Book a free consultation with Tim Montague to grow your solar business today!
https://calendly.com/tim-montague/coaching_consulting
Sponsor the show | If you make solar equipment, tools or software, you can reach thousands of energy professionals each week including decision makers, engineers, EPCs, installers, developers and asset owners.
https://www.cleanpower.group/mediakit
Today on the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Andrew Birch, the founder and CEO of OpenSolar, to explore the stark differences between solar markets around the world and what the U.S. can learn from countries like Australia and Europe. With over 20 years of experience in the solar industry, Birchy shares his insights on why Australia has achieved an impressive 33% solar penetration, while the U.S. lags behind at just 5%.
The conversation dives into the key factors driving Australia's success, including streamlined permitting processes, lower costs, and efficient customer adoption. Birchy explains how the U.S. solar market is bogged down by complex regulations, high permitting costs, and lengthy installation timelines, which make solar three times more expensive than in Australia. He also discusses the potential of initiatives like SolarAPP+ to simplify permitting and reduce costs, which could revolutionize the U.S. solar industry.
Birchy also shares his journey with Sungevity, one of the leading U.S. solar companies, and how the company's challenges with financing and policy changes ultimately led to its downfall. He offers valuable advice for solar installers on how to grow sustainable businesses in a challenging market, emphasizing the importance of simplifying processes and advocating for policy changes.
The episode also touches on the role of storage in solar adoption, the future of commercial solar, and the potential for solar to dominate global energy markets by 2035. Birch’s optimism about the future of solar is contagious, and his call to action for the industry to rally around solutions like SolarAPP+ is both inspiring and urgent.
If you're in the solar industry, a policy maker, or simply interested in the future of clean energy, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to learn how we can accelerate solar adoption, reduce costs, and create a more sustainable energy future.
Social Media Handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/birchy/?originalSubdomain=au
https://www.opensolar.com/
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. CPS America has offices in California, New Jersey, and Texas. Learn more at https://www.chintpowersystems.com/
The podcast is available on YouTube and audio platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google and Amazon. Follow us at www.CleanPowerHour.com and on Twitter @tgmontague. Tune in to hear hosts and cleantech professionals Tim Montague and John Weaver (Commercial Solar Guy) bring you the latest solar, wind, and energy storage news. Like, comment, and share!
00:01 - Introduction
04:19 - Andrew Birch’s Solar Journey
06:17 - Australia’s 33% Solar Penetration
09:05 - Why Solar is Cheaper in Australia
10:22 - U.S. Solar Challenges
12:35 - The Role of SolarAPP
18:02 - The Rise and Fall of Sungevity
22:29 - The Future of Solar and Storage
29:09 - Elon Musk and Solar Permitting
33:02 - Open Solar: Simplifying Solar Business
39:10 - Commercial Solar Opportunities
42:27 - The S-Curve of Solar Growth
47:25 - How to Support SolarAPP
50:56 - Closing Thoughts
51:51 - Outro
