The Future Current

TheFutureCurrent

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In-depth conversations with solar developers and leaders tackling the operational, financial, and strategic challenges of distributed energy projects. Episodes of The Future Current cover asset management, O&M decisions, portfolio scaling, community solar, and real-world solutions from the front lines of America's clean energy transformation. Subscribe for solar industry intelligence.

4D AGO

EP 8 — SolRiver's Steve Maloney & Brandon Conard on Shifting from Passive to Hyperactive Ownership

The killer in distributed solar isn't identifying underperformance, it's the 6-month RMA and parts procurement lag that follows diagnosis. SolRiver Capital's Brandon Conard, Partner and Stephen Maloney, Director of Asset Management have learned that extended downtime signals something deeper than component failure: weak manufacturer relationships and contractor misalignment that cascade into sustained production loss. Brandon and Stephen walk through SolRiver's shift from passive to hyperactive ownership, including weekly camera checks per site, daily availability tracking, and building institutional memory on which specific transformer manufacturers and central inverter models carry serial defects requiring preemptive budget allocation. When acquiring projects, they've also redesigned layouts on almost every single deal. Their acquisition underwriting now factors this system size reduction as standard. Topics discussed: Identifying extended downtime as the primary driver of solar underperformance rather than equipment failures or monitoring gaps Building hyperactive ownership protocols including weekly camera reviews and daily availability tracking Acquiring and redesigning developer layouts that consistently omit construction requirements Evaluating acquisition targets using unlevered lifetime return and cash-on-cash yield while developing site-specific improvement plans Reserving 2-3 acres per site for future battery co-location when technology readiness was uncertain but integration inevitable Developing institutional knowledge on transformer manufacturers and central inverter models with consistent serial defects Navigating ITC phase out through conservative safe harbor approaches while pivoting to DG battery storage as policy shift Balancing investor short-term return pressure with long-term asset value through early system upgrades and proactive inverter replacements

28 min
12/12/2025

EP 7 — Blue Bear Capital's Ernst Sack on Treating Infrastructure Gaps as Temporary Friction Points

Ernst Sack, Partner at Blue Bear Capital, committed his life savings to Blue Bear Capital, betting that AI and software would transform energy infrastructure despite widespread industry dismissal. His investment thesis targets founders who combine intimate industry knowledge with genuine technology innovation, avoiding both Silicon Valley newcomers who underestimate domain complexity and industry veterans who resist novel approaches. Ernst explains why renewable field services represent an underappreciated opportunity following the oil and gas pattern where service companies like Schlumberger achieve higher margins than producers. Once solar gets installed, it must perform reliably for decades, creating demand for sophisticated monitoring and diagnostics. He also shares why superior unit economics will drive renewable adoption regardless of policy shifts, why he sees AI on a steep technology S-curve rather than a hype cycle crash, and how markets currently misprice sustainability factors in discount rates for future cash flows. Topics discussed: Why traditional energy investors dismissed AI and software as irrelevant Silicon Valley technology despite its importance to operations. The investment opportunity in renewable field services modeled on oil and gas economics where service providers achieve superior margins to asset owners. The economics driving renewable adoption beyond policy, centered on free feedstock from wind and solar versus paid fossil fuel inputs. How residential solar adoption reflects sophisticated kitchen table NPV analysis, utility bill protection, and desire for energy independence and resilience. Why performance guarantees and proactive monitoring solve consumer adoption barriers by providing confidence that systems will work as promised. The maturation trajectory of EV adoption, battery storage density improvements, and charging infrastructure buildout despite temporary market lulls, with portfolio companies addressing reliability bottlenecks. How AI parameter growth represents learned relationships rather than just inputs, indicating massive capability improvement. Why viewing AI through technology S curves rather than hype cycles better explains the steep improvement phase despite underwhelming consumer application experiences. The approach to evaluating novel energy technologies by avoiding deep tech bets in favor of capital-light digital solutions. How markets misprice sustainability by treating it as ancillary rather than fundamental to discount rates affecting long-term cash flow valuations. Why battery storage technology cost curves and performance parameters will keep improving, enabling deployment wherever needed at any scale.

31 min
11/11/2025

EP 6 — Ormat's Joseph Mills on Data Center Flexibility Solving Grid Strain

Joseph Mills, Asset Manager for Battery & Solar at Ormat, manages over 2GW of renewable assets across PJM, CAISO, and ERCOT, applying his natural gas trading background to optimize battery storage and solar portfolios in real time. His approach treats renewable energy like an active trading position rather than set-and-forget infrastructure, focusing on revenue stacking through lost opportunity credits, energy arbitrage in 5-minute windows, and solar-plus-storage co-optimization that charges batteries during midday curtailment and discharges during evening ramp hours. The grid must recognize that battery systems function as both generators and loads simultaneously rather than forcing operators to choose one designation. Joseph argues that utilities and ISOs risk losing control to hyperscalers unless they proactively collaborate on load timing, while data centers can reduce grid burden by accepting 99.9% uptime with strategic quarterly outages as GPU chips coordinate to stagger demand peaks. For microgrids, coincidental load timing between facility ramp-up and grid demand windows matters more than technology choices. Topics discussed: Applying market discipline and risk pricing from power and gas trading to real-time renewable asset dispatch and load curve optimization. Why battery storage evolved from grid balancing mechanism to foundational infrastructure enabling renewable integration. Understanding lost opportunity credits as an underweighted revenue stream by calculating energy forgone. Solar plus storage co-optimization strategies that charge batteries during midday curtailment and discharge during evening ramp hours. The gap between developers focusing on energy independence versus asset managers needing resilience, control layers, and software coordination for microgrids. Data center flexibility pathways accepting 99.9% reliability with strategic 7- to 9-hour quarterly outages rather than demanding five nines. Why utilities and ISOs must collaborate with hyperscalers on load forecasting or risk losing control of grid infrastructure to massive consumers dictating terms. Maintaining pre-planned mitigation strategies and pivoting quickly when model assumptions that don't hold under operational conditions. How developers are building projects under 10-15 megawatts to avoid stringent feasibility reports. The transition from price-centric to risk-centric PPAs emphasizing force majeure, permitting, and letters of credit over pure cost metrics. Managing diverse technology portfolios across geothermal, solar, and storage to build resilience. Autonomous EVs functioning as dispatchable batteries and homes with networked appliance-level storage creating distributed energy resources at unprecedented scale.

26 min
10/21/2025

EP 5 — Encore's Chris Clement on Transitioning from Developer to IPP Model

Chris Clement, now CFO & CIO, joined Encore Renewable Energy in 2022 with a mandate to transform the company from developer-EPC into a fully capitalized IPP, and his approach to capital partnerships reveals why some developers succeed in long-term ownership while others struggle. Rather than optimizing purely for cost of capital, Chris prioritized finding partners with genuine alignment — a decision that repeatedly proved essential. Chris and Sean also talk about the operational realities that developers often underestimate when moving into asset ownership. Chris describes building robust data infrastructure connecting project management, accounting, and asset management systems while completely reframing his team's mindset. He explains why every state requires entering with humility despite strong track records elsewhere, how the feedback loop from operating assets back to engineering drives better design decisions, and why transactional efficiency through platform relationships delivers more value than over-engineered capital structures. Topics discussed: The evolution from pure play developer to vertically integrated IPP model and what capabilities each phase along the way requires. Why capital partner alignment beats cost optimization when building IPP platforms. The timing of platform investments during 2020-22 market exuberance and how the IRA passage shifted investment thesis mid-process. Building transactional efficiency through one-stop-shop project finance relationships rather than over-optimizing capital structures. How documentation always remains imperfect regardless of sophistication, making partner selection based on collaborative disposition more critical than contractual minutiae. The technology infrastructure required for IPP operations including integration between project management systems, accounting platforms, and data acquisition systems. Why geographic expansion demands humility about knowledge transferability even with strong track records. The OPEX sensitivity shift required when moving from developer to long-term owner, where operating costs that appear small relative to capex become critical at portfolio scale. M&A consolidation dynamics in distributed generation with acquisition-focused IPPs moving upstream while developer-IPPs move downstream to capture operating asset deal flow. Solar plus storage hybrid systems as essential strategy for post-IRA competitiveness once safe harbor inventory phases out and projects compete without tax credit advantages. Measuring success beyond megawatts by generating political capital through community partnerships and demonstrating essential value to utilities and local stakeholders. The transparency and vulnerability required when transitioning to the IPP model, building trust with capital partners who recognize challenges rather than demanding perfection.

21 min
10/07/2025

EP 4 — McKinstry's Jeff Hughes on EVs as the Catalysts for Battery Storage in Buildings

Jeff Hughes, National Senior Director of Distributed Energy Resources at McKinstry, emphasizes how the Inflation Reduction Act has fundamentally shifted commercial solar toward ownership models, with transferable tax credits making balance sheet ownership more attractive than ever. Complexity has only accelerated across policy, supply chains, and labor markets, creating both challenges and opportunities for property owners. Jeff outlines McKinstry's "slow down to go fast" methodology for portfolio-wide solar deployments. Rather than attempting comprehensive rollouts immediately, successful organizations start with 2-3 pilot sites to master internal dynamics before scaling programmatically. This requires C-suite buy-in and dedicated internal project management teams to navigate complex organizational structures. Topics discussed: The Inflation Reduction Act's transferable tax credits shifting commercial solar toward balance sheet ownership models "Slow down to go fast" methodology involving piloting 2-3 sites before portfolio-wide programmatic deployment strategies Solar-first, battery-caution framework with ground-mount applications showing highest storage integration success rates Portfolio assessment matrix evaluating multi-property sites across 20+ states using utility rate payback calculations Design-build single-point accountability eliminating fragmented vendor relationships and reducing project costs significantly Performance guarantee structures with 24/7 metering, quarterly reconciliation, and financial true-ups for energy shortfalls Utility partnership models sharing operational data across meters for two-way grid coordination strategies CEO/CFO championship essential for financial decisions beyond sustainability team authority

27 min
09/16/2025

EP 3 — Renewable Properties' Richard Gamburg on Why Weather-Adjusted Data is Solar's Most Important Metric

The renewable energy industry's operational challenges are hiding behind impressive installation numbers. Richard Gamburg, Technical Services Manager at Renewable Properties, warns Sean of the maintenance myths that are costing developers hundreds of thousands. Richard also explains why weather-adjusted performance data matters more than uptime guarantees and shares the hard-learned lessons about what makes renewable projects financially sustainable long-term. Richard tells us why single points of failure like transformers represent the greatest risk in solar installations, how community solar creates unprecedented customer visibility alongside operational complexity, and why battery storage is fundamentally changing utility relationships across the country. He also discusses developing specialized maintenance teams across diverse regions, implementing unconventional equipment protection solutions, and navigating the policy landscape that can determine project success or failure. Topics discussed: The balancing act between cost-optimized construction and maintenance-optimized design in renewable solar projects. Why single points of failure like transformers and trans-switchers represent the greatest risk factors in commercial solar installations. The critical importance of weather-adjusted performance data as a meaningful metric for system evaluation. The hidden financial risks of roof-mounted solar systems for commercial properties. Developing specialized maintenance teams across geographically diverse regions, including the "deep bench" strategy. How community solar projects create direct customer relationships that increase visibility but introduce complex billing and customer acquisition challenges. The evolving relationship between utilities and solar developers as battery storage integration becomes increasingly critical for grid stabilization and peak demand management. Unconventional but effective solutions for equipment protection, such as shade structures for inverters. The crucial role of policy teams in navigating state-specific regulations, interconnection requirements, and tax credit optimization strategies for multi-state developers. Specialized requirements for battery storage maintenance, like thermal management strategies and cycling protocols.

25 min
09/02/2025

EP 2 — Shor Power's Adam Shor on The Solar Recapture Risk Investors Miss

Solar tax credits come with a hidden 5-year recapture trap that locks up real estate exit strategies, a problem that Adam Shor, Principal at Shor Power, tells Sean most property owners discover too late. Adam, a 16-year solar finance veteran, reveals why you can't simply sell $1 million in tax credits to Wells Fargo, how the IRA actually runs until the mid-2040s, and the financing structures that preserve flexibility while maximizing returns. Adam built his career on one simple truth: relationships are both invaluable and indispensable in solar. Now he's applying that philosophy to solve the industry's biggest financing bottleneck while navigating a market where supply and demand are "totally out of whack." Topics discussed: Structuring partnership flips to monetize 99% of both tax credits and depreciation for developers seeking maximum outside capital deployment. Utilizing inverted lease structures that capture 99% of tax credits while retaining 51% depreciation ownership for business owners with operating revenue streams. Implementing sale leaseback arrangements as the most capital-efficient approach where banks own assets and lease back to developers while monetizing tax benefits. Leveraging transferability mechanisms to sell tax credits independently while preserving full depreciation ownership for asset holders. Deploying T-flip hybrid structures that create fair market value step-ups through preferred equity partnerships before transferring credits. Managing 5-year tax credit recapture periods that trigger pro rata penalties when transferring majority solar asset ownership. Understanding the IRA's true 20-year timeline extending into mid-2040s based on decarbonization clauses rather than the commonly cited 10-year window. Anticipating technology inflection points as dual junction solar cells approach 33% efficiency representing the "game over" moment for widespread adoption.

27 min
08/19/2025

EP 1 — SolarBank's Richard Lu on Tenant Demands Reshaping Energy Infrastructure

Dr. Richard Lu, President & CEO of SolarBank has overseen the development of over 100 megawatts of commercial solar projects, giving him unique insights into what separates successful renewable energy investments from costly mistakes in commercial real estate — and making him a perfect opening guest for our new podcast, Future Current! Richard has witnessed the transformation from solar being viewed as an encumbrance to becoming essential infrastructure that creates competitive advantages, and shares why Ontario's forecasted electricity rates of 18 cents per kilowatt hour within 10 years make today's 10-cent solar generation a critical hedge against escalating energy costs. He explains how property owners can leverage integrated renewable systems to attract premium tenants while building long-term asset value that compounds over decades. Topics discussed: Why viewing solar as an encumbrance rather than asset conversion represents the biggest barrier to CRE adoption and how successful property owners reframe roof space as revenue-generating infrastructure. The economics driving solar adoption beyond environmental concerns, including grid parity achievement and the 44% cost advantage solar maintains against forecasted utility rates in key markets. How integrated battery storage systems create economic advantages through time-of-use rate optimization while providing grid resilience during outages and managing demand response costs. Operational strategies for scaling renewable energy across large CRE portfolios, including tenant lease considerations, construction coordination, and communication frameworks that maintain business continuity. The property valuation impact of renewable energy systems, particularly how revenue-generating solar installations reduce tenant turnover costs and attract environmentally conscious businesses to previously undesirable locations. Advanced integration approaches combining solar, geothermal, and battery storage to achieve true net zero buildings that eliminate natural gas dependency while creating distinctive market positioning. How tenant demands for lower electricity costs and ESG compliance are reshaping property owner energy infrastructure decisions and creating competitive differentiation opportunities. The evolution of government incentives from necessity-based support to wealth distribution mechanisms as solar achieves grid parity and becomes economically viable without subsidies. Fuel switching strategies that replace natural gas heating systems with electric alternatives powered by on-site renewable generation, including the engineering assessments required for successful implementation. Why energy efficiency improvements through technology integration deliver greater returns than consumption reduction alone, particularly in data centers where 25% of operational costs stem from energy usage.

33 min

8 Episodes

In-depth conversations with solar developers and leaders tackling the operational, financial, and strategic challenges of distributed energy projects. Episodes of The Future Current cover asset management, O&M decisions, portfolio scaling, community solar, and real-world solutions from the front lines of America's clean energy transformation. Subscribe for solar industry intelligence.

Creator

TheFutureCurrent
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

8
Rating

Clean
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