In this thought-provoking episode of Green Giants, host Wes Ashworth sits down with seasoned engineering and operations leader Jeff Sullivan, whose career spans some of the most pivotal moments in solar, battery storage, and electrification. With executive experience at Tigo Energy, Applied Materials, GE, and Covalent Metrology, Jeff has helped shape what clean tech looks like today and what it must become to thrive tomorrow.

This episode is a masterclass in asking better questions to drive smarter answers, covering everything from the future of EV infrastructure to the unsexy but essential work behind solar and battery breakthroughs. Jeff brings a rare blend of technical insight, manufacturing pragmatism, and strategic foresight as he breaks down what’s working, what’s misunderstood, and what’s next.

Key Topics Covered:

• Reframing range anxiety as refill anxiety. Why EV success hinges on infrastructure, not battery size
• The real timeline and impact of EV grid integration and why grid panic is overblown
• A refreshingly honest look at battery innovation: LFP, sodium-ion, solid-state, and why the incumbent tech isn’t standing still
• Where solar technology still has runway, from panel form factors to materials science breakthroughs
• The economics and geopolitics of U.S. manufacturing and supply chains. Is full reshoring a myth?
• Why policy carrots beat sticks, and how industrial strategy can empower, not protect innovation
• What the U.S. must do to stay competitive in clean tech and why more failure might be part of the answer

Whether you're a startup founder, policy maker, investor, engineer, or simply energy-curious, Jeff’s lens on electrification, innovation, and global competitiveness will shift how you think about the energy transition.

Links:

Jeff Sullivan on LinkedIn

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/

• Email: [email protected]
• https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/
• https://leegroupsearch.com/