Ep. 86 Future-Proofing Housing: Mohamed Gaafar on Solar, Storage & Net Zero
Description
How do we make the energy transition accessible, affordable, and scalable for millions of homes?
In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Mohamed Gaafar, CEO & Founder of Gryd, a company transforming the way new homes access renewable energy.
After a career designing large-scale energy and infrastructure projects across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, Mohamed left consultancy to build Gryd—an innovative model that installs solar and battery systems on new-build homes without upfront costs. By shifting energy from a hardware investment to a subscription model, Gryd is making the benefits of renewables accessible for homeowners while helping developers future-proof housing stock.
Key Highlights:
- The Energy Transition Challenge: Why most homeowners can’t afford the £10–15k upfront for renewables—and how Gryd removes this barrier.
- Gryd’s Innovative Model: Solar + storage provided at zero hardware cost, with a monthly subscription similar to broadband or Netflix.
- Future-Proofing New Builds: Why putting just 2–4 solar panels on a roof isn’t enough—and how Gryd scales systems up to cover 70–75% of household needs.
- Learning from Global Experience: Mohamed’s insights from Saudi Arabia and Sudan on designing for extreme climates and building resilient infrastructure.
- Advice for Developers & Buyers: Why regulations should be seen as a minimum, and how to make better long-term decisions on housing and energy.
- Entrepreneurial Lessons: From conviction to resilience, Mohamed shares what it takes to leave a stable career and build a mission-driven company.
This conversation is essential for developers, policymakers, sustainability leaders, and anyone passionate about the future of housing and energy.
#NetZeroHomes #ThriveInConstruction #EnergyInnovation #SolarPower #SustainableHousing #ConstructionPodcast #GrydEnergy #FutureOfHousing #BuiltEnvironment







