Krista Simicich
Digital Editor
Inside The Episode
Recorded live at the Hub during Intersolar & Energy Storage North America 2025, these conversations spotlight cutting-edge solutions for grid resilience, energy storage, and distributed energy.
Paul Walker of Progress Rail shares how Caterpillar’s hybrid systems are stabilizing the grid through integrated microgrids, storage, and controls. Andrew Tanner of Yotta Energy joins Nico Johnson to discuss how Yotta Block is simplifying C&I storage with a decentralized, module-level design. And FranklinWH’s Vincent Ambrose explores how Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are scaling with policy support and declining DER costs.
Tune in for practical insights into the technologies shaping the next phase of the energy transition.
Hybrid Systems in the Face of Grid Instability
Featuring: Paul Walker, Computer Numerical Control Machinist at Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company
Hybrid systems and microgrids are increasingly crucial for maintaining grid stability and meeting evolving energy demands. Caterpillar provides integrated microgrid solutions featuring generators, energy storage, and controls, also supporting renewable energy integration. Key trends like electrification and decarbonization are accelerating the adoption of these systems.
Topics covered:
- How the power sector is moving to distributed generation for enhanced resilience
- Discussing Caterpillar’s integrated microgrid solutions with diverse components
- Electrification and decarbonization as key drivers for microgrids
Safe, Simple, Scalable: How Yotta Block is Redefining Commercial Energy Storage
Featuring: Andrew Tanner, Chief Technology Officer at Yotta Energy, and Nico Johnson, Creator and Host at SunCast Media
Andrew Tanner and Nico Johnson discuss innovative approaches to commercial and industrial (C&I) battery storage. Learn how the Yotta Block aims to overcome the challenges of deploying storage in the small to medium C&I market by offering a safer, simpler, and more scalable decentralized architecture integrated at the solar module level.
Topics covered:
- The complexities within the C&I market, most notably deployment and customer challenges
- Yotta Block as a unique, safe, and scalable energy storage solution
- Yotta’s approach to simplified installation, targeting previously hard-to-serve C&I segments
Virtual Power Plants: Opportunities, Regulations, and Tools to Drive Long-Term Growth, featuring FranklinWH
Featuring: Vincent Ambrose, Chief Commercial Officer at FranklinWH
Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) harness distributed energy resources (DERs) to benefit the power grid and consumers, offering capacity, resilience, and cost savings. In this episode, Franklin WH’s Vincent Ambrose explores their strong growth potential, driven by decreasing DER costs and favorable policies.
Topics covered:
- How VPPs aggregate DERs for grid reliability and affordability
- Key challenges for VPP growth, including standardization and customer adoption
- VPP program strategies for success, including incentives and vendor partnerships
About The Hub
Located in the IESNA 2025 exhibit hall, the Hub stage is an educational space that included included insightful interviews with top product and solution providers as well as educational presentations describing real-world applications and takeaways. Learn more here.
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Stage Sponsor
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