In this episode of Clean Power Hour, hosts Tim Montague and John Weaver dive into the latest developments in the solar and storage industry.

Episode Highlights:

• Perovskite Breakthrough: Analysis of Trina's new commercial-sized perovskite solar panel exceeding 800 watts with 26% efficiency, marking a significant advancement in solar panel technology.

Link: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/03/25/chinese-pv-industry-brief-trina-solar-announces-800-w-tandem-solar-module/

• Battery Storage Revolution: Examination of China's six gigawatt-hour battery tender at just $65/kWh, less than half the cost of U.S. installations, signaling dramatic cost reductions in energy storage.

Link: https://www.ess-news.com/2025/03/24/chinas-huadian-announces-winners-in-6-gwh-bess-tender-with-average-bid-at-65-kwh/

• Global Supply Chain: Discussion of how the Myanmar earthquake is disrupting solar wafer production, potentially affecting the global supply chain.

Link: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/04/02/myanmar-earthquake-disrupts-solar-wafer-production-global-supply-chain/

• EV Charging Expansion: Update on Hyundai and Kia vehicles now being able to use Tesla's Supercharger network with adapters.

Link: https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/4406

• Electric Construction Equipment: Introduction of a new 25-ton electric excavator with a 422kWh battery pack, providing 6-8 hours of operation time with significant fuel savings.

Link: https://electrek.co/2025/03/29/sany-electric-excavator-arrives-in-europe-with-massive-422-kwh-battery/

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate 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

Today on the Clean Power Hour recorded at InterSolar in San Diego, host Tim Montague welcomes back Matt Campbell, CEO and founder of Terabase Energy, to discuss the future of automated solar construction. Matt shares Terabase's journey over the past four years developing Terafab, their innovative "in-the-field factory" that semi-automates solar power plant construction.

Matt explains how Terabase is tackling the unique challenges of outdoor autonomy and robotics to achieve 24/7 solar construction capabilities. Unlike traditional automation that happens in controlled indoor environments, Terafab brings robots outdoors to build solar installations faster, with higher quality, and at lower costs. The conversation explores the technical hurdles of implementing robotics in variable field conditions and Terabase's vision for scaling to help the industry reach terawatt-level solar deployment.

The discussion also covers Terabase's broader digital ecosystem, including their construct platform (a digital construction management system currently used on 14 gigawatts of projects), plant predict, and SCADA solutions. Matt shares insights on how these digital tools are creating comprehensive digital twins of solar projects and helping improve quality, safety, and productivity across the industry.

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Terafab's development journey and upcoming 100-megawatt deployment in 2025
• The challenges and solutions for outdoor robotic automation in solar construction
• Different approaches to automating solar construction (off-site prefab, on-site prefab, in-field robots)
• Addressing labor shortages through automation while improving safety and reliability
• Terabase's digital construction management system and its impact on 14 gigawatts of projects
• The path to achieving "penny-a-kWh" solar electricity

Suppose you're interested in the future of renewable energy construction, automation in solar, or how technology is helping to speed the energy transition. In that case, this episode offers valuable insights from one of the industry's most innovative companies.

Social Media Handles

Matt Campbell

Terabase Energy

Support the show

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate 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

Today on the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Costa Nicolau of PanelClaw and John Drummond of CPS America about the critical policy challenges facing the solar industry in 2025. Recorded at InterSolar San Diego, the conversation highlights the existential threat to energy credits that the solar and storage industries depend on.

Costa Nicolau, a long-time SEIA board member, delivers a passionate call to action for industry professionals to become more politically engaged as Congress considers significant budget cuts that could impact the ITC, IRA, and other vital solar incentives. The discussion emphasizes how these policies have successfully built American manufacturing capacity from nearly zero to over 50 gigawatts of solar module production and created thousands of jobs across red, blue, and purple states.

John Drummond provides insights on how CPS America is adapting to policy changes by developing new energy storage solutions, particularly in response to shifts like California's NEM 3.0. Both guests stress that solar offers immediate energy independence benefits that complement longer-term solutions like nuclear power, making it an essential component of American energy strategy.

The episode concludes with breaking news about a House vote signaling potential reconciliation package cuts of $4-4.5 trillion, placing all energy credits at risk. Don't miss this essential conversation about the future of American energy policy and how the solar industry must unite to protect its interests. Listen now to understand what's at stake and how you can help defend the progress we've made.

Social Media Handles

John Drummond
CPS America

Costa Nicolau

PanelClaw

Support the show

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate 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