Solar Farm Beehives with Max Rünzel, CEO HiveTracks

Ryan Warrick, National Sales Manager for Outback Power, where they discussed Outback's history, products, and status. Ryan explained that Outback Power was founded in 2001 and recently acquired by Energy Access Innovations (EAI) in 2024, moving headquarters from Washington to Commerce, Texas. They covered Outback's two main inverter platforms - the FX series (up to 3.6 kilowatts) and Radian/GS series (8 kilowatts), both designed for modular stacking and field service ability. Ryan discussed the Energy Cell 5 lithium battery system, which can be stacked from 15.3 to 122 kilowatt hours, and explained how Outback continues to support legacy equipment with technical support for board replacements. The conversation also touched on the company's history with EnerSys and EG4 partnerships, the transition from lead-acid to lithium-ion batteries, and various specialized applications including marine and European voltage inverters.   Topics Covered Company History Fx Inverters Inverter Platforms Field Serviceability Lithium Batteries Lead-Acid Transition                AC/DC Coupling System Stacking Antarctica Applications European Voltage Three-Phase Power EAI = Energy Access Innovations EAI Acquisition EG4 Partnership Space-Based Solar Data Centers Solar Training   Reach out to Ryan Warrick here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-warrick Website: www.outbackpower.com Email: [email protected] Podcast with James Showalter Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Podcast with Dylan Rup Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean solarsean.com/intro solarsean.com/pvip solarsean.com/pva solarsean.com/pvds solarsean.com/esip solarsean.com/omat solarsean.com/center

Grid Rails founder and CEO Michael Grasso explains how real-time settlement and device-level orchestration can unlock the untapped capacity of distributed energy resources including electric vehicles, home batteries, and solar systems. The discussion covers virtual power plants, the duck curve, bidirectional charging, FERC 2222 requirements, and the financial incentives needed to engage consumers as active grid participants.   Topics Covered Real-Time Settlement Grid Orchestration Duck Curve Bidirectional Charging FERC 2222 Requirements                                                                                                                     Consumer Grid Participation Grid Capacity Utilization Data Center Demand Battery Lifecycle Performance Consumer Privacy Protection DERs = Distributed Energy Resources VPP = Virtual Power Plant   Reach out to Michael Grasso here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpgrasso/ Website: www.gridrails.ai/ Email: [email protected] Podcast with John Berger Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esip

Max Rünzel, CEO and co-founder of HiveTracks, discussing the integration of bees and beekeeping practices in solar farm operations. Max explained how HiveTracks uses beehives as monitoring tools to assess pollinator health and ecosystem resilience on solar farms, with hives capable of foraging up to 10,000 acres and traveling 2-4 miles from their location. The company places two hives as a starting point and collects data through regular visits, pollen analysis, and IoT devices to determine foraging patterns, habitat quality, and potential ecotoxicology issues from PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), microplastics, and pesticides. Max described how they work with local experienced beekeepers rather than providing bees directly, and how they use bee intelligence to identify dearth periods and recommend specific plantings to create year-round foraging resources. The discussion covered practical aspects including hive placement considerations, safety protocols, and the potential for solar-powered monitoring equipment, with Max noting they currently have 12 solar sites and are beginning to produce honey for sale.   Topics Covered Hive Mind Concept (Star Trek reference) Solar Farm Beehives Agrivoltaics Ecosystem Health Hive Health Monitoring Pollinator Habitat Design Pollen Foraging Analysis Bee Foraging Range Manuka Honey Beehive Placement Strategy Queen Bees (Sean is a big Freddie Mercury fan) Bee Breeding & Docility Beekeeper Training Waggle Dance Communication Ecotoxicology Testing Microplastics Contamination Solar Honey Harvest IoT Hive Sensors PV = Photovoltaic PFAS = Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners   Reach out to Max Rünzel here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maxrunzel/ Website: www.hivetracks.com/ Email: [email protected]   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esip

Ravi Mikkelsen of Atmos Financial examines why cash and loan purchases remain vital in residential solar despite the expired tax credit. The discussion covers FEOC equipment pricing gaps, predatory lease buyout structures, dealer fee commissions, and door-to-door sales practices that inflate costs. Mikkelsen advocates for tax credit elimination, pricing transparency, and reaching a $2 per watt national benchmark for residential installations.   Topics Covered Cash vs Financing Solar Tax Credits Lease Buyout Traps Dealer Fee Commissions Door-to-Door Sales Pricing Transparency Atmos Financial $2/Watt Benchmark Tariffs and Equipment Costs International Solar Pricing FEOC = Foreign Entity of Concern                                                                    NEM = Net Energy Metering VPP = Virtual Power Plant TPO = Third-Party Ownership Reach out to Ravi Mikkelsen here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ravimikkelsen Website: www.joinatmos.com Email: [email protected] Previous podcast with Ravi Mikkelsen Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/pvts

Frederick Brooks, founder of Pacific Panel Cleaners in Hawaii, discusses solar photovoltaic operations and maintenance, covering proper panel cleaning methods, deionized cleaning solutions, and common installation errors. He explains his certifications in energy management and auditing, then details how thermal imaging and drone technology identify failed diodes, malfunctioning microinverters, and soiling patterns across solar arrays, improving maintenance efficiency and warranty claims.   Topics Covered Pacific Panel Cleaners Solar Panel Cleaning Deionized Cleaning Solutions O&M Contracts PPA Responsibilities CEM Certification CEA Certification Thermal Imaging Drone Inspections Diode Failure Detection Hawaii Solar Boom Installation Quality Issues Employee Training O&M = Operations and Maintenance PPA = Power Purchase Agreement CEM = Certified Energy Manager CEA = Certified Energy Auditor   Reach out to Frederick Brooks here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fred-brooks Website: www.pacificpanelcleaners.com Email: [email protected]                                                     Podcast with Eric Woodruff CEM Apple Podcast   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esip

Gil Hough, Executive Director of TenneSEIA, discussing the upcoming TenneSEIA Valley Solar Plus Storage Conference scheduled for September 2nd and 3rd in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gil explained that the conference has been moved earlier in the year and will feature Sean as the featured trainer for a full-day training session on Thursday. They discussed the significant growth in solar and energy storage projects in the Tennessee Valley region, including utility-scale projects, local power company initiatives, and residential installations. Gil highlighted the new TVA Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that will be approved in August and its potential impact on the market, as well as the booming energy storage market, particularly with local power companies implementing substation-level storage projects. The conversation covered various industry topics including manufacturing growth in the region, data center development, and quantum technology applications, with a special panel planned on quantum technology and its connection to solar and storage.   Topics Covered TenneSEIA Conference Energy Storage Growth Residential Solar Market TVA Federal Structure Rare Earth Materials Conference Registration Training Track Solar Manufacturing Data Centers Quantum Computing US Competitiveness TVA = Tennessee Valley Authority EPB = Electric Power Board Manufacturing Tours IRP = Integrated Resource Plan Local Power Companies RFP = Request for Proposals   Reach out to Gil Hough here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gilhough/ Website: www.tenneseiasolar.com/ Email: [email protected] Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esipexam

Scott Wharton, CEO of Tandem PV, discusses his company's tandem perovskite silicon solar panel technology, which recently achieved a record 30.4 percent efficiency. He explains how a thin perovskite layer boosts power output, lowers manufacturing costs, and supports domestic production. The conversation also covers utility scale deployment, rising demand from data centers, manufacturing tax credits, and the future of solar energy in the United States.   Topics Covered Tandem PV Origin Perovskite Technology Solar Panel Efficiency Silicon Cell Integration Company Board Members                                                                    Panel Degradation Testing Solar Manufacturing Timeline Utility-Scale Solar Silicon Valley Talent US Manufacturing Tax Credits Data Center Demand Solar Cost Reduction Bifacial Solar Panels Automated Factory Production Future Efficiency Roadmap PV = Photovoltaic IPP = Independent Power Producer SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Podcast with Dick Swanson Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Reach out to Scott Wharton here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scottwharton/ Website: www.tandempv.com/ Email: [email protected]   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esip

Scott Wharton, CEO of Tandem PV, discusses his company's tandem perovskite silicon solar panel technology, which recently achieved a record 30.4 percent efficiency. He explains how a thin perovskite layer boosts power output, lowers manufacturing costs, and supports domestic production. The conversation also covers utility scale deployment, rising demand from data centers, manufacturing tax credits, and the future of solar energy in the United States.   Topics Covered Tandem PV Origin Perovskite Technology Solar Panel Efficiency Silicon Cell Integration Company Board Members                                                                    Panel Degradation Testing Solar Manufacturing Timeline Utility-Scale Solar Silicon Valley Talent US Manufacturing Tax Credits Data Center Demand Solar Cost Reduction Bifacial Solar Panels Automated Factory Production Future Efficiency Roadmap PV = Photovoltaic IPP = Independent Power Producer SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association IRA = Inflation Reduction Act Podcast with Dick Swanson Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Reach out to Scott Wharton here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scottwharton/ Website: www.tandempv.com/ Email: [email protected]   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/esip

Thomas Stubblefield, a NABCEP-certified solar installer who travels across multiple states (Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois) to rescue and repair failing solar systems. Thomas explained that he has handled over 300 service calls in the past year, with 100% resolution rate, helping homeowners whose systems were installed by now-bankrupt companies like Power Home Solar and Pink Energy. He described finding numerous installation issues including improper wiring, squirrel damage covered with electrical tape, and dangerous electrical conditions, with some systems sitting incomplete for up to five years. Thomas emphasized that homeowners should never sign job completion forms until systems are fully operational and producing power, and recommended checking NABCEP certification and local contractor licensing boards when selecting solar installers.   Topics Covered Orphan solar systems Company bankruptcies Job completion form scam Dangerous wiring hazards Homeowner financial ruin Contractor license verification Solar system rescues Yelp review trust Third-party ownership (TPO) Multi-state service coverage Roof damage issues Stolen SolarEdge home runs Unlicensed electrician errors Solar panel shading Design tools (Aurora/PVWatts) Koala Solar Pros branding   Reach out to Thomas Stubblefield here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/koalallc/ Website: www.koalasolarpros.com/ Email: [email protected] Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/pva

Eric Woodruff, a PhD and CEM who served as past president of the Association of Energy Engineers. Eric explained the CEM (Certified Energy Manager) program, which has been around since 1981 and is recognized in 100 countries, serving as a foundational course covering energy management across buildings, industrial systems, and power systems. They discussed technical topics including power factor correction, the California duck curve showing 66% renewable grid power on many days, and the benefits of solar installations, with Eric sharing his experience getting 15% returns on solar investments. The conversation also covered Eric's international work training energy professionals in countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and the Philippines, and his belief that energy efficiency should be non-political and focused on financial benefits for everyone.   Topics Covered Keynote speaker interviews Sailing and pilots                                                    Power factor billing Variable frequency drives Harmonics and filters International energy training Clean energy politics Premier Program Solar investment returns Presidents and politics AEE = Association of Energy Engineers www.aeecenter.org/ CEM = Certified Energy Manager EV = Electric vehicle emissions kVA = Kilovolt-Amps apparent power Reach out to Eric Woodruff here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ericwoodroof/ Association of Energy Engineers: www.aeecenter.org/ Profitable Green Solutions: www.profitablegreensolutions.com/ Email: [email protected]   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/pvipexam