Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague speaks with Ross Wickenheiser, Head of Sales for Canada at CPS (Chint Power Systems), from the floor of Intersolar San Diego. Ross shares valuable insights into Canada's rapidly expanding solar market, particularly highlighting the substantial growth in utility-scale projects across the western provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Ross details how Canada's federal Clean Investment Tax Credit is driving significant new solar development, creating a financially attractive environment for investors alongside the naturally advantageous topography and sunlight conditions in western Canada. The conversation reveals the impressive scale of these developments, with numerous 200-300 MW projects already approved and many more in planning stages, some reaching up to 500 MW.

As a professional who transitioned from the traditional oil and gas sector to renewable energy, Ross offers a unique perspective on the energy transition happening in Canada. He discusses the cultural aspects of working at CPS, emphasizing the supportive, collaborative environment that has welcomed him into the solar industry.

The episode also covers Ross's coast-to-coast work across Canada, from Vancouver to Nova Scotia, and highlights major Canadian trade shows including Electricity Transformation Canada in Toronto and the Global Energy Show in Calgary - noting how the latter has evolved from a primarily oil and gas focus to increasingly featuring renewable energy technologies.

Join Tim and Ross for this engaging discussion about Canada's solar boom, the supportive policy environment, and how professionals from traditional energy sectors are finding fulfilling new paths in the renewable energy transformation.

Connect with Ross Wickenheiser

LinkedIn: Ross Wickenheiser

Website: CPS America

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In the latest Clean Power Hour Live Episode on May 2nd, Tim Montague and John Weaver dive into the latest developments in the renewable energy sector. The conversation kicks off with an analysis of the recent major power outage in Spain and France, exploring how solar inverter technology may have contributed to the grid collapse and how battery storage solutions could prevent similar events in the future.

The hosts also discuss exciting technological advancements in solid-state batteries, exploring Narada Power's new 783 amp-hour cell that packs 8.3 megawatt-hours of storage into a single shipping container.

Episode Highlights:

• Spanish Grid Collapse Analysis (https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/09/24/odessa-disturbance-highlights-troubling-gaps-in-solar-reliability/)
• Double Black Diamond Solar Farm (https://wirepoints.org/first-look-at-massive-illinois-solar-farm-powering-chicago-abc7-chicago/)
• Rooftop Innovation in DC (https://www.reddit.com/r/solar/comments/1k8hxx7/our_panels_arrived/)
• Utility-Scale Automation (https://bsky.app/profile/commercialsolarguy.com/post/3lnsryrkkts25)
• Solid State Battery Breakthrough (https://www.ess-news.com/2025/04/25/narada-power-launches-783-ah-cell-8-3-mwh-solid-state-battery/)
• Balcony Solar Revolution (https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/04/25/balcony-solar-comes-to-california/)
• Solar Tariff Impacts (https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/nextera-beats-profit-expectations-rate-hikes-robust-power-demand-2025-04-23/)

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Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
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Tim on Twitter
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Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague talks with Aaron Gabelnick, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Array Technologies, about the evolving landscape of solar tracking systems and how they're reducing the cost of renewable energy.

Aaron explains how he transitioned from working in traditional energy to join Array Technologies, drawn by the company's mission of "generating energy with integrity for a sustainable world." He details Array's innovative approach to solar tracking, including their unique passive stow mechanism that allows solar arrays to automatically position themselves safely during high winds while maximizing energy production.

The conversation explores how single-axis trackers have revolutionized utility-scale solar by increasing energy yield up to 25% compared to fixed-tilt systems. Aaron breaks down the "3 L's" (land, labor, and latitude) that determine when trackers make economic sense, and explains why trackers have captured 96% of the utility-scale solar market in the United States.

Tim and Aaron also discuss Array's approach to severe weather resilience, with Aaron announcing Array's new 77-degree hail stow technology designed to protect solar panels during increasingly common extreme hail events. The episode touches on Array's investment in Swap Robotics for automating panel installation, with alpha sites expected to deploy robotic panel placement by Q4 2025.

Despite current political uncertainties affecting renewable incentives, Aaron shares his optimistic long-term outlook for solar, citing how even oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are investing heavily in massive solar projects as evidence that solar's cost advantages are undeniable.

Listen to this episode to gain insights into the technical innovations driving cost reductions in solar energy and how leading manufacturers are addressing critical challenges like severe weather events and installation efficiency.

Connect with Aaron Gabelnick

LinkedIn: Aaron Gabelnick

Website: Array Technologies

Support the show

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com