Solar Maverick Podcast

🚀 Renewable Energy Briefing – Episode #22 🌎

Join me and my co-host, David Magid for our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing, where we break down the latest industry trends, policy updates, and market shifts. Stay ahead with expert analysis and key insights that can shape your investment and business decisions.

🔎 This week’s top highlights:
✅ California’s new community solar bill – What it means for the industry
✅ Electric vehicle (EV) sales surge – A massive increase since 2019
✅ Duke Energy's groundbreaking report – How dynamically curtailed data centers could unlock 100GW of capacity
✅ New York energy shift – Aurora’s latest report changes the reference point from natural gas to 2-hour BESS in NYISO

 

If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Richard Weihe, Managing Director of Rosemawr Sustainable Infrastructure Management.

Rich shares valuable insights on unlocking capital in the renewable energy sector, key trends shaping the solar industry, and why solar should be considered a national security asset.

Rosemawr Management is a credit-focused investment firm specializing in municipal finance, sustainable infrastructure, and charter schools. Founded in 2008, the firm currently manages over $1 billion in assets. Its sustainable infrastructure portfolio spans solar, energy storage, wind, and energy efficiency projects across the United States.

 

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.  

 

 

Rich Weihe

 

​Richard Weihe is the Managing Director of Rosemawr Sustainable Infrastructure Management, a division of Rosemawr Management LLC. Rosemawr Management, established in 2008, is an alternative investment management firm specializing in the U.S. municipal, not-for-profit, and sustainable infrastructure sectors.  He has over 20 years of experience in energy.

 

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Rich Weihe

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-weihe-020b6a7/

Email:  rweihe@rosemawr.com

Website:  https://www.rosemawr.com/

 

Recent Press Releases from Rosemawr

 

AC Power and Rosemawr Announce Development Capital Financing Partnership

Book Discussed During the Podcast

 

https://www.einpresswire.com/article/781010074/ac-power-and-rosemawr-announce-development-capital-financing-partnership

 

RIC Energy and Rosemawr Announce Financing Partnership to Deploy Solar and Energy Storage Projects in New York

 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106262035/en/RIC-Energy-and-Rosemawr-Announce-Financing-Partnership-to-Deploy-Solar-and-Energy-Storage-Projects-in-New-York

 

 

Book Recommendations from Rich

Volt Rush

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0861546199/?bestFormat=true&k=volt%20rush&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_9&crid=WI6IBFJPRBWF&sprefix=Volt%20Rush

 

The War Below

https://www.amazon.com/War-Below-Lithium-Copper-Global/dp/B0C7XY6H2B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KQBCIFDWK1RL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hPL3uDd44m2KVunWhZsJ_TdsnRo_2W237lW4wbqItJ7Z9UcqS3MPwFmkKS1gTv9CdJMZ1Yl93idHDsyv4adQASAJTUrUnY8doo7knbk6CL1w_bAECIuVq1evpCR1snx4Fn00JYqHyXHFBiT8sg8-KDbPCg2_xcSU9dUXOb8hggycDSrQscHtbp9bvmMagzxTGboauJvM73nI-Ny3KXovj7vj9-sdthNuYvsXlKUJMIE.x-j6J9q95haB864FW-CO11xlAtLhmArWHkF3kbNf77Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+war+below&qid=1742482496&sprefix=The+war+below%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy sits down with Vihann Kong, Senior Executive Director of Enterprise Acquisition at Ampion. Ampion is driving the clean energy revolution by expanding access to community energy programs across the country.

Vihann shares insights on Ampion’s partnerships with major brands like Wendy’s and Colgate-Palmolive, the emerging community solar markets in the U.S., and the renewable energy technologies poised to make an impact beyond solar.

 

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.  

 

 

Vihann Kong

With a robust background in sustainable energy and customer relationship management, my role as Senior Executive Director of Enterprise Acquisition at Ampion, PBC, is centered around pioneering clean energy solutions for enterprise customers. Our team's commitment to lowering energy costs and advancing ESG initiatives has positioned us as a vanguard in the renewable energy sector.

 

Previously, as Director of Sales at Metrus Energy, I spearheaded the development of a comprehensive sales strategy, contributing to significant channel growth. My expertise in sustainable energy efficiency is not just about implementing solutions—it's about leading a movement towards a greener future, with every successful partnership reflecting our shared values of innovation and sustainability.

 

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Vihann Kong

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vihann/

Website:  https://ampion.net

 

Book Discussed During the Podcast

 

Reinventing Fire

https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Fire-Business-Solutions-Energy/dp/1603585389/ref=sr_1_1?crid=393DN2LYKRNEH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7ZlZ3ajzmHCiGkyO3koc8AUrGWG5arXAUTY8cSWB1KNRE0PcDQQ6Zw7OZGwQPfTQpAtrVbbyysqLEgM4HZbxM32mFZIsScIhkiyqS9BSnVgYF3Ho6YE1UICqgpxoK4xv8P_w3X_QCKx-Jy32WFT6d9d48KhhjOiWKYy-HJPAFajyvAxwCF22_Jyl6tTwsux8hmMvsFv_vQKJf-l3MwBkDRIXn_KIEEnkVGenWu-mAzU.xhksKUmbWyMkggL2CY0WREZnVwNkgFHJTq_PWV5Vo4M&dib_tag=se&keywords=reinventing+fire&qid=1741965815&sprefix=reinventing+fire%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

In this special 200th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan and co-host Li Wang, Marketing Director of Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast, reflect on their journey to this milestone. They discuss key insights on the future of the solar industry, the transformative role of AI in renewable energy, and valuable entrepreneurship advice.

A huge thank you to our listeners for your incredible support in making the Solar Maverick Podcast one of the most popular in the industry!

Thank you to everyone who attended our LA FireAid Fundraiser at Intersolar! Your support made this event a success, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity.

A special shoutout to our amazing sponsors—AMS Renewable Energy, RST Cleantech, Clean Footprint, Reneu Energy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast—for making this fundraiser possible.

 

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.  

 

 

Li Wang

Squarespace Website Designer, Marketing Director of Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast

 

I’m a former journalist turned website designer. I work solely on the Squarespace platform and have embraced its esthetic beauty and ease of use. I work with people who have a strong vision for their business and I simply unearth what makes them shine. I tell your brand story through the same processes I used as a former newspaper reporter. I currently have a waitlist for website design projects, but you can reserve your place here.

 

Squarespace Circle Member

Squarespace Authorized Trainer

Background and philosophy

 

Better every day. That’s the way I aspire to live.

 

I was born in 1973 in Philadelphia. My parents immigrated from Taipei and my dad’s first job out of graduate school was in Philadelphia. I’m a die-hard Eagles fan and being raised in that city has shaped my identity. Hip-hop culture served as my first artistic influence. Run-DMC, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys shaped how I created my own environment.

 

During the summer of O.J. trial I interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. I became hooked on journalism. I went on to another internship at the Des Moines Register and started my career as a business reporter for the Times of Trenton. I was the arts editor for the Honolulu Weekly and then the film critic for the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

 

Website design

 

I could see the end of the print industry so I decided to get a professional certificate in digital marketing from New York University. I started an agency with a partner doing SEO, PPC , content creation and website design. My partner decided to focus on software development and I turned my attention to website design.

 

Today I help small business owners shine online with compelling websites to resonate with their target audiences.

 

Personal interests

 

I’m a fitness enthusiast (CrossFit), watch collector (14060M, PAM112, SBGA085), and father (Matthew and Noemi).

 

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Li Wang

Email:  li@littleoxworkshop.com

Website:  https://www.littleoxworkshop.com

 

 

Book Recommendations

George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones

 

https://www.amazon.com/George-Lucas-Brian-Jay-Jones-ebook/dp/B01DSTTRBW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RBXXD7XKH43Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-IoPSlTJA5SNa2QBh6cfyG75T1muc08nEtyk-Xm4ULq6hohaS7ohX9zo6eAXsh9duyxUDygHDy43QZwusNtOBpIDp019XuhNKrAiGhJ6dUN4uS6vXPtfxvhfYMvkm_amPYdRWsYF9Pl16rqzdE6vJ65eKWhxQlEYSldTgD_e6c1kVrOFUKiALgl1FppeMDYPVlAKggKEBLUPbF5ZDfip8Tl0PO5SnMj1TN7Vn8wd9Jg.3kIAOYFE-qXr6_u1jEkilLJsWqPkXPqb-_ytmG0gSEM&dib_tag=se&keywords=george+lucas+book&qid=1741022082&sprefix=george+lucas%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1

 

 

How to Start Worry and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N3SO9I/?bestFormat=true&k=how%20to%20start%20worrying%20and%20start%20living&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_16&crid=2YEBAKJ2VEJW2&sprefix=how%20ot%20start%20wor

 

 

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break-ebook/dp/B07D23CFGR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EFELZ83PXDEE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y8ep0gjO0LaPjilbBqM79Xc2YZxFFvDOy7Lc27uggak-q5YmV5RsUlyRu-CTr0npJ0gRUx0ASicl9MOtJyk6fGTJ0Xxd_XDVFXJvb0BcmZ6vwNqmBzA93KU45puZNkdVopAqqtIUFTo2KYCA7-FJzr0371JvAVDlwQ7CSTShNRN-ggiCHNBVjWziBnegWzCkyP-xlax-3lklbAtiFh-3vYOZr3tuO8IgL4BHttFHJEE.ZO5fa3V0ar5nZ8XBYE6kqezA8wGK2ShncgzV9u9TqEY&dib_tag=se&keywords=atomic+habits&qid=1741022424&sprefix=atomic%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1

 

 

The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime by MJ DeMarco

https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Fastlane-Crack-Wealth-Lifetime-ebook/dp/B004BDOUAI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K46KWSB09QMW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z4MidZRm4ZWE0T1HY7abuwdeo5CqTw10yZQVXYGCxm9DNaZTpMC_23RRaoL8h8-wnOy1BK3Rov0urj7ai8FISV54JO5KAlx_iBOMAydfX0zeWL6hKJ_oLbsHJeVGcFjo4joyU6H5OKeK8ncIQ0RuZJ7j-2v4TCrfEL6JYdeweYwUDkMM9L0DSV3B7BDed7DnYCVgfMJgzBXhqTvYNwjOuimnJsQA-aMtW7OYgz8Zvts.tSyBkDMxEzpxkotL3Me02V25R6WP4caU8e66-MLlea0&dib_tag=se&keywords=millionaire+fastlane+by+mj+demarco&qid=1741022902&sprefix=milionair+f%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1

 

 

 

Thought Leaders in Renewable Energy on Linkedin

 

Abby Hopper

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-hopper-a3415527/

 

Jigar Shah

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc/

 

John Moran

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-moran-03a3b3a/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

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 #21 Briefing Highlights:

• Invenergy has secured $1.1 billion in construction debt financing

• Altus being acquired by TPG

• Renewable generation accounted for the overwhelming majority of new infrastructure in 2024

• US based solar module production continues to increase steadily and quickly

If you have any questions or comments, you can email or call us at benoy@reneuenergy.com.

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 #20 Briefing Highlights:

• Some immediate impacts of Trump's executive orders on the renewable energy sector

• UN-backed net-zero banking alliance losing

• TVA impressive reliability/resilience track record

If you have any questions or comments, email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy sits down with Adam Saghei, CEO and Founder of We Recycle Solar, at their state-of-the-art recycling facility—the only certified solar waste disposal provider. Adam shares insights into the growing opportunities in solar recycling, the cutting-edge technology behind their process, and key industry trends shaping the future of solar sustainability.

 

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.  

 

Adam Saghai

Adam Saghei is the Chief Executive Officer of We Recycle Solar, a company based in Yuma, Arizona, dedicated to addressing the growing need for sustainable disposal solutions for decommissioned solar panels. Under his leadership, the company has developed processes to recover valuable materials such as silver, copper, aluminum, glass, and silicone from obsolete or damaged photovoltaic panels, achieving up to a 99% recovery rate. Saghei emphasizes the importance of planning for the retirement of solar assets to ensure a sustainable lifecycle for renewable energy technologies.

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Adam Saghai

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaghei/

Website:  https://werecyclesolar.com/

 

 

Join Us at FireAid LA Fundraiser During InterSolar!

 

The recent fires in Los Angeles have impacted so many lives, and now is our chance to give back. Join us on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, at 5:00 PM at The Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave for an evening of networking, community, and making a real difference.

💡 Why Attend?

✅ Support those affected by the LA fires

✅ Connect with fellow solar & clean energy professionals

✅ Enjoy a great evening while giving back

This event is proudly organized by Reneu Energy & the Solar Maverick Podcast, and proceeds will go to FireAid LA to help those in need.

📩 Interested in sponsoring? Email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

Let’s come together as an industry to make an impact. See you there!

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fireaid-la-fundraiser-during-intersolar-tickets-1227144735939?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy sits down with Vishal Lala, CEO and Founder of Polar Racking, a North American leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of solar PV mounting systems. Polar Racking offers a diverse portfolio of ground-mount, tracker, and carport solutions for commercial and utility-scale markets, along with innovative agrivoltaic systems.

Vishal shares expert insights on optimizing solar project performance through high-quality racking solutions, discusses emerging trends shaping the future of the solar industry, and offers valuable entrepreneurial advice.

Congratulations to Polar Racking and Vishal Lala on celebrating 15 years in business in December 2024!

 

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.  

 

Vishal Lala

Vishal Lala is the Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Polar Racking, a company he established in 2009. Under his leadership, Polar Racking has evolved from a flat rooftop racking manufacturer into a North American leader in solar mounting solutions, expanding its offerings to include ground-mount, tracker, and carport products for commercial and utility-scale markets.

Throughout his tenure, Lala has emphasized delivering high-quality, low-maintenance solar racking solutions that provide maximum value to customers. His strategic vision has been instrumental in Polar Racking's growth and its commitment to achieving a 10 GW annual production capacity for global solar projects.

Lala's leadership is characterized by a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, positioning Polar Racking as a key player in the global solar industry.

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Vishal Lala

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-lala-cfa-781b526/

Email:  vishal.lala@polarracking.com

Website:  https://www.polarracking.com/

 

Thank you to Concentro for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast!

 

Concentro’s mission is to create and promote accessible financing mechanisms for distributed generation projects. As we work towards a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy system, they strive to empower developers with the financial tools they need to succeed.  Below are the link to the podcast and the contact information of Iñigo and Tao who were on Episode 186.

 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259?i=1000679191495

 

 

Iñigo Rengifo Melia

 

Email:  inigo@concentro.io

 

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/inigo-rengifo-melia/

 

Website: https://www.concentro.io/

 

 

Tao Mantaras

 

Email:  tao@concentro.io

 

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/taomantaras/

 

Website:  https://www.concentro.io

 

 

Join Us at FireAid LA Fundraiser During InterSolar!

 

The recent fires in Los Angeles have impacted so many lives, and now is our chance to give back. Join us on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, at 5:00 PM at The Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave for an evening of networking, community, and making a real difference.

💡 Why Attend?

✅ Support those affected by the LA fires

✅ Connect with fellow solar & clean energy professionals

✅ Enjoy a great evening while giving back

This event is proudly organized by Reneu Energy & the Solar Maverick Podcast, and proceeds will go to FireAid LA to help those in need.

📩 Interested in sponsoring? Email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

Let’s come together as an industry to make an impact. See you there!

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fireaid-la-fundraiser-during-intersolar-tickets-1227144735939?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

 

 

 

 

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy sits down with Chris Grablutz, Principal and Co-founder of Tri-Force Energy—a leading Commercial & Utility Solar Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance company serving NJ, NY, and PA. Chris shares expert insights on optimizing solar project performance through effective O&M strategies, repowering aging assets, and emerging trends shaping the future of the solar industry.

 

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.  

 

 

Chris Grablutz

 Chris Grablutz has worked in the solar industry since 2010 with a wide network of great solar professionals and deep roots in northeast solar markets. His work in commercial, industrial, and utility scale solar has been focused on the technical aspects such as design engineering, construction management, QA/QC, Testing, and Operations & Maintenance. With a degree in Applied Physics and engineering background, Chris is a very detailed, logical, and process driven leader. Chris was also a NCAA Division I wrestler and grew up working for a family-owned construction company, which has contributed to his work hard attitude.

In 2010, he entered the solar industry as a Project Engineer at Pfister Energy, a New Jersey based EPC firm. Chris supported commercial PV designs. Project and construction management came naturally to Chris from his upbringing in a family-owned construction firm. Chris managed the solar installations on multiple school district portfolios, UPS distribution facility, Teterboro Airport hangers, low and moderate income (LMI) apartment complexes, and building-integrated PV (BIPV) and building-integrated solar thermal systems at Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina.
As the Director of Field Services at PV Pros and Pure Power Engineering, he led the creation of a commercial PV installation division. Chris grew the team to over 30 in-house employees with Job Site Safety, Technical Training, Quality Control, Staffing, and Project Management under his purview. In 2016, he led a start-up effort to transition from regional commercial construction into a national technical services firm, providing Operations and Maintenance (O&M), Owner's Engineer, and Independent Engineering.

As the Director of Business Development, Chris's team led the sales of over 1GW of Owner's Engineer, Independent Engineer, and commissioning agent. His team's O&M sales included over 200MW of long-term O&M agreements. The O&M division completed multiple large service projects including PV system removal & re-installations.

He continued his career in technical sales as the Director of Business Development at Clean Energy Associates, a global leader in solar manufacturing quality assurance, supply chain management, engineering services, and supplier/market intelligence programs.

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Chris Grablutz

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgrablutz/

Email:  info@triforceenergy.com

Website:  https://triforceenergy.com/

 

Chris Grablutz’s previous episodes on the Solar Maverick Podcast

 

SMP 07-SMP 07: Getting down to Earth with Solar: Construction, quality control and O&M insights from Chris Grablutz

 

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-07-getting-down-to-earth-with-solar-construction-quality-control-and-om-insights-from-chris-grablutz/

 

SMP 42-LIve How Solar Technology is Changing the world?

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-42-live-event-how-solar-technology-is-changing-the-world/

The book that Chris spoke about during the podcast is Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business.

Two companies that Chris discusses in the podcast.

Ecosuite

https://ecosuite.io

 

Solargrade

https://solargrade.io

 

Chris will be attending RE+ in Boston on Feb 12 to 13, 2025. If you want to meet with him at the conference, email him at info@triforceenergy.com.

 

Thank you to Concentro for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast!

Concentro’s mission is to create and promote accessible financing mechanisms for distributed generation projects. As we work towards a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy system, they strive to empower developers with the financial tools they need to succeed.  Below are the link to the podcast and the contact information of Iñigo and Tao who were on Episode 186.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259?i=1000679191495

 

Iñigo Rengifo Melia

Email:  inigo@concentro.io

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/inigo-rengifo-melia/

Website: https://www.concentro.io/

 

Tao Mantaras

Email:  tao@concentro.io

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/taomantaras/

Website:  https://www.concentro.io

 

Join Us at FireAid LA Fundraiser During InterSolar! 

 The recent fires in Los Angeles have impacted so many lives, and now is our chance to give back. Join us on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, at 5:00 PM at The Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave for an evening of networking, community, and making a real difference.

💡 Why Attend?

✅ Support those affected by the LA fires

✅ Connect with fellow solar & clean energy professionals

✅ Enjoy a great evening while giving back

This event is proudly organized by Reneu Energy & the Solar Maverick Podcast, and proceeds will go to FireAid LA to help those in need.

📩 Interested in sponsoring? Email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

Let’s come together as an industry to make an impact. See you there!

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fireaid-la-fundraiser-during-intersolar-tickets-1227144735939?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy and his co-host Nate Jovanelly, CEO of Sunraise Capital, speak about the 2025 Solar Outlook.

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.  

 

Nathan Jovanelly

Nate is the CEO and Founder of SunRaise Capital’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible renewable energy options to homeowners, while reducing carbon footprints and creating a sustainable future for generations to come. They achieve their mission by partnering with industry leading solar installers to provide our customers with the best possible solar experience at competitive rates.

As the CEO of an innovative residential solar lease company, he spearheads strategic initiatives aimed at harmonizing the objectives of our funding partners, installation teams, and homeowners. With a relentless focus on alignment, he cultivates collaborative relationships to ensure mutual success and satisfaction across all stakeholders. Through innovative leadership and a commitment to transparency, he drives sustainable growth while delivering exceptional value to our investors, installers, and customers alike.

 

Stay Connected:

Benoy Thanjan

Email: info@reneuenergy.com 

LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan

Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com

 

Nathan Jovanelly

SunRaise Capital Website:  https://www.sunraisecapital.com/

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/natejov/

 

200the Episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast Party

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/200the-episode-of-the-solar-maverick-podcast-party-tickets-1227144735939?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Jocko's Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8

 

Nate’s other interviews on the Solar Maverick Podcast

SMP 176:  REplus takeaways

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-176-replus-takeaways/

 

SMP 166: Residential Solar Trends

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-166-residential-solar-trends/

 

SMP 150: How SunRaise Capital is innovating residential solar financing?

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-150-how-sunraise-capital-is-innovating-residential-solar-financing/

 

Solar Maverick Episode 147:  RE+ Takeaways

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-147-re-conference-takeaways/

 

Solar Maverick Episode 139: Opportunities and Challenges with the PJM Solar Market

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u14GHBkqcqo

 

Solar Maverick Episode 134: 2023 Solar Predictions

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-134-2023-solar-predictations/

 

SMP 131:  How Technology and Software are innovating the Solar Industry?

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-131-how-technology-and-software-is-innovating-the-solar-industry/

 

 SMP 100: US Residential Solar, Storage, and Electric Vehicle Trends

https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-100-us-residential-solar-storage-and-electric-vehicles-trends/

 

SMP 74: Impact on COVID-19 on Residential Solar

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smp-74-impacts-of-covid-19-on-residential-solar/id1441876259?i=1000475840259

 

 SMP 58:  Residential Solar Financing and Other Interesting Topics

https://podcasts.apple.com/tc/podcast/smp-58-residential-solar-financing-other-interesting/id1441876259?i=1000459212910

 

 SMP 20:  The Solar Intrapreneur Story:  How Nate helped IGS become one of the biggest solar asset owners in the US

https://podcasts.apple.com/tc/podcast/smp-20-solar-intrapreneur-story-how-nate-helped-igs/id1441876259?i=1000432329129