Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague talks with Aaron Gabelnick, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Array Technologies, about the evolving landscape of solar tracking systems and how they're reducing the cost of renewable energy.

Aaron explains how he transitioned from working in traditional energy to join Array Technologies, drawn by the company's mission of "generating energy with integrity for a sustainable world." He details Array's innovative approach to solar tracking, including their unique passive stow mechanism that allows solar arrays to automatically position themselves safely during high winds while maximizing energy production.

The conversation explores how single-axis trackers have revolutionized utility-scale solar by increasing energy yield up to 25% compared to fixed-tilt systems. Aaron breaks down the "3 L's" (land, labor, and latitude) that determine when trackers make economic sense, and explains why trackers have captured 96% of the utility-scale solar market in the United States.

Tim and Aaron also discuss Array's approach to severe weather resilience, with Aaron announcing Array's new 77-degree hail stow technology designed to protect solar panels during increasingly common extreme hail events. The episode touches on Array's investment in Swap Robotics for automating panel installation, with alpha sites expected to deploy robotic panel placement by Q4 2025.

Despite current political uncertainties affecting renewable incentives, Aaron shares his optimistic long-term outlook for solar, citing how even oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are investing heavily in massive solar projects as evidence that solar's cost advantages are undeniable.

Listen to this episode to gain insights into the technical innovations driving cost reductions in solar energy and how leading manufacturers are addressing critical challenges like severe weather events and installation efficiency.

Connect with Aaron Gabelnick

LinkedIn: Aaron Gabelnick

Website: Array Technologies

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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, Tim Montague welcomes back Evan Upshur from CPS America for a discussion on the latest innovations in solar inverter technology. Evan shares why CPS America continues to be a leader in the solar industry with their reliable, versatile products and exceptional customer service.

Evan emphasizes the importance of versatility in their product line, particularly highlighting their 100kW 480V inverter and new 200kW model with a centralized wire box. These solutions are especially valuable for the rapidly growing community solar market, where seamless integration with utility-provided 480V transformers eliminates redundancy and simplifies installation. The conversation explores how CPS's research and development team focuses on refining proven technology while incorporating innovations that make solar systems more efficient and easier to build.

Beyond just hardware, Evan discusses how CPS America's commitment to customer service, readily available UL-listed products, and efficient supply chain have contributed to their success. With expanding capabilities including AC combiners, medium voltage transformers, and energy storage solutions, CPS now offers comprehensive DC to AC conversion for both energy storage and PV applications.

Whether you're a solar developer, installer, or industry professional, this episode provides valuable insights into what makes CPS America a trusted partner for solar projects of all sizes. Tune in to learn how versatility in design and application is driving the next generation of solar technology.

Connect with Evan Upshur

Evan Upshur

CPS America

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Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
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Tim on Twitter
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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 Jordan Harris, CEO of Yotta Energy, about their unique approach to commercial rooftop solar battery storage. Harris introduces Yotta Energy's latest innovation – the Yotta Block – a modular building block-type battery product that installs directly in line with solar panels, similar to microinverters. The battery becomes the ballast block. This distributed energy storage solution reduces soft costs associated with traditional battery installations, making it ideal for the small to mid-sized commercial and industrial (C&I) market.

Harris details Yotta's innovative three-phase thermal management system that maintains batteries in optimal operating conditions while serving as a safety mechanism, minimizing thermal runaway concerns. The company utilizes safer LFP battery chemistry and a design architecture that provides natural standoff between units, addressing key safety considerations for rooftop deployment. We also cover how Yotta's solution potentially streamlines system design and permitting to installation and ongoing maintenance.

Before joining Yotta Energy, Harris deployed over $1 billion in the solar and battery storage value chains, giving him deep insight into the challenges facing the C&I market. His expertise positioned him perfectly to recognize Yotta's potential to unlock this critical sector of the renewable energy transition.

Listen to this episode to discover how Yotta Energy's module-level approach to energy storage could conveniently augment commercial solar installations and improve project economics through reduced soft costs and streamlined deployment.

Connect with Jordan

LinkedIn: Jordan Harris

Website: Yotta 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