SMP 57: Solar Power International 2019 Takeaways

Solar Maverick Podcast

Episode Summary

In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy shares what he learned from the Solar Power International conference, including solar trends, other speakers he met, and what the conference will be like in 2020. Benoy talks about other conferences, past and present, he has been involved with and Benoy and Li also touch on how politics affects renewable energy projects, how legislation is affecting the outlook for solar, and how other countries treat renewable energy.

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. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.

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 of attending the Solar Power International conference and how it has changed over the years Benoy has been attending.
• Details on the step-down of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and how that is affecting solar investments.
• Strategies for people who plan to attend the Solar Power International conference to allow them to have a better experience.
• Details on other conferences relating to solar power and renewable energy and the Reneu Energy holiday party.
• Strategies for people interested in investing in the hospitality industry.

Quotes from the show:

• “Don’t let what you can’t control affect you, only focus on what you can control.” – Li Wang, Episode #57
• “When you go to other countries, their energy policy is on a national basis, but in the US (United States) it’s different. It’s actually a state-by-state basis.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
• “One of the reasons I got excited about solar was that it could make the United States energy independent with renewable energy resources.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
• On the outlook for solar: “Yes there’s challenges, but the industry has always been creative and unique to figure out how to be competitive.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
• “The hospitality industry is a very competitive industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
• Benoy’s advice on business investing: “The first thing is about trusting the partners that you’re either working with or investing with.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57

Podcasts Mentioned:

SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham

SMP 44: Community Solar 201 With Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters

Resources Mentioned:

The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Conferences Mentioned:

Reneu Energy Holiday Party

The Reneu Energy Holiday Party will be on Thursday, Dec. 5th from 6pm to 9pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City. We will also be celebrating the holidays and the 50th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast which is one of the most popular podcasts in solar. The cost to attend the event is $10 and food will be served.

Reneu Energy's CEO Benoy is also a co-owner of the event venue, Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse.

Solar Power International Conference

2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar

Mogul X Conference

Opportunity Zone Boot Camp & Pitch Competition - Newark, New Jersey October 17

National Brownfields Conference Coming to Los Angeles, California December 11-13

Sponsor:

We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services.

Infinity Energy Services is a turn key solar development company with the focus on origination of opportunities between Maine and Virginia. They use their ability to structure financing and EPC projects as a value add with their partners. To learn more about Infiniti go to their web-site www.infinitienergyservices.net or contact Tom Loredo- Director of Project Origination 732-370-2446

We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast.

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: [e-mail]

LinkedIn: @bthanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

Li Wang

MJWangMedia.com

Instagram: @liwang22

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This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)