Solar Maverick Podcast

Hosted by Benoy Thanjan

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Jun 2026

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The Solar Maverick Podcast is the insiders guide to where the solar and energy markets meet entrepreneurship and trailblazing. Hosted by Benoy Thanjan - a serial entrepreneur and founder of Reneu Energy

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May 23, 2026Episode 2831 hr 0 min

SMP 283: How Solar and Storage Are Saving Lives in Puerto Rico?

Episode Summary In this special episode of Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Russell Laplante, Flavia Cabral, and Stephen Jordan to reflect on the November 2025 Puerto Rico delegation with Let’s Share the Sun. The group reflects on their time in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, where they helped install solar and storage systems, spent time with beneficiary families, and saw firsthand why energy resilience can be life-changing. The episode also touches on the importance of energy independence, the challenges facing Puerto Rico’s grid, the role of solar and storage in building resilience, and why service-based experiences can create deeper relationships than traditional networking or industry events. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, a solar development and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed more than 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $50 million in Renewable Energy Credit transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MW of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating renewable energy projects and maximizing the performance of the assets. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Russell Laplante Russell Laplante is the Chief Financial Officer of Convergent Energy and Power, a leading energy storage solutions provider in North America. He has spent more than 17 years in the renewable energy industry, with experience across finance, project development, M&A, and energy storage. In this episode, Russell reflects on his November 2025 Let’s Share the Sun delegation to Puerto Rico, where he installed a solar panel for the first time despite nearly two decades in clean energy. His perspective brings together project finance, energy resilience, and the personal impact of seeing solar and storage deployed directly for families in need. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-laplante-cfa-42353510/ Stephen Jordan Stephen Jordan is Director of Marketing for Jordan Energy and is closely involved with Let’s Share the Sun Foundation. He is passionate about storytelling, community, clean energy, and using solar as a tool to empower people. Stephen has experience on the installation side of solar and helps share the mission of Let’s Share the Sun through writing, video, voice, and community engagement. He is also a published author and has worked in music therapy, including with Voices of Our City Choir, which received the Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent. In this episode, Stephen reflects on the November 2025 Puerto Rico delegation, the next generation of Let’s Share the Sun leadership, and why solar, storage, and community-building are deeply connected. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-jordan-062413159/ Flavia Cabrel Flavia Cabral is a singer and vocal coach originally from Argentina and joined the November 2025 Let's Share The Sun delegation alongside her husband Russell. She brings a deeply human perspective to this conversation about service, community, and energy access. During the November 2025 Let’s Share the Sun delegation to Puerto Rico, Flavia formed powerful connections with beneficiary families, especially the women she met during the trip. She shares how listening, empathy, and making people feel heard can create meaningful bonds across cultures and backgrounds. In this episode, Flavia reflects on the importance of showing up, giving back, and understanding the real-life impact of reliable electricity for families facing outages, medical needs, and hardship. Instagram: @flavia.111 Stay Connected Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Podcast: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com Let's Share The Sun Website: https://www.letsSharethesun.org Summer Solstice Fundraiser — Jersey City, NJ Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let’s Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let’s Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi Please Leave a 5-Star Review If you got value out of this episode, please take a minute to rate, review, and share the Solar Maverick Podcast. Every review helps more people in the clean energy community find the show and stay ahead of what is happening in solar, storage, and the energy transition. About Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, commercial and industrial solar, utility-scale solar, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

May 9, 2026Episode 28053 min

SMP 280: What Solar Developers Need to Know About the May 15 NERC Compliance Deadline

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Kellie MacPherson, Executive Vice President of Compliance and Security at Radian Generation and a board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Kellie is one of the leading experts in NERC compliance and cybersecurity for renewable energy assets. In this timely conversation, she explains why the May 15, 2026 NERC deadline matters for solar, storage, and wind projects, especially inverter-based resources around 20 MW and above. Kellie breaks down what NERC is, why the registration threshold is changing, and why simply filling out a registration form is not enough. She explains that projects brought into scope need to be audit-ready, with policies, procedures, equipment settings, cybersecurity controls, and compliance programs in place. The conversation also covers cybersecurity risks facing renewable energy assets, the importance of basic cyber hygiene, the role of inverter settings and SCADA systems, and why renewable energy projects must be treated as critical infrastructure as they become a larger part of the electric grid. Benoy and Kellie also discuss her background, her work at Radian Generation, her role on the SEIA board, entrepreneurship, building a compliance business, and how she uses LinkedIn and podcasting to educate the industry. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Guest Information Kellie MacPherson Kellie MacPherson is Executive Vice President of Compliance and Security at Radian Generation and a board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association. She has deep experience in NERC compliance, cybersecurity, renewable energy operations, and grid reliability. At Radian Generation, Kellie leads compliance and risk services for renewable energy owners, developers, and operators. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Kellie MacPherson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliemacpherson/ Website: https://www.radiangen.com  Radian Generation podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-the-grid/id1697573026 Solar Maverick Podcast Updates In this episode, Benoy Thanjan shares key updates with the Solar Maverick community, including upcoming events, speaking engagements, and ways to stay connected. Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let’s Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let’s Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. This will be Benoy’s third delegation in the past year, and he highlights the importance of meeting beneficiaries firsthand and seeing how solar is transforming lives. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi On May 14, Benoy will be speaking at the ACORE Finance Forum 2026 in New York City on a panel focused on scaling behind the meter solar and storage for commercial and industrial and digital infrastructure. The discussion will explore the growing demand for energy driven by AI and data centers. https://acore.org/events/finance-forum/ Listeners can also visit www.solarmaverickpodcast.com to explore recent episodes and insights from leaders across the solar, storage, and energy industries. Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

May 4, 2026Episode 27958 min

SMP 279: Using AI-enabled Tools to Accelerate Renewable Energy Development

In this special live episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan moderates a panel discussion from the MSSIA(“Mid-Atlantic Solar and Storage Industries Association”) Solar and Storage Conference focused on one of the most important topics in renewable energy today: how AI is accelerating solar development, asset management, and O&M. The panel explores how AI is both creating new energy challenges through data center-driven load growth and helping solve some of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks, including permitting, local opposition, distributed energy resource coordination, asset management, O&M, and post-COD performance. Benoy is joined by Anuj Saigal from Spark AI, Anna Gusel from enSights.ai, and Joel Santisteban from EcoSuite. Together, they discuss where AI is actually delivering value today, where the hype still exists, and how renewable energy companies can use AI-enabled tools to move faster, reduce risk, and make better decisions. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Guest Information Anuj Saigal, Spark AI Anuj Saigal is the co-founder of Spark AI, a permitting intelligence platform for energy infrastructure and data centers. Spark AI uses AI agents to read millions of documents across jurisdictions, including zoning ordinances, meeting minutes, agendas, and local news, to help developers understand permitting friction and local opposition risk. Anuj was on episode 274 of the Solar Maverick Podcast. The episode was called “From Weeks to Seconds: How AI is Transforming Solar Diligence with Spark AI and Standard Solar” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259?i=1000760451713 Anna Gusel, enSights.ai Anna Gusel is with enSights.ai, an AI-powered energy business management platform. In the discussion, Anna explains how enSights.ai helps asset owners and operators bring together telemetry, financial data, operational data, technician logs, contracts, warranties, and site information to improve visibility and decision-making across renewable energy portfolios. Joel Santisteban, EcoSuite Joel Santisteban is with EcoSuite, an asset management and edge compute platform designed for distributed energy. EcoSuite works with developers, IPPs, and grid operators to deploy software and hardware solutions, including DER gateways and edge compute nodes, that help accelerate deployment and integration into the distribution grid. Joel was on episode 260 of the Solar Maverick Podcast. The episode was called “Ecosuite: AI-Powered Management for Distributed Energy” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259?i=1000747120162 Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Anuj Saigal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anujsaigal/ Website: https://www.spark.ai Anna Gusel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annagusel/ Website: https://ensights.ai Joel Santisteban LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-santisteban/ Website: https://ecosuite.io Solar Maverick Podcast Updates In this episode, Benoy Thanjan shares key updates with the Solar Maverick community, including upcoming events, speaking engagements, and ways to stay connected. Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let’s Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let’s Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. This will be Benoy’s third delegation in the past year, and he highlights the importance of meeting beneficiaries firsthand and seeing how solar is transforming lives. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi On May 14, Benoy will be speaking at the ACORE Finance Forum 2026 in New York City on a panel focused on scaling behind the meter solar and storage for commercial and industrial and digital infrastructure. The discussion will explore the growing demand for energy driven by AI and data centers. https://acore.org/events/finance-forum/ Listeners can also visit www.solarmaverickpodcast.com to explore recent episodes and insights from leaders across the solar, storage, and energy industries. Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

April 23, 2026Episode 27755 min

SMP 277: Energy Storage Explained: From Lithium-Ion to the Future of the Power Grid

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Marek Kubik, energy storage expert and former Fluence founder, to break down the rapid evolution of battery storage and its critical role in the energy transition. Marek shares insights from nearly two decades in the industry, explaining how declining costs, technological advancements, and new use cases are pushing energy storage to the center of the modern grid. From lithium-ion dominance to emerging technologies like sodium-ion, and from grid stability to long-duration storage, this conversation covers the trends shaping the future of energy. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Marek Kubik Marek builds and scales deeptech businesses that accelerate the clean energy transition. Over the past 17+ years he has helped take grid‑scale energy storage from first‑of‑a‑kind projects to multi‑billion‑dollar platforms, and enabled giga‑scale renewable systems. As part of the founding team at Fluence, now one of the world’s largest energy storage technology providers, he helped to establish the business and drive scale-up - through to unicorn, a $4.7bn IPO and beyond. As Managing Director, he led the Western Europe & Middle East sales organisation, cultivating strategic partnerships, building high-performing teams and transacting over $1bn in energy storage solutions. Today, Marek serves as a flexibility leadership team member at ENOWA, the clean energy and water company of NEOM, where he leads all efforts related to energy storage - a cornerstone of NEOM's ambition to achieve the world's first at-scale 100% renewable power grid. Earlier in my career, he helped develop Europe’s first commercial utility‑scale battery project, building directly on my doctoral research and giving me a front‑row seat to the rise of modern battery storage. That mix of technical grounding and commercial execution still shapes how Marek works with teams, investors and policymakers today. He is also a recognised voice in the sector: a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree that's delivered ~500 speaking engagements (TEDx, UN, COP, One Young World, Oxford University), grown a 50,000+ (top 0.002%) following on LinkedIn and authored the seminal Volta Foundation Battery Report (100,000+ downloads). Marek uses my platform to demystify energy storage, highlight emerging technologies and explore how AI and data can reshape clean energy systems. Alongside his corporate roles, Marek advises governments, infrastructure investors and technology startups on strategy, commercialisation and scale‑up execution - helping bridge the gap between promising innovation and bankable, real‑world projects. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Marek Kubik Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkubik/ Solar Maverick Podcast Updates In this episode, Benoy Thanjan shares key updates with the Solar Maverick community, including upcoming events, speaking engagements, and ways to stay connected. Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let’s Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let’s Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. This will be Benoy’s third delegation in the past year, and he highlights the importance of meeting beneficiaries firsthand and seeing how solar is transforming lives. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi On April 28, Benoy will be at the MSSIA Insight Conference in New Jersey, where he will be participating in discussions alongside some of the greatest minds in AI. He will also be recording a live Solar Maverick Podcast interview at the event. More details can be found here: https://whova.com/web/9I7SOtGH70LucVmeo0%40vp6bW2LE6IfIeHa%40QWl72RaE%3D/ On May 14, Benoy will be speaking at the ACORE Finance Forum 2026 in New York City on a panel focused on scaling behind the meter solar and storage for commercial and industrial and digital infrastructure. The discussion will explore the growing demand for energy driven by AI and data centers. https://acore.org/events/finance-forum/ Listeners can also visit www.solarmaverickpodcast.com to explore recent episodes and insights from leaders across the solar, storage, and energy industries. Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

April 15, 2026Episode 27551 min

SMP 275: Where Cleantech Money Is Going in 2026 (Driven by AI & Data Center Demand)

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Zainab Gilani and Diana Rasner from the Cleantech Group to break down the biggest trends shaping the energy transition in 2026. From AI-driven energy demand and data centers to shifting investor sentiment and evolving policy dynamics, this conversation dives deep into where cleantech capital is flowing and what it takes to scale in today’s market. The discussion also explores the growing role of corporates, the challenges startups face working with utilities, and why resilience, grid infrastructure, and distributed energy resources are becoming critical themes across the industry. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Zainab Gilani Energy & Power Associate at Cleantech Group Focuses on grid technologies, nuclear, storage, and emerging energy systems Diana Rasner Group Lead, Materials, Chemicals, Waste & Recycling at Cleantech Group Specializes in industrial decarbonization, materials innovation, and sustainability About Cleantech Group Cleantech Group is a leading research and advisory firm focused on global cleantech innovation. They bring together startups, investors, and corporates to drive collaboration and provide market intelligence across energy, materials, transportation, and more. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Zainab Gilani Website: https://cleantech.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainab-g-204965172/ Diana Rasner Website: https://cleantech.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-rasner-63101a16a/ Solar Maverick Podcast Updates In this episode, Benoy Thanjan shares key updates with the Solar Maverick community, including upcoming events, speaking engagements, and ways to stay connected. Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let’s Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let’s Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. This will be Benoy’s third delegation in the past year, and he highlights the importance of meeting beneficiaries firsthand and seeing how solar is transforming lives. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi On April 28, Benoy will be at the MSSIA Insight Conference in New Jersey, where he will be participating in discussions alongside some of the greatest minds in AI. He will also be recording a live Solar Maverick Podcast interview at the event. More details can be found here: https://whova.com/web/9I7SOtGH70LucVmeo0%40vp6bW2LE6IfIeHa%40QWl72RaE%3D/ On May 14, Benoy will be speaking at the ACORE Finance Forum 2026 in New York City on a panel focused on scaling behind the meter solar and storage for commercial and industrial and digital infrastructure. The discussion will explore the growing demand for energy driven by AI and data centers. https://acore.org/events/finance-forum/ Listeners can also visit www.solarmaverickpodcast.com to explore recent episodes and insights from leaders across the solar, storage, and energy industries. Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

April 9, 2026Episode 27445 min

SMP 274: From Weeks to Seconds: How AI Is Transforming Solar Diligence with Spark AI and Standard Solar

Episode Summary: In this episode, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Julia Wu and Anuj Saigal from Spark AI and Patrick Chandler from Standard Solar about how artificial intelligence is transforming solar project development, diligence, and acquisition. They explore how AI powered tools are enabling developers and asset owners to move significantly faster, reduce manual work, and improve decision making. The conversation also highlights a real world case study of how Standard Solar is using Spark AI to streamline project acquisition and diligence processes. The discussion expands into the broader impact of AI on energy demand, data centers, and the future of solar and storage development. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. About the Guests Julia Wu is the CEO of Spark AI, an AI powered platform helping developers and asset owners accelerate project development and diligence. She previously worked at Microsoft and Apple, building large scale data systems. Anuj Saigal is the cofounder of Spark AI with a background in startups, energy, and AI. He previously worked at the Department of Energy, SunEdison, and EVgo, and founded a Y Combinator backed AI company. Patrick Chandler is a senior project manager at Standard Solar, a Brookfield company that owns and operates distributed generation solar assets across the United States. He leads project acquisition, diligence, and execution efforts. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Julie Wu Website: https://www.spark.ai/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wu-julia/ Anuj Saigal Website: https://www.spark.ai/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anujsaigal/ Patrick Chandler Website: https://standardsolar.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-chandler-ii-1b6b47206/ Solar Maverick Podcast Updates In this episode, Benoy Thanjan shares key updates with the Solar Maverick community, including upcoming events, speaking engagements, and ways to stay connected. Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let’s Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let’s Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. This will be Benoy’s third delegation in the past year, and he highlights the importance of meeting beneficiaries firsthand and seeing how solar is transforming lives. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi On April 28, Benoy will be at the MSSIA Insight Conference in New Jersey, where he will be participating in discussions alongside some of the greatest minds in AI. He will also be recording a live Solar Maverick Podcast interview at the event. More details can be found here: https://whova.com/web/9I7SOtGH70LucVmeo0%40vp6bW2LE6IfIeHa%40QWl72RaE%3D/ On May 14, Benoy will be speaking at the ACORE Finance Forum 2026 in New York City on a panel focused on scaling behind the meter solar and storage for commercial and industrial and digital infrastructure. The discussion will explore the growing demand for energy driven by AI and data centers. https://acore.org/events/finance-forum/ Listeners can also visit www.solarmaverickpodcast.com to explore recent episodes and insights from leaders across the solar, storage, and energy industries. Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

April 1, 2026Episode 27242 min

SMP 272: The FEOC Playbook How to Navigate New Rules for Solar and Storage

Episode Summary: In this episode, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Dorian Hunt from Leo Berwick to break down the Foreign Entity of Concern(“FEOC”) rules and what the February 2026 guidance means for solar and storage projects. They unpack how FEOC is reshaping supply chains, tax credits, and project finance, and why uncertainty is currently the biggest risk to development. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Dorrian Hunt Dorian leads Leo Berwick’s Energy & Renewables tax practice. Dorian has 20 years of experience in tax credit monetization, with clients including renewable energy project developers, tax equity investors, project lenders, insurers and syndicators. Prior to joining Leo Berwick, he was a leader in the Power and Utilities and Energy Transition practices of a Big 4 firm, where he focused on providing tax consulting services with respect to tax credit-driven project finance across, with a focus on renewable energy. Dorian is a thought leader in the tax credit space and has authored articles on topics including the potential implications for “direct pay” of renewable energy tax incentives and on the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the US renewable energy industry. He has also presented on these and other similar topics for organizations such as IPED, NARUC, and the Boston Bar Association. Dorian has experience with myriad energy incentive programs including Treasury 1603 grants, 48C advanced energy manufacturing studies, and the rapidly-developing field of 45Q carbon capture credits. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Dorian Hunt Website: https://www.leoberwick.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorian-hunt/ Dorian Hunt on Episode 231 of the Solar Maverick Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259?i=1000723865682 Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

March 26, 2026Episode 27043 min

SMP 270: AI-Powered Solar Development: The Rise of the 10x Developer

Episode Summary: In this episode, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Nobel Chang, Co-Founder & CEO of Palladium Energy, to discuss how AI is transforming solar and infrastructure development. Nobel shares how Palladium built Scout IQ, an AI-driven development engine that has enabled a 3-person team to originate 2.7 GW of projects and dramatically compressing timelines, reducing costs, and redefining scalability in solar development. The conversation explores the future of AI in renewables, the convergence of solar, storage, and data centers, and what it takes to become a “10x developer” in today’s market. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Nobel Chang Nobel Chang is the Chief Commercial Officer at Palladium Energy. Nobel leads business development, market strategy, and commercial execution. Starting his solar career in 2009, Nobel has originated and developed DG and utility-scale projects in CAISO, Northwest, MISO, ISO-NE, PJM, and Southeast markets in the United States. He also has developed and financed projects in Mexico, Chile, and Japan. Prior to co-founding Palladium Energy, Nobel was the VP of Development at US Topco Energy, started a greenfield development company, then joined Pine Gate Renewables as the VP of New Markets and Capital Strategy. He earned his BS in Business and MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Nobel Chang Website: https://www.pd46energy.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nobelchang/ ScoutIQ Press Release: https://www.scoutiq.dev/news/scoutiq-opens-to-power-infrastructure-developers Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

March 18, 2026Episode 26931 min

SMP 269: Inside Europe’s Solar Market: Batteries, Grid Challenges, and the Next Wave of Growth

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Peter Pongratz, host of the Soliverse Podcast, about the current state of the European solar market and how it compares with the U.S. Peter shares insights on the slowdown in European solar installations, the growing importance of battery storage, curtailment, negative pricing, permitting delays, and the need for better grid integration. They also discuss trends in hybrid solar-plus-storage projects, the rise of recycling as a major future opportunity, and how podcasting has become a powerful platform for learning and connecting across the renewable energy industry. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Peter Pongracz Peter Pongratz is the host of the Soliverse Podcast and works in solar consulting, SaaS sales, and business development. His podcast focuses on the B2B side of solar and features conversations with leaders across solar, storage, policy, and the broader energy transition. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Peter Pongracz Website: https://www.soliverse.energy/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterpongraczsaasz/ Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

March 6, 2026Episode 26738 min

SMP 267: Sunvoy: Software Built to Help Solar Installers Scale

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Hervé Billet, CEO and co-founder of Sunvoy, the first white-label customer portal and fleet management app built by solar installers for solar installers. Hervé shares his entrepreneurial journey, from helping design Belgium’s first solar car to building and selling a solar installation company in the U.S., and now leading Sunvoy. The conversation covers what solar companies need to do to create long-term enterprise value, how branding and systems drive successful exits, and why clean accounting, process, and operational discipline matter if you want to sell a business. Benoy and Hervé also discuss how Sunvoy helps installers improve operations by bringing critical project and O&M data into one place, reducing time spent hunting for information and improving the customer experience. They also explore current solar industry trends, including the shift toward Third Party Ownership (“TPOs”) and leases, rising electricity prices as a driver of solar adoption, technology improvements in solar hardware and storage, and why installer-built software creates a real competitive advantage. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla’s Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Hervé Billet As the CEO of Sunvoy, I'm committed to empowering solar businesses with innovative technology that streamlines operations and enhances customer experience. Sunvoy is the first white-label customer portal and fleet management app, built by solar installers for solar installers. Our platform simplifies the complexities of running a solar business, enabling companies to scale efficiently with seamless integration and effortless results. Sunvoy offers powerful tools to manage solar fleets, automate communication, and deliver an exceptional customer journey, helping companies thrive in an increasingly competitive market. Previously, I served as the CEO of Ipsun Solar, where we revolutionized the residential and commercial solar market by enabling customers to own their power, reduce their utility bills, and add value to their properties through clean, renewable energy. Ipsun Solar, a B-Corporation, was known for its commitment to sustainability, being part of the Amicus and Amicus O&M networks, and serving as a certified Tesla Powerwall installer. Before venturing into the solar industry, I worked at Accenture, where I consulted with Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Federal agencies, and large non-profits. My projects included: Calculating Greenhouse Gas emissions for the U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters. Business development for Accenture's Sustainability Services. Leading digital implementation teams for organizations like Goodwill Industries International. Providing strategic support to global institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, UNICEF, United Nations, and U.S. Department of Labor. At 21, I co-founded my first company, Solar Team, an initiative to showcase the power of solar energy through solar-powered vehicles. This early venture sparked my enduring passion for renewable energy and continues to inspire my work today. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Hervé Billet Website: https://sunvoy.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hervebilliet/ Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.