Solar Smart

Solar Storage: Commercial Solar, Roof Innovation & Linear Power Solutions

Commercial property owners and CFOs face mounting challenges from rising electricity prices, increasing grid demand, and complex energy requirements. Discover the financial math behind commercial power generation, how roof technology transforms energy efficiency, and why on-site energy resilience boosts property value. The discussion covers calculating ROI using power bill modeling, demand charges, power purchase agreements (PPAs), white reflective roof coatings, data center power strains, and cutting-edge linear generator technology. Joining Morgan Pierce is Walt Jordan, Chief Revenue Officer at DGen Energy Partners, a leading US commercial rooftop solar and energy storage developer. Walt shares his insights on uniting roofing and solar into single engineered solutions, driving business value, and navigating evolving energy markets. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT The financial ROI math for CFOs using 12 months of utility bill modeling. Navigating demand charges, battery storage integration, and PPA financing models. Maximizing solar efficiency and heating/cooling ROI through white reflective roof coatings. Navigating grid capacity constraints and data center power requirements. Innovations in clean linear generators and dispelling off-grid energy solar myths. GUEST DETAILS Walt Jordan is the Chief Revenue Officer at DGen Energy Partners, one of the top commercial rooftop solar and energy storage developers in the United States. With a strong background in roofing and commercial solar development, Walt specializes in designing, financing, and building on-site energy systems—including solar, battery storage, linear generators, and EV infrastructure—while simplifying complex energy concepts for business owners. MORE INFORMATION Since 2020, SolarSmart has been driving solar adoption in Ireland. We’ve installed over 1700 systems for homeowners and business owners around the country. SolarSmart is now the country’s highest-rated solar installer on Trustpilot. Visit our website; solarsmart.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io Quotes If you're a CFO, I want to show my work how I've arrived at the numbers of where we're trying to get to. Walt Jordan How do we turn your roof from a capex expenditure into a return on investment? Walt Jordan Everybody thinks that when you get solar, you're going to go off the grid... That's just not realistic. That's the myth. Walt Jordan KEYWORDS #CommercialSolar #EnergyStorage #RoofingInnovation #LinearGenerators #EnergyResilience

SME Sustainability Guide - Laura McDermott with Morgan Pierce

Businesses are struggling to balance the demand for rapid growth with the increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Compliance feels like a burden and the path to effective change remains unclear for many leaders. We explore how to bridge this gap through business model transformation and design thinking. We examine the transition from box-ticking reporting to creating real environmental and commercial value. Laura McDermott CEO of Colectivo joined us on the Solar Smart Podcast to share her expertise. Laura is a leading voice in Irish consultancy helping organisations synthesise sustainability with innovation. She brings a practical and human-centric perspective to climate action. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT The spark behind Colectivo. Sustainability as business transformation. New greenwashing laws explained. Leveraging government grants for diagnostics. Success strategies for SMEs. GUEST DETAILS Laura McDermott is the CEO of Colectivo. She leads an Irish consultancy focused on embedding sustainability through business model transformation. Laura specialises in design thinking and stakeholder engagement helping organisations turn ESG ambition into practical commercial action. MORE INFORMATION Since 2020, SolarSmart has been driving solar adoption in Ireland. We’ve installed over 1700 systems for homeowners and business owners around the country. SolarSmart is now the country’s highest-rated solar installer on Trustpilot. Visit our website; solarsmart.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io Quotes Change should be the end goal. - Laura McDermott Use design innovation methods to get people on board. - Laura McDermott The first step is diagnostic. - Laura McDermott KEYWORDS #BusinessGrowth #GreenInnovation #SustainableStrategy #SolarEnergy #ClimateAction

• Transcript

Solar Storage an Irish Business Game Changer - Morgan Pierce with Peter Russell

Irish businesses face continuous challenges to reduce costs and secure reliable power in an unstable energy market. Discover how integrated solar and storage solutions are transforming commercial energy generation, providing a blueprint for maximising savings and achieving true energy independence. The discussion delves into cutting-edge DC coupled storage, the role of AI in optimising usage patterns, the coming impact of dynamic tariffs, and the future of vehicle-to-grid technology. Joining Morgan Pierce is Peter Russell, the Director of Ireland for Sigenergy, a leading voice in Ireland's energy transition. Peter draws on over 15 years of experience in solar PV, battery storage, and EV infrastructure to explain why Sigenergy is the market leader in rapid innovation. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Peter Russell's solar career path Sigenergy's all-in-one stackable innovation AI algorithms and dynamic tariffs Commercial battery storage adoption Vehicle to grid technology potential GUEST DETAILS Peter Russell is the Director of Ireland for Sigenergy. He has over 15 years of experience in renewable technologies spanning solar PV, battery storage, and EV infrastructure. He was instrumental in driving the early heat pump market in Ireland and is now recognised as a leading voice in Ireland's energy transition MORE INFORMATION Since 2020, SolarSmart has been driving solar adoption in Ireland. We’ve installed over 1700 systems for homeowners and business owners around the country. SolarSmart is now the country’s highest-rated solar installer on Trustpilot. Visit our website; solarsmart.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io Quotes You want that investment to maximise your potential in savings and your potential in energy independence. - Peter Russell Being an all-in-one unit means it's kind of future proof. - Peter Russell You could commission and install a megawatt of batteries in one day very easily. There's no wiring between any of the battery packs. - Peter Russell KEYWORDS #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #DCCoupled #DynamicTariffs #VehicleGrid

Solar Energy Efficiency in Health Retail - Morgan Pierce with Lloyd Hewson

Irish businesses often face unsustainable, escalating energy costs. Many retail leaders struggle to balance aggressive growth strategies with a commitment to environmental stewardship. Nourish, one of Ireland's most established natural health and wellness retailers, decided to tackle this challenge head-on by adopting solar energy. This episode explores Nourish's decades-long evolution from an obscure health food store to a mainstream retail leader and details the operational decisions that led to their new HQ solar installation. Host Morgan Pierce and Lloyd Hewson discuss tackling high electricity bills, upcycling materials, the power of SEAI business training, and the surprising speed of solar payback. Joining Morgan is Lloyd Hewson, Head of Operations at Nourish. Lloyd has seen the industry dramatically evolve during his 25-year tenure and shares his extensive experience managing growth and embedding sustainability at the core of the business. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Nourish's 40-year evolution and growth Retail's energy challenges and waste reduction The HQ move and solar decision Quantifying solar's impact and payback Debunking solar myths and key advice GUEST DETAILS Lloyd Hewson is the Head of Operations at Nourish, Ireland's leading natural health and wellness retailer. He has been with Nourish for over 25 years, starting in warehouse and shop roles before moving into head office operations. He is an expert in balancing rapid business growth with sustainability and led the sustainable fit-out and solar installation at Nourish’s new headquarters. MORE INFORMATION Since 2020, SolarSmart has been driving solar adoption in Ireland. We’ve installed over 1700 systems for homeowners and business owners around the country. SolarSmart is now the country’s highest-rated solar installer on Trustpilot. Visit our website; solarsmart.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

AgriData's Solar Journey - Morgan Pierce with David Mullins

Achieving binding climate change goals presents an immense challenge for Ireland's vital agriculture sector, which must find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without collapsing the economy. Simply reducing herd numbers is a "knee-jerk reaction" that would harm Ireland, Europe's largest beef exporter, which already boasts a strong sustainability profile based on its grass-fed system. The real solution lies in strategic measurement, verification, and the adoption of new energy solutions like solar power. This episode explores the critical connection between farm sustainability and renewable energy adoption, highlighting why solar is proving to be an unparalleled win for Irish businesses and homeowners. Discover how one company is verifying the country’s green resource and charting a path to energy independence, with astonishing return on investment figures. We are joined by David Mullins, Founder and Owner Director of AgriData Ltd. David’s company is contracted to Bord Bia to provide on-farm inspections and verification for the Sustainable Assurance Scheme, placing him at the very centre of Ireland’s sustainability drive. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT AgriData sustainability inspections across Irish farms Six kilowatt system proved solar viability Wall mounted winter performance exceeded expectations EV driving fundamentally changes environmental thinking Ireland's climate perfect for solar production GUEST DETAILS David Mullins: Founder and owner director of AgriData Ltd. Started as a software company in 1996 selling Farm Software systems to farmers, worked on projects for DAFM, the EPA, Repak ELT (Now Circle ELT) and Bord Bia, providing inspection service to Bord Bia and back office administration services to them. Working directly in the sustainability area through our contracts. Installed a 21Kw Solar PV system, 30Kwh Battery with SolarSmart and switched to Air Source Heat pumps for heating and cooling - removed all ICE vehicles and now only use BEV's. DAVID’S PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS Website: https://agridata.ie QUOTES We are individually responsible for what we've done to the planet. We're individually responsible for what we continue to do to the planet and what we should do. - David Mullins The biggest myth is that Solar doesn't work in Ireland because we don't have sun. That's absolute rubbish. It is not even remotely true. We actually do nearly as good as Spain, to be quite honest with you, because we've got long days and cool temperatures. - David Mullins At the end of the day, they do not compare. Small wind turbines don't compare with solar at all. - David Mullins MORE INFORMATION Since 2020, SolarSmart has been driving solar adoption in Ireland. We’ve installed over 1700 systems for homeowners and business owners around the country. SolarSmart is now the country’s highest-rated solar installer on Trustpilot. Visit our website; solarsmart.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io KEYWORDS #SolarEnergy #SustainableFarming #ElectricVehicles #IrishAgriculture #CarbonNeutral

Why Solar for Business - Morgan Pierce with Padraic Marren

Rising energy costs and increasing pressure to meet sustainability targets are creating a perfect storm for Irish business owners and financial officers today. Navigating the complex world of renewable energy can seem daunting but the financial argument for transforming your roof into a power generator has never been stronger. In our first episode, we explore how solar technology works specifically for commercial entities and how it directly impacts the bottom line. We discuss the mechanics of energy independence, the specific grants available to Irish businesses and how to turn unused roof space into a guaranteed revenue stream through government-backed schemes. Joining our host Morgan Pierce is Padraic Marren, the Chief Strategy Officer at SolarSmart. With a deep background in business strategy, Padraic breaks down the numbers, the technology, and the strategic advantages of adopting solar energy in the current economic climate. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Morgan’s transition from tech to solar How solar energy is created Battery storage for 24/7 operations ROI and payback periods The Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme GUEST DETAILS Padraic Marren is the Chief Strategy Officer at SolarSmart.ie. He plays a pivotal role in guiding the strategic direction of the company, focusing on helping commercial clients navigate the transition to renewable energy. His main skills lie in business strategy development, analysing market trends for renewable integration, and delivering customer-centric energy solutions. https://www.linkedin.com/in/padraic-marren/ QUOTES Solar panels actually work better in temperate, temperate climates - Morgan Pierce Every kilowatt hour of electricity that comes in from the solar panels replaces a kilowatt hour that you purchase from your electricity supply company - Morgan Pierce Payback on that investment in perhaps anywhere between two years and four years - Padraic Marren They will guarantee you a rate of 13 cent kilowatt for 15 years - Padraic Marren This SRES scheme makes a lot of sense for Ireland, because we want every possible kilowatt hour flowing out to the grid. - Morgan Pierce MORE INFORMATION Since 2020, SolarSmart has been driving solar adoption in Ireland. We’ve installed over 1700 systems for homeowners and business owners around the country. SolarSmart is now the country’s highest-rated solar installer on Trustpilot. Visit our website; solarsmart.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io KEYWORDS #SolarEnergy #BusinessBenefits #SolarPanels #RenewableEnergy

• Transcript

Trailer

Introducing solar expert Morgan Pierce. She moved to Ireland with the tech industry in the late 90s and today has become one of Ireland's leaders in solar energy. In our new podcast series, she’ll be sharing what she finds compelling about solar energy, and hearing stories from people about their real world experience with solar in their home or business. Press 'Follow' to get Solar Smart with Morgan Pierce. A brand new podcast coming this January wherever you get your podcasts.

• Transcript