA Science On a Sphere: https://sos.noaa.gov/about/history/ **THE SOLAR COASTER** Website and book: https://solarcoasterbook.com/ Buy *The Solar Coaster*: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSGKKV8X YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solarcoasterbook **FOLLOW ANNA COVERT** Website: https://annacovert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annacovert/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annacovert/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacovert **SPONSORED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY** Sun Energy Today develops commercial solar, utility-scale and energy storage solutions. Website: https://sunenergytoday.com/ Commercial solar: https://sunenergytoday.com/commercial/ Utility-scale solar: https://sunenergytoday.com/utility-scale-solar/ Get started: https://sunenergytoday.com/get-started/ **LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMS** Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solar-coaster-podcast/id1832579656 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/342b84c9-ccb9-4cdb-99cc-ed6254503bfa/the-solar-coaster-podcast iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/292376116/ Subscribe for more conversations from our Climate Week Special Series featuring Chip Comins and Henk Rogers. #ClimateWeek #SolarCoaster #SuperGrid #SandyMacDonald #RenewableEnergy

    The U.S. SuperGrid: Powering America’s Energy Future | Climate Week Special Series | Solar Coaster

  4. 4d ago

    Can Renewables Escape Their Own Waste Problem? | EP 56 | Solar Coaster Podcast

    Solar panels and wind turbines are helping reshape the world's energy system. But the equipment powering the renewable-energy transition doesn't last forever. What happens when millions of solar modules and wind turbine components eventually reach the end of their useful lives? In Episode 56 of The Solar Coaster Podcast, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera examine the growing challenge of renewable-energy waste—and why simply saying "recycle it" doesn't solve the problem. Solar modules contain glass, aluminum, silicon, polymers, copper and electronics. Wind turbine blades are built from highly durable composite materials that can be exceptionally difficult to process at end of life. As renewable-energy infrastructure ages, the industry must determine how to manage these materials responsibly and economically. But recycling is only one part of the conversation. Anna and Alex explore whether a better circular model should prioritize maintaining equipment longer, repairing it when possible, finding responsible second-life applications, and recycling materials only when continued use no longer makes sense. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why renewable-energy waste is becoming an increasingly important industry issue • What happens when solar panels reach the end of their useful lives • Why recycling solar modules can be expensive • The limitations of weight-based recycling targets • Why glass and aluminum are easier to recover than some higher-value materials • The difference between repair, reuse, recycling and downcycling • Why wind turbine blades present a particularly difficult materials challenge • Emerging recyclable materials and thermoplastic composites • The role of standards in wind asset life extension • Why safety matters when extending the operating life of renewable-energy equipment • The transportation and infrastructure challenges behind recycling • Who ultimately pays for end-of-life management • Why circularity must become part of procurement, design, maintenance and regulation • What a credible circular economy for renewable energy could look like The larger question isn't whether renewable energy creates waste. It does. The question is whether the industry can build the infrastructure, standards, economics and accountability necessary to prevent today's clean-energy technologies from becoming tomorrow's unmanaged waste stream. EXPLORE THE SOLAR COASTER https://solarcoasterbook.com/ FOLLOW ANNA COVERT Website: https://annacovert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annacovert/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annacovert/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacovert CONNECT WITH ALEX HERRERA LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436 PRESENTED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY https://sunenergytoday.com/ This episode features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera.

    Can Renewables Escape Their Own Waste Problem? | EP 56 | Solar Coaster Podcast

  5. Sep 16

    Why Community Solar Is Growing in Only a Few States | EP 55 | The Solar Coaster Podcast

    Community solar promises something powerful: access to solar savings without requiring panels on your own roof. So why is the U.S. community solar market still concentrated in only a handful of states? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera examine why community solar has become less of a technology challenge and more of a policy design contest. The conversation looks at four states taking very different approaches — New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and Massachusetts — and what their programs reveal about the economics, regulations, consumer protections, billing structures, grid access, and low-income requirements that can determine whether community solar actually scales. We explore: • Why community solar growth is increasingly concentrated in a small number of states • How state policy can make a community solar project financeable — or impossible • Why predictable bill credits matter to developers and subscribers • New York’s sophisticated value-stack approach • Why consolidated utility billing can make community solar easier for consumers • New Jersey’s permanent Community Solar Energy Program • The role of low- and moderate-income subscriber requirements • Oregon’s fixed-credit and centralized program model • Why Massachusetts combines solar incentives with storage requirements • Whether strong consumer protections can sometimes create development friction • Why utility ownership rules matter • How interconnection backlogs can stop otherwise viable projects • Why long-term tariffs and predictable economics may matter more than flashy incentives • What other states can learn — and what they should not simply copy The bigger lesson? Community solar does not scale simply because people want access to solar. It scales when policy, project economics, billing, grid access, and consumer protections reinforce one another. The U.S. does not yet have one national community solar market. It has a collection of state experiments — and some are working far better than others. THE SOLAR COASTER https://solarcoasterbook.com/ FOLLOW ANNA COVERT Website: https://annacovert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annacovert/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annacovert/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacovert CONNECT WITH ALEX HERRERA https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436 SPONSORED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY https://sunenergytoday.com/ LISTEN TO THE SOLAR COASTER Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solar-coaster-podcast/id1832579656 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/342b84c9-ccb9-4cdb-99cc-ed6254503bfa/the-solar-coaster-podcast iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/292376116/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solarcoasterbook AI Transparency Notice: This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals have provided full knowledge and consent for their voices and likenesses to be used in this AI-produced episode. The insights shared reflect their real-world experience and professional viewpoints.

    Why Community Solar Is Growing in Only a Few States | EP 55 | The Solar Coaster Podcast

  6. Sep 9

    California Wants to Take Solar Inspections Remote | Solar Coaster | EP 54

    California is moving toward a major change in how residential clean-energy projects are inspected. Assembly Bill 1738 would require qualifying California jurisdictions to offer remote inspection options for certain residential projects, including solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage. Instead of always waiting for an inspector to physically visit a property, qualifying inspections could potentially be completed using live video, recorded photos, or recorded video. That sounds like a simple administrative change. But it raises a much bigger question: Can California remove one of the bottlenecks slowing home electrification without weakening the safeguards designed to protect homeowners? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera examine both sides of California’s push toward remote inspections. We discuss why inspection delays matter to solar contractors and homeowners, how remote inspections could reduce soft costs and scheduling problems, why batteries and electrical systems require careful oversight, and why implementation may ultimately matter more than the legislation itself. The episode also explores a larger issue facing the clean-energy industry: how much of permitting, inspection, and compliance can be digitized without sacrificing accountability? Remote inspection may not transform residential solar on its own. But eliminating friction at thousands of individual projects could have a meaningful cumulative impact on how quickly clean-energy technologies reach American homes. **ABOUT THE SOLAR COASTER** The Solar Coaster explores the rapidly changing solar and clean-energy industry—from technology and policy to sales, marketing, economics, regulation, and the forces shaping the future of energy. 🌐 The Solar Coaster https://solarcoaster.com/ 📖 The Solar Coaster Book https://solarcoasterbook.com/ ☀️ Sun Energy Today https://sunenergytoday.com/ --- **ABOUT YOUR HOSTS** **Anna Covert** Founder of Covert Communication | Author of *The Covert Code* | Host of *The Covert Code Podcast* 🌐 Anna Covert https://annacovert.com/ 🌐 Covert Communication https://covertcommunication.com/ 🎙️ The Covert Code Podcast https://thecovertcode.com/ 📘 *The Covert Code* https://www.amazon.com/dp/1955884916 **Alex Herrera** Solar industry executive, entrepreneur, and co-host of *The Solar Coaster*. 🔗 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-herrera-solar/ --- **PRESENTED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY** Sun Energy Today brings together solar news, industry insights, technology, policy, and information for professionals and consumers navigating the rapidly evolving energy market. 🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/ --- Subscribe to **The Solar Coaster** for conversations about solar, storage, energy technology, policy, manufacturing, and the future of the clean-energy industry.

    California Wants to Take Solar Inspections Remote | Solar Coaster | EP 54

  7. Sep 2

    Why Solar Module Certification Is No Longer Enough | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 53

    Solar module certification used to answer one of the most important procurement questions: Is this product qualified? Today, that is increasingly only the beginning. In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera examine why utility-scale solar developers, asset owners, lenders, and independent engineers are demanding deeper evidence before committing to modules expected to operate for decades. A certified module may meet established baseline safety and performance standards. But certification does not necessarily tell a buyer whether later production runs use the same materials, whether a critical supplier has changed, or how a specific bill of materials will perform under the environmental stresses of a particular project. We discuss: • Why certification is becoming the starting point instead of the finish line • What bill-of-materials-specific bankability testing actually means • How an undisclosed supplier change can materially affect field performance • Why factory inspections and pre-shipment verification matter • Thermal cycling, damp heat, humidity-freeze, mechanical loading, PID, UV, and hail testing • Why different climates require different durability priorities • The growing importance of independent durability data • How module quality affects project bankability and long-term ROI • Why approved vendor lists are becoming more dynamic • What DOE fleet performance data can tell buyers about underperformance risk • Why procurement teams increasingly need an ongoing evidence trail The central lesson is simple: A certificate tells you a product met a baseline. It does not necessarily tell you whether the exact product being delivered is the right product for the exact risk profile of your project. As solar projects become larger and portfolios become more complex, independent testing and ongoing verification are becoming commercial tools—not just engineering exercises. **ABOUT THE SOLAR COASTER** The Solar Coaster explores the rapidly changing solar and clean-energy industry—from technology and policy to sales, marketing, economics, regulation, and the forces shaping the future of energy. 🌐 The Solar Coaster https://solarcoaster.com/ 📖 The Solar Coaster Book https://solarcoasterbook.com/ ☀️ Sun Energy Today https://sunenergytoday.com/ --- **ABOUT YOUR HOSTS** **Anna Covert** Founder of Covert Communication | Author of *The Covert Code* | Host of *The Covert Code Podcast* 🌐 Anna Covert https://annacovert.com/ 🌐 Covert Communication https://covertcommunication.com/ 🎙️ The Covert Code Podcast https://thecovertcode.com/ 📘 *The Covert Code* https://www.amazon.com/dp/1955884916 **Alex Herrera** Solar industry executive, entrepreneur, and co-host of *The Solar Coaster*. 🔗 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-herrera-solar/ --- **PRESENTED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY** Sun Energy Today brings together solar news, industry insights, technology, policy, and information for professionals and consumers navigating the rapidly evolving energy market. 🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/ --- Subscribe to **The Solar Coaster** for conversations about solar, storage, energy technology, policy, manufacturing, and the future of the clean-energy industry.

    Why Solar Module Certification Is No Longer Enough | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 53

  8. Aug 26

    The Solar Recycling Problem No One Is Talking About | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 52

    Solar panels can generate clean electricity for decades. But eventually every module reaches the end of its useful life. Then what? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera examine the rapidly developing solar panel recycling industry and a much bigger question: Can America build a solar recycling system that is technically credible, economically viable, and scalable? Using the experience of Solar Panel Recycling (SPR) and comments attributed in the source material to CEO Brett Henderson, we explore what actually happens when panels enter the recycling stream—and why simply saying a panel was "recycled" may not tell the whole story. We discuss: • Why silver can represent an outsized share of a solar cell's recycling value • Why recovering clean glass remains such an important challenge • The difference between shredding modules and separating individual material streams • Why transportation may be one of the biggest obstacles to economical solar recycling • How regional recycling facilities could change the economics • Certification and the debate surrounding R2v3 Appendix G • Why recovery-rate claims require context and transparent testing • The emerging market for used and reusable solar panels • Concerns surrounding overseas exports labeled as "reuse" • Why volume will be critical to building a scalable recycling network • What asset owners should ask before choosing a recycling partner As America's installed solar fleet grows older, recycling is becoming an increasingly important part of the industry's future. The question isn't simply whether we can recycle a solar panel. It's whether we can build an end-of-life system that works from collection and transportation through separation, verification and final markets. **ABOUT THE SOLAR COASTER** The Solar Coaster explores the rapidly changing solar and clean-energy industry—from technology and policy to sales, marketing, economics, regulation, and the forces shaping the future of energy. 🌐 The Solar Coaster https://solarcoaster.com/ 📖 The Solar Coaster Book https://solarcoasterbook.com/ ☀️ Sun Energy Today https://sunenergytoday.com/ --- **ABOUT YOUR HOSTS** **Anna Covert** Founder of Covert Communication | Author of *The Covert Code* | Host of *The Covert Code Podcast* 🌐 Anna Covert https://annacovert.com/ 🌐 Covert Communication https://covertcommunication.com/ 🎙️ The Covert Code Podcast https://thecovertcode.com/ 📘 *The Covert Code* https://www.amazon.com/dp/1955884916 **Alex Herrera** Solar industry executive, entrepreneur, and co-host of *The Solar Coaster*. 🔗 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-herrera-solar/ --- **PRESENTED BY SUN ENERGY TODAY** Sun Energy Today brings together solar news, industry insights, technology, policy, and information for professionals and consumers navigating the rapidly evolving energy market. 🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/ --- Subscribe to **The Solar Coaster** for conversations about solar, storage, energy technology, policy, manufacturing, and the future of the clean-energy industry.

    The Solar Recycling Problem No One Is Talking About | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 52
See All (59)

About

Welcome to The Solarcoaster Podcast — your ultimate guide to navigating the fast-changing solar industry. Each episode delivers actionable insights, industry best practices, and expert strategies to help solar professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders thrive in the renewable energy space. Whether you’re an installer, sales leader, manufacturer, or decision-maker, you’ll learn how to scale your business, optimize lead generation, and stay ahead in an evolving market.

Information