Solar Media Editors' Channel

The crucial COP26 conference begins later this week and negotiations will take place against a backdrop of uncertainty and volatility in the renewables supply chain. This episode of the Solar Media Podcast, brought to you in collaboration with Solar Energy UK, explores how things stand entering a pivotal two weeks for the renewables industry, and indeed the world in general. We also hear exclusively from three solar industry professionals about what they’re seeing from the sector at the moment, right the way through from sourcing and uptake of solar to procurement and supply chain issues. We also hear exactly what worldwide governments can do to help truly stimulate a much-needed solar revolution.

The US solar policy landscape is shifting at breakneck speed, with new incentives and trade tariffs promising to alter the shape of the industry for the coming decade. Luckily Andy Colthorpe and Liam Stoker are here to decipher the changes in the September 2021 episode of the Solar Media Podcast. There’s also talk of an increasing flow of investment and M&A deals in the energy storage space and the power market volatility disrupting much of Europe.

It may be the height of summer but there’s no respite for the Solar Media Podcast, the new episode of which is packed full of insight as the US begins its clampdown on solar imports. With news of solar module shipments being seized at US border, Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe reflect on the difficult balancing act US President Joe Biden must strike between enforcing the withhold and release order – and a host of other prospective policies impacting on trade relations with China – and the need to support the deployment of solar PV in the country. There’s also discussion on the huge growth figures posted by the US and UK energy storage industries and the ongoing case for long-duration energy storage technologies.

The July 2021 episode of the Solar Media Podcast, sponsored by Honeywell, includes discussion around the US government's efforts to tackle alleged forced labour practices within the solar supply chain, detailing everything you need to know about the US withhold and release order, recent moves in the Senate and the most likely impacts on solar manufacturing. Meanwhile, Andy Colthorpe explores the ever-growing amount of interest and investment in long-duration energy storage technologies and Liam Stoker takes a look at recent reports which highlight how the clean energy transition simply isn't happening fast enough. 

This month's episode of the Solar Media Podcast, sponsored by Honeywell, features discussion around the rise of new solar technologies and the drivers behind the n-type revolution. We review the latest products to be unveiled at this month’s SNEC exhibition in Shanghai and reflect on recent news regarding the materials supply chain as the industry plots a course for TOPCon, heterojunction and beyond. Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe also take a look at new projections for solar installations in the US – just in time for the difficult fire season – and how energy storage continues to proliferate in both the US and a slew of new markets.

Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe are back for another episode of the Solar Media podcast, and the cleantech materials crisis is showing no signs of abating. We discuss the ramifications across the energy sector, reveal while the US energy storage market is like the wild west, and talk exclusively to Honeywell’s Erin Ergin about the prospects for energy storage globally.

Solar Media’s Liam Stoker, Andy Colthorpe and Jules Scully profile the continued rise of long-duration energy storage in this episode of the Solar Media Podcast, sponsored by Honeywell, with a definitive look at the technology, policy and use-cases driving interest in long-duration energy storage. Meanwhile Liam, Andy and Jules also explore what Asia can teach the rest of the world about floating solar, we learn of a threat to solar’s growth in Vietnam and discover what Elon Musk’s up to now.

It's March 2021 and we're back for another episode of the Solar Media Podcast, sponsored by Honeywell. This month we're reflecting on the lessons that can be learned from Texas' winter storm, ranging from renewables to the utilities' response to it, and we also take a look at the huge in-tray awaiting new US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Elsewhere, Liam Stoker takes a look at what's driving solar panel prices upwards, and Andy Colthorpe explores the rise of SPACs - or Special-purpose Acquisition Companies - and how they could drive change in the energy sector. 

The February 2021 episode of the Solar Media Podcast reflects on recent market forecasts and asks just how much solar could be deployed in 2021 against a backdrop of gigawatt-scale supply contracts and national auctions. Meanwhile, Andy explores how utility-scale battery storage systems just keep getting bigger on the back of a recently-announced 1.2GW battery earmarked for Australia. There's also discussion around how grid services contracts continue to mature and why battery storage was frozen out of Spain's recent renewables auction. 

The Solar Media Podcast returns for a new season to mark the new year. In this first episode of 2021, sponsored by SKE Engineering, Andy Colthorpe and Liam Stoker cast their gazes at the horizon and profile what the immediate future holds for the solar and storage industries.  Up for discussion are the world's largest battery storage system which is now switched on and operational in California, as well as just what drove surging growth in Vietnam's solar sector towards the end of 2020, a push which saw more than 6GW of solar installed in just over one month.  Meanwhile, we also look at yet further additions in both solar manufacturing capacity and renewable energy auctions in Europe slated for 2020, and explore what the repercussions might be as investment in solar and storage, and more specifically the companies in those respective sectors, accelerates further.

In this final episode of the Solar Media Podcast for 2020, Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe reflect on what’s been a tumultuous year by assessing some of the most impactful stories. There’s also a look back on some of the lighter developments in 2020, and Liam and Andy provide their predictions for what the next 12 months may have in store. The Solar Media Podcast will be back in January for an entirely new season, but Andy, Liam and the rest of the Solar Media editorial team wish all of our listeners a happy holidays and a prosperous new year.

November 2020's episode of the Solar Media Podcast starts, perhaps predictably, with the fallout from the US Election. At the time of recording (Friday 6 November) the result wasn't quite yet certain, but there's still ample discussion about what a Biden Administration will do for the climate. Meanwhile, we also digest the latest cost projections of solar and energy storage from Lazard, look at why the IEA is correct to label solar as the "new king of electricity" and explore what the future holds for energy storage. 

In this episode of the Solar Media Podcast, Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe take a deep dive into what Elon & Co. presented at Tesla’s Big Battery Day, assess what the recent spate of solar manufacturing expansion announcements mean for the sector, and discuss the current state of energy politics.

Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe return for the August 2020 episode of the Solar Media podcast, reflecting on the biggest news stories from the global solar and energy storage ecosystems. Up for discussion this month are California's ongoing heatwave and its impact on energy demand and storage, why looming volatility in the cost of polysilicon should be on everyone's radar, and what we should be taking from the increasing costs of managing grids worldwide. 

Solar Media's Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe return for the July 2020 episode of the Solar Media Podcast, starting with a rundown of the 500W+ module race that is shaping the next era of solar PV technologies. Elsewhere we uncover the policy decisions driving a green recovery in markets such as the US, India and the UK, and we learn what's driving recent moves within the energy storage market.  If you've enjoyed listening to this or indeed any other episode, then please rate, like and subscribe!