SMP 63:  2020 Solar Predictions and Trends

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy and Li look into the future and define trends in solar energy.  Community Solar Programs will continue to rise in popularity along with energy storage and favorable state level renewable energy legislation.  Benoy and Li conclude the interview with a personal look toward 2020 and how they stay focused and mindful throughout the year.   Benoy Thanjan  Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche. Li Wang Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insights from this episode:   Benefits from the cultural shift of society regarding renewable energy and climate change that is emerging. Defining the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) and a how that is allowing significant development of solar Details on the risks associated with corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and opportunities that will exist in the future for smaller companies. Benefits of incentive programs and how they can help produce more solar energy.  Details on Green Tariff Programs that utility companies offer customers the ability to purchase green energy. Benefits of using bifacial solar modules How tariffs on solar panels impacted the solar market. Benoy and Li speak about mindfulness and mediation to help achieve their resolutions throughout the year. Quotes from the show:   “What we see is that it’s really big companies are taking advantage of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) but we think there will be an opportunity for mid-size and smaller commercial and industrial [companies].” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 On state solar programs and legislature: “There seems to be a focus on incentives to produce more solar energy.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 “With all these states taking leadership in this position [on incentives] it’s going to lift up the entire industry just by mandating certain standards.” – Li Wang, Episode #63 “There’s a lot of incentives in the pipeline to develop solar [energy] and [energy] storage, both stand-alone and together.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 On Green Tariff Programs: “For small and mid-size businesses it could be an opportunity for them [to reach] their renewable energy goals.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 “Politics do matter as far as how the policies reflect the industry, the Trump administration has not been supportive … on their attitudes toward policies that help renewable [energy]. ” – Li Wang, Episode #63 “If you look at state legislation, a lot of states have really been aggressive with passing incentives because the federal government hasn’t passed any new incentives.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 “What I have learned, through meditation, is that you can train your mind to become more present.” – Li Wang, Episode #63   Podcasts Mentioned:  Episode 58: Residential Solar Financing and Other Interesting Topics - with Benoy Thanjan and Nathan Jovanelly Resources Mentioned: The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) Solar Energy Industries Association Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC)   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22   Sponsor: We would like to thank Radiant REIT for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.   RadiantREIT is the first-ever investment trust to bring mortgage REITs to the solar energy market. 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RadiantREIT will remove the stress of financing or refinancing, and allow you to maintain focus on your projects. Let them be your outsourced, structured finance department. Visit www.radiantreit.com to learn more and to submit your expression of interest form today.   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.  This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)