Solar Maverick Podcast

Recent Episodes

1. SMP 283: How Solar and Storage Are Saving Lives in Puerto Rico?

   May 23, 2026

   Benoit Thangen hosts a special post-trip reflection episode with Russell LaPlante, Flavia Cabrill, and Stephen Jordan following their November 2025 delegation to Adjuntas, Puerto Rico with Let's Share the Sun. The group discusses their experience installing solar panels and battery storage for families in need, the personal connections made with beneficiaries, and the broader impact of energy resilience on communities vulnerable to power outages and natural disasters. The conversation explores themes of community impact, authentic human connection, and the importance of hands-on involvement in clean energy initiatives.

2. SMP 280: What Solar Developers Need to Know About the May 15 NERC Compliance Deadline

   May 9, 2026

   Kelly McPherson, Executive Vice President of Compliance and Risk at Radian Generation and board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, discusses the critical May 15, 2026 NERC compliance deadline that will bring solar, wind, and battery storage projects of 20+ megawatts connected at 60 kV and above into mandatory NERC registration and compliance for the first time. The conversation covers the origins of NERC standards, the registration process, the distinction between completing paperwork versus achieving true compliance, inverter settings and equipment challenges, cybersecurity vulnerabilities in renewable assets, and enforcement mechanisms including audits and fines.

3. SMP 279: Using AI-enabled Tools to Accelerate Renewable Energy Development

   May 4, 2026

   Live panel discussion recorded at the MCA Solar and Storage Insight Conference in New Brunswick, New Jersey on April 28, 2026. Hosted by Benoi Thangen (founder/CEO of Renew Energy), the panel explores practical applications of AI across renewable energy development, from permitting intelligence to asset performance optimization. Panelists discuss AI agents for reading zoning ordinances and predicting permitting friction, edge computing for distributed energy resources, and machine learning for detecting silent losses in solar portfolios. The conversation covers real use cases including site selection, O&M optimization, storage coordination, and grid utilization metrics, with audience Q&A revealing that approximately 50% of attendees are actively using AI in their businesses.

4. SMP 277: Energy Storage Explained: From Lithium-Ion to the Future of the Power Grid

   Apr 23, 2026

   Merrick Kubic, a clean tech entrepreneur and energy storage expert with 17 years in the industry, discusses the exponential growth of battery storage technology and its critical role in the energy transition. The episode covers the evolution from ancillary grid services to bulk energy shifting, non-wires alternatives, and the future grid architecture. Kubic explains how lithium-ion batteries now represent 50% of global grid energy storage capacity and explores emerging technologies, market applications, and the economic case for renewable energy systems paired with long-duration storage.

5. SMP 275: Where Cleantech Money Is Going in 2026 (Driven by AI & Data Center Demand)

   Apr 15, 2026

   Benoit Thangen interviews Zainab Jalani (Energy & Power Associate) and Diana Rasner (Group Lead, Materials & Chemicals) from the Clean Tech Group about investment trends and innovation in clean energy following the 2026 Clean Tech Forum North America. The discussion covers where cleantech capital is flowing in 2026, the influence of AI and data center demand on energy infrastructure, shifts in VC strategy toward patient capital and resilient technologies, and the role of corporates in scaling clean energy solutions. Key themes include pragmatism over hype, bipartisan support for nuclear and geothermal, and the imperative for sustainable data center development.

6. SMP 274: From Weeks to Seconds: How AI Is Transforming Solar Diligence with Spark AI and Standard Solar

   Apr 9, 2026

   Julia Wu (CEO) and Anoush Tasdighi from Spark AI discuss their AI-powered workflow platform that reduces solar and storage project diligence from weeks to seconds by analyzing zoning documents, permits, and regulatory data across US jurisdictions. Patrick Chandler from Standard Solar (a Brookfield Renewables subsidiary) shares a case study on how Spark accelerated their project acquisition and construction oversight processes using bulk document analysis and preloaded question sets, while also exploring expansion into data center development.

7. SMP 272: The FEOC Playbook How to Navigate New Rules for Solar and Storage

   Apr 1, 2026

   Dorian Hunt, Partner and Head of Renewables at Leo Barrack, returns to discuss Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) limitations for renewable energy projects and the Investment Tax Credit. The interview covers the three-prong FEOC framework (material assistance, ownership, and effective control), 2026+ material assistance thresholds for solar and battery storage, traceability and vendor certification challenges, and the impact on different developer sizes and investor confidence. Hunt emphasizes the need for additional regulatory clarity on ownership and effective control while discussing practical strategies for navigating these evolving rules.

8. SMP 270: AI-Powered Solar Development: The Rise of the 10x Developer

   Mar 26, 2026

   Nobel Chang, co-founder and CEO of Palladium Energy, discusses Scout IQ, an AI-powered platform that automates Greenfield solar and energy project acquisition and development. Palladium has used Scout IQ to acquire 2.7 gigawatts of projects with a team of just 3 people in the past year, reducing land campaign timelines from 6 weeks to 3 days. Chang explains how AI agents, agentic workflows, and developer intuition embedded in code enable what he calls the "10X Developer" methodology, while also discussing Palladium's expansion into data center development and the future of AI-driven renewable energy development.

9. SMP 269: Inside Europe’s Solar Market: Batteries, Grid Challenges, and the Next Wave of Growth

   Mar 18, 2026

   Peter Pongrats, founder of the Soulverse podcast and solar consulting firm, discusses the European solar market with host Benoit Thangen. Key topics include Europe's 2024 installation decline, grid integration challenges, the critical role of battery storage, permitting complexities across EU member states, and emerging opportunities in module recycling. The conversation contrasts European market dynamics with US and Chinese deployment strategies.

10. SMP 267: Sunvoy: Software Built to Help Solar Installers Scale

    Mar 6, 2026

    Herve Belliett, CEO and co-founder of Sunvoy, discusses his journey from designing Belgium's first solar car to founding and exiting a residential solar company, and now building Sunvoy—a white-label customer portal and fleet management platform built by solar installers for solar installers. The episode covers his experience selling his solar business, the importance of brand and systems in building valuation, and key trends in the residential solar industry including rising utility bills as a primary driver of adoption, the shift away from roof-penetration caulking methods, and growing interest in third-party ownership models.