Ep. 86 Future-Proofing Housing: Mohamed Gaafar on Solar, Storage & Net Zero

Send a textHow do we make the energy transition accessible, affordable, and scalable for millions of homes?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Mohamed Gaafar, CEO & Founder of Gryd, a company transforming the way new homes access renewable energy.After a career designing large-scale energy and infrastructure projects across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, Mohamed left consultancy to build Gryd—an innovative model that installs solar and battery systems on new-build homes without upfront costs. By shifting energy from a hardware investment to a subscription model, Gryd is making the benefits of renewables accessible for homeowners while helping developers future-proof housing stock.Key Highlights:The Energy Transition Challenge: Why most homeowners can’t afford the £10–15k upfront for renewables—and how Gryd removes this barrier.Gryd’s Innovative Model: Solar + storage provided at zero hardware cost, with a monthly subscription similar to broadband or Netflix.Future-Proofing New Builds: Why putting just 2–4 solar panels on a roof isn’t enough—and how Gryd scales systems up to cover 70–75% of household needs.Learning from Global Experience: Mohamed’s insights from Saudi Arabia and Sudan on designing for extreme climates and building resilient infrastructure.Advice for Developers & Buyers: Why regulations should be seen as a minimum, and how to make better long-term decisions on housing and energy.Entrepreneurial Lessons: From conviction to resilience, Mohamed shares what it takes to leave a stable career and build a mission-driven company.This conversation is essential for developers, policymakers, sustainability leaders, and anyone passionate about the future of housing and energy.#NetZeroHomes #ThriveInConstruction #EnergyInnovation #SolarPower #SustainableHousing #ConstructionPodcast #GrydEnergy #FutureOfHousing #BuiltEnvironment Support the show