Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy Podcast

• Building Solar Responsibly: Inside PCL’s People-First Growth with Andrew Moles

  What does responsible growth really look like in one of the world’s most competitive industries?In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Andrew Moles, Vice President and General Manager of PCL Solar, the powerhouse EPC that’s helped deliver over 12 gigawatts of solar capacity across North America and Australia.Andrew shares a refreshingly candid look at how PCL Solar has managed to scale across three continents without sacrificing the one thing that matters most, its people.You’ll hear how Andrew and his team built a data-driven, culture-led solar business that resists the temptation to chase growth at any cost. From turning down 80% of incoming bids to protect project quality, to creating a culture where mistakes become the most valuable learning opportunities, this conversation is packed with lessons for leaders navigating fast growth and high stakes.In this episode, Wes and Andrew explore:Why PCL Solar declined the majority of projects one year and how that decision protected its long-term successThe balance between ambition and burnout: what it means to “stretch people without breaking them”How PCL Solar turned its culture into a competitive advantage across 260+ staff in multiple countriesWhat Australia’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) could teach the rest of the world about grid planningEmerging trends like grid-forming inverters and DC-coupled storage systems that could redefine the next decade of utility-scale solarWhy Andrew believes the best leaders are “masters of change management”At its core, this episode is about leadership, the kind that blends growth with discipline, innovation with humility, and data with deep respect for people.If you’re leading teams, building projects, or scaling renewable energy operations, you’ll walk away with real-world lessons from one of the most thoughtful operators in the business.Links: Andrew Moles on LinkedInPCL SolarWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• Building the Hydrogen Economy: Brian DeBruine on Breaking the Clean Energy Logjam

  Why is hydrogen still missing from most clean energy conversations and what will finally unleash its full potential?In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, we sit down with Brian DeBruine, founder of the Colorado Hydrogen Network and host of the Hydrogen NowCast podcast. After a 36-year career at Honeywell Aerospace, Brian stepped out of retirement to help solve one of the energy transition’s most overlooked bottlenecks: the absence of a hydrogen market.From building out infrastructure and educating fleets, to winning major federal grants and advocating for naturally occurring hydrogen, Brian is on a mission to accelerate what he calls the "molecular economy," a necessary complement to the electrify-everything narrative.We cover a wide range of essential insights, including:Why hydrogen is uniquely suited for heavy-duty transport, industry, and chemical processesThe surprising promise of natural hydrogen as a low-cost, renewable energy sourceWhat most clean energy advocates get wrong about adoption, infrastructure, and performance parityWhy hydrogen is a business problem more than a technical one and how to break the stalemateHow Brian’s nonprofit is aligning fleets, fuel stations, and producers to jumpstart the marketLessons from aerospace that now drive his work in clean energy systems and policyThe pushback hydrogen often gets and why it’s time to move past all-or-nothing thinkingThis episode is a masterclass in systems-level problem solving, delivered by someone turning ideas into real infrastructure. Whether you're deep in the energy sector or just curious about what comes next, this conversation will reframe how you think about the future of fuels.🎧 Listen now to learn how we can build a hydrogen economy: faster, smarter, and together.Links: Brian DeBruine on LinkedInColorado Hydrogen NetworkHydrogenNowCastResourcesJoin Colorodo Hydrogen Network/NewsletterBrian's email:  [email protected] Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• From Grid Stress to Resilience: Jae Choi on Redefining Energy Infrastructure

  The energy transition is colliding with unprecedented demand from AI data centers, fleet electrification, and fast-moving policy shifts. But are developers and operators truly prepared to make projects both technically sound and financially viable?In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Wes Ashworth sits down with Jae Choi, VP and Head of Global Operations at ArkN, a subsidiary of SK Group. With nearly 20 years of experience spanning energy storage, fleet charging, and microgrid development, Jae brings a rare vantage point on how to build projects that last.Together, they unpack the disconnect between soaring electricity demand and struggling project economics and why grid value, not subsidies, must drive design in this new era.Listeners will gain insights on:Revenue stacking done right: How to capture multiple value streams without cannibalizing performance.HR1 as a market reset: Why the “big beautiful bill” forces discipline and strengthens long-term viability.AI-powered storage: How artificial intelligence transforms batteries from blunt tools into precision assets.Financing strategies: Why anchoring projects to grid services can cut capital costs and secure debt.Leadership under volatility: Jae’s playbook for keeping teams adaptable, decisive, and resilient.ArkN’s vertically integrated strategy, spanning development, financing, and operations, offers a case study in building future-proof infrastructure. From overcoming interconnection bottlenecks to tailoring systems around hyperscale loads, Jae illustrates what it takes to succeed in today’s turbulent market.For project developers, financiers, and renewable energy leaders, this conversation is a masterclass in balancing technology, economics, and human leadership.Links:Jae Choi on LinkedInArkNWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• Jan Poetsch: Cracking the Code on Decarbonizing Industrial Heat

  Industrial heat is one of the biggest blind spots in the energy transition, yet it represents nearly 40% of all industrial emissions. From oil sands and refineries to food processing, pulp and paper, and chemicals, the challenge of decarbonizing heat is enormous. But where most see complexity, Jan Poetsch, Founder and CEO of Arder Energy, sees opportunity.With nearly two decades of international experience in LNG and senior leadership roles at Shell and PetroChina Canada, Jan brings a deep commercial lens to renewable energy solutions. At Arder, he and his team are tackling industrial heat decarbonization through pragmatic, market-led strategies that prioritize simplicity, profitability, and cross-industry collaboration.In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Jan shares how power-to-heat technologies, thermal energy storage, and smarter business models are reshaping what’s possible for industrial clients and why the solutions that scale don’t always need to be the most complex.We explore:Why industrial heat is the “unsung hero” of the energy transitionThe three guiding principles Arder applies: start simple, scale with profitability, and break industry echo chambersReal-world examples of fast, profitable decarbonization winsHow thermal energy storage is turning grid volatility into an industrial advantageWhy policies that level the playing field could unlock billions in low-cost industrial decarbonizationThe cultural and commercial shifts needed to bridge oil & gas, renewables, and power marketsJan’s perspective is refreshingly grounded in economics, scalability, and collaboration. His vision is clear: if industrial decarbonization is profitable, it will scale and it will reshape the energy system in ways that are lasting and affordable.🎧 Listen to this conversation with Jan Poetsch to discover why industrial heat deserves a front-row seat in the energy transition and how breaking silos between industries can unlock practical, scalable climate solutions.Links: Jan Poetsch on LinkedInArder Energy's WebsiteWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• Breaking the Battery Bottleneck: ION Storage’s Path to Energy Freedom

  Batteries are the hidden bottleneck in electrification and AI. While chips get the headlines, the energy powering our devices, vehicles, and infrastructure is what ultimately sets the pace of innovation.In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Jorge Diaz Schneider, CEO of ION Storage Systems, and Todd Crescenzo, Managing Partner & CIO at Clear Creek Investments, to explore how ION is breaking through decades of stalled promises in battery innovation.ION’s Cornerstone program is already in the hands of customers across consumer electronics, aerospace, defense, and EVs. Unlike the traditional “hero cell” approach, ION delivers consistent, scalable prototypes that prove what is possible when you solve the swelling, safety, and form factor limitations of lithium-ion.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why batteries are one of the biggest constraints on electrification and AI adoptionHow ION’s ceramic bilayer design enables cathode-agnostic, non-swelling, safer batteriesWhy consumer electronics are the ideal proving ground before EV adoptionHow ION moved from lab innovation to a robotic pilot line without reinventing the wheelWhy investors see ION as a true platform technology with horizontal and vertical applicationsThe misconceptions about “solid state” and what really matters in commercializationFrom smart glasses to drones to EVs, ION Storage Systems is building the “Intel Inside” of the battery world, a flexible technology platform that enhances rather than replaces existing infrastructure.Whether you are an innovator, investor, or operator in the energy transition, this conversation reveals what is next in powering the future.Links: Jorge on LinkedInTodd on LinkedIn ION Storage Systems SiteVideo Jorge referencedWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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