2025 Top Products Judges

Solar Power World is proud to unveil the 2025 winning class of Top Products for the solar and storage industry. The 2025 Top Products contest celebrates the most innovative and significant products available to the U.S. market. The competition was judged by industry professionals with experience in all markets, representing the research, product development and installation sectors. Products were assessed on their originality, market promise and benefits to installers and developers.

Biographies of our 2025 judges are below. Solar Power World thanks them for their dedication to a fair competition. Judges with a direct connection to a submitted product were prevented from ranking the product. The product’s score was averaged without the conflicting judge’s input.

Congratulations to the 2025 Top Products presented by Solar Power World!

Meet our 2025 Judges

Emily Hwang, Director of Applications Engineering, Yaskawa Solectria Solar Large-Scale Judge

A seasoned professional of almost 20 years, Emily Hwang has been part of Yaskawa Solectria Solar for the last decade and currently holds the role of director of applications engineering. Emily has a passion for applying the NEC and ensuring that all PV products are installed correctly, efficiently and, most importantly, safely. Her interest in solidifying solar as a robust power source paired with her telecom background has led to a keen interest in cybersecurity and how it may affect the industry. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Emily earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a master’s in Telecommunications and Networking. She is a NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer and has served on many committees and boards including Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Engineers Without Borders. Speaking at least four languages, Emily is an outstanding solar communicator and trainer, presenting at many industry events and functions throughout the years.

Ben Jones, VP of Design and Engineering, DSD Renewables Large-Scale Judge

Ben Jones has had a variety of experiences spanning over 30 years in different industries and currently serves as SVP of technical sales and account management for DSD Renewables. Ben feels that the depth and variety of his professional track record has prepared him well to leverage that experience in developing a solar market penetration strategy and executing the tactical steps necessary to ensure lasting success. He was a part-time NABCEP instructor at Red Rocks Community College in the early 2010s and held positions at CPV, S:FLEX and GE Solar before coming to DSD Renewables in 2019. A member of DSD’s executive team, Ben works across the organization to ensure build scale-ability, sustainability and exceptional value.

Troy Renken, VP of Product and Engineering, Shoals Large-Scale Judge

Troy Renken is the VP of product and engineering at Shoals Technologies Group. He brings extensive leadership experience in engineering and product management across a range of industries. Over the course of his career, Troy has held senior roles at Shoals Technologies Group, Hayward Holdings, Medical Enterprises Distribution, ZPower and Emerson Climate Technologies. His technical expertise spans mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, chemical and hydraulic engineering, and he has led multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative product solutions. Troy holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Trine University.

Charlie Saginaw, Southwest Regional Sales Manager, JA Solar Residential Judge

Charlie Saginaw, a University of Texas at Austin graduate and native Texan, has excelled in the solar industry for nearly a decade, specializing in solar installer and distribution sales. He is currently the Southwest regional sales manager for solar panel company JA Solar. Previously, Charlie held positions at BayWa R.E., CivicSolar and was the first sales hire at Bodhi in 2022. Charlie’s career highlights his commitment to relationship building, market share growth and reliability through proactive communication. Charlie is also an avid cyclist and once biked 4,600 miles in one summer, traveling from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska, to raise money for cancer research.

Will White, Solar Application Specialist, Fluke Corp. Residential Judge

Will White is a seasoned professional in the renewable energy sector, with two decades of experience spanning installation, sales, design, project management, curriculum development and teaching. He began his career in 2005 as an installer with a small solar integrator. In 2016, Will joined the curriculum development team at Solar Energy International (SEI), where he helped modernize and expand course offerings. Since 2022, Will has served as a senior application specialist at Fluke, supporting the company’s renewable energy testing portfolio, including IV-curve tracers, electrical meters and thermal imaging cameras. His technical area of focus is distributed energy resources, including energy storage, electric vehicle supply equipment and PV systems of all scales. Will has been a NABCEP-certified PV Installation Professional since 2006 and previously held certification as a NABCEP Solar Heating Installer. He holds a B.A. in Business Management from Columbia College Chicago and an MBA from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Outside of work, Will enjoys life on his off-grid, straw-bale homestead in central Vermont, where he lives with his wife and daughter.