What does it actually take to build solar infrastructure that performs for 30 years in the real world?
In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Wes Ashworth sits down with Aaron Gabelnick, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer at ARRAY Technologies. With a career spanning chemicals, refining, consulting, and large-scale capital projects, Aaron brings a systems-level perspective that is often missing in today’s energy conversation.
This is not a discussion about solar theory. It is about execution, risk, and building infrastructure that holds up under real conditions.
Aaron shares how his background in industrial systems shaped his approach to renewable energy, and why the biggest challenge in solar today is not innovation, but discipline.
What You’ll Learn
Key Themes
Infrastructure Over Ideology
The energy transition is not a switch. It is a complex evolution of systems that must remain reliable while scaling rapidly.
Execution Is the Differentiator
Many failures in solar are not due to bad technology. They are the result of poor installation, weak alignment between engineering and construction, and lack of discipline at scale.
Design Decisions Compound Over Time
Small engineering choices can materially impact performance, risk, and cost over decades.
Weather Is Now a Core Design Driver
Severe weather is no longer a boundary condition. It is central to how modern solar systems are engineered and financed.
Why This Episode Matters
As solar becomes critical infrastructure, the industry is being forced to mature.
That means:
Aaron brings a rare perspective that connects all of these dots.
If you are building, investing in, or operating energy systems, this episode offers a clear view of what it really takes to get it right.
Links:
Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/
