Ed Bennison - mechanical engineer, industrial designer, renewable-energy gun, and co-founder of Arigo: one of Australia’s most agile and forward-thinking engineering consultancies.

In this candid episode, we unpack everything from the collapse of Prana, to building a business from scratch, to the wild realities of grid applications, FCAS batteries, commercial solar design, large-scale construction packs, and what it actually takes to deliver compliant, installer-friendly engineering at scale.

Ed spills on detailed design workflows, DNSP approvals, structural requirements, PV + battery feasibility, protection studies, solar rebates (including the new VEU scheme), and the future of electrification.

He also shares stories from his time in South Korea, life-changing ski seasons in Japan, and why relationships still rule the renewable energy industry.

Whether you're in solar engineering, commercial EPCs, grid-connect design, battery storage, EV charging, or just love hearing how smart people build great things, this episode is a masterclass in technical excellence, business resilience, and the future of Australia’s energy transition.

🎙️ Peppa’s journey is wild! In the best way.
From fearless horse-riding in rural Queensland to running a fast-moving creative agency that builds campaigns across solar, skincare, apparel and everything in between.

🎯 Greenwood Academy sits down with Peppa Priestly from Spark Marketing to learn about:

- Why real, imperfect content is outperforming polished brand videos
- The psychology behind fonts, proportions & visual cues that convert
- How to build long-lasting B2B campaigns that actually shift behaviour
- Why timing is overrated, and testing is everything
- The difference between “looks good” and “sells good”
- How to identify early adopters, create FOMO, and drive traction
- Why founders struggle with marketing (and how to manage expectations)
- How small businesses can use AI better than enterprise giants
- The real role of storytelling, people, and authenticity in 2025

🎙️ Peppa breaks down why:
People trust grainy iPhone footage more than cinematic ads
Every business wants a “beautiful” website but forgets about conversion
Marketing is compounding - not instant gratification
If you try to copy big brands… you'll always stay behind them
The customer’s perspective ALWAYS wins over the founder’s ego
Imperfection is becoming a strategy, not a mistake

🎙️ From Venezuela to Australia: Passion, Grit, and Solar Innovation ☀️

In this episode, we sit down with Andreas Rastelli, Business Development Manager at Clenergy, whose energy could power a small city.
From his wild childhood in Venezuela to becoming one of Australia’s most passionate renewable energy advocates, Andreas brings stories that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even crave a good cup of coffee.

We dive into:
🌎 His journey from Caracas to Melbourne
☕ The science, art, and obsession of perfect coffee
🏗️ Engineering, rail systems, and Roman concrete that still baffles scientists
⚙️ Solar innovation, racking design, and the future of renewables
❤️ Family, culture, and what it truly means to build a life from the ground up

This isn’t just another energy chat - it’s a ride through culture, engineering, and pure human drive.

👀 Watch till the end to hear Andreas’ take on Clenergy’s secret sauce: people, products, and partnerships.

📢 Like, comment, and subscribe if you believe renewable energy is more than an industry - it’s a movement!!
📸 Follow us for more unfiltered conversations with the minds shaping tomorrow’s world.

#RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #Clenergy #Podcast #Engineering #Sustainability #GreenwoodSolutions #RastelliPodcast #SolarDesign #Innovation #Australia

From backyard lemon trees to nuclear reactors and everything solar in between!

In this episode, Veli sits down with George Phani, veteran of Australia’s solar industry and current Business Development Manager at Yingli Solar, for a no-nonsense, deeply personal, and occasionally hilarious journey through the evolution of photovoltaics.

George shares:
👉 His early days tinkering with applied physics and working at Australia’s only nuclear reactor.
👉 How Australia almost led the global solar revolution - and why it didn’t.
👉 What it was like pioneering new solar materials in Switzerland before most people even knew what “PV" meant.
👉 The rise (and survival) of Yingli through boom-and-bust solar cycles.
👉 The real future of solar - bifacials, building-integrated PV, agri-voltaics, and AI-driven manufacturing.
👉 And, of course, why his dad’s cucumbers and lemon trees might just be the original renewable energy systems.

This episode is equal parts education, nostalgia, and technical masterclass - told through stories of persistence, migration, and innovation in an ever-changing clean energy landscape.

🎙️ The engineer’s edge: Sanna from Gamcorp unpacks structures, solar, and the art of doing things properly.

In this episode, we sit down with Sanna Afshar, Director of Operations at Gamcorp, to dive deep into the engineering side of solar and renewable energy systems.
From his family’s incredible journey fleeing Iran in the 1980s to his rise as one of the industry’s most passionate and insightful structural engineers, this chat goes way beyond beams and bolts.

THE GREENROOM explores:

- The untold story behind Sanna’s upbringing, resilience, and values
- How structural engineering shapes safe and reliable solar installations
- Why so many roof inspections are done wrong, and how to fix it
- The real-world failures and lessons that are quietly shaping the solar industry
- The role of mentorship, family, and faith in building better engineers and better people
- Plus Sanna’s love for music, hand pans, and how rhythm connects to problem-solving
- Roof mount vs. ground mount systems
- Wind load, racking, and fixing failures
- Australian standards and engineering ambiguity

🔧 Sit back, tune in, and enjoy a conversation that’s equal parts inspiring, technical, and brutally honest.

Greenwood Academy partners with Sanna from Gamcorp to discuss best practice on one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of the solar and renewable energy industry: structural safety.

Together, they break down what installers , designers , and engineers should look for when assessing rooftops and structures before any solar installation.

The conversation sheds light on key factors such as wind loading, fixing methods, roof integrity, and certification requirements - offering viewers a practical understanding of how structural assessments directly impact safety, compliance, and long-term system performance.

With Gamcorp’s engineering expertise and Greenwood’s focus on industry knowledge , the discussion bridges the gap between technical standards and on-site realities.

Whether you’re an installer, Project Manager , or simply invested in the future of safer solar design, this talk provides insights that go beyond the basics. It’s not a training session - it’s a professional conversation aimed at raising awareness, improving industry standards, and ensuring that solar systems are built on a foundation of safety and structural integrity.

Emily’s story is a powerful look at what it takes to lead in the fast-changing world of renewable energy.
From her early start in policy and trading to driving innovation in electrification and clean technology, Em has built a career defined by resilience, insight, and a commitment to real impact.

In this episode, she shares her journey through the solar industry, the lessons learned from leadership roles, and her passion for shaping smarter energy solutions.

With a mix of pragmatism and vision, Em offers valuable insights into how the energy transition is unfolding, and what it takes to be part of it.

Whether you’re an installer, engineer, or someone inspired by the future of clean energy, this conversation is full of takeaways on leadership, adaptability, and creating meaningful change.

Emily’s story proves that renewable energy isn’t just about technology - it’s about the people bold enough to make it happen.

Welcome to the world of advanced solar technology with Thomas Bywater, a multilingual solar and electrical engineer whose career spans cutting-edge cell manufacturing, large-scale renewable projects, and industry-shaping innovation.

From mastering Mandarin in high school to working alongside pioneers at the University of New South Wales, Thomas has been at the forefront of solar’s evolution — from PERC to TopCon to Back Contact technology.

In this episode, we unpack the science behind high-efficiency solar cells, the engineering trade-offs in module design, the realities of structural and environmental challenges, and the future of Solar 3.0 — integrating storage, architecture, and next-generation materials.

Whether you’re a renewable energy professional or a tech enthusiast, Thomas’s insights will expand your understanding of the physics, engineering, and commercial realities shaping the solar industry today.