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Clean Power Hour

Clean Power Hour

Di: Tim Montague John Weaver
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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

© 2026 Clean Power Hour Economia Gestione e leadership Leadership Politica e governo
Episodi
  • Can America Compete with China in Solar Manufacturing? | Ryan Kennedy & Finlay Colville #381

    Can America Compete with China in Solar Manufacturing? | Ryan Kennedy & Finlay Colville #381
    Nov 10 2026
    Can America build a competitive solar manufacturing industry, or will China continue to dominate the global solar supply chain?In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Ryan Kennedy, Senior Editor at PV Magazine USA, and Finlay Colville of Terawatt PV Research to examine the state of American solar manufacturing following the Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 in Austin, Texas.The U.S. has nearly 80 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity, but domestic solar cell production capacity stands at approximately 10.6 GW, with another 19 GW under construction. The gap between factory announcements and actual production remains one of the industry's biggest challenges.Ryan and Finlay explain why solar cell manufacturing is critical to building a domestic supply chain, which companies are making meaningful investments, and whether new tariffs will strengthen American manufacturing or simply increase solar costs.The conversation also explores Tesla's ambitious solar manufacturing plans, China's decades-long manufacturing advantage, rising electricity demand from AI data centers, and the next generation of high-efficiency perovskite solar technology.Key HighlightsAmerica's solar manufacturing momentum: The U.S. has reached 100 GW of cumulative solar production, with an industry ambition of reaching 100 GW of annual production capacity by 2035. Who's manufacturing solar in America? Qcells, Canadian Solar, First Solar, Corning, Illuminate USA, T1 Energy, and other manufacturers are investing across different stages of the domestic solar supply chain. Tesla's solar manufacturing ambitions: Tesla has outlined an ambitious 100 GW manufacturing goal, while proposed Texas facilities represent potentially significant investments in domestic ingot, wafer, cell, and module production. Section 232 tariffs and solar prices: Proposed import price floors and tariffs could protect domestic producers from low-cost imports but also increase costs for American module manufacturers that depend on imported solar cells. The cost of solar trade policy: Roth Capital analysis cited during the conversation suggests that solar power purchase agreement prices could increase as developers absorb higher equipment costs. AI data centers are changing electricity demand: After decades of relatively flat growth, annual U.S. electricity demand could rise by 2–4%, creating opportunities for solar, battery storage, and microgrids. Perovskites and the future of solar efficiency: Emerging perovskite-silicon tandem cells could push conversion efficiencies toward 40%, beyond the approximately 29% theoretical limit of single-junction silicon cells. Can America catch China? Finlay argues that building a sustainable U.S. manufacturing industry requires coordinated investment, technical expertise, profitable factories, and strategic use of global supply chains rather than attempting to replicate China's entire manufacturing ecosystem. Connect with Our GuestsRyan Kennedy, Senior Editor, PV Magazine USAPV MagazineFinlay Colville, Terawatt PV Research Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate 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
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    42 min
  • How KUB Saved Customers $4.7 Million With Clean Energy #380

    How KUB Saved Customers $4.7 Million With Clean Energy #380
    Nov 5 2026
    What happens when a utility faces rising electricity demand, growing customer expectations, and pressure to keep power affordable?In 2022, Winter Storm Elliott forced rolling blackouts across the Tennessee Valley. For Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB), the experience reinforced the importance of grid reliability, resilience, and local accountability.In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Erin Gill, Vice President of Communications and External Relations at Knoxville Utilities Board, during the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA) conference in Chattanooga.Erin explains how KUB is responding to rising electricity demand and population growth while investing in solar, battery energy storage, and new approaches to managing the grid.KUB is working toward a portfolio of 400 MW of solar by 2040 and plans to deploy 22 MW of battery storage, primarily at substations. Through TVA's Generation Flexibility program, KUB has also saved customers approximately $4.7 million since January 2025.The conversation explores how municipal utilities can use renewable energy, peak shaving, demand flexibility, and partnerships to improve reliability without placing unnecessary financial pressure on customers.Key HighlightsWinter Storm Elliott and grid resilience: How the 2022 rolling blackouts changed KUB's approach to reliability and reinforced the responsibility of local power companies to their customers.Rising electricity demand: Why AI-driven data centers, population growth, and expanding infrastructure needs are creating new challenges for TVA and its local power companies.Knoxville's growth: How KUB is keeping utility infrastructure ahead of residential and commercial development, including the shift toward multifamily housing.400 MW solar goal: KUB's plan to build a portfolio of 400 MW of solar by 2040, including participation in TVA's Green Invest program.$4.7 million in customer savings: How KUB is using TVA's Generation Flexibility program to source part of its electricity from solar and biomass, reducing costs for customers.22 MW of battery storage: KUB's plans to install modular battery energy storage systems primarily at distribution substations.Peak shaving and grid optimization: How batteries, demand management, and flexible loads can reduce peak electricity demand and make better use of existing infrastructure.Customer affordability: Why Erin believes utilities must pursue innovation and coordination rather than relying solely on expensive infrastructure expansion.The future of public power: How municipal utilities can support the energy transition while keeping customer needs at the center of their decisions.Connect with Erin GillLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-gill-25a43510/Knoxville Utilities Board: https://www.kub.org/Tennessee Valley Authority: https://www.tva.com/American Public Power Association: https://www.publicpower.org/ Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate 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
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    34 min
  • Sodium-Ion Is Coming: The Next Wave of Battery Storage

    Sodium-Ion Is Coming: The Next Wave of Battery Storage
    Nov 3 2026
    Battery storage is moving fast, and the numbers keep getting bigger.In this episode of the Clean Power Hour live, Tim Montague joins John Weaver from Melbourne, Australia, after attending All Energy Australia with CATL. They dig into what Tim learned about sodium-ion batteries, including CATL’s plans to significantly expand sodium battery production and why sodium could complement lithium rather than replace it. From there, Tim and John examine the accelerating global energy storage market, the growing role of microgrids in powering data centers, and how batteries are beginning to change the economics of daytime solar generation.They also discuss Sonnen’s insolvency filing, T1 Energy’s solar cell import waiver, the evolution of vehicle-to-grid technology, silver and copper use in solar manufacturing, and the latest developments in high-efficiency solar modules.Key Highlights• Sodium-ion batteries are getting real. Tim shares what he learned from CATL at All Energy Australia, including plans to grow sodium battery production from roughly 1 GWh this year to between 10 and 40 GWh next year.• Data centers are accelerating microgrid investment. Tim and John discuss how data centers are using combinations of solar, batteries, and generators to achieve “speed to power” while waiting for utility interconnection. [Reuters] • Global battery deployment forecasts are rising fast. John highlights a major upward revision in projected 2026 energy storage deployments, with the forecast reaching 188 GW. [BloombergNEF]• Sonnen files for insolvency. Tim and John discuss the German battery company’s insolvency filing, its ownership history, and what the development could mean for one of the longtime names in residential energy storage. [pv magazine] • T1 Energy receives a Section 232 waiver. The company received permission to import up to 1.7 GW of solar cells to meet existing and expected contracted demand while its domestic cell manufacturing capacity develops. [StockTitan] • Batteries are pushing Australian midday electricity prices higher. John explains why this could actually be positive for solar. Batteries are soaking up cheap daytime electricity and shifting it into higher-value periods, potentially improving the economics for additional daytime solar generation. [Renew Economy] • Could cheaper silver slow solar’s shift toward copper? John examines how changing silver prices affect solar module manufacturing and discusses copper-based conductors and back-contact module designs as manufacturers work to reduce dependence on silver. [Bluesky] • High-efficiency solar modules are reaching the 25% range. John reviews a ranking of commercially available high-efficiency modules and discusses why the relative lack of recent changes could reflect manufacturers focusing more heavily on profitability and existing production lines. [TaiyangNews] • AIKO returns to profitability and pushes back-contact technology forward. Tim and John discuss AIKO Solar’s return to profit and its PERC-to-ABC manufacturing upgrade strategy, which could convert existing production capacity toward higher-efficiency back-contact cells and modules. [PV Tech] This episode makes one trend especially clear: batteries are no longer a side story to solar. They are beginning to influence how projects are designed, how electricity is priced, how microgrids are built, and how solar itself gets deployed. Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate 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
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    54 min
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