In this episode, we speak with Tonya James and Piper Wilder from 60Hertz.
Listen to us on Apple Podcast, Red Circle, Spotify, Stitcher or your favourite podcast streaming platform!
We discuss:
Why an off-line maintenance solution is critical for remote minigrid operations
The challenges of integrating renewables to microgrids
Their efforts to make their user interface and graphics as international and self-explanatory as possible
The importance of keeping mental health considerations in mind when working in remote communities, where there is often a higher incidence of trauma.
Show notes:
(1:40) Introduction to 60Hertz: maintenance for remote energy systems; existing alternatives, e.g. primarily paper and pencil
(3:50) Why remote maintenance with off-line capability is important and the lack of good existing solutions, how 60Hertz's solution works
(7:45) Alaska's microgrids, in a remote location, the cost of electricity for some communities in Alaska
(10:00) Challenges for integrating renewables with diesel systems
(12:30) 60Hertz international projects; the similar problems faced by microgrid operators globally
(15:00) Their target markets, including military microgrids, and how Tonya's background helps with their work
(18:30) How Tonya and Piper started 60Hertz and how they came to the off-grid energy sector
(22:30) The largest challenges faced by Tonya and Piper: technical challenges, HR & people management, and difficulty of raising money; operational & change management, balancing personal life, family and work
(30:00) Their plans for coming years: increasing functionality, making their software accessible to users with low literacy abilities, focus on women maintenance providers, their product roadmap
(34:00) The challenges of mental health in some of their work; adverse childhood experience, workplace trauma, military trauma, which are more likely in remote microgrids
(37:00) Their fundraising background for 60Hertz
(40:30) Industry focus on starting projects, but not enough attention paid to the ongoing maintenance requirements and long-term efficacy of operations to achieve the goals; the opportunity for local buy-in when designing maintenance
(44:45) Where the name 60Hertz comes from
(45:45) Favourite books for 2020: Traction, Insight, Braver, Biography of Dolly Parton, Extreme Ownership, Drive, Reality-based leadership
(49:00) Advice: Timeline is different for off-grid energy; importance of relationships
(50:30) Predictions: Growth, rural areas teaching urban areas about energy management