Power Players by Origis‪®‬ Origis

Topic: Merging Pathways to Net Zero – Episode 18 of Power Players by Origis®
Moderator: Janice Loppe, Director of Sustainability for Origis Energy 
Guest: Dr. Charles Sims, Director for the Center for Energy, Transportation and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
In Episode 18 of Power Players by Origis®, host Janice Loppe, Director of Sustainability for Origis Energy, discusses the recently released “Valley Pathways Study” with Dr. Charles Sims, Director for the Center for Energy, Transportation and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. 
Three key takeaways:
Consistent with national data, the transportation sector is the largest source of emissions in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) seven state region.Electrifying the transportation sector will get the biggest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Consensus and transparency are the keys to adoption of any new policies, technologies or behaviors. 

Topic: Scaling Big Solar – Episode 17 of Power Players by Origis®
Moderator: Michael Eyman, Managing Director, Origis Services 
Guest: Alex Au, Chief Technology Officer and a co-founder at Nextracker
In Episode 17 of Power Players by Origis®, host Mchael Eyman discusses ways to scale big solar, with Alex Au, Chief Technology Officer and a co-founder at Nextracker. 
Three key takeaways:
Installations that adapt to the terrain through technology, rather than adapting the terrain to the installation, are more efficient. Many of the varied weather patterns around the country can be addressed with both hardware engineering and software learnings. Finding the best solution to the demand curve created by renewable energy creates exciting possibilities for future growth. 

Topic: Right Sizing Solar Risk – Episode 16 of Power Players by Origis®
Moderator: Michael Eyman, Managing Director, Origis Services 
Guest: Jason Kaminsky, co-founder and CEO of kWh Analytics 
In Episode 16 of Power Players by Origis®, host Michael Eyman discusses the history and future trends of risk assessment and allocation for solar assets with Jason Kaminsky, co-founder and CEO of kWh Analytics. 
During their conversation, Kaminsky and Eyman discussed right sizing risk allocation. Three key takeaways: 
Risk for solar assets is being spread to more parties. It’s no longer just origination bankers and developers, but also insurance companies, O&M operators and tax equity buyers. Historically, solar projects have needed protection from physical damage and underperformance, leading to financial losses. New provisions in the IRA create a blending of these risks that have buyers demanding better models for production forecasts. More data on weather risk mitigation and asset production are improving those forecast models and creating an overall more reliable and resilient solar asset.  

Topic: Energy Triangle: Pressure and Possibility – Episode 15 of Power Players by Origis® 
Moderator: Michael Eyman, Managing Director, Origis Services 
Guest: Cristin Lyons, partner and head of ScottMadden’s energy practice 
The energy market faces both new pressure and possibility as the U.S. integrates more renewables into the grid. In Episode 15 of Power Players by Origis®, host Mchael Eyman discusses the pressures on the generation and demand side of the equation with Cristin Lyons, a partner and head of ScottMadden’s energy practice. 
During their conversation, Lyons and Eyman discussed the pressures on generation and transmission during this transition. Three key takeaways: 
It’s no longer enough for utilities to provide reliable and affordable electricity. Customers are increasingly demanding clean energy. Customers have a bigger voice in generation and policy than they historically have. To meet the rapidly increasing demand for electricity, all stakeholders must find ways to work together, meaning current regulatory models may need to change.  

Topic: Trends in Solar O&M: It’s not what you may think.
Moderator: Michael Eyman, Managing Director, Origis Services
Guest: Leila Garcia da Fonseca, Director, Renewables Research for Wood Mackenzie
Wood Mackenzie recently issued a report on the status of Global solar PV operations and maintenance (O&M) service provider dynamics. In Episode 14 of Power Players by Origis®, host Michael Eyman discusses the latest Solar O&M report with Director of Renewables Research, Leila Garcia da Fonseca.
During their conversation, the power players discussed trends from 2022 and how those could play out in the coming year in O&M services for solar plants. There were two trends that were surprising:
1.     Fragmentation of the market, rather than consolidation.
2.     Price of O&M going down, rather than up.

Topic: Supply Chain Woes in an IRA World
Moderator: Michael Eyman, Managing Director, Origis Services 
Guest: Chris Gauldin, Vice President Supply Chain, Origis Energy
A year ago, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act or IRA. Among other things, the IRA offers tax incentives for building solar power plants or renewable energy plants with a high level of domestic content. In Episode 13 of Power Players by Origis®, host Michael Eyman discusses strategies and best practices to ensure the proper domestic content in a project, the benefits to industries beyond solar and renewables and potential barriers to success. 
During their conversation, the power players discussed how the Inflation Reduction Act is affecting the supply chain for solar developers and operators: 
Broke down what the tax credits are in the IRA and how to achieve them for solar projects. Discussed best practices for deciding how and where to source materials for solar projects. Teased out benefits of IRA tax credits that have not been as widely discussed as new construction in renewable energy.