Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

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Sean White teaches solar and storage classes and seminars around the world and inside your home (online). He is known for helping people get NABCEP certified. This podcast contains an assortment of topics, with an emphasis on solar and storage technical knowledge. Up your game! Catch a photon! Save the planet! Learn more and go to www.solarSEAN.com

  1. 7H AGO

    NABCEP Conference Preview with Shawn O'Brien President and CEO of NABCEP

    Shawn O’Brien, president and CEO of NABCEP, previews the NABCEP 2026 conference in Milwaukee, describing it as a high-training, high-networking event with Irish-themed festivities because St. Patrick’s Day falls during the conference. He outlines the nightly schedule—Monday sports-themed reception after the keynote, Tuesday St. Patrick’s Day dinner with karaoke and an Irish pub after-party, and Wednesday awards night—plus meals, open bar, and extensive networking. The conference is the third largest to date and draws many non-certified attendees seeking up to 24 hours of training across 3.5 days, with 82 total sessions spanning residential through utility-scale work. O’Brien also announces upcoming credential launches and updates, including an Operations & Maintenance Associate Technician and a new PV Associate exam, and highlights the event app and venue details at Milwaukee’s Baird Center connected to the Hilton.   Topics Covered: Irish theme NABCEP Conference NABCEP PV Associate Class St. Patrick’s Day Sports night Milwaukee Brewers Orlando Solar Bears NABCEP Event app Cvent NABCEP Conference night activities Ignite sessions SunCast podcast booth Heatspring podcast booth Trainings OMAT = O&M Maintenance Associate Technician New PVA Exam Party night during conferences Cvent App NABCEP Conference Event ID = UrZbinabcep26   Enroll to Sean White’s PVA Class on the NABCEP CE Conference here: Heatspring: www.heatspring.com/courses/nabcep-pv-associate-training-live-from-the-2026-nabcep-ce-conference   Register to NABCEP CE Conference here: https://web.cvent.com/event/6fb58a2d-8582-490a-beb1-2b1b9dad4e51/summary   Reach out to Shawn O’Brien here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shawnwobrien/ Website: www.nabcep.org   NABCEP CE Conference venue: The Baird Convention Center: www.bairdcenter.com   NABCEP Conference Night happenings Monday: Sports theme Night Tuesday: St. Patrick’s theme Night & Karaoke Night Wednesday: Awards Night   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at: www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/pva

    32 min

  2. 14H AGO

    Sodium-Ion Batteries with Darren Tan CEO of Unigrid

    Darren Tan, CEO of Unigrid Battery, discusses sodium-ion battery technology as a safer, temperature-resilient alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The conversation explores the chemistry differences, safety advantages, manufacturing approach, and emerging applications in residential energy storage, commercial buildings, data centers, and electric vehicles.   Topics Covered: Sodium-ion vs. lithium-ion battery technology Battery safety and fire risk comparisons Temperature performance advantages Material availability and supply chain benefits Manufacturing model and contract production Residential energy storage regulations and building codes Commercial applications Electric vehicle applications and range limitations NMC = Nickel Manganese Cobalt LFP = Lithium Iron Phosphate Sodium-ion safety profiles Thermal runaway and fire suppression protocols Prismatic cell design and specifications Cooling system requirements comparison Cost trajectory and market adoption timeline Virtual power plant concepts UL 9540 certification and compliance testing   Reach out to Darren Tan here: Website: www.unigridbattery.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esipexam

    25 min

  3. 2D AGO

    Intersolar Interconnection with Bill Brooks at The Hub Stage

    At Intersolar San Diego, Sean White and Bill Brooks discussed about the growing U.S. momentum for “plugin” or balcony solar, where small PV systems plug into a home branch circuit. Brooks explains that what happens with excess power depends on the utility meter: old spinning meters may run backward and credit you, some modern meters can charge you for exported power, and others ignore exports unless programmed for net metering, which typically requires an interconnection agreement. They discuss efforts to exempt very small systems from interconnection agreements and permitting, pending proposals for the 2029 NEC to address source connections to branch circuits and potential exemptions around 400 watts, plus the need for robust safety certification such as UL 3700. Brooks also recounts his historical role in net metering, IEEE 1547, and California Rule 21, and predicts tighter integration of solar, storage, EVs, and load control to enable self-consumption without exporting. Bill tells us how Jim Dunlop and Jerry Venture taught him about solar in the 1980s and how Ward Bower was one of the first solar people and is still working daily in the industry.    Topics Covered: Balcony Solar Plug-In Solar Portable Solar Net-Metering Spinning Meter Branch circuit PCS = Power Control System Interconnections IEEE 929 = original IEEE IEEE 1547 Jerry Venture Florida Solar Energy Center Ward Bower Mike Russell Utility pushback soft costs   Reach out to Bill Brooks here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bill-brooks-6782616  Website: www.brooksolar.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at: www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/pvsiprep

    26 min

  4. 5D AGO

    Why Republicans Love Solar and Storage

    A satirical look at how solar energy aligns with conservative values like energy independence, national security, and free-market competition. Sean White reframes renewable energy through a Republican lens, emphasizing self-reliance, lower costs, and freedom from utility monopolies rather than environmental concerns. The message: solar isn't partisan, and there's more common ground than you'd think.   Topics Covered God bless America! Independence Grid is a commie No shared electricity with democrats Not depending on Gavin Newsom’s grid Utilities are the Deep State High voltage wires cause EMFs and mess with you (RFK) Market Competition Property Rights National Security Individual Liberty Lower Electric Bills ROI: It offers a predictable, solid return on investment. Job Creation: The solar industry creates more jobs per unit of energy than fossil fuels. Reduced Inflation: Solar acts as a hedge against rising utility rates. Market Competition: It forces monopoly utilities to compete for customers. Private Sector Innovation: The industry is driven by entrepreneurs, not government bureaucrats. Lower Taxes: More efficient local energy production can lower the municipal tax burden for powering schools and public buildings. Business Overhead: It helps small businesses reduce operating costs, improving margins. Grid Efficiency: Distributed solar reduces the need for expensive transmission line upgrades that ratepayers cover. Fixed Costs: Once installed, the "fuel" (sunlight) is free forever; no price shocks. Land Lease Revenue: Farmers can lease unused land for solar farms, saving the family farm. Reduced Grid Congestion: It produces power right where it's used, saving the system money. Avoided Fuel Costs: It keeps money in the local economy rather than sending it to out-of-state fuel providers, like Saudi Arabia No Foreign Oil: Sunlight is domestic; we don’t have to import it from hostile nations. Military Readiness: Solar allows forward operating bases to function without dangerous fuel supply convoys. Grid Resilience: Distributed solar makes the grid harder for terrorists or hackers to take down in one swoop. Disaster Recovery: Solar + battery systems keep power on during hurricanes and storms. Energy Dominance: Developing superior solar tech keeps the U.S. ahead of China. Decentralization: A decentralized grid is a harder target than a centralized one. Backup Power: It provides security for families during grid failures (like the Texas freeze). Strategic Reserves: Using solar allows us to save oil and gas reserves for tactical military needs. No Embargoes: You can’t embargo the sun. No OPEC Energy Freedom: The right to generate your own power is a fundamental property right. Off-Grid Living: It enables the ultimate libertarian dream of living disconnected from the system. Anti-Monopoly: It breaks the stranglehold of state-sanctioned utility monopolies. Choice: It gives consumers a choice other than the single utility provider. Self-Reliance: It encourages personal responsibility for one’s own needs. Protection From Bureaucracy: You are less beholden to utility commission decisions. No Eminent Domain: Rooftop solar doesn't require seizing private land for pipelines. Privacy: Generating your own power reduces the data utilities collect on your usage habits. Voluntary Association: Community solar allows people to voluntarily pool resources without government mandates. How about a Republican-only solar cooperative, no blue electrons Individualism: My roof, my power, my rules. Avoiding Rationing: Self-generation protects you from government-imposed rolling blackouts. (electrical bread line) Stewardship: It aligns with the biblical mandate to be good stewards of the Earth. Clean Air: It reduces smog and pollution, which is pro-life and pro-health. Countering the Left: Embracing solar takes the issue away from Democrats. Electric Fencing: Essential for ranchers managing livestock. Water Pumping: Solar well pumps are a lifeline for cattle ranchers. Silent Operation: Great for hunting cabins and retreats. (Sneak up on that deer meal) Preppers: The ultimate survivalist energy source. Libertarians: Decentralized and anti-state monopoly. Fiscal Hawks: Lowest cost of energy in many markets. Tech Conservatives: Represent innovation and modernization. (Winning the AI war) Legacy: Leaving a self-sufficient home to your children. Competition with China: We shouldn't let them own the future of energy. Freedom: Ultimately, it gives you the power to tell the power company to shove it.   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

    12 min

  5. 5D AGO

    Turning Silicon Into Gold with Dick Swanson

    SunPower co-founder Dick Swanson discusses his pioneering work developing Interdigitated Back Contact solar cells at Stanford and the industry's evolution from the 1973 energy crisis to today's cost-competitive technology. Topics include Bell Labs' accidental solar cell discovery, the learning curve predicting cost declines, critical partnerships with Cypress Semiconductor, major technical pivots from concentrating to flat-plate systems, and the fortuitous circumstances that transformed solar energy into the world's cheapest electricity source.   Topics Covered NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar ASES = American Solar Energy Society Gerald Pearson History of Solar Discovery of Solar Bell Labs John Perlin Selenium Solar Cell EPRI = Electric Power Research Institute Utility SunPower www.sunpower.com TPV = Thermal Photovoltaic Stanford Silicon Cell Semiconductor Dick Schwartz Thin Film Wafer Silicon Solar Cell IBC Cell = Interdigitated Back Contact Cell Germanium PVT = Photovoltaic Thermal Stirling Engine Concentrating PV System Swanson’s Law Learning Curve Elon Musk Cypress Semiconductor Sharp Silicon Valley James Gibbons Semiconductor Electronics Book Jeff Spies Solar Roots Hippies Grateful Dead Sailboat Tom Wylie   Reach out to Dick Swanson here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dick-swanson Website: www.sunpower.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean solarsean.com/pvdsexam

    1h 30m

  6. MAR 6

    6.4 kW Plug-In Solar with Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt of Gismo Power

    Erika of Gismo Power discusses their innovative plug-in solar system that challenges traditional solar installations. The conversation covers the regulatory barriers facing plug-in solar technology, her company's groundbreaking deployment on the Lakota Nation, Pine Ridge Reservation, and the future of democratized renewable energy generation in America.   Topics Covered: Plug-in solar technology and mobile electricity generating appliances (MEGA) Regulatory challenges and codes & standards development Plugin solar vs. balcony solar systems Grid interconnection and utility monopolies Home Power Magazine Back feeding NFPA = National Fire Protection Association Pine Ridge Reservation renewable energy deployment VPP = Virtual Power Plants Grid-forming inverters Solar adoption in coal states Plug-in solar legislation in Utah Net metering and energy storage economics EV charging integration Vehicle-to-grid (V2X) technology Solar system costs and residential applications   Reach out to Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt here: Email: erika@gismopower.com Website: www.gismopower.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/sfev

    35 min

  7. MAR 4

    Solar + Storage: Powering Data Centers with ZEO Energy CEO Tim Bridgewater

    At Intersolar San Diego, Sean talks with Tim Bridgewater, CEO of ZEO Energy, about the company’s shift from 100% residential solar into behind-the-meter solar-and-storage solutions for large loads like data centers. Bridgewater shares ZEO Energy’s growth path (including acquiring Synergy Solar and Heliogen and going public in March 2024) and announces an MOU for a 280 MW solar farm with energy storage in central Utah to power a data center. They discuss surging U.S. data center demand, why on-site solar plus storage can be built faster than gas or nuclear, the industry move toward 800V DC power systems, and current tax-credit timelines and incentives affecting residential solar, large-scale projects, and standalone storage.    Topics covered:  ZEO = Greek word “Zeal” means energy  Synergy Solar  280-megawatt facility = large solar farm with data storage  Behind the meter power solutions  NEC Article 691  Chip Technology  800 volts DC  Tax Credit  NVIDIA  Data centers  Permitting process  Nasdaq  Heliogen  Inflation Reduction Act  Energy Communities    Reach out with Tim Bridgewater here:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-a-bridgewater-347b062/   Website: https://zeoenergy.com/     Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at:  www.heatspring.com/sean   www.solarsean.com/ess

    22 min

  8. MAR 2

    Pre-Milwaukee Nabcep Conference with Andrew Holmstrom of Arch Solar

    Explore the real-world transformation of America's energy landscape through candid conversations with solar industry insiders like Andrew Holmstrom of Arch Solar. From innovative vertical installations and Wisconsin's unique capacity credits to deep-fried cheese curds and maple syrup experiments, discover how rising electricity costs, AI-driven data center demands, and grid modernization are making renewables more competitive than ever. Get unfiltered perspectives on net metering policies, battery storage economics, and the practical realities of the clean energy revolution—complete with dad jokes and unexpected tangents about supply-side connections to maple trees.   Topics Covered: NABCEP Conference Lake Michigan = the 3rd Coast PV Associate Class NABCEP Milwaukee’s Party Theme St. Patrick’s Day at Milwaukee Beer breweries Cheese curds Solar in Milwaukee and Wisconsin .77 Factor Co-generation customer use Capacity credit Avoided capacity cost rate PV Walls PV Cladding Mitrex Canada Glass  Rates (commercial and residential) Maple syrup Tree activist   Reach out to Andrew Holmstorm on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-holmstrom   Website: www.archsolar.com Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at: www.heatspring.com/sean  www.solarsean.com/10hress

    34 min
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4.8
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About

Sean White teaches solar and storage classes and seminars around the world and inside your home (online). He is known for helping people get NABCEP certified. This podcast contains an assortment of topics, with an emphasis on solar and storage technical knowledge. Up your game! Catch a photon! Save the planet! Learn more and go to www.solarSEAN.com

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