Soliverse podcast

Tim Montague on AI, Solar Economics, and Why Batteries Are Just the Beginning

Peter Pongracz Season 1 Episode 27

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In this episode of the Soliverse Podcast, Peter sits down with Tim Montague, founder of Clean Power Hour and Clean Power Consulting, to unpack how AI, batteries, and grid modernization are reshaping the economics—and future—of solar.


From LLMs and layoffs to data centers and microgrids, Tim explains why every solar company now needs an AI strategy—and why smart infrastructure beats hype every time.


They discuss:


🤖 How AI is impacting jobs in solar (and beyond)

📉 Why solar permitting, finance, and design are ripe for automation

🔋 Why batteries—not just panels—are driving the 2025 energy conversation

🇨🇳 What China got right in manufacturing—and how the West can catch up

⚠️ Why U.S. residential solar is in contraction (and what to do about it)

🌍 Why solar needs systemic reform—not just more installs

📊 What Europe and the U.S. can learn from each other

🏗️ Why microgrids + hybrid systems are the path forward



Connect with Tim Montague

🌐 Website: https://www.cleanpowerhour.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothymontague/



Connect with Soliverse

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6C2HVmlEcsFXJqzxlfT9uA

🌐 Website: https://soliverse.energy

🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/soliversepodcast

🔗 Peter Pongracz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterpongraczsaas/


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