Solar Games: Competition, Education, and Installation Excellence with Rudy Saporite

Bruce Anderson, CEO of 247Solar, explains how concentrated solar power using air and ceramic pellets can deliver reliable electricity around the clock. Unlike photovoltaic systems, 247Solar heats air to 1,000 degrees Celsius, stores that energy in insulated ceramic pellet silos, and uses a modified turbine to generate power at night. The system pairs with daytime solar PV, requires no exotic materials, and eliminates the need for battery backup.   Topics Covered 247Solar www.247solar.com 24 Hours Solar Energy Solar Hot Air 1,800°F/1000°C Air Heat Transfer Solar Thermal  Molten Salt ESS = Energy Storage System< Turbine Mechanics Environmental Safety Ceramic Pellets   Reach out to Bruce Anderson here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bruceanderson Website: www.247solar.com   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/esipexam

Recorded at the NABCEP conference, solar educator Sean White and Rudy Saporite discuss the InterSolar Solar Games, a competitive installation event where certified teams race to complete a 4 kW rooftop system under timed, judged conditions. They also explore solar education strategies, the carbon lifecycle of renewable energy systems, and the importance of safety and code compliance in professional solar installation.   Topics Covered</ br> Solar Nerds</ br> Solar Education Code Trees EV = Electric Vehicle ICE = International Combustion Engines Flat Earth Solar Games InterSolar Rack Learning Curve Battery   Reach out to Rudy Saporite here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-saporite Website: www.ibts.org 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 solarsean.com/pva

Eric Partyka, Director of Business Development at Standard Solar, explains how community solar works and why it matters. The conversation covers how renters, low-income households, and small businesses can subscribe to solar energy without rooftop panels, which states have adopted community solar programs and why others have not, and how utility deregulation shaped today's market. Standard Solar operates commercial projects ranging from one to five megawatts across more than twenty states.   Topics Covered Standard Solar www.standardsolar.com Standard Oil Oil Community Solar Utility DG = Distributed Generation Fossil Fuel   Sean’s trips: Going back to two dimensions Only land owners should vote Trickle down economics Rich people rights   Reach out to Eric Partyka here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/eric-partyka Email: [email protected] Website: www.standardsolar.com   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/pvipexam

Recorded live at the NABCEP 2026 conference, Sean White and Brian Hayden discuss the current state of NABCEP credentials, including updates to the PV Associate, the ESIP (Energy Storage Installation Professional), and the upcoming OMAT (Operation and Maintenance Associate Technician credential. They also cover Spanish language exam availability, the history and growth of HeatSpring as an online renewable energy education platform, and the expanding role of operations and maintenance in the solar industry as installed systems continue to age.   Topics Covered HeatSpring www.heatspring.com NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners www.nabcep.org Sean’s Training Impact JTA = Job Task Analysis PV Associate ESIP = Energy Storage Installation Professional Spanish Exams and AI OMAT = Operations & Maintenance Associate Technician HeatSpring Origin Story BPI = Building Performance Institute Building Performance Online to In Person Training Practice Exam PVCMS = PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist   Reach out to Brian Hayden here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfhayden HeatSpring: www.heatspring.com   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/40hrpv

David Taylor, Solutions Expert at Anker Innovations, discusses the Anker Solix E10, a modular home energy storage system scalable from 6 to 90 kilowatt hours. The conversation covers solar compatibility, smart panel integration, generator pairing, and time-of-use optimization. Taylor also addresses installation options for both DIY homeowners and licensed electricians, portable power stations, and Anker's broader expansion from mobile charging into the residential energy storage market.   Topics Covered Anker Solix www.ankersolix.com Anker Solix E10 Anker Innovations Battery Solar DIY Inverter Off Grid & On Grid EMS = Energy Management System PCS = Power Control System Back Feeding the Grid Ul Listing DC = Direct Current AC = Alternating Current Balcony Solar Plug-in Solar EV = Electric Vehicle EV = Charging PPS = Portable Power Station   Reach out to David Taylor here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/david-taylor Website: www.ankersolix.com   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/esipexam

Gwendoly Espe, Product Manager at Yaskawa Solectria Solar, discusses the technical and commercial advantages of DC-coupled solar-plus-storage systems at utility scale. The conversation covers DC versus AC coupling architecture, energy harvest optimization through clipping recovery, and Yaskawa’s American-manufactured PVS 500 inverter solution. Additional topics include NABCEP-accredited training programs, FEOC compliance, and the growing role of solar storage in powering data centers and supporting grid stability.   Topics Covered Yaskawa Solectria Solar www.solectria.com Inverter Converter DC Coupling AC Coupling Energy Yield DC = Direct Current AC = Alternating Current Utility Scale Solar Utility Grid Microgrid Ercot DER = Distributed Energy Resources AI = Artificial Intelligence ESS = Energy Storage System Data Center Recharge with Solectria FEOC = A Foreign Entity of Concern   Reach out to Gwendoly Espe here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyespe Website: www.solectria.com   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

Dylan Rup, Director of Marketing at EG4 Electronics, discusses the company's acquisition of Outback Power and plans to continue manufacturing its legacy product line. The conversation also covers EG4's current battery pricing at $260 per kilowatt hour, the upcoming XR 60 all-in-one energy storage system, UL 9540A safety certification, and why technical knowledge matters in solar sales.   Topics Covered EG4 www.eg4electronics.com Outback www.outbackpower.com ASES = American Solar Energy Society Solar Marketing Solar Salespeople Inverter Battery ESS = Energy Storage System XR60 UL 9540 UL 9540 A UL Listing Code   Podcast with James Showalter Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Pandora Podbean   Reach out to Dylan Rup here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-a-rup Website: www.eg4electronics.com   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/pvtsexam

Arnold Andrade and Stephan Engel of Engel Electric, a San Antonio-based solar and electrical contracting company, sit down with Sean White at the 2026 NABCEP Conference to discuss microgrid design, energy storage, and hybrid inverter technology. The conversation also covers the rise of DIY solar in Texas and a large-scale off-grid ranch retrofit currently underway, featuring four hybrid inverters and 120 kWh of battery storage.   Topics Covered Engel Electric www.engelelectrictx.com Microgrid Grid Off-Grid Utility Candle Power DIY Solar Inverter Tech Support NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners ASES Conference = American Solar Energy Society Conference Batteries ESS = Energy Storage System Retrofitting Educating Customers   Reach out to Stephan Engel and Arnold Andrade here: Engel Electric: www.engelelectrictx.com   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/pvipexam

Professional engineer and sailor Marc Lopata discusses two decades of solar development across the Caribbean (which includes the Midwest), focusing on off-grid microgrid design for privately owned islands in The Bahamas. Topics include achieving 90% diesel offset, hurricane survivability engineering, utility-scale solar for small island communities, and the economic case for solar in markets independent of tax credits. Marc also covers his role on the NABCEP conference education committee and maintenance standards for commercial PV systems.   Topics Covered Bahamas Sailboat Off-Grid Marc Lopata’s Career Diesel Offsetting Utility Grid Net-Metering Haines Alaska Battery Data Center Distributed Energy Bitcoin NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners NABCEP Conference Solar Builder Magazine Microgrid Boat Solar Hurricane Preventative Maintenance Hurricane Survivabilty ISO 2859   Reach out to Marc Lopata here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marc-lopata-pe   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/pvcmsexam

Recorded at the NABCEP Conference, this episode features a conversation between Sean White and Marlene Brown, a solar energy educator and advocate with over three decades of experience. Topics include the grassroots origins of the photovoltaic industry, early off-grid solar installations, international solar development work in Vietnam and the Solomon Islands, and Marlene's ongoing efforts to increase women's technical participation in the renewable energy sector.   Topics Covered ASES = American Solar Energy Society Breaking Bad Johnny Weiss Colorado Mountain College Solar back in the days DIY Solar Passive Tracker Steve Baer Vietnam Solomon Islands Jeff Spies Off-Grid NABCEP Women in Solar Podcast with Johnny Weiss and Terence Parker Apple podcast YouTube Spotify Podbean   Podcast with Ward Bower Apple podcast YouTube Spotify Podbean   Reach out to Marlene Brown here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marlene-brown-9737307   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/pvipexam