All Solar Everything: The Superiority of Solar and Distributed Energy

A seasoned entrepreneur and financier, Tom Leyden is well versed in every aspect of the solar world. In this episode, Tom speaks about his start in the solar space, how it has evolved over the years, and what he sees as the future of the technology. Tom narrates his experiences in Africa and Southeast Asia advising companies and governments on solar projects. He explains how solar is not only as a source of power, but also an aid mechanism that will continue to be important abroad from both financial and strategic perspectives. His article "Solar Power for Peace" describes the lasting goodwill that often accompanies solar projects in developing nations. Tom also believes in a bright future for the American solar market, as some of the experienced foreign developers may continue to see high-potential business opportunities here. He also elaborates on distributed energy, net metering, the theory of "price cannibalization,” and some recent changes in NJ state energy policy. Tom has done a great deal of work on the Princeton campus, helping the University define and reach their goal to get to 100% net zero emissions by 2045. Tom's team developed Princeton's first solar project and is currently in the middle of a new 17MW solar project that involves locations around Princeton's campus. Another topic that Tom feels strongly about concerning Princeton's relation to energy is the Princeton endowment investments into the fossil fuel industry. Tom's view on divestment has recently changed, and he is now a leading voice in pressuring Princeton to divest their holdings in key fossil fuel companies. He points to the poor performance of the traditional energy sector in public markets and cites the objectively higher returns of renewable projects. Tom is passionate about helping students and young professionals find their way in the growing renewables industry. His own enthusiasm for solar is contagious, and it's easy to see why many young people today feel so strongly about the industry. Full bio: One of the early solar pioneers, Tom began his solar career in 1980 and over the years has held a number of executive management positions. He was VP of Sales and Marketing at EPV, a thin-film PV manufacturer, and at WorldWater, a remote-power and solar-water pumping company that installed solar projects in Africa and Asia. He served as VP of East Coast Operations for PowerLight, the commercial PV pioneer bought by SunPower, where he ran SunPower’s East Coast office in Trenton, and later was VP of Commercial Development at SolarCity. In 2012 he became CEO of the energy storage start-up Solar Grid Storage that was acquired by SunEdison in 2015 and joined EDF Renewable Energy to help lead its solar plus storage group.