236 episodes

The Clean Power Hour podcast is speeding the clean energy transition. Tim Montague and John Weaver highlight clean energy innovations shaping the next generation of renewable energy sources. We discuss the latest solar PV, battery storage, wind, water, wave, and other low-carbon technologies. We answer the question: How can we decarbonize the economy? We promote the economic opportunity of electrifying everything - transportation, energy, industry, and the built environment. Let's speed up the clean energy transition together. Join the movement - www.CleanPowerHour.com

Clean Power Hour Tim Montague, John Weaver

    • Technology
    • 4.9 • 110 Ratings

The Clean Power Hour podcast is speeding the clean energy transition. Tim Montague and John Weaver highlight clean energy innovations shaping the next generation of renewable energy sources. We discuss the latest solar PV, battery storage, wind, water, wave, and other low-carbon technologies. We answer the question: How can we decarbonize the economy? We promote the economic opportunity of electrifying everything - transportation, energy, industry, and the built environment. Let's speed up the clean energy transition together. Join the movement - www.CleanPowerHour.com

    Wattch: Revolutionizing Solar Monitoring and Asset Management | EP201

    Wattch: Revolutionizing Solar Monitoring and Asset Management | EP201

    In this episode of The Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague interviews Alex Nussey, co-founder and CEO of Wattch, a cutting-edge solar monitoring and asset management platform trusted by top installers, developers, and utilities. Nussey shares the origin story of Wattch, which began as a college project building IV curve testers for a solar car racing team.
    Nussey explains how Wattch differentiates itself as a data-first company by creating precise digital twins of solar assets to model their expected performance. By comparing real-time data against these digital models, Wattch can identify underperformance issues with an impressive 1.5% accuracy, resulting in customers experiencing an average 8% performance improvement within the first three months of using the platform.
    The discussion delves into Wattch's comprehensive suite of services, which includes:
    1. Monitoring: Enabling remote localization, diagnosis, and resolution of performance issues across a fleet in seconds with device-level insights.
    2. Operations & Maintenance: Minimizing truck rolls and guesswork while improving baseline performance by up to 21%.
    3. Asset Management: Tracking, optimizing, and reporting on portfolios quickly and easily with embedded financial metrics.
    4. Customer Engagement: Expanding customer portfolios, engaging new prospects, and elevating brand using performance data.
    Nussey also highlights Wattch's Energy IoT solutions for real-time, bi-directional, secure connections to every energy asset and their turnkey DAS/SCADA Edge Solutions for quick project configuration and commissioning.
    Nussey emphasizes the critical importance of cybersecurity for distributed energy resources and provides insights into Wattch's impressive growth, having expanded to over 1,000 sites across 22 U.S. states in just four years since its founding.
    Key Takeaways:
    1. Wattch's comprehensive suite of services, including monitoring, O&M, asset management, and customer engagement, leverage its innovative "digital twin" approach to solar monitoring.
    2. Insights into the complexities of monitoring diverse equipment across solar, energy storage, EV charging, and other distributed energy assets, and Wattch's Energy IoT and Edge Solutions for addressing these challenges.


    Support the showConnect with Tim
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    The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
    Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

    The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

    • 41 min
    Innovating Solar and Storage: CPS America's Brian Baxter on the Rise of String Inverters | EP200

    Innovating Solar and Storage: CPS America's Brian Baxter on the Rise of String Inverters | EP200

    In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague is joined by Brian Baxter, Director of Sales East at CPS America, to discuss the rapid evolution of the solar and storage industry. As string inverter technologies gain traction in the utility-scale segment, CPS America is at the forefront of this trend with their innovative three-phase string inverters and battery storage products.
    Brian shares his unique background, transitioning from engineering roles at GE to sales leadership at CPS America, providing valuable insights into the industry's technological upheavals and the customer-centric approaches driving the adoption of cutting-edge solutions. He highlights CPS's groundbreaking turnkey PCS Skid for utility energy storage systems, which comes in two standardized configurations: 2MW and 2.4MW. 

    The skid incorporates 10 and 12 units of CPS's 200kW string PCS inverters (CPS ECB200KTL/US-800), respectively, and is compatible with CPS's new 5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (CPS ES-5016KWH-US). This containerized battery solution integrates 12 racks of LFP batteries, offering high energy density for utility applications. It features an advanced liquid cooling system for effective and efficient pack-level thermal management and is packaged into a 20ft container for easy transportation, installation, and O&M.

    Throughout the conversation, Brian emphasizes CPS America's strong focus on customer service, transparent problem-solving, and equipping their team with in-depth technical expertise to better serve their clients.


    Key topics covered in this episode include:
    The increasing viability and advantages of string inverter architectures for large utility-scale solar and storage projects.CPS America's innovative turnkey PCS Skid for utility energy storage systems.The company's commitment to customer service, technical training, and collaborative problem-solving.Strategies for successfully transitioning from technical roles to customer-facing sales positions.The value of transparency and providing in-depth expertise when working through challenges with customers.Social Media Handles
    Brian Baxter
    CPS America
    Support the showConnect with Tim
    Clean Power Hour
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    Tim on Twitter
    Tim on LinkedIn
    Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com
    Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

    The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
    Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

    The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

    • 32 min
    Brownfields to Brightfields - Turning Landfills into Clean Energy Assets with Annika Colston | EP199

    Brownfields to Brightfields - Turning Landfills into Clean Energy Assets with Annika Colston | EP199

    America's thousands of closed landfills represent a massive untapped opportunity to generate clean solar power. These unused brownfield sites, which are often seen as burdens on their local communities, have the potential to be transformed into renewable energy assets that provide a range of benefits. In this episode, Tim Montague explores the possibilities and challenges of developing solar farms on retired landfills with guest Annika Colston, founder and president of AC Power.

    Annika explains that there are over 10,000 closed landfills in the US that could generate up to an estimated 63 GW of solar power if converted to solar farms. However, building solar on landfills involves additional costs and complexities compared to traditional ground-mounted or rooftop installations.

    Despite the obstacles, a growing number of states like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have recognized the opportunity and enacted policies and incentives to spur solar development in landfills. These programs help offset the extra costs associated with landfill solar projects.

    When executed successfully, landfill solar can yield a range of win-wins. The projects generate clean renewable energy, provide a new revenue stream for the landfill owner, reduce ongoing vegetation management costs, and improve underutilized sites that may have been seen as community eyesores.

    The episode concludes with a call to action for local leaders and community members to identify and advocate for solar development on idle landfill sites in their own backyards. As Annika puts it: "We should be telling our communities to go out there and develop them."
    Key Points:
    There are over 10,000 closed US landfills that could be converted to generate 63 GW of solarLandfill solar involves extra costs and complexity but also major opportunitiesSome states have policies/incentives to spur landfill solar development (NY, NJ, IL, PA, VA)Benefits include clean energy, revenues, lower maintenance costs, and community improvementsLocal leaders are urged to pursue solar development on their communities' landfillsSocial Media Handles
    Annika Colston
    AC Power
    Support the showConnect with Tim
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    Tim on Twitter
    Tim on LinkedIn
    Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com
    Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

    The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
    Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

    The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

    • 44 min
    Accelerating Solar Project Development by Streamlining Land Title Processes | EP198

    Accelerating Solar Project Development by Streamlining Land Title Processes | EP198

    In this expert panel webinar, Tim Montague hosts Monroe Jett, CEO and founder of Title Leader, and Mike Koehler, Director of Solar Development at Azimuth Renewables, to discuss how solar developers can accelerate project timelines and boost ROI by modernizing the often overlooked bottleneck of land title search and management. 
    Key discussion points include:
    - How siloed, decentralized title workflows cost developers time and money at critical project junctures
    - The risks of relying on manual title tracking, which leads to errors and duplicated efforts  
    - How Title Leader's software platform automates title ordering, prevents duplicate searches, and provides a centralized database 
    - Real-world examples from Azimuth Renewables on the benefits of transitioning to Title Leader from traditional fragmented title processes
    - The complexities of title search across different counties and states, and how Title Leader partners with national vendors to standardize the process
    - Why title insurance underwriters are eager to work with Title Leader to offload the burdens of title search fulfillment
    The webinar makes a compelling case for solar developers of all sizes to streamline and automate title management via platforms like Title Leader as an essential step to accelerate project development and reduce soft costs in an increasingly competitive industry. With over 2,000 GW of solar projects in U.S. interconnection queues, finding efficiencies is imperative.


    Monroe Jett
    Title Leader
    Mike Koehler
    Azimuth Renewables
    Support the showConnect with Tim
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    Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com
    Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

    The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
    Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

    The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Unlocking the Potential of Solar + Storage with Industry Veteran, Ryan Mayfield | EP197

    Unlocking the Potential of Solar + Storage with Industry Veteran, Ryan Mayfield | EP197

    The solar industry has come a long way since its early days of small off-grid systems. With utility-scale solar farms now measured in the 100s of megawatts, grid penetration rising fast, and batteries no longer a novelty but a necessity, there's a world of knowledge required to be successful in solar + BESS.
    To help make sense of the current solar and storage landscape, we're joined today on the Clean Power Hour by expert Ryan Mayfield, CEO of Mayfield Renewables. With over 20 years of experience spanning solar's evolution from niche to mainstream, Ryan offers invaluable insights on everything from modeling tools to regional trends.

    Ryan has a storied career starting as a solar installer in the late 1990s. He progressed to engineering, training, and now leads Mayfield Renewables providing feasibility studies, design services, and education around complex solar plus storage projects.

    Ryan explains key considerations for behind-the-meter commercial solar plus storage projects aimed at resiliency. This includes understanding budget limitations, identifying critical loads, and the importance of detailed feasibility studies and monitoring.

    When it comes to choosing compatible components, Ryan notes there are still a limited number of manufacturers with proven commercial-scale solutions. He emphasizes the ongoing need for education and training to support the continued growth of solar plus storage.

    The conversation also covers trends in different U.S. states, utility involvement, grid services, EVs as potential distributed storage, and more. Ryan stresses that storage expertise is now mandatory for solar professionals.

    Key Takeaways
    Load monitoring and detailed technical/financial modeling helps optimize system design.The Midwest, Texas and Southwest are growth markets to watch for near-term solar + storage project development and innovation.Regional incentives and utility involvement are driving storage adoption in states like California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Illinois.Understanding the client's goals and critical loads is crucial when designing behind-the-meter solar + storage systems aimed at resiliency.Social Media Handles
    Ryan Mayfield
    Mayfield Renewables
    Support the showConnect with Tim
    Clean Power Hour
    Clean Power Hour on YouTube
    Tim on Twitter
    Tim on LinkedIn
    Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com
    Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

    The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
    Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

    The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

    • 48 min
    C&I SOLAR PPAs Best Practices & Success Stories Webinar w Nick Perugini and Marc Palmer

    C&I SOLAR PPAs Best Practices & Success Stories Webinar w Nick Perugini and Marc Palmer

    Solar PPAs are a popular way to finance commercial solar projects, but the process remains nebulous to many installers and developers. In this illuminating webinar, host Tim Montague gets candid insights from two solar financing experts - Marc Palmer of Conductor Solar and Nick Perugini of Solaris Energy. With decades of combined experience structuring, financing, and closing commercial solar PPAs between investors, developers, and host customers, they shed light on real-world best practices.

    The discussion covers critical considerations at each stage of the PPA process.
    Finding and aligning with the right customer: What makes a customer a good fit for solar PPAs? How to position the value proposition.Project size considerations: Minimum thresholds for economic viability. How different financiers have preferences on project size.Finding the right financing partner: Factors like geography, customer type, experience level that determine fit. Due diligence to ensure partner can execute.Closing the deal: LOIs, timing, agreement on roles and responsibilities.Incorporating battery storage: Emerging best practices on solar + storage PPAs.Whether you're new to C&I PPAs or have battle scars from past deals gone awry, this webinar will equip you with actionable insights to improve your next C&I solar project. You'll leave ready to replicate the success of leading C&I solar developers and make your next PPA not just workable, but profitable.

    Social Media Handles
    Marc Palmer
    Conductor Solar
    Nick Perugini
    Solaris Energy


    Support the showConnect with Tim
    Clean Power Hour
    Clean Power Hour on YouTube
    Tim on Twitter
    Tim on LinkedIn
    Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com
    Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

    The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
    Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

    The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

    • 1 hr 5 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
110 Ratings

110 Ratings

Wayne L. CPS ,

Simplified but great information

I met Tim in our Chint Power Systems Sales summit in InterSolar San Diego. Since then, I started listening his episodes. That keeps me updated of the market status and business opportunities from great guests on the broadcast. I highly recommend it and will fully support his show 👍!

Tim in NYC ,

Best Solar show

This is the best Solar podcast I’ve found and I tried many. I’m new to the industry but there’s a broad range of thoughtful information for newbies to very seasoned Solar pros. Loads of great guests and current news trends.

Sean white ,

Great Show! Love learning from Tim!

I love listening to Tim and the Commercial Solar Guy enlighten the public about what exactly is going on. Listening to them makes them seem like they are my friends and on my level. Some podcasters think they are too important. These guys are real!

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