Soliverse | The Future of Solar

Peter Pongracz

Soliverse is a solar and renewable energy podcast for professionals who want clarity in an industry that keeps shifting under their feet.The energy transition is moving fast, but the real story is not in press releases or policy headlines. It is in how projects get financed, permitted, connected to the grid, and built in the real world. Soliverse focuses on solar, storage, and the broader energy ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on utility scale projects in the EU and the US.Through in depth conversations with developers, operators, investors, engineers, and industry leaders, the podcast explores how successful teams navigate changing regulation, political risk, grid constraints, and volatile capital markets. The goal is simple, to cut through noise and hype and replace it with practical, execution focused insight.Listening to Soliverse will help you:• Understand where solar, storage, grids, and capital are really going• Learn directly from people building and financing real projects• Connect the dots between technology, policy, finance, and execution• Avoid common and costly mistakes by learning from experienced operators• Stay relevant and competitive as the solar industry matures and consolidatesSoliverse is for anyone working in solar and renewables who wants to think more clearly, move faster, and lead with confidence as the energy transition accelerates.

  1. 6d ago ·  Video

    Your Electricity Supplier Knows What You're Watching on TV | Soliverse Ep. 42

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Peter Pongracz sits down with Bradley Mundt, CEO and Co-Founder of PLAN-B NET ZERO AG, to explore why a renewable energy company is building something that looks a lot more like a tech lifestyle brand than a traditional electricity supplier. Bradley breaks down the concept of Neo Energy: the idea that solar industry insights and clean electricity can be packaged the same way Revolut or N26 packaged banking, with full transparency, real-time pricing, and an AI-driven app that knows your household better than you do. He explains how smart meters can read electricity usage so precisely they can identify individual appliances, and why that data layer is central to Plan B Net Zero's strategy. For anyone following battery storage markets or the evolution of the B2C energy sector in Germany, this is a revealing look at how one company is trying to change what customers expect from their energy supplier. The conversation also covers grid resilience and what households and businesses genuinely underestimate about energy security until something goes wrong. Bradley draws on his background as a day trader to explain why emotional discipline and flexibility matter as much in energy markets as they do on a trading desk. He touches on the ongoing geopolitical pressures reshaping European utility scale solar and storage investment, and why the answer to most energy dilemmas comes down to one word: autonomy. Bradley also previews Plan B Net Zero's plans for a Q3 2026 IPO and the company's next moves in the app, digital energy, and cross-industry partnership space. If you are interested in renewable energy podcast conversations that go beyond project finance and grid connection challenges and into the business model of the energy transition itself, this episode is one to bookmark. Connect with Bradley Mundt: LinkedIn Website Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    35 min
  2. How Sand Batteries Are Quietly Solving Industrial Heat Emissions | Soliverse Ep. 41

    Jun 10 ·  Video

    How Sand Batteries Are Quietly Solving Industrial Heat Emissions | Soliverse Ep. 41

    Send us Fan Mail Most discussions around energy storage focus on electricity. But what if the bigger opportunity is heat? In this episode of Soliverse, Peter Pongracz speaks with Tommi Eronen, CEO and Co-Founder of Polar Night Energy, the company behind the world's first commercial sand battery. Tommi shares the story behind the technology, how thermal energy storage works, and why industrial heat remains one of the most overlooked challenges in the global energy transition. The conversation covers thermal storage economics, district heating, industrial decarbonization, project deployment in Finland, and Polar Night Energy's vision for scaling Heat as a Service across Europe. Connect with Tommi Eronen: LinkedIn Polar Night Energy Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    47 min
  3. May 27

    How Robots and AI Are Rebuilding Solar Construction From Scratch | Soliverse Ep. 40

    Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build utility-scale solar at the speed the energy transition actually needs? In this episode of Soliverse | The Future of Solar, Peter Pongracz speaks with Matt Campbell, CEO and Co-Founder at Terabase Energy Inc., about the future of solar construction, AI-driven robotics, energy storage, and the digital systems needed to scale solar from megawatts to gigawatts. Matt explains why traditional solar construction is still largely manual, why the industry needs integrated workflows instead of disconnected tools, and how Terabase is building a platform that connects yield simulation, construction management, data, AI, and robotics into one end-to-end system. The conversation goes deep into the pressure created by data center power demand, grid constraints, battery storage, project scale, and supply chain realities. Matt also shares how Terabase approaches products like PlantPredict, Construct, and Terafab, why physical AI is changing what robots can do on real construction sites, and what it could take to build a gigawatt of solar in less than ten weeks. Connect with Matt Campbell: LinkedIn Terabase Energy Website Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    43 min
  4. Why Simplicity May Be Solar’s Biggest Advantage Right Now ft. Aaron Nichols & Jacob Yang | Soliverse Ep. 39

    May 13

    Why Simplicity May Be Solar’s Biggest Advantage Right Now ft. Aaron Nichols & Jacob Yang | Soliverse Ep. 39

    Send us Fan Mail What if solar’s biggest advantage right now is not more complexity, but simpler communication? In this episode of Soliverse l The Future of Solar Episode 39, host Peter Pongracz is joined by Aaron Nichols, host of This Week In Solar and Marketing and BD Manager at Exact Solar, and Jacob Yang, Founder and CEO of Amp Your Story and clean energy marketer. Together, they explore why solar, storage, and clean energy companies often struggle to communicate clearly, why energy security is becoming a stronger message for homeowners and businesses, how distributed generation and balcony solar are shifting the market, and why clean energy marketing needs to meet people where they are. The conversation also covers data centers, rising electricity bills, utility relationships, community solar, solar conferences, personal branding, storytelling, and why simple, human, specific messaging can help the solar industry build trust and drive action faster. Connect with Aaron Nichols: LinkedIn This Week In Solar on Apple Podcasts This Week In Solar on Spotify Connect with Jacob Yang: LinkedIn Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    1h 1m
  5. Understanding How Regulation, Politics, & Markets Actually Impact Solar and BESS Projects in the EU | Soliverse Ep. 38

    Apr 22

    Understanding How Regulation, Politics, & Markets Actually Impact Solar and BESS Projects in the EU | Soliverse Ep. 38

    Send us Fan Mail Is Europe’s solar market hitting a wall, or entering its next phase? In this episode of Soliverse | The Future of Solar, host Peter Pongracz speaks with Antonio Arruebo Lacleta, Market Analyst at SolarPower Europe and the Battery Storage Europe Platform, about why solar installations are slowing, what negative power prices are telling us, and why battery storage is becoming essential for the future of the energy transition. Antonio explains how curtailment, grid congestion, permitting delays, and weak flexibility markets are starting to drag on solar growth across Europe. He also breaks down why hybrid solar plus storage is quickly becoming the new default, which battery markets are moving fastest, where Europe still lacks manufacturing depth, and what policymakers need to fix to unlock the next wave of deployment. This is a grounded conversation for anyone working in utility scale solar, battery storage, project development, policy, or energy finance. About this episode: Learn more about Battery Storage Europe Explore the Market and Policy Navigator Read the EU Battery Storage Market Review 2025 Read the Mission Solar 2040 report Battery Storage Europe, policy and action plans Connect with Antonio Arruebo Lacleta on LinkedIn Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    55 min
  6. What Happens When Energy Policy Ignores Storage ft. Dr. Radovan Kopecek | Soliverse Ep. 37

    Apr 8

    What Happens When Energy Policy Ignores Storage ft. Dr. Radovan Kopecek | Soliverse Ep. 37

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when energy policy plans the future grid, but leaves storage out of the equation? In this episode of Soliverse | The Future of Solar, host Peter Pongracz sits down with Dr Radovan Kopecek, Co-Founder and Director at ISC Konstanz, to unpack why the next phase of solar depends on battery storage, local manufacturing, and clearer industrial strategy across Europe, the US, India, and China. Dr Kopecek shares a sharp global view on solar manufacturing, hybrid projects, battery economics, European industrial policy, cybersecurity, and why space may become one of the most unexpected frontiers for crystalline silicon. This is a grounded, wide-ranging conversation for anyone working in utility scale solar, energy storage, renewable manufacturing, or the future of the grid. About the guest Dr Radovan Kopecek is Co-Founder and Director at ISC Konstanz, the International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz. His work spans high-efficiency solar cell technology, PV manufacturing strategy, battery-adjacent energy systems thinking, training, and emerging solar applications including space. Guest links ISC Konstanz ISC Konstanz, solar cells for satellites LinkedIn TikTok PV Trainings Important PV events Referenced organizations and events ESA, European Space Agency DLR, German Aerospace Center IEEE PVSC IEEE PVSC, Area 12 Industry Perspective EU PVSEC EU PVSEC Programme, Industry Summit Asian PVSEC Gigawatt PV Tech Conference Taiyang News RCT Solutions Premier Energies Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    1h 4m
  7. Navigating EU vs. US Solar Regulation ft. Benoy Thanjan | Soliverse Ep. 36

    Mar 25

    Navigating EU vs. US Solar Regulation ft. Benoy Thanjan | Soliverse Ep. 36

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to build, finance, and scale solar projects when policy keeps shifting, capital is more cautious, and grid constraints are getting harder to ignore? In this episode of Soliverse | The Future of Solar, host Peter Pongracz sits down with Benoy Thanjan, Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and host of the Solar Maverick Podcast, for a grounded conversation on where the solar market is actually headed across the U.S. and beyond. They unpack the real-world state of solar in 2025 and beyond, from agrivoltaics and floating solar to community solar, storage, project risk, data center demand, recycling, repowering, and the long-term challenge of competing with China. Benoy also shares what developers, investors, and industry leaders need to understand now about energy independence, market messaging, and why creativity remains one of solar’s biggest competitive advantages. If you work in solar, storage, development, project finance, or clean energy investing, this episode gives you a practical look at the forces shaping the next phase of the energy transition. Connect with Benoy Website Solar Maverick Podcast Podcast page LinkedIn Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    50 min
  8. How Top Solar Teams Handle Red Tape | Soliverse Ep. 35

    Mar 11

    How Top Solar Teams Handle Red Tape | Soliverse Ep. 35

    Send us Fan Mail What really slows down utility-scale solar projects, bad engineering, weak execution, or the red tape nobody budgets for early enough?  In this episode of Soliverse, Peter Pongracz sits down with Phil Horwitch, co-founder of AMH Holdings, to unpack how the best solar teams handle permitting delays, stakeholder friction, QA/QC problems, and the hidden communication gaps that quietly derail projects. With more than a decade in utility-scale and distributed generation, Phil shares a grounded operator’s view on what separates teams that keep projects moving from teams that lose months, money, and momentum. Phil explains why realistic timelines matter more than optimistic ones, why local relationships can speed up approvals, and why “buildable” engineering always beats “perfect” engineering on paper. They also get into battery storage trends, the growing need for solar education, and the kind of cross-functional thinking young engineers need if they want to build a long career in renewables. If you work in solar development, EPC, engineering, project delivery, battery storage, or renewable infrastructure, this conversation is packed with practical insight on how successful teams think before the first shovel hits the ground. Guest & Episode Links Phil Horwitch, Co-Founder, AMH Holdings LinkedIn AMH Holdings LinkedIn Support the show Thank you for listening to Soliverse | The Future of Solar, the podcast for people building the future of solar, storage, and renewable infrastructure. Each episode features grounded, unfiltered conversations with the people financing, developing, operating, and scaling real projects across the solar and clean energy ecosystem. Soliverse exists to cut through noise, hype, and disconnected narratives and replace them with clarity, realism, and execution-focused insight for professionals who want to make smarter decisions, faster. 📌 Explore more from Soliverse Explore our partners: PVX.AI, utility-scale solar design software 📲 Follow Soliverse and Peter for more insights and updates: Peter on LinkedIn Soliverse Instagram Soliverse X (Twitter) Subscribe on YouTube 🎙️ New episodes release bi-weekly. Produced by APodcastGeek

    46 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Soliverse is a solar and renewable energy podcast for professionals who want clarity in an industry that keeps shifting under their feet.The energy transition is moving fast, but the real story is not in press releases or policy headlines. It is in how projects get financed, permitted, connected to the grid, and built in the real world. Soliverse focuses on solar, storage, and the broader energy ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on utility scale projects in the EU and the US.Through in depth conversations with developers, operators, investors, engineers, and industry leaders, the podcast explores how successful teams navigate changing regulation, political risk, grid constraints, and volatile capital markets. The goal is simple, to cut through noise and hype and replace it with practical, execution focused insight.Listening to Soliverse will help you:• Understand where solar, storage, grids, and capital are really going• Learn directly from people building and financing real projects• Connect the dots between technology, policy, finance, and execution• Avoid common and costly mistakes by learning from experienced operators• Stay relevant and competitive as the solar industry matures and consolidatesSoliverse is for anyone working in solar and renewables who wants to think more clearly, move faster, and lead with confidence as the energy transition accelerates.

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