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
Episodes
10 minutes ago
10 minutes ago
In this episode, Benoy Thanjan speaks with João Barreto, CEO of EDPR NA Distributed Generation, at the ACORE Finance Forum. They explore the rapid evolution of distributed generation (DG) in the U.S., community solar market trends, and how EDPR is deploying capital to meet growing clean energy demand.
Topics Covered:
The origin and growth of EDPR NA DG and its 12 GW+ installed capacity in North America
Why distributed generation is a key complement to utility-scale solar and wind
EDPR’s strategic focus on Northeast and California DG markets
Insights on the impact of the House tax bill on renewable investment timelines
The policy-driven nature of community solar, and why California’s program rollback was a missed opportunity
EDPR’s balanced strategy between greenfield development and co-development partnerships
The challenge of navigating interconnection and permitting inconsistency across the U.S.
How EDPR differentiates in the DG space through experience, local presence, and global customer relationships
Perspectives on integrating storage with DG, and current limitations in markets like New York
Key Quote:
“Distributed generation is policy-driven—and understanding how to position in the right markets at the right time is what creates long-term value.” – João Barreto
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value.
Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
João Salvação Barreto
Chief Executive Officer, EDPR NA Distributed Generation
João Salvação Barreto is the CEO of EDPR North America Distributed Generation, the distributed solar and storage business unit of EDP Renewables NA. Promoted to this role in June 2024, Barreto leads a fast-growing platform that manages over 280 MW AC of solar and storage assets across 25 U.S. states—with substantial expansions in key markets like New York, Maine, and Illinois.
He joined EDP in 2014 as part of its Global M&A and Corporate Development group. Over the next decade, he held leadership roles including Chief Commercial Officer, during which he oversaw major acquisitions such as Sunseap (now EDPR APAC) and C2 (now EDPR NA DG). He also chaired EDP’s Investment Committee from 2020 to 2023, guiding the company’s strategic investment priorities
João’s professional experience spans 23 years in real estate, 13 years in medical investments, and work in the defense industry, where he built relationships with international governments and organizations
He holds a degree from the Nova School of Business and Economics and is fluent in leveraging his multidisciplinary background to advance distributed solar finance, partnerships, and grid resilience
Under his leadership, EDPR NA DG is focused on expanding its community solar, C&I, and behind-the-meter portfolios while emphasizing partnerships, innovation, and operational excellence. João is a frequent participant and speaker at industry finance events, including the Financial Times/Nikkei Investing in America Summit and Infocast Solar Power Finance & Investment forums, where he highlights the importance of distributed generation in the energy transition
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
João Salvação Barreto
Website: https://www.edp.com/en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joão-salvação-barreto-90929a3b/
WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector
Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones
The link to register is below.
7 days ago
7 days ago
Episode Overview
In this episode, recorded live at the ACORE Finance Forum in NYC, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Ray Long, President & CEO of ACORE. They discuss the evolving clean energy finance landscape, grid permitting challenges, policy battles around the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the exponential demand for power driven by AI and electrification.
Ray also shares the history and mission of ACORE—from its origins connecting Wall Street to developers in 2001, to its current role as a leading voice in renewable energy policy and finance.
Key Themes & Takeaways
Explosive Growth in Power Demand
- U.S. energy demand remained flat for decades—but is now rising due to:
- AI and cloud computing
- Electrification of buildings and manufacturing
- EV charging infrastructure
- Urgent need for scalable solutions—wind, solar, storage, and natural gas are critical in the next 5–10 years
IRA Threatened by Tax Bill
- “Big Beautiful Bill” proposes eliminating key tax incentives from the IRA
- Would undermine progress and financing certainty across clean energy markets
- Industry needs a thoughtful, phased approach, not abrupt disruption
Permitting & Interconnection Bottlenecks
Interconnection Crisis
- Major ISOs like PJM are overwhelmed—some developers face 7+ year delays
- Load centers like Virginia see 100+ data center projects awaiting connection
- ACORE’s Macro Grid Initiative pushes for regulatory fixes and grid modernization
Bipartisan Momentum & Strategy
- ACORE promotes an “all of the above” strategy—recognizing solar, wind, storage, natural gas, and emerging tech
- Urges policymakers to emulate China’s aggressive infrastructure and energy approach
- Emphasizes renewables as a national competitiveness issue—not just environmental
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value.
Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Ray Long
Ray Long leads the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) as President and Chief Executive Officer.
ACORE is the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to expanding the use of renewable energy technologies for American homes and businesses. This mission is as important and relevant today as it was back in 2001. As CEO, Long is privileged to lead a team of dedicated professionals and an equally passionate group of members and contributors who enable ACORE’s strategic initiatives.
ACORE’s members operate in all 50 states, and in 2022, they financed, developed, built and owned over 90% of new, utility-scale renewable energy projects. Under Long’s leadership, ACORE continues to expand the framework that has enabled the industry’s growth through bipartisan outreach, accurate and compelling analysis, and effective collaboration.
Long is a respected energy executive, having spent over 25 years representing and growing conventional and renewable energy companies in the United States. Most recently, Long was Senior Vice President of External Affairs and a member of the management team at Clearway Energy. Throughout his career, Long helped to build successful government, regulatory and communications teams, utilizing a campaign management approach to policy and project development challenges.
Long earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Administration from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Ray Long
Website: https://acore.org/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-long-a89a816/
WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector
Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones
The link to register is below.
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the evolving solar landscape—covering key state-level policy battles, rising resistance to distributed solar, the latest federal tax package in Congress, and the long term trends in the solar industry. Fox Swim, Senior Solar Industry Researcher at Aurora Solar, shares expertise on policy, utility rates, and resiliency-minded markets.
Key Themes & Highlights
- Aurora Solar & Fox’s Expertise
Aurora provides industry-leading solar design and sales software globally.
- State-Level Anti-Solar Trends
Utilities favor centralized generation, clashing with distributed energy advocates.
California’s AB 942 aims to end grandfathered NEM/NEM 2 contracts when homes are sold, pushing owners into less favorable NEM 3 tariffs—effectively breaking existing contracts.
- Resiliency & Distributed Generation
Extreme weather, aging grid infrastructure, and power instability are driving demand for solar + storage.
Distributed generation is seen as a smarter, faster, and more resilient solution than central utility models.
Virtual battery programs in states like Connecticut are emerging as positive examples.
- Federal Tax Bill & IRA Disruptions
The recent House tax bill introduces critical threats:
Elimination of IRA incentives (including ITC, storage, and battery credits).
“Fiat” sourcing restrictions targeting Chinese-manufactured solar components, potentially nullifying battery and panel subsidies.
Fox warns of an unplanned “solar winter” where many small players may fold, though core demand won’t vanish.
Emphasis is shifting toward resilience and independence—not just ROI.
- 2025 Aurora Solar Snapshot Insights
(Backed by Aurora’s data on ~12.5 million projects, surveys of 1,000+ homeowners, 1,000 professionals, and 500+ businesses)
Resilience over ROI: 76% of homeowners view solar as a good investment (up from 43% in 2023)
Financing shifts: Third‑party ownership (leases/PPAs) are growing; battery demand surges with 78% installers seeing increased interest
Bipartisan appeal: Solar cuts across party lines—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all value solar and IRA
Trust challenges: Installer mistrust doubled—44% of homeowners find trustworthy companies hard to identify
Motivations revealed:
Top drivers: bill savings, energy independence, environmental impact (>50% cite environment as a top-3 reason)
Tactical Takeaways for Mavericks
Strengthen Trust – Improve transparency and contract clarity; be proactive about ethical sales practices.
Refocus Messaging – Highlight solar + storage for resilience and independence—especially in disaster-prone regions.
Engage Politically – Contact local/state reps, especially around bills like North Carolina’s ITC reinstatement.
Diversify Revenue – Build resilience offerings or pivots like community solar and virtual battery programs.
Advocacy & Data – Join efforts with industry groups (SEIA, ACORE), and use Aurora’s regional data in policymaker discussions.
Quotes from the Interview
“76% of homeowners now say solar is a smart investment—it used to be 43%!”
“Installer trust has tanked: 44% of homeowners find it hard to pick a dependable provider.”
“Solar isn’t just about ROI anymore—it’s energy independence and resilience.”
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value.
Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Fox Swim
Fox Swim is a data-driven activist with a passion for solving complex social and environmental challenges. With expertise in alternative energy, and urban sustainability, she leverages technical research and leadership skills to drive impactful change. Currently a Senior Industry Researcher at Aurora Solar, Fox focuses on advancing renewable energy solutions while advocating for social justice and sustainability.
Related Links
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/solar-panel-types
https://www.eenews.net/articles/california-bill-would-slash-solar-benefits/
Aurora Solar’s 2025 Snapshot Report
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Fox Swim
Website: https://aurorasolar.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fox-swim-6919061a/
WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector
Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones
The link to register is below.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #27 Briefing Highlights:
- Four executive orders signed to boost nuclear power
- Empire Wind's stop work order has been lifted
- One Big Beautiful Bill impacts on IRA and renewable energy
- Potential major changes to the bill after deliberations in the Senate, an important time now to petition your senators and representatives before it is too late.
If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #26 Briefing Highlights:
- Benoy was at a great new conference, the Mid-Atlantic Solar and Storage Conference.
-The main topics were IRA, tariffs, how credit transferability may work in the future, impacts of the 2024 PJM capacity auction, SREC values in NJ being lowered, potential removal of grandfather provisions in California net metering program.
- $12 billion sale of generation assets from LS Power to NRG was completed bringing NRG's total capacity to 25GW
- Quanta was awarded a $1.5 billion contract to provide EPC services for Invenergy's Grainbelt Expressway transmission project.
If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Unlocking Energy Storage Value: PJM Market Reforms with Brattle Group’s Serena Patel
Episode Overview:
In this special live episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, recorded at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Industries Association (“MSSIA”) Solar & Storage Insight Conference in New Brunswick, NJ, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Serena Patel, Energy Research Associate at The Brattle Group, to unpack critical energy storage market reforms in the PJM interconnection.
The conversation focuses on a groundbreaking report from Brattle, commissioned by the American Clean Power Association, that lays out a roadmap for unlocking the full value of energy storage across U.S. energy markets.
Key Topics Covered:
- Why PJM’s current market design undervalues flexible storage resources
- The two most urgent market reforms:
▪ Opportunity cost bidding for energy storage
▪ Creation of new ancillary service and ramping reserve products
- How suppressed price signals hinder storage operators’ revenue
- Lessons from other RTOs like CAISO and NYISO that PJM can implement now
- The case for all-source procurement in local reliability planning
- The critical role of stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy to push reforms forward
Featured Report:
Energy Storage Market Design Reforms: A Roadmap to Unlock the Potential of Energy Storage
By: Brattle Group for the American Clean Power Association
Released: April 2025
Notable Quotes:
“Our current systems were built for legacy fossil fuel generators. If we don’t reform the markets now, we risk undervaluing the flexibility that storage offers.” – Serena Patel
“Opportunity cost bidding would help storage developers maximize revenue by bidding strategically, rather than being constrained by outdated market rules.” – Serena Patel
Takeaway for Developers & Policymakers:
To accelerate storage deployment, developers must actively engage in PJM stakeholder processes and advocate for reforms that enable revenue stacking and flexibility compensation. The Brattle report offers actionable insights to guide that involvement.
Thanks to MSSIA:
Special thanks to the MiSSIA for hosting the Solar Maverick Podcast at their first annual conference and for their continued solar and storage advocacy in NJ, PA, and DE.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value.
Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Serena Patel
Serena Patel is an Energy Research Associate at The Brattle Group, where she focuses on electricity market design and energy storage economics. She was a lead author on the ACP-sponsored market reform report and is deeply involved in clean energy policy development.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Serena Patel
Website: https://www.brattle.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serena-naresh-patel/
Summer Solstice Fundraiser
Join Reneu Energy, Rosemawr Management, Polar Racking, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser!
This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy.
Event Highlights:
-Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy.
-Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening.
-Tickets: $50
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652
Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with JD Dillon, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at Tigo Energy. This conversation dives into how Tigo is transforming residential solar with a smarter, service-driven approach. JD shares insights from his unique career journey — from West Point and semiconductors to helping lead the turnaround at Enphase, and now steering Tigo’s growth as a public company.
The discussion explores the growing importance of software and service in solar, the booming market for repowering legacy systems, and why bipartisan support makes solar a winning issue across the political spectrum. JD also highlights lessons from semiconductor manufacturing, the value of veteran leadership in clean energy, and how Tigo’s open ecosystem and installer-first mindset are setting the company apart.
Key Topics Covered:
- Tigo’s evolution from MLPE to full energy solutions
- Why service and software will define the next era of solar
- Repowering as a high-growth opportunity for residential solar
- How open ecosystems and rapid install feedback drive innovation
- The intersection of military leadership and renewable energy
- U.S. vs. global rooftop solar adoption rates — and how to catch up
- What the solar industry can learn from semiconductors
- Why solar transcends political divisions and continues to scale
- Trends in storage, energy independence, and grid resilience
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value.
Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
James (JD) Dillon
CHIEF MARKETING & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICER at Tigo Energy
JD leads branding, demand generation, and communications functions in addition to the technical service and support teams at Tigo Energy. His experience spans the U.S. Armed Forces, semiconductors, solid-state drives, as well as solar hardware and software solutions. His functional leadership has impacted pricing, new product introduction, customer experience, and communications at all levels. Prior to joining Tigo in 2020, JD spent over 3 years as the VP of Marketing and Pricing at Enphase Energy.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
JD Dillon
Website: https://www.tigoenergy.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jd-dillon/
Summer Solstice Fundraiser
Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser!
Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy.
Event Highlights:
-Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy.
-Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening.
-Tickets: $50
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652
Saturday May 24, 2025
Saturday May 24, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this episode, Scott Elias, Vice President of Policy & Market Development at CleanCapital, shares expert insights on CleanCapital’s investment strategy, his background in clean energy policy, and the fast-moving developments in Washington, D.C. surrounding the fight to protect the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Scott breaks down the potential implications of proposed changes to the Inflation Reduction Act, highlights which states are leading the charge in clean energy growth, and explores the growing investor interest in solar + storage portfolios.
Read Scott’s latest take on the proposed tax bill that could significantly impact clean energy investment in the U.S.:
Defending American Energy Dominance – CleanCapital
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value.
Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Scott Elias
Scott Elias is the Vice President of Government Affairs at CleanCapital, where he leads the company’s federal and state policy strategy to accelerate clean energy deployment across the United States. With over a decade of experience in renewable energy policy, Scott plays a pivotal role in advocating for legislation that supports clean energy investment and innovation.
Before joining CleanCapital, Scott held senior policy and advocacy roles at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and other leading organizations, where he worked closely with lawmakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to shape impactful energy policy.
At CleanCapital, Scott helps ensure that the company stays ahead of policy trends and capitalizes on emerging opportunities—particularly around the Inflation Reduction Act, tax equity structures, and energy storage integration. His deep understanding of the intersection between finance, policy, and technology positions him as a key voice in advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Website: https://cleancapital.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-elias/
Email: selias@cleancapital.com
Summer Solstice Fundraiser
Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser!
Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy.
Event Highlights:
-Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy.
-Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening.
-Tickets: $50
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652
CleanCapital Podcast
https://cleancapital.com/thought-leadership/?_categories=podcast
Defend Solar Energy
https://solarpowersamerica.org/campaign/defend-american-energy/
Friday May 16, 2025
Friday May 16, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #25 Briefing Highlights:
- Montana Community Solar passed with Bill 188 and the market is excited by the irradiance
- New Jersey increased their community solar program by 250MW
- Benoy was at SolarPlaza Asset Management Summit in San Diego. The scaling down of tax credits in the IRA was the main topic
- Finding skilled labor and high turnover is increasingly a challenge for O&M
If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.
Thursday May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #24 Briefing Highlights:
- CCSA came out with a study about how an average community solar project brings $14 million into its community
- Benoy was in Puerto Rico installing solar and storage with Let's Share The Sun Foundation
- MISO market looks dire according to the latest NERC report, in large part due to interconnection delays and bottlenecked transmission from north to south.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at info@reneuenergy.com.