Energy Independence Through Solar and Microgrids with Stephan Engel and Arnold Andrade

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 Rupp, 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   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  

Turning lemons into lemonade after a plane full of solar professionals was diverted to Chicago due to a blizzard, Travis and Sean podcasted the entire Lyft ride to the NABCEP conference in Milwaukee. Montana Solar founder Travis Jordan breaks down the company's patented high-clearance ground-mount racking system. Topics include the chain-hoist lifting mechanism, agrivoltaic applications, installation methods across remote and extreme terrain, and a lifelong background in off-grid solar dating back to the 1970s.   Topics Covered Montana Solar www.mtsolar.us Montana Evel Knievel Robbie Knievel Chain-Hoist Lifting System Off-Grid Solar Racking Agrivoltaics Montana Solar Racking DPW Solar Pile Driving Battery Africa Seasonal Tilt Change Alaska Cattle Voltaic   Reach out to Travis Jordan here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mtsolar Montana Solar: www.mtsolar.us   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  

Bruce Anderson, CEO of 247 Solar, details his company's concentrated solar technology that delivers round-the-clock clean electricity without combustion or emissions. The system uses heliostats to heat air to 1,800°F, stores that thermal energy in ceramic pellets, and converts it to electricity via a modified turbine. Paired with solar PV during daylight hours, the solution addresses intermittency at a commercial scale, with the first deployment underway in India.   Topics Covered 247 Solar www.247solar.com 24 Hours Solar Energy 1,800°F / 1000°C Air Solar Thermal Air Pressure Compressed Air ESS = Energy Storage System Natural Gas Fossil Fuel Molten Sault   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

Jason Sharp, CEO of Namaste Solar, discusses the company's worker-owned cooperative model, where employees hold equal ownership and elect the board of directors. The conversation covers solar installation practices in Colorado, electrical apprenticeship programs, the evolving role of energy management systems and meter collars, distributed energy policy, and the future of bidirectional EV charging and balcony solar. Sharp also addresses how cooperative ownership fosters safety, accountability, and fair compensation across the solar industry.   Topics Covered Namaste Solar www.namastesolar.com Worker-owned Company Flashing Snow Tax Credit Snowy Roof Installation Safety Home Power Magazine Jason Sharpe’s Background EV = Electric Vehicle EV Charger Solar Universe NABCEP = North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Apprenticeship Program IEC = Independent Electrical Contractors Electrical License IBEW = International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Prevailing Wage Amicus Solar Cooperative Business ESOP = Employee Stock Ownership Plan ASES = American Solar Energy Society Evolution of the Industry Bidirectional EV Politics Oil and Gas Utility ESS = Energy Storage System Grid California Fire Off Grid Market Fossil Fuel Distributed Energy Demand Charge Peak Demand Code Evolution EMS = Energy Management System PMS = Power Management System PCS = Power Control System UL 916 UL 3141 Meter Collar Balcony Solar Plugin Solar COSSA = Colorado Solar and Storage Association Why Republicans Love Solar Podcast Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Podbean Podcast with Riley Neugebauer Apple Podcast YouTube Spotify Podbean   Reach out to Jason Sharpe here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-sharpe Namaste Solar: www.namastesolar.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

From Intersolar San Diego, this conference-end wrap-up takes a tour through the world's solar and energy conferences — from SNEC in Shanghai to ASES in Austin, Texas. Learn which events are worth your time, how the solar industry has shifted from Germany to China, and why building a global network matter. Whether you're chasing NABCEP credits or your first industry connection, conferences might be the most underrated career move in solar.   Topics Covered: Intersolar San Diego Intersolar Munich, Germany SNEC PV Power and ES Expo ASES Conference in Texas NorCal Solar Party German Feed-in-Tariff Hans-Josef Fell RE+ Las Vegas RE+ North California Intersolar Middle East Intersolar India Intersolar Bangalore COP = Conference of Parties OSSIA = Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association CALSSA = California Solar and Storage Association TenneSEIA Gil Hough   Hans-Josef Fell podcast: https://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hans-josef-fell-started-the-feed-in-tariff-the/id1441958371?i=1000715753971    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/pvace 

Sungrow's Power Stack 2.0 represents a shift in commercial and industrial energy storage, from backup power to a scalable, revenue-generating financial asset. This episode explores the system's specifications, deployment flexibility, and real-world applications including demand charge reduction, EV charging support, and grid resilience. Topics also include market trends across key U.S. states, the investment tax credit, and the emerging role of grid-forming inverters.   Topics Covered Sungrow www.sungrowpower.com Inverter Battery Storage ESS = Energy Storage System SLAC = Stanford Linear Accelerator Center C&I = Commercial and Industrial Grid Market Sungrow PowerStack Sungrow Power Titan EV = Electric Vehicle Incentives Solar Tax Credits UL 9540 UL 9540A Utility Scale ESS Liquid Cooling Demand Charge Grid Forming Inverter   Reach out to Kane Kuharik here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kane-kuharik Sungrow: www.sungrowpower.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