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Sounds of Solar Podcast

Sounds of Solar Podcast

EVS, INC 68 Episodes Jul 16, 2026

Sounds of Solar explores the people and progress behind America's clean energy transition. Hosted by engineers at EVS, it features conversations with innovators, engineers, and changemakers working in solar, battery storage, and grid transformation. The show offers real stories and fresh perspectives from the front lines of renewable energy. It is designed for industry professionals and anyone curious about the future of clean power.

Episodes

Ep: 67: Ground Truth: How Technology is Transforming Modern Survey
Ep: 67: Ground Truth: How Technology is Transforming Modern Survey Jul 16, 2026 01:00:12 Every successful solar project begins long before the first panel is installed. It begins with survey. In this episode of Sounds of Solar, EVS Project Manager-Survey Valerie Zurcher and Field Technician II-Survey Zachary Emerson explore one of the industry's most essential, yet often overlooked, disciplines. From establishing project control and capturing site topography to using LiDAR-equipped dr
Ep. 66: Built to Last - Why Solar Needs a Reliability Reset
Ep. 66: Built to Last - Why Solar Needs a Reliability Reset Jun 22, 2026 01:06:45 What happens when the solar industry prioritizes cost over long-term reliability? In this episode of Sounds of Solar, hosts Christoph Bruhn and Prahalad Shivshankaran sit down with Create Energy Founder Dean Solon and Chief of Staff Joseph Fahrney to discuss why many of today's energy systems may not be built to last and what can be done differently. Drawing on decades of experience in manufacturi
Ep. 65: Empowering Communities - Minnesota's Path to Net Zero by 2050
Ep. 65: Empowering Communities - Minnesota's Path to Net Zero by 2050 Jun 1, 2026 49:52 Minnesota has quietly become one of the nation's clean energy success stories, but what will it take to stay ahead? This day, the Sounds of Solar team sits down with Gregg Mast, Executive Director of Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM), to explore the trends shaping the state's energy future. Drawing on insights from CEEM's newly released 2026 Minnesota Energy Factsheet, Gregg discusses Minnesot
Ep. 64: Designed to Deliver: Owner's Perspective on Energy at Gigawatt Scale
Ep. 64: Designed to Deliver: Owner's Perspective on Energy at Gigawatt Scale May 12, 2026 51:49 As AI-driven load growth reshapes the energy landscape, the pressure to deliver power faster has never been higher. In this episode of Sounds of Solar hosts sit down with Sapan Vyas of RWE to unpack what that means for renewable energy development at scale. Drawing from 15 years across EPC, consulting, and owner-side leadership, Sapan explores the realities behind hyperscale data centers, intercon
Ep. 63:  Mitigating Risks: Early Civil Decisions Shaping Solar Projects
Ep. 63: Mitigating Risks: Early Civil Decisions Shaping Solar Projects Mar 25, 2026 43:53 Civil engineering decisions are made early, often quietly, yet they shape the trajectory of every solar project. In this episode, EVS Director of Civil Engineering Jeremy Schultz breaks down how site constraints, permitting realities, and stormwater design influence risk, cost, and constructability long before construction begins. From navigating inconsistent AHJ requirements to real-world lessons
Ep. 62:  Fast Track Automation - Tools Modernizing Utility-Scale Solar Design
Ep. 62: Fast Track Automation - Tools Modernizing Utility-Scale Solar Design Feb 18, 2026 33:15 What happens when solar projects outgrow the workflows built to design them? In this episode of Sounds of Solar, we talk with Clarke DeLisle, Product Development Lead at EVS, about how automation is reshaping utility scale solar engineering. Clarke shares what it looks like when traditional design workflows start to strain under growing project complexity, and how smarter tools can help engineers
Ep. 61:  Graduated. Now What?  Real Talk with Renewables' Emerging Engineers
Ep. 61: Graduated. Now What? Real Talk with Renewables' Emerging Engineers Jan 30, 2026 53:29 What really happens after you graduate with an engineering degree? In this episode of Sounds of Solar, emerging engineers in electrical power studies, substations, and civil engineering share candid perspectives on their first years in the renewable energy industry. From imposter syndrome and steep learning curves to mentorship, asking questions, and finding purpose in their work, this conversatio
Ep. 60:  Grid Under Pressure – Reengineering Transmission for a High Demand Future
Ep. 60: Grid Under Pressure – Reengineering Transmission for a High Demand Future Jan 14, 2026 30:21 In this episode of Sounds of Solar, we sit down with Ryan Grady, Director of Transmission at EVS, to unpack why the U.S. transmission grid is under unprecedented pressure. As aging infrastructure collides with explosive load growth from data centers, electrification, and renewable energy, transmission has become one of the most critical bottlenecks in the energy transition. Ryan explains how decad
Ep. 59: The Great Alignment: Tales of Tilt, Grade, and Gravity
Ep. 59: The Great Alignment: Tales of Tilt, Grade, and Gravity Dec 23, 2025 39:19 This Sounds of Solar conversation dives into why solar site design is under more pressure than ever and what the industry must do to keep pace. As projects grow larger and timelines tighten, traditional workflows are struggling to keep up with increasing complexity, land constraints, and grid demands. The discussion explores how smarter tools, earlier decision making, and emerging automation are h
Ep. 58:  Harvesting Energy: The Future of Agrivoltaics & Dual Purpose Farming
Ep. 58: Harvesting Energy: The Future of Agrivoltaics & Dual Purpose Farming Dec 10, 2025 41:11 Agrivoltaics is having a moment and the Sounds of Solar hosts are here for it. In this lively episode, the team dives into the sunny intersection of farming and solar energy where crops, sheep, shade, and science all share the same field. From tomatoes to berries to goats with attitude, the crew explores how dual use land can boost farm productivity, cool panels, conserve water, and spark new opp
Ep. 57:  Grid Instability, Global Perspectives, and Why BESS Matters Now
Ep. 57: Grid Instability, Global Perspectives, and Why BESS Matters Now Nov 25, 2025 33:28 The hosts of Sounds of Solar dive into the realities of battery energy storage, grounding the conversation in personal stories of growing up with blackouts in Kenya and India. They explore how global grid instability shaped their understanding of energy access, then connect those experiences to today's rapid growth of BESS in the United States. The team breaks down key use cases like frequency reg
Ep. 56:  Policy in Motion: How States Keep Energy Growing
Ep. 56: Policy in Motion: How States Keep Energy Growing Nov 11, 2025 49:50 In this episode, the Sounds of Solar team sits down with Sarah Whebbe, Senior Policy and Regulatory Affairs Associate at MnSEIA, for a timely look at Minnesota's evolving clean energy landscape. Sarah breaks down the ripple effects of HR1, from accelerated timelines to the sudden challenges facing residential solar and community-scale developers, while highlighting the bright spots that remain, in

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