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The Future of Solar Photovoltaics with Erin Mahan, SunSpec Alliance

In this episode, Vikram speaks with Erin Mahan, Director of Membership at SunSpec Alliance, a global standards body for distributed energy resources (DERs), including solar and battery storage.

Highlights:

• Background & Motivation: Erin comes from a multi-generational utility family. Her career focus on regulatory compliance and energy standards began after witnessing the fallout from the Enron collapse.
• SunSpec’s Role: Formed after the 2008 financial crisis, SunSpec develops open standards like SunSpec Modbus and California’s Common Smart Inverter Profile to ensure DER device interoperability, safety, and long-term viability.
• Interoperability & Risk: Non-standard systems raise costs and risks. SunSpec certification ensures compatibility, cuts CapEx/OpEx, increases bankability, and helps assets operate and integrate reliably across geographies.
• Cybersecurity: With growing DER penetration, SunSpec is aligning with IEC 62443 and developing cybersecurity standards to protect against digital threats, rogue firmware, and remote update vulnerabilities.
• Fire Safety & Rapid Shutdown: Erin explains the importance of rapid shutdown systems in rooftop PV, and how SunSpec tests for reliability under extreme conditions, crucial for protecting lives and preventing liability.
• UK & Global Expansion: SunSpec is active in the UK, EU, China, and the US. Erin emphasizes the UK's strong grid legacy and regulatory sophistication, making it a strategic partner in standardization and DER deployment.
• Future Trends: SunSpec supports EV integration, home automation, and grid-forming capabilities. It also sees growth in AI-powered energy management and battery storage, driven by blackout risks and frequency instability.
• How to Join: Manufacturers and stakeholders can join SunSpec to gain certification, access tools, and shape future standards through technical workgroups, events, and direct engagement.

Takeaway:
SunSpec plays a critical role in making the DER industry scalable, secure, and bankable. Open standards and third-party validation are essential to de-risking solar’s future