As uncertainty looms over the future of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), many in the distributed energy sector are concerned about how to keep solar and storage projects economically viable. In this episode, host Elisa Wood sits down with Gareth Evans, CEO of VECKTA, to unpack his recent analysis that offers surprising—and hopeful—insights.
Gareth’s findings challenge conventional wisdom: solar and storage projects can still achieve a viable return without the ITC—but only if we radically rethink how these systems are structured. Elisa and Gareth discuss real-world project comparisons, the importance of optimization, and how resilience and cost savings are quickly becoming more compelling motivators than sustainability branding alone.
If you’re navigating the complex landscape of decentralized energy, this conversation is a must-listen.
Guest Bio:
Gareth Evans is the CEO of VECKTA, a leading SaaS platform and marketplace that empowers businesses to design, evaluate, and deploy profitable and resilient onsite energy systems. With a focus on removing soft costs and increasing project viability, VECKTA’s technology enables companies to analyze their full portfolio of assets, optimize energy strategies, and connect with qualified suppliers—all while saving time, money, and emissions. Gareth brings decades of experience in clean energy innovation and is a vocal advocate for practical, scalable solutions in the transition to decentralized power.
Learn more: www.veckta.com
Key Topics & Highlights:
• [00:00–03:00] Introduction to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and why it’s on shaky ground
• [03:00–06:00] What VECKTA does: a SaaS platform and marketplace to de-risk and scale onsite energy
• [06:00–10:00] The IRA’s impact on distributed energy—how it shifted the global energy conversation
• [10:00–14:00] Real-world analysis: how project viability changes with and without the ITC
• [14:00–17:00] Why optimization—not just solar saturation—is the key to post-ITC success
• [17:00–20:00] What types of businesses are leading the charge (hint: it’s not who you’d expect)
• [20:00–25:00] Resilience vs. sustainability: changing motivations in a high-risk energy landscape
• [25:00–27:00] Quantifying resilience: how to prevent costly outages
• [27:00–29:00] The future of decentralized energy—why Gareth remains optimistic, ITC or not
Resources & Mentions:
• Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) summary: White House Overview
• American Society of Civil Engineers Grid Report: ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
• Energy Changemakers Community & Newsletter: energychangemakers.com
Call to Action:
If this conversation inspires you, be sure to:
• Subscribe to The Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite app
• Leave a review to help more listeners find us
• Join our newsletter at energychangemakers.com
• Follow VECKTA for more insights into optimizing your energy future
Together, we can shape a cleaner, more resilient grid—one project at a time.