At Solar & Storage Live in Birmingham, Solar&StorageXtra spoke with John Behan, Co-Founder & CEO, AMPYR Distributed Energy.
John described ADE’s sponsorship of the show’s buzzing C&I Theatre, the importance of customers for everyone in the solar supply chain, and his presentation on the distributed energy market.
Interview with John Behan, Co-Founder & CEO of AMPYR Distributed Energy
“We believe the distributed energy market will be one of the highest-growth areas this decade. that’s why we founded ADE – to capitalise on this trend.”
Xtra: Can you explain AMPYR Distributed Energy (ADE)’s mission in the industry?
John: At ADE, our mission is to simplify net zero for business customers.
What does that mean? We deliver fully funded, turnkey on-site solutions that provide green, reliable power at a lower cost, exactly where it’s needed.
This allows business customers to focus on their business while achieving their net zero goals.
Xtra: Can you talk about ADE’s sponsorship of the C&I Theatre at Solar & Storage Live?
John: The C&I sector is at least 10 to 15 years old, but over the past few years, the focus has shifted to utility-scale solar and storage – which has seen a big growth spurt.
However, the C&I sector is now gaining more popularity. Branding this theatre, and showing it’s our market, was a great opportunity to position ourselves as leaders in the C&I space.
Xtra: What conversations are you hoping to have at the show?
John: Our business model at ADE is volume-focused. As a funder, we work with great local partners – from development to construction and operations – to help deliver our business plan.
We’re here to meet new partners who can help us achieve this, as well as speak to many of our existing partners and, of course, customers.
These customers are the ones who ultimately use our product, and who fund assets directly on-site. Notably, there’s been an increase in the number of customers in recent years at this event as well.
Xtra: Can you identify any issues or trends in the solar and storage industry, and how they might evolve?
John: As I mentioned, the utility-scale market has experienced robust growth over the last several years.
I recently gave a presentation on the distributed energy market, which refers to renewable assets located on-site and linked directly to customers behind the meter.
At ADE, we believe the distributed energy market will be one of the highest-growth areas this decade. that’s why we founded ADE – to capitalise on this trend.
Xtra: What benefits can companies and visitors gain from attending Solar & Storage Live?
John: This isn’t just the largest event in the UK – it’s likely one of the biggest in Europe, and it continues to grow every year.
I think it’s a great opportunity to hear fantastic speakers, to attend educational talks, and it’s full of exhibitors – so you can see a lot by just attending (the show).
For businesses, what’s particularly valuable is the chance to meet many new and existing clients. It’s an efficient way to connect with a lot of people and get a lot of work done in a short amount of time.
Plus, there’s always a bit of fun and socialising to enjoy as well!
Missed out on Solar & Storage Live, or want to come back for more? Don’t miss the London edition from 2-3 April 2025 – or find a Solar & Storage Live event closer to home.
