Sacred Power Corp. (98)
What’s the most important business lesson you’ve learned since you’ve been in the industry?
You have to persevere. As tax credits came and went in the 1980s, as solar went through a boom and bust in the same time frame, I learned to stay focused on what I believed in: Solar will be the next energy resource to power our planet. As such, being able to ramp up production when the business climate is favorable, as well as stabilizing, maintaining and being resourceful during slow periods of growth, is absolutely critical to surviving in this industry long term.
Where do you see the solar industry in five years?
My favorite analogy to describe where I see solar in the next five years is the parallel to how the communication industry evolved. We went from telephone lines to cell phones and because of the progression of battery technology, the cell phones have become less bulky yet with even more capabilities.
The PV industry is headed down the same path; as battery technology becomes better with more electric cars and other battery operated equipment, electric power will no longer be needed to be provided by utility lines, but by standalone solar power supplies located at each and every house.
ESA Renewables (25)
What’s the thing you enjoy most about being in the solar industry?
The solar industry provides the opportunity to do business worldwide. I enjoy interacting with a diverse variety of people and entities (governments, utilities, banks, investors, engineers, installers), creating business value, and positively contributing to environmental sustainability.
What’s the most important piece of technical advice would you offer your peers?
You must strictly follow and comply with the specific bankability requirements of every region to achieve success.
What’s the most important business lesson you’ve learned since you’ve been in the industry?
Be cautious of unstable regulations that may be reconsidered and modified.
Where do you see the solar industry in five years?
I expect the industry to reach grid parity in five years, becoming subsidy-free and self-profitable.
Strata Solar (30)
Where do you see the solar industry in five years?
Solar is “disruptive technology” (like MP3 players or e-books). Over time, it will be cheaper than most traditional energy sources, fundamentally changing the way the world looks at energy production. You will find solar generation capacity everywhere. Not just utility scale farms, commercial rooftops and green homes, but solar will be everywhere.
Events like Hurricane Sandy and the enduring loss of power after these tragic events really brings to light the vulnerabilities of our current energy infrastructure. As solar energy continues to proliferate, future storms will have a far less-lasting impact on energy demand as non-grid-tied systems will be far more numerous, allowing for a near immediate energy response to areas in need.
We witnessed many clever solar applications being used in the aftermath of the recent storm, from small solar phone charging stations that returned critical communication capacity, to larger portable charging stations that were used to power some of the major central relief centers.
This brings into sharp focus not only the need for a fundamental change in our relationship to power and power production, but also the many and varied opportunities there will be as a result of fresh thinking and the lowered costs of solar energy. Solar is playing a critical role in our nations energy evolution.
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