Solar&StorageXtra: The Podcast

AI meets solar: Craig Bilboe on how EcoFlow is powering the next leap in home energy

What if your home could outsmart the grid? In this episode of the Solar&StorageXtra podcast, guest host Ken Davies is joined by Craig Bilboe, UK Country Manager from EcoFlow. Ken and Craig talk about the tech reshaping home energy: from EcoFlow’s meteoric rise in portable power to AI-driven energy management. Craig reveals how consumers are demanding smarter, safer, and more resilient solutions, and dives into how modularity, safety, and installer-friendly design support both consumers and professionals. Listen to hear more about EcoFlow’s soon-to-launch EcoFlow Gateway, designed for off-grid independence – and EcoFlow’s major new UK investment. Tune in for a dynamic look at the future of residential solar and storage.   Key topics & Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing Craig Bilboe and EcoFlow 03:08 – Trends in home solar batteries and consumer demand 05:17 – Grid resilience, outages, and storage benefits 07:37 – AI’s role in smart energy management 13:16 – Supporting installers and simplifying commissioning 14:37 – Sneak peek: EcoFlow Gateway launch 16:10 – New UK investments 18:06 – Closing thoughts and future outlook   Credits: Guest host: Ken Davies Guest: Craig Bilboe, Country Manager UK & I.E, EcoFlow Producer: Catie Owen, Editor of Solar&StorageXtra Marketing: Katie Devaney, Marketing Director for Solar & Storage Live Europe This podcast is a Terrapinn production. Discover the latest solar and storage news at  For podcast, editorial, thought leadership and commercial opportunities, get in touch with the Solar&StorageXtra team: catie.owen@terrapinn.com

Moving from niche to necessity: Dr KT Tan on how the UK is rethinking its solar approach

What if solar isn't new, but the way we use it is? In this episode of the Solar&StorageXtra podcast, guest host Ken Davies is joined by Dr KT Tan, Chief Technical Officer at Viridian Solar and a board member of Solar Energy UK. With over 20 years of experience in the solar industry, KT brings a wealth of knowledge, from the technical evolution of PV systems to regulatory challenges. In this conversation, KT shares the story of his unlikely leap from biotechnology into solar, and what led to the discovery of solar power in the first place. KT and Ken also unpack the intricacies of integrated PV design and the role of product reliability in building industry trust, with KT providing his wisdom as a stalwart member of the solar sector. The pair show a clear view of the challenges - and the immense potential - facing domestic solar in the UK and beyond.   Key topics & Timestamps 0:26 – Introducing Dr KT Tan, CTO of Viridian Solar 1:11 – KT’s move from biotech to solar 4:49 – Solar in the UK: public perception vs. and potential 8:14 – Balancing energy generation with building material 16:36 – Designing PV panels for installation, durability, and performance 22:52 – Fire safety and regulatory confusion 29:11 – Challenges in the rooftop solar market 31:31 – Opportunities abound: construction, expansion, and innovation 34:09 – Outro   Credits: Guest host: Ken Davies Guest: Dr KT Tan, Chief Technical Officer at Viridian Solar Producer: Catie Owen, Editor of Solar&StorageXtra Marketing: Katie Devaney, Marketing Director for Solar & Storage Live Europe This podcast is a Terrapinn production. Discover the latest solar and storage news at solarstoragextra.com  [https://solarstoragextra.com/] For podcast, editorial, thought leadership and commercial opportunities, get in touch with the Solar&StorageXtra team: catie.owen@terrapinn.com [catie.owen@terrapinn.com]

Turning ESG into strategy: How sustainability benefits both your business and the planet with TDi’s Assheton Carter

How can your business thrive while protecting the planet? In this episode of the Solar&StorageXtra podcast, guest host Ken Davies is joined by Assheton Carter, Executive Chair of consultancy TDi Sustainability. Together, they unpack what it really means to embed sustainability into corporate strategy - moving beyond buzzwords and towards meaningful, systemic change. Assheton breaks down the concept of sustainable development, critiques the politicisation of ESG, and highlights the essential factors for businesses navigating today’s complex supply chains. They also explore why sustainability should be seen as an ongoing journey, not a box-ticking exercise.   Key Topics & Timestamps: 0:26 – Introducing Assheton Carter and TDI Sustainability 2:11 – Why sustainability must involve the entire supply chain 3:29 – ESG vs. sustainable development 5:24 – The business case for sustainability 12:19 – Due diligence: from databases to boots on the ground 14:04 – Collective action to solve systemic issues 17:13 – Is sustainability just a one-off?   Credits: Guest host: Ken Davies Guest: Assheton Carter, Executive Chair of TDi Sustainability Producer: Catie Owen, Editor of Solar&StorageXtra Marketing: Katie Devaney, Marketing Director for Solar & Storage Live Europe This podcast is a Terrapinn production. Discover the latest solar and storage news at solarstoragextra.com  [https://solarstoragextra.com/] For podcast, editorial, thought leadership and commercial opportunities, get in touch with the Solar&StorageXtra team: catie.owen@terrapinn.com [catie.owen@terrapinn.com]

Built from the underground up: How SELCE’s Giovanna Speciale turned a tube journey into a solar force for good

How did one book inspire a solar movement? In this episode of the Solar&StorageXtra podcast, guest host Ken Davies sits down with Giovanna Speciale, Founder and CEO of South East London Community Energy (SELCE). Giovanna explains how reading a heartbreaking book on a train in 2009 became the community-powered movement of today that’s transforming Southeast London’s energy future. As a community benefit society, SELCE now has half a megawatt of solar across 11 sites including schools, community centres, leisure centres, and even a hotel – all benefiting the communities that use them. Hear how SELCE is blending renewable energy, community investment, and social equity to reshape the local grid - one rooftop at a time.   Key Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction by Ken Davies 01:11 – How a tearful tube journey led to SELCE 06:30 - What is a community benefit society? 07:15 – Finding space for solar 09:16 – The current state of SELCE 10:42 – SELCE’s commercial rooftop solar 14:50 – Making passive customers engaged 17:00 – Addressing energy poverty 23:00 – Hope for the future   Credits: Guest host: Ken Davies Guest: Giovanna Speciale, Founder and CEO of South East London Community Energy (SELCE) Producer: Catie Owen, Editor of Solar&StorageXtra Marketing: Katie Devaney, Marketing Director for Solar & Storage Live Europe This podcast is a Terrapinn production. Discover the latest solar and storage news at solarstoragextra.com  [https://solarstoragextra.com/] For podcast, editorial, thought leadership and commercial opportunities, get in touch with the Solar&StorageXtra team: catie.owen@terrapinn.com [catie.owen@terrapinn.com]

Avoiding legal landmines: navigating solar contracts with Rhiannon Morgan-Williams (Ashfords LLP)

Where are developers going wrong in their solar contracts? In this episode of Solar&StorageXtra’s podcast, guest host Ken Davies speaks with Rhiannon Morgan-Williams, Partner at Ashfords LLP and a leading legal expert in renewable energy development. With over a decade of experience advising developers and funders in solar and battery projects, Rhiannon shares her insider perspective on the evolving legal landscape around landowner agreements, option contracts, and the complexities developers face - from initial negotiation to grid connection. From contract tips to agrivoltaics insights, this episode is essential listening for developers, landowners, and legal professionals in clean energy.   Key Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction by Ken Davies 02:15 - How legal processes have evolved in renewables 06:32 - What's driving contractual tensions with landowners 10:40 - Option agreements: trends in duration and terms 15:30 - Common developer mistakes and how to avoid them 21:10 - Grid connectivity delays and legal impacts   Credits: Guest host: Ken Davies Guest: Rhiannon Morgan-Williams, Partner at Ashfords LLP Producer: Catie Owen, Editor of Solar&StorageXtra Marketing: Katie Devaney, Marketing Director for Solar & Storage Live Europe This podcast is a Terrapinn production. Discover the latest solar and storage news at solarstoragextra.com  [https://solarstoragextra.com/] For podcast, editorial, thought leadership and commercial opportunities, get in touch with the Solar&StorageXtra team: catie.owen@terrapinn.com [catie.owen@terrapinn.com]