Energypreneurs
Technology
About
Energypreneurs is a podcast that brings solar power, electric vehicles and battery technologies to young entrepreneurs. Sohail Hasnie, our host, is a firm believer that the solution to climate change lies in these technologies, which will also fundamentally change the way we think about electricity and transportation—on road, on water and even on air.Over the last 35 years, Sohail has applied technology and innovation in many large infrastructure projects across Australasia. As a staff of the Asian Development Bank since 2001, he has developed large investment projects with solar power, battery, and electric vehicles across Asia.
Episodes
- E327: Why Is the Energy Transition Inevitable? | Energypreneurs Masterclass Ep 1
Why is the energy transition inevitable? Not just desirable, but inevitable. In this first module of the Energypreneurs Masterclass, I curated five conversations from 300+ episodes to answer that question. You'll hear from a trucking entre…
- E326: The Technology is Ready. So Why Hasn't it Scaled?
The Philippines imports $15 billion worth of oil every year. 4 million tricycles burn a significant share of it. Paul Johnston is the CEO of Pure EV, 350 electric tricycles operating across the Philippines, 92% utilisation, drivers taking…
- E325: Never Waste a Good Crisis
The Philippines has one of the best renewable energy laws in the world, one of the highest electricity tariffs relative to income, and 278 island communities still running on diesel. Something doesn't add up. Ruth Yu Owen — CEO of UpGrade…
- E324: Bottom-Up Development: Lessons from Bangladesh
In this episode, our guests are Sayeed and Zahir, two experienced engineers and infrastructure specialists who discuss Bangladesh's development journey across water, transport, urban planning, and renewable energy. The conversation explore…
- E323: Solar, Batteries and the End of the Power Bill
South Australia is producing 150% of its electricity demand from solar. Australia installed 10% of global battery capacity in a single month — for a country that represents 1% of the world's population. Something extraordinary is happening…
- E322: Why You Must Never Cross Your Own Line | Raju Mandhyan
In this episode of Energypreneurs, Raju Mandhyan discusses authentic influence, leadership, and staying true to values. He shares personal stories and insights on ethical influence, decision-making, and boundaries, also touching on storyte…
- E321: When Electricity Becomes Free | Jeff Wolfe
Jeff Wolfe, a U.S. rooftop solar pioneer, discusses the rapid advancements in solar, electric vehicles, and battery storage with Energypreneurs. The conversation explores the implications of near-zero marginal cost electricity and energy d…
- E320: Climate Finance Beyond the Buzzwords
E320 features climate finance expert Jyoti Bisbey discussing key topics including climate finance, adaptation versus mitigation, sustainable infrastructure, and clean mobility. The episode also touches on career advice and the intersection…
- E319: Energy Security - A Kilometre of Anxiety
Host Sohail Hasnie discusses the energy security challenges in net energy-importing developing countries, citing a mile-long fuel queue in Bangladesh. He suggests electric vehicles charged by rooftop solar as a potential solution.
- E318: Energy, Trade & the Future of Logistics
Penny Estrada, Chief Growth Officer, discusses the impact of disruptions, fuel costs, and supply chain bottlenecks on logistics. The episode covers sustainability, electrification, risk-aware decision-making, nearshoring, and resilient eco…
- E317: Facing Climate Change: A Survivor-to-Entrepreneur Story
In this episode, our guest is Jasteanne "Jazzy" Benito, a survivor of Typhoon Haiyan who shares her firsthand experience of one of the most devastating storms in history. She reflects on how living through the disaster at just 16 shaped he…
- E316: Mobilizing Private Capital: ADB's Playbook for Green Growth in ASEAN
In this episode, our guest is Pratish Halady, Regional Head for Private Sector Development (Southeast Asia) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He shares how ADB is bringing together green finance and private sector investment to accelera…
- E315: Grid and Off-Grid Renewable Energy in the Philippines
In this episode, our guest is Monalisa Dimalanta, former Chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission, who shares insights into the Philippines' evolving energy sector. We discuss the gap between strong renewable energy policies and exe…
- E314: Rethinking E-Mobility for Cities
In this episode, our guest is David Beeton, CEO of Urban Foresight and a pioneer in electric mobility. He shares insights on the evolution of electric vehicles, the shift toward autonomous transport, and how cities can build smarter, more…
- E313: Scaling Wind: Bigger Turbines, Smarter Grids
David Osmond breaks down how wind energy works, why turbines are getting bigger, and how wind complements solar power. He also explains how batteries, EVs, and smart grids can enable up to 98% renewable energy while debunking common myths…
- E311: Australia's Move from Gas to Electricity
In this episode, our guest is Jay Gordon, discussing Australia's shift from gas to electricity, driven by rising costs, energy security, and net zero goals. He explores electrification, rooftop solar, batteries, and EVs, and how households…
- E310: Energy Crisis as a Policy Opportunity
In this episode, our host Sohail Hasnie delivers a powerful monologue on how today's energy crisis can be turned into a policy opportunity. Drawing on his experience across Asia, he outlines ten urgent actions—from smart fuel rationing and…
- E309: Crossing the Line: The Untold Story Behind a Cross-Border Power Project
What does it really take to deliver a cross-border energy project? In this episode of Energypreneurs, I share the untold story behind the Asian Development Bank–financed West Kalimantan–Sarawak transmission line — a project that took seven…
- E308: Energy, Mobility, and Scale: The Battery-as-a-Service Revolution
In this episode, our guest is Nicole Mao, Co-Founder and CEO of a fast-growing EV battery swapping company. She shares how battery-as-a-service is transforming electric mobility in Bangladesh and beyond—reducing costs, eliminating charging…
- E307: EV Charging Future: Home to Megawatt Stations
In this episode, our guest is Syed Haseeb Hassan, an EV charging expert and automotive industry analyst based in Germany. We explore how electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is evolving—from home EV chargers and AC wall boxes to u…
- E306: A Vision for a Distributed Energy Future
"The era of the power station is ending." In this episode, John Noonan explains how rooftop solar, batteries, and distributed energy are reshaping the grid, and why South Australia is already proving it can work. Connect with Sohail Hasnie…
- E305: Financing the Electric Truck & Bus Revolution
In this episode, our guest is Manav (CEO), Alpna and Adwitya—the co-founding team—of Driven, who are tackling one of the biggest barriers to electrifying heavy transport: financing. They explain how Driven enables fleet operators to adopt…
- E304: Storytelling, LinkedIn & Personal Branding
In this episode, our guest is Neal Moore, a communication coach, writer, and actor who helps professionals and organisations tell better stories for business impact. Neal shares insights on personal branding, explaining why job titles are…
- E303: China's Solar Surge: Scale, Speed and Strategic Ambition
In this episode, our guest is Frank Haugwitz, a long-time China energy expert who has witnessed firsthand the country's transformation into the world's clean energy powerhouse. Frank explains how early rural solar programs, strong industri…
- E302: From Competition to Cooperation in Energy
In this episode, our guest is Robert Stewart, founder of Collective Power Boroondara, Melbourne, Australia, who explores how the energy transition must go beyond technology to focus on people and relationships. As solar, batteries, and EVs…
- E301: Free Power: Policy Win or Market Mistake?
In this episode, our guest is Bruce Mountain, Director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre at Victoria University in Melbourne. With over three decades in energy economics and policy, Bruce shares sharp insights into how distributed solar…
- E300: How to Start a Podcast: Lessons from 300 Episodes
In this 300th episode of Energypreneurs, I do a solo monologue reflecting on why I started the podcast during COVID and what I have learned over five years and 300 conversations. I share how podcasting has helped me clarify my thinking on…
- E299: Solar Growth, System Risk & Biodiversity
In this episode, our guest is Karl Nolles, an energy economist and former system control operator with experience spanning academia, banking, and government. Karl shares lessons from early carbon markets, integrating solar and batteries in…
- E298: Energy Lab: Startups, Batteries and the Grid
In this episode, our guest is Megan Fisher, CEO and Director of Energy Lab, a startup support organisation helping climate tech founders build and scale solutions for decarbonisation. Megan explains how Energy Lab backs entrepreneurs from…
- E297: EVs as Income-Generating Assets
In this episode, our guest is Omar Riahi, an EV influencer, author, and customer experience lead at Percepta. Omar shares his personal journey from skeptic to passionate advocate, revealing how EVs are transforming not just transportation,…
- E296: The Free Electricity Era: Batteries, VPPs & the Future Grid
In this episode, our guest is Bill Shevlin, CEO of Clearbook Energy Solutions and a returning voice to the show. Bill shares remarkable insights from the frontlines of the energy transition, highlighting how microgrids, battery manufacturi…
- E295: Electrify Everything: My Takeaways from 2025
This is an end-of-year monologue from me, Sohail Hasnie, your host at Energypreneurs. In this solo episode, I reflect on the most powerful trends, insights, and conversations from the past year. From the rooftop solar revolution and vehicl…
- E294: Why Your Next Car Should Be Electric
In this episode, Sohail Hasnie shares a powerful monologue unpacking why internal combustion engine vehicles are on the brink of obsolescence — and why electric vehicles (EVs) are the smarter choice today and into the future. Drawing compa…
- E293: Mining, Mobility & Megawatts: SANY Group's Bold Energy Play
In this episode, our guest is Stanley Choi, a dynamic leader at SANY Group Australia, a global OEM driving electrification in heavy industry and infrastructure. Stanley shares insights into how SANY is delivering complete energy and transp…
- E292: Coal to Control: Australia's People-Led Energy Transition
In this episode, our guest is Stephanie Bashir, Founder and CEO of Nexa Advisory. With over two decades of experience in Australia's energy sector, Stephanie shares a compelling vision for a consumer-driven clean energy future. From roofto…
- E291: Future of Free Electricity, Rooftop Solar and Batteries
In this episode, our returning guest is Tim Buckley, Director of Climate Energy Finance, and a leading voice in Australia's clean energy transition. Tim shares a passionate and data-driven overview of how rooftop solar, home batteries, and…
- E290: Power, People, and Partnership: Responsible Development
In this episode, our guest is Curtis S. Chin, former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank and current Asia Fellow at the Milken Institute. With deep experience spanning diplomacy, finance, and sustainable development, Curtis share…
- E289: From Cheap Solar to Green Molecule
In this episode, our guest is Massimiliano Cervo, who shares clear and practical insights on how the Middle East is approaching the energy transition. He discusses the growing role of renewables, the importance of balancing the energy tril…
- E288: Clean Shipping with Solar & Biofuels
In this episode, our guest is Hans-Henning Judek, a German-born, Japan-based lawyer, economist, and energy innovator who has spent over two decades pioneering renewable energy solutions. From early work in maritime wind propulsion and biof…
- E287: The Hydrogen Illusion: Real Costs, Real Consequences
In this episode, our guest is Michael Sura, a passionate engineer and energy expert with decades of experience in gas transit and hydrogen research. Drawing from his time managing large-scale natural gas operations and early hydrogen exper…
- E286: Driving E-Mobility in the Philippines
In this episode, our guest is Dr. Jose Bienvenido Manuel M. Biona, Executive Director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) and the Enrique Razon Logistics Institute at De La Salle University. Dr. Biona dives deep i…
- E285: Smart EV Policies: What's Working and Why
In this episode, our guest is Jaap Burger, a leading voice on EV smart charging and consumer energy flexibility. Based in Brussels and focused on EU policy on EVs, Jaap unpacks how electric vehicles, bi-directional charging, and automation…
- E284: Diesel to Electric: EV Retrofit Option
In this episode, our guest is Daisy Vardy, co-founder of ForeseEnergy, a 100% minority women-owned cleantech EPC company based in British Columbia. Daisy shares her company's inspiring journey and mission to decarbonize transportation by r…
- E283: Farming the Future: Climate Tech, Youth & Agripreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, a veteran climate change expert and agripreneurship advocate. With decades of international experience in climate policy, precision agriculture, and energy access, Ancha dives deep into h…
- E282: US Energy Transition: Barriers & Breakthroughs
In this episode, our guest is Candace Miller, a seasoned global development and public health expert who has spent decades leading impactful programs across Africa, with organizations like the Millennium Challenge Corporation and USAID's P…
- E281: Sailing Without Diesel: The Battery Boat Revolution
In this episode, our guest is Angus McDonald, Co-founder and Chair of the Maritime Emission Reduction Coalition (MERC). Angus shares how battery-powered boats are reshaping marine transport, from electric ferries to outboard conversions fo…
- E280: ADB, Development Finance and the Big Bets
In this episode, our guest is Robert Schoellhammer, recently retired from a 25-year career at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Robert shares reflections from his time working across Asia and Europe, highlighting how MDBs can and should le…
- E279: Norway's EV Revolution and Grid Integration
In this episode, our guest is Jan Tore Gjøby, a seasoned electrical engineer and independent consultant from Norway. Jan takes us through his inspiring journey from setting up one of Norway's first DC fast chargers to shaping national EV a…
- E278: Reimagining Energy for Rural Australia
In this episode, our guest is Tim Ryan, a seasoned voice in Australia's energy and digital technology landscape. Tim unpacks the evolving dynamics of energy supply in rural Australia — from community perspectives on wind farms to the trans…