Solar Energy Show

Patti Poppe, PG&E’s CEO, sent a literal love letter to all of her California customers. You can read it here, but allow me to summarize: Dear PG&E Customers: If you conserve electricity we will raise your rates. If you use more electricity your bills will go up. Either way we make more money. And it’s not our fault. With love, Patti I couldn’t make this $#!T up if I tried! California’s energy infrastructure is at a breaking point. Utilities are spending billions on bloated grid upgrades while at the same time lobbying for laws that stop homes and businesses from installing their own solar systems. The results? The highest peak electric rates in the country and record profits for California’s utilities. Enter the Solar Rights Alliance, a grassroots organization fighting back against monopolistic utilities and their political allies. On this week’s show Dave Rosenfeld, Executive Director of SRA, breaks down the lies behind utility-backed policies, reveals the real cause of rising electric rates, and

Part 2 of our podcast with Greg Smith, author of The Battery Powered Home, goes into the intricate details of designing and installing the ideal home battery system. Some of the questions that Greg answers are: * What are the top mistakes homeowners and contractors make? * How can you ensure your system meets building code restrictions? * How can automatic load shedding and generator input capabilities improve the backup performance of your system? One of the most interesting features to me is the capability to connect to external backup power sources, such as a home generator or an EV. This capability provides the potential to partially or completely cut the cord with your utility — Grid Defection, as we say in the business. I think you’ll find that Greg’s wisdom in both Part 1 and Part 2 will help you sort through the battery system design choices offered by contractors. Part 2 of Tips for the Best Home Backup System podcast is at www.energyshow.biz.

Almost every solar system installed in California and Hawaii includes batteries. And for good reason. Daytime electric rates are low, evening rates are extremely high, blackouts are common, and utilities pay almost nothing for excess power you send back to the grid. But it’s not easy to design a battery system that takes into account homeowner power needs throughout the day, specific home wiring requirements, and building code restrictions on battery locations. Ironically, one of the biggest challenges is overcoming battery manufacturer hype that they can always back up your home for as long as you want during a blackout. My guest on this week’s Energy Show is Greg Smith, author of The Battery Powered Home. Because there is so much content to cover we’ve recorded two podcast segments with Greg. This first part focuses on battery system power and energy ratings — coupled with information about your home appliances — that will help homeowners make the right system design choices. Greg also delves into the thr

I have no doubt that we will need more electricity for EVs, building electrification and AI. But across the country — and particularly in California — electricity shortages are being artificially created by utilities as they actively stop competitive sources of power, such as rooftop solar and storage. At the rate our electricity demands are growing we need as much power as we can get from rooftop solar and batteries -- as well as remote utility power plants. However, due to political contributions made by utilities (using our money), California’s government has adopted a utility-only plan for our future power needs. The 40% of California’s electricity capacity historically provided by rooftop solar is almost completely off the table. Tune into this week’s Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz for the real reason California is facing a tremendous shortage of electricity — while at the same time electricity rates are skyrocketing, blackouts are becoming routine, and utilities are achieving record-breaking prof

Demand for solar, storage and electrification is at an all-time high in the U.S. But economic and political uncertainties have clouded up my 2025 crystal ball. Nevertheless, here is what I see going into 2025. 1) No one knows what will happen with IRA tax credits and rebates 2) TPO system demand will increase if residential IRA incentives are reduced. 3) Utilities throughout the U.S. will increasingly exercise their monopoly power to suppress or outright prohibit customer-sited solar and battery systems 4) Electricity demand will increase more slowly than utilities predict 5) Heat pump rebate process was broken even before it started 6) Heat pumps combined with solar will shine in 2025 7) New UL-3741 solar rapid shutdown codes add price pressure to micro-inverter and optimizer component suppliers 8) Battery system shortages will continue in 2025, but newcomers will be hard pressed to meet this demand 9) Battery systems with integrated inverters will become the standard 10) “Grid Defection” will enter the ene

Did you know the 30% solar tax credit that fueled the industry’s explosive growth was partly funded by a sneaky deal allowing fossil fuel exports—raising gas prices in the process? Or that the long-term stability of these credits helped solar leasing and PPAs thrive? But there’s a storm brewing. With a potential Trump administration set to revisit the 2017 tax cuts, IRA incentives might be the first casualties. Imagine an immediate 30% hike in solar costs or the loss of your $8,000 heat pump rebate. For perspective on these potential changes I’ve turned to the smartest person I know about solar tax credit policy: Rhone Resch. As the CEO of SEIA from 2004 to 2016, Rhone led the charge on the first three rounds of tax credits in 2005, 2008 and 2014. Please listen to this week’s Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz for Rhone’s insights into the future of the IRA incentives, differences between the Section 25 residential credits and Section 48 commercial credits, and advice if you’re on the fence about installin

Solar panel costs have declined from $5/watt to $0.25/watt over the last 25 years. Due to the scale and risks involved in solar panel manufacturing, “…making solar panels is a horrible business,” according to Jenny Chase with Bloomberg NEF. And the same result is likely to happen with manufacturing the other key new energy technology: batteries. What’s bad news for solar and battery manufacturers is great news for energy-hungry customers. The core component of a power plant -- regardless of size -- is now a dirt-cheap commodity. Coal, oil and natural gas can’t keep up with PV power cost declines. Even nuclear, geothermal and wind power are challenged because these remotely constructed power plants require outrageously expensive high voltage transmission lines that take over a decade to design and construct. Our guest on this week’s Energy Show is Neal Dikeman with Energy Transition Ventures. It’s almost impossible to contain Neal's enthusiasm about new business opportunities presented by "almost free" sol

Utilities are in business to make money. So it’s no surprise that your electric bills will keep going up. You may not know it, but since 2022 the United States has been energy independent. As a country, we produce more energy (mostly fossil fuels) than we consume. Unfortunately, the benefits of energy independence do not trickle down to homeowners. Fossil fuel companies and utilities keep those profits while consumers keep paying more and more for energy. Unless your name is Jed Clampett, it is not feasible to drill an oil well in your back yard. But you can do the next best thing: put solar panels on your roof and add a battery backup system. One of the key benefits of rooftop solar and storage is that this energy can also go to fuel your EV, as well as heat and cool your house with a heat pump. With a properly designed solar and battery system it’s easy to slash your electric bills in half. This level of electricity cost reduction is termed "partial grid defection." And if you have enough roof space you

Net metering is history (for now) in California and Hawaii. So almost every homeowner needs batteries with their solar system. But businesses need solar too, and therefore batteries. In fact, because of demand charges on most commercial electric bills, businesses benefit from batteries even more than homes. But there are almost no reliable, standardized, ready-for-prime-time commercial battery systems that provide the trifecta of energy savings, backup power and demand charge reduction. There is a gaping hole in the battery market between huge customized utility scale battery systems and small “off the shelf” home battery systems. Go figure! Note that I said “almost.” Fortress Power has a suite of commercial battery storage systems that are ideal for small and medium commercial customers. These systems can time shift energy use, provide solar-connected backup power and reduce peak demand charges. This week, CEO Jing Yu and Sales Director Alex Lepore join us to discuss how they’re filling in the Energy Stor

Think it can’t happen to you? Imagine icicles forming in the shower or condensate water seeping through your ceiling—all thanks to an HVAC system that’s begging for attention. This week, the “House Whisperer” Nate Adams joins us to expose the hidden perils of skipping HVAC maintenance and how a few proactive tweaks can prevent a winter nightmare (and save your bank account from disaster). • Your Furnace: A Ticking Time Bomb? Why ignoring maintenance is like setting yourself up for a frigid breakdown—just when you need heat the most. • Heat Pumps Are Taking Over: Nate and Barry dive into why these super-efficient systems are transforming homes, especially for solar-powered setups. • DIY Maintenance You Can’t Afford to Miss: Learn the easy steps to dodge condensation leaks, clogged filters, and cold-air surprises that make winter miserable. Want to save on HVAC repairs and avoid a frozen shower? Don’t miss this week’s Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz. About The Energy Show Every week Barry hosts The En

The first challenge with a home electrification project is determining the actual costs, savings and incentives for each step in the project. Once that’s done, the second challenge is navigating the maze of different electrification contractors (solar, batteries, EV chargers, HVAC, HPWH, insulation, etc.) Due to the magnitude of potential energy savings, solar and battery contractors are often the first in the door when homeowners consider an electrification project. Balto Energy is delivering a suite of software that will help solar contractors model and prioritize a range of electrification measures. To learn more about Balto Energy and their quest to decarbonize homes across America, please listen up to this week’s Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz as we speak with James Quazi, Founder & CEO of Balto Energy.

Ever wonder how early investors turned a hippy solar energy industry into a $100+ billion worldwide industry? On this week's episode we sit down with Gerard Reid, co-founder of Alexa Capital. Way back in 2005 he was researching PV technologies in Berlin - that’s when he realized that combining the right financing with rapid cost reductions in the solar industry could be the foundation for some terrific investments. And he was right. Fast forward to 2024 and we are seeing even greater worldwide potential for the combination of solar and storage. Now it is pretty obvious that solar and storage will deliver dirt cheap electricity. The challenge now is to seek out the opportunities that are not constrained by incumbent industries or hostile public policies. Please tune into this week's Energy Show at www. energyshow.biz to get Gerard’s insights into the actions that early solar and finance companies took to set them up for such a global success story.

Will the future of energy be driven by massive utility solar farms or millions of local rooftop systems? John Farrell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shares his insights on how utility monopolies are strangling local solar efforts -- especially in California -- where monopoly utilities are locking customers into sky-high rates. The conversation delves into the growing trend of “grid defection” as consumers use their own solar and battery systems to reduce their dependence on utility power. With an appropriately sized solar and battery system -- with a little help from a friendly EV -- it is indeed possible to cut the cord with the utility completely. Locations with lots of sunlight and high electric rates will be the first places where people can cost effectively ditch their local utility. With all due respect to Alice’s Restaurant…could this be the start of a nationwide movement? Please tune into this week’s Energy Show episode at www.energyshow.biz.

Nuclear power will make electricity too cheap to meter,” a prediction made in a 1954 statement from the head of the Atomic Energy Commission. 70 years later I’m predicting that electricity will be almost free, but powered from that fusion generator 93 million miles away. Sounds crazy, but rooftop solar is already generating power for $0.06/kwh — compared to our average rates here in California of $0.45/kwh. As rooftop solar costs continue to decline and grid electricity costs continue to increase, we need to prepare for three traumatic energy industry changes: 1. Gasoline demand will plummet as EVs dominate road transportation. 2. Natural gas demand will decline steadily as heat pumps dominate space heating and solar dominates power generation. 3. The utility business model will collapse as technological changes (solar and batteries) turn the electric grid upside down. Please tune into this week’s Energy Show as we dive into the capital costs, operating costs, ownership arrangements and timing for the four

In the second part of this week’s episode, we dive deeper with Vince Battaglia, CEO of Renova Energy, as he unpacks the aftermath of SunPower’s shocking collapse. First, a quick recap of Part 1: Vince shared the inspiring 18-year evolution of Renova Energy. From thriving in the heat of Coachella Valley to expanding into Arizona, he explained Renova’s smart choices in solar and battery tech and their consistent maintenance approach. Most notably, Renova’s steady, conservative business practices have been key to their sustained success. Now, we pivot to the gripping story of SunPower’s downfall and its ripple effects. Vince details how Renova was impacted and the strategic, customer-first decisions that guided their recovery. His firsthand account sheds light on how they survived the upheaval—reinforcing customer trust, making swift adjustments, and doubling down on reliable business practices. Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion about navigating industry crises and what this means for the future of solar

This podcast episode, Segment 2 of our Enphase interview, delves into Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) and the rise of advanced battery technology, with Enphase at the forefront since 2008. Segment 1, released a few weeks ago, is a good listen — especially for homeowners. Raghu Belur, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Enphase, shares insider details on their success, market position, and IRA incentives. We'll also debate open vs. closed home energy ecosystems and discuss how rapid advances in battery and EV charging tech are outpacing regulations. Explore UL 3741, a new code enhancing solar safety and efficiency, and learn about effective Whole Home Backup system designs. Discover how Enphase is shaping U.S. and California energy policies and what changes are needed to slash costs and boost safety. Catch Segment 2 of our Enphase episode at www.energyshow.biz for the latest from Enphase’s perspective on the future of solar, storage and home energy management.

This podcast episode, Segment 2 of our SolarEdge interview, is for my fellow solar installers who crave the inside scoop on industry TLAs such as IRA, VPP, V2G, PCS and NBT. This is the geeky deeper dive on the latest technologies and policy perspectives from SolarEdge. Segment 1, released a few weeks ago, is a great listen for more of a customer perspective. Today’s podcast, the second SolarEdge segment, is focused on interests and needs for contractors -- both residential and commercial. Issues related to fire safety, maximizing energy harvest, commercial cost reduction and UL 3741 are among the topics we are discussing. And if you work in California, techniques to increase system size for existing NEM2 customers will also be covered. Joining us on these two SolarEdge podcast segments are Bertrand Vandeweile, SolarEdge’s new GM for North America, and John Ahlman, their Chief Marketing Officer. Please tune into this second of two Energy Show podcasts with SolarEdge at www.energyshow.biz.

What happens when your largest solar equipment supplier suddenly files for bankruptcy? And worse, they stop paying you for your ongoing projects? This is the nightmare scenario for solar installers everywhere. As the solar industry faces shifting policies, rising interest rates, and market turbulence, some companies are managing to thrive despite the challenges. One such standout is Renova Energy. In this week’s episode, Vince Battaglia, CEO of Renova Energy, shares the secrets behind the company’s 18-year journey to becoming a leading force in the Coachella Valley and beyond. In this first segment, Vince highlights Renova’s growth and expansion into Arizona, their smart approach to solar and battery installations, and how they’ve tailored their offerings to the unique needs of the desert region. With a focus on extreme heat conditions and local roofing demands, Renova’s conservative business practices and top-tier maintenance services have helped them build a reputation for excellence. Want to know how to

Anyone who pays an electric bill in California knows we’re in the midst of an energy crisis. The stark reality is that this crisis is enabled by politicians who lack the will to do something about it. But unlike many politicians, Sam Liccardo took action to lower electric bills when he was the Mayor of San Jose. Now, as candidate for U.S. Congress, Sam plans to tackle this these energy affordability problems on both a state level and national scale. Please join me on this week’s Energy Show as U.S. Congress candidate Sam Liccardo talks about his work on safer bike lanes, how a heat pump keeps his house cool, and of course affordable energy. Perhaps most important — how his "across the aisle" political philosophy will help him get things done in Washington, DC. Looking for real-world solutions to sky-high energy costs? Then tune into this week’s Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz.

FINALLY, someone who actually understands our crazy-complicated electric bills! His name is Dr. Ahmad Faruqui. I’m delighted to have Ahmad join me on this week’s Energy Show to talk about energy policy -- with a particular focus on why the heck our electric bills keep going up when it’s so inexpensive to generate power with solar and wind. It helps to have a PhD in economics, as Ahmad has from UC Davis. He started his energy policy career at the California Energy Commission, and then went over to the Dark Side at EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute, after which he worked at the Brattle Group on energy consumer policies. So he understands the economic theories as well as the realities of the electric utility industry. New energy technologies, such as rooftop solar and batteries, have disrupted the 120-year old utility industry. Please tune into this week's energy show at www.energyshow.biz for an expert’s view on how these technologies should best be deployed to provide affordable and reliable elect