🎙️ 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.

🎙️ In this episode of the GREENROOM, we sit down with Gil Rhodes – engineer, trainer, and founder of AGR Electrical – for one of the most technical yet practical conversations we’ve ever had.

From the origins of PowerCAD software and why it’s essential for large-scale solar design, through to the real-world challenges of AC/DC cabling, derating, switchboards, and compliance, this podcast is packed with lessons for anyone serious about solar and electrical engineering.

Expect to learn:
✅ When and why PowerCAD is needed for solar & commercial projects
✅ The biggest design mistakes that cost installers time and money
✅ How to avoid pitfalls with cable tray selection, derating, and airflow
✅ What it takes to navigate Energex/Ergon standards & RPEQ requirements
✅ Gil’s career journey – from apprentice to trainer, to running his own consultancy

Whether you’re an installer looking to sharpen your design skills, an engineer aiming to stay compliant, or just someone fascinated by the nuts and bolts of megawatt-scale solar systems, this conversation delivers insights you can take straight to the field.

THE GREEN ROOM - EPISODE 10!
MATT MANSFIELD

Learn the story of Mansfield’s Nursery, a third-generation horticultural business with over 75 years of experience.
Matt Mansfield shares his journey from working in landscaping and traveling abroad to returning home and taking on the challenges of the family business.
Hear insights into the realities of running a propagation nursery, from cuttings and tissue culture through to supplying millions of plants a year. It’s a candid look at how tradition, innovation, and family intertwine in horticulture.

For those in agriculture and horticulture, this conversation explores the nuts and bolts of plant production — green roofs in Canada, citrus grafting, propagation techniques, and the rise of tissue culture as a scalable solution.
Matt also unpacks how Mansfield’s integrates sustainability into its practices, from biodegradable pots to reducing plastics, and how technology and data collection are transforming the nursery sector.
It’s a practical yet inspiring discussion for anyone passionate about plants and the systems that support them.