# A Renewable Energy Future for Manufacturing w/ Gareth Evans

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2023-09-19
- Length: 26m
- Episode: 171
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-4cc478b4-f955-4f2f-8e29-7b037ec1fb3e

## Summary

Gareth Evans, CEO and founder of VECKTA, discusses how manufacturing companies can transition from relying on an aging, unreliable grid to modern, on-site renewable energy systems. He explains that combining solar, battery storage, and efficiency measures significantly reduces downtime risk and operational costs, citing a defense contractor saving $1.2 million annually and a steel manufacturer saving $391,000. Evans highlights the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act's tax incentives, which can slash system payback periods to under a year, while warning against the pitfalls of relying solely on solar without storage or purchasing illegitimate renewable energy credits.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=35) Introduction: Gareth Evans and VECKTA
- [2:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=153) Gareth Evans' Background and Catalyst for VECKTA
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=353) Misconception 1: Sustainability vs. Profitability
- [9:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=569) Misconceptions 2 & 3: Solar-Only Systems and Battery Costs
- [12:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=722) Four Levers for Energy Transition and VECKTA's Approach
- [16:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=1008) Mitigating Downtime Risk and Resilience
- [19:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=1172) Inflation Reduction Act Incentives and ROI
- [21:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans#t=1268) Making Data-Driven Energy Decisions

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- VECKTA (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Delta (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Schneider (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Solving the conundrum of industrial heat](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-08-solving-the-conundrum-of-industrial-heat) (Catalyst)
- [Is the Inflation Reduction Act a win for EVs and batteries?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-29-is-the-inflation-reduction-act-a-win-for-evs-and-batteries) (Catalyst)
- [Building out a U.S. solar supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain) (Catalyst)
- [Like a steam engine in your house](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-04-15-like-a-steam-engine-in-your-house) (The Amp Hour)
- [A former race car engineer on battery safety and supply chains [partner content]](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-20-a-former-race-car-engineer-on-battery-safety-and-supply-chains-partner-content) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-09-19-a-renewable-energy-future-for-manufacturing-w-gareth-evans. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Manufacturing Executive.