Green Options » Jeff Wolfe

What we can Learn from China’s Heavy Investment in Solar Energy

Jeff Wolfe — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:31:37 +0000

As I write this I am preparing to board a very long flight to China, where I’ll be talking to a few Chinese PV module manufacturers, as well as our existing inverter supplier, Motech, in Taiwan. This will be a chance to meet and greet potential future suppliers on their own ground, and review factories as we consider sourcing more materials from China, but there are many things I already know before embarking.

New York Times Columnist, Tom Friedman is right. China is investing heavily and preparing to leave the rest of the renewable energy world in the dust. In the past two weeks Suntech, currently the largest solar module manufacturer in the world, signed 2 GW (2000 MW) of projects in China. Those 2 GW represent merely the contracts of a single company. Last year – and likely this year – the total U.S. market is 350 MW (0.35 GW). Granted, not all the Chinese projects happen this year, but plans are on paper – there is a schedule.

For Action on Climate Change, the Time is Now: Waxman-Markey Bill Gives Us a Start

Jeff Wolfe — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:01:02 +0000

Editor’s Note: Jeff Wolfe is the co-founder and CEO of groSolar. This is his second post. See also: Building a Solar Company in a Recession Economy.

I am at the North American Climate Presenter’s Summit. I am privileged, and burdened, by being one of the 1200 people in the US trained by Al Gore to deliver his climate slideshow. I say privileged because it is an incredible group of people and fantastic training. I say burdened because, well, ignorance is bliss, and not only am I not allowed to be ignorant, I am required to understand and spread both the message of the crisis confronting us and the solutions we must undertake immediately.

We’re getting updated science from some of the leaders in climate science. We’re getting information on human health effects (right now while I’m multi-tasking and typing this actually). We’re getting information on the just released draft of the Waxman–Markey climate bill. And of course, we’re getting motivation and direction for immediate action.

The overriding message is that the time is now, this is the moment. Historians look back through time and note those periods when significant change happened. It is unusual to be able to understand at the time of occurrence, that this is an historic moment in the history of the world. This is such a moment, such a time.

Building a Solar Company in a Recession Economy

Jeff Wolfe — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:31:29 +0000

Editor’s Note: Jeff Wolfe is the co-founder and CEO of groSolar. This is the second post in a series from the CEO’s of major solar companies. The first post was by the CEO of SolarCity, Lyndon Rive. You can follow the complete series here.

groSolar operates in the downstream solar market. We are affected by all the US and global macro economic trends. I describe the current economic conditions as a Vortex. Heavy winds of the economy swirling downward, a huge updraft caused by declining raw material and finished goods prices, and sweeping cross-currents of over-supply and the failure of major banks to provide normal business services.

But within this maelstrom is a gentle wind of opportunity. Finding this breeze, like finding a thermal in a hang glider, can not only fuel a great ride, but can bring your company to new heights. This is more easily said than done!