The Green Room - Energy Innovation & Renewables Industry Podcast

Greenwood Academy
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Welome to The Green Room!  The Greenwood Academy Podcast is a leading renewable energy podcast spotlighting the people driving Australia’s clean energy transition, hosted by industry veteran Veli Markovic, right here at our HQ in Collingwood Vic. Each episode features in-depth conversations with solar engineers, battery storage experts, electricians, energy consultants, sustainability leaders and industry innovators shaping the future of renewable energy. We unpack solar power, energy storage systems, biogas, electrification, grid technology, compliance, and emerging clean technologies with real-world insight. If you’re searching for a renewable energy podcast that goes beyond headlines and into practical expertise, The Green Room delivers trusted, industry-focused conversations for professionals, students and anyone serious about the future of sustainable energy.

  1. 3d ago

    Commercial Batteries, Coastal Solar & The Reality of Battery Backups - with Mick Klose S2E22

    What really happens when massive consumer demand for home batteries meets the harsh technical realities of the field? In this episode, we sit down with Mick Klose, licensed electrician, solar specialist, and Operations Manager at Hayes Power, to discuss the nitty-gritty of high-end solar installations, home battery storage, and commercial energy management. Operating out of San Remo, Victoria, Mick brings a wealth of direct, on-the-roof and in-the-office experience.  We dive deep into the engineering intricacies of designing solar arrays for high-salt coastal environments, why the industry faces a massive e-waste issue with decommissioning perfectly good solar panels, and how to effectively manage customer expectations when it comes to pricing vs. performance. We also explore the critical role of electrical inspectors in Victoria, why the state's rigorous compliance framework should be standard across Australia, and a highly technical look at tradesmanship—covering everything from proper hydraulic cable crimping sequences to managing commercial peak demand reduction for B2B clients. ⚡ What we cover: ✅ Mick’s journey from a 16-year-old apprentice to managing a team of 23 ✅ Why Haze Power uses fully accredited electricians instead of traditional salespeople ✅ The danger of subcontracting and preserving absolute quality control ✅ Whole-house backup vs. Essential Service dedicated loads ✅ Regulated battery locations: Why you must avoid west-facing walls ✅ Coastal solar engineering: Salt corrosivity ratings, Clenergy black rails, and Phono solar panels ✅ Modularity in modern storage: Fronius, Tesla Powerwall, and Sig Energy ✅ EV integration: Pushing excess PV with Charge HQ ✅ Commercial battery strategy: Peak shaving and demand charge reduction  ✅ Victoria's inspection framework: Building a collaborative relationship with TechSafe and ESV ✅ Trades masterclass: Cable lugging, crimp orientations, and clear heat shrink audits ✅ The dark side of government rebates: Uncovering dangerous switchboard work

    1h 27m

  2. Jun 11

    Electrification, Data Centres & The Future of Energy - with Liz Fletcher S2E21

    What happens when electrification, data centres, renewables and customer behaviour all collide?    In this episode, we sit down with Liz Fletcher , energy consultant and former Flow Power, Transgrid and Energy Power Systems professional, to examine the future of Australia's energy transition.    From early work in wind, coal, lobbying and carbon policy, to corporate PPAs, data centres, energy efficiency, electrification and customer engagement, Liz brings a rare ability to connect the technical, commercial and human sides of the energy industry.    We look into data centres, social licence, grid flexibility, commercial power purchase agreements, carbon accounting, EV adoption, housing efficiency, renewable energy policy, mining, circular economy and why the customer is often the missing piece in energy transition strategy.    What we cover:    ✅ Liz’s pathway into energy and renewables  ✅ Why storytelling matters in technical industries  ✅ Marketing, policy and customer engagement  ✅ Corporate PPAs explained simply  ✅ Flow Power and renewable energy procurement  ✅ Data centres and their impact on the grid  ✅ Social licence and community trust  ✅ Electrification and energy efficiency  ✅ EVs, fuel prices and transport transition  ✅ Mining, recycling and the circular economy  ✅ Why the energy transition needs customers

    1h 15m

  3. Jun 4

    Why Nonlinear Careers Will Shape The Future - with Puja Currer-Ganguli S2E20

    What happens when a chef, food journalist, start up founder, lecturer and energy innovator all become the same person? In this episode, we sit down with Puja Ganguli-Kerr to explore nonlinear careers, innovation, sustainability, energy transition, entrepreneurship and community building. From training as a chef and working in food journalism to building startups, lecturing at Monash University and helping shape innovation ecosystems across APAC, Puja's story is a masterclass in curiosity and impact. ⚡ What we cover: ✅ Nonlinear careers & innovation ✅ Food systems & sustainability ✅ Entrepreneurship & startups ✅ Community building & leadership ✅ Energy transition explained simply ✅ India’s renewable energy growth ✅ Storytelling as a business skill ✅ Innovation ecosystems & APAC ✅ Why diversity of thinking matters ✅ Building businesses with purpose

    1h 37m

  4. May 28

    The Future of Solar Software, AI & Consumer Protection - with Sophie Wright S2E19

    What happens when AI, automation and consumer protection collide in the solar industry?    In this episode, we sit down with Sophie Wright, General Manager of OpenSolar Australia & New Zealand , to explore the future of solar software, battery sales, AI-driven workflows, and the growing risks facing the renewable energy industry.    Sophie now leads one of the industry’s most widely used proposal platforms and she shares a brutally honest perspective on where the solar industry is now and where it is heading.    We dive into AI tools, business burnout, workplace culture, proposal compliance, battery sales, EV charging, OpenSolar, consumer protection, and why bad solar proposals could become one of the industry’s biggest future problems.    ⚡ What we cover:    ✅ AI, automation & solar workflows  ✅ Burnout, productivity & deep focus  ✅ The future of OpenSolar  ✅ Why proposal compliance matters  ✅ Battery sales & consumer protection  ✅ EV charging & electrification  ✅ Working remotely vs real connection  ✅ Managing teams & business growth  ✅ Why admin is crushing solar businesses  ✅ The future of solar software & integrations

    1h 57m

  5. May 21

    AI, Microgrids & The Future of the Grid - with Gokul Sidarth S2E18

    What happens when AI starts controlling the grid? In this episode, we sit down with Gokul,  lecturer in electrical engineering at Swinburne University and researcher at the Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub,  to explore the future of renewable energy, AI-driven electricity systems, microgrids, and autonomous grid control. From growing up in India and breaking TVs to learn how they worked, to researching AI agents that can coordinate batteries, buildings, EVs and energy systems in real time, this conversation goes deep into where the energy industry is actually heading. We cover microgrids, grid-forming inverters, AI orchestration, virtual power plants, EV charging highways, digital twins, data centres, and why the future grid will need to think for itself. ⚡ We also look at: ✅ AI-driven electricity systems ✅ Community microgrids & orchestration ✅ Grid-forming vs grid-following inverters ✅ Digital twins & smart grids ✅ EV charging roads & wireless charging ✅ Data centres & future demand ✅ AI agents coordinating energy systems ✅ Why rooftop solar alone is not enough ✅ Building the autonomous grid of the future If you work in solar, batteries, AI, electrical engineering, or renewable energy, this episode is packed with insights. 👍 If you enjoy content about renewable energy, battery technology, and the engineering shaping our energy future in Australia, make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more conversations like this from Greenwood Academy! #Gokulpodcast #AIenergysystems #microgrids   #wirelessEVcharging #digitaltwingrid #communitybatteriesAustralia #SwinburneUniversity #siemens  #SwinburneEnergyTransitionHub #renewableenergyAustralia #autonomousenergysystems, #powersystemsengineering,

    1h 47m

  6. May 14

    From Car to Solar Sales: Batteries, Heat Pumps & Doing Solar Properly - with Cameron Blair S2E17

    What does it actually take to sell solar systems properly? In this episode, we sit down with Cameron Blair from Solarhart to unpack the real world of residential solar, batteries, heat pumps, commercial solar, and the sales process behind helping customers make the right energy decision. Cameron’s journey starts far away from solar. From growing up in Ferntree Gully, becoming a diesel mechanic, moving into car sales, and then transferring those skills into renewable energy, this conversation is full of practical lessons about trust, process, detail and doing the job properly. We get into why solar sales is not just about throwing panels on a roof, why batteries are being driven by more than just return on investment, and how good salespeople build confidence by understanding what customers actually care about. We also talk about the Solarhart difference, including in-house installers, product testing, Australian-backed warranties, home energy management, hot water, commercial solar, battery storage and the importance of long-term relationships. If you work in solar, batteries, sales, or customer-facing energy solutions, this one is packed with practical insight. ⚡ What we cover: ✅ Cameron’s early days as a diesel mechanic ✅ Moving from car sales into solar ✅ What car sales taught him about people ✅ Why good solar sales is about trust, not pressure ✅ The Dunning Kruger effect in sales ✅ Why customers do not care about technical overload ✅ How to handle objections before they become objections ✅ Solarhart’s approach to product quality and warranty ✅ Residential solar, batteries, heat pumps and commercial systems ✅ Why batteries are about control, independence and blackout protection ✅ Home energy management and understanding real consumption ✅ In-house installation teams and why they matter ✅ Commercial solar, landlords, CFOs and decision makers ✅ Why referrals and long-term customer relationships are everything This is a very human conversation about solar, sales and doing things properly. 👍 If you enjoy content about renewable energy, battery technology, and the engineering shaping our energy future in Australia, make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more conversations like this! And if you want to go deeper beyond opinions and into real skills, knowledge, and career pathways, check out Greenwood Academy, where we train the next generation of professionals shaping Australia’s clean energy transition. Greenwood.Academy

    1h 38m

  7. May 7

    From Mumbai to Microgrids: The Future of Batteries & DC Energy Systems - with Gaurav Gaikwad S2E16

    In this episode, we sit down with Gaurav  Gaikwad from Pixii, an electrical engineer whose journey spans from Mumbai’s competitive hustle to Australia’s cutting-edge battery and microgrid industry.    From early solar projects in India to large-scale PPAs and now advanced battery systems in Australia, this conversation explores how energy systems are evolving , and why batteries are becoming critical infrastructure.    We dive into DC microgrids, community batteries, EV charging, and the real-world challenges of deploying energy systems at scale.    If you work in solar, batteries, or the broader energy space — this episode is packed with insights.    ⚡ What we cover:    ✅ Growing up in Mumbai & the mindset it builds   ✅ Getting into solar (and why timing matters)   ✅ Working on large-scale energy projects in India   ✅ Why batteries are no longer optional   ✅ Community batteries & real-world applications   ✅ Diesel vs solar + battery (and the economics)   ✅ Inside Pixii’s modular battery technology   ✅ EV charging, data centres & future demand   ✅ DC microgrids — the next evolution of energy systems   ✅ Why energy is becoming decentralised infrastructure     This is where the industry is heading Gaurav's insight really paints an extremely promising picture and whether you're an engineer, solar professional, energy investor, or technology enthusiast, this conversation will give you a deeper understanding of where battery storage and the renewable energy industry are heading.

    1h 38m

  8. Apr 30

    The Truth About Batteries, Solar & Energy Standards - with David Minchin (Engineer’s Engineer) S2E15

    What actually powers the future of energy? In this episode, we sit down with David Minchin,  an engineer’s engineer with over 40 years of experience across batteries, solar, telecommunications, and electrical standards,  to understand the reality behind modern energy systems. From early off-grid solar in the 1980s to today’s lithium battery boom, David shares a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on how the industry has evolved… and  where it’s heading next. This conversation goes deep into battery technology, system design, safety standards, and the hidden challenges of scaling renewable energy, with practical insights for installers, engineers, and anyone working in the energy space. We also explore the lesser-known world of Australian Standards, how they’re actually created, and why Australia is quietly leading the world in solar and battery adoption. Plus there are stories from remote power systems, telecom infrastructure, and the early days of solar that most people have never heard before. If you work in solar, batteries, or energy  this is essential listening. ⚡ What we cover: ✅ The evolution of batteries (lead acid → lithium → beyond) ✅ Why battery storage is NOT “set and forget” ✅ The real role of standards  ✅ Solar’s early days  ✅ How Australia became a global leader in energy tech ✅ The truth about battery safety & system design ✅ Flywheels, alternative storage & future tech ✅ Off-grid systems, telecom infrastructure & real-world lessons ✅ Why installers must think differently about batteries vs solar ✅ The future of AI, energy systems & grid interaction 👤 About David Minchin: David has worked across: Battery manufacturing & telecom infrastructure Remote area power systems Australian & international electrical standards Renewable energy & storage systems He’s been directly involved in shaping how modern energy systems are designed, installed, and regulated.

    1h 46m
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About

Welome to The Green Room!  The Greenwood Academy Podcast is a leading renewable energy podcast spotlighting the people driving Australia’s clean energy transition, hosted by industry veteran Veli Markovic, right here at our HQ in Collingwood Vic. Each episode features in-depth conversations with solar engineers, battery storage experts, electricians, energy consultants, sustainability leaders and industry innovators shaping the future of renewable energy. We unpack solar power, energy storage systems, biogas, electrification, grid technology, compliance, and emerging clean technologies with real-world insight. If you’re searching for a renewable energy podcast that goes beyond headlines and into practical expertise, The Green Room delivers trusted, industry-focused conversations for professionals, students and anyone serious about the future of sustainable energy.

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