Create Energy picked up 600 megawatts of orders in January 2026 alone. Trackers, EBOS, and a growing list of products, all from a company most people in solar have never heard of. In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Dean Solon, founder of Create Energy, at InterSolar San Diego 2026. Create is building an entire solar plant ecosystem under one roof in Tennessee. Dean walks through why he is building all of this, how the snap-in module eliminates MC4 connectors, and why he believes the solar industry is in the middle of the biggest gold rush he has seen in 30 years.
Here's what you'll learn in this conversation:
. Find out how Create Energy went from startup to shipping 600 megawatts of product in January 2026.
. Learn how the snap-in solar module eliminates MC4 connectors entirely.
. Understand why Dean built Create around open architecture with no recurring software fees.
. You'll hear why Dean says the solar industry is in the biggest gold rush he has seen in his career.
. Learn why Dean acquired Graze Robotics and what he is building next.
The solar industry is consolidating. Dean Solon is building in the opposite direction, expanding into every component of the solar plant while competitors narrow their focus. With 600 megawatts of orders in a single month and a product lineup that spans trackers to autonomous mowing, Create Energy is a company solar professionals need to know about. This episode gives you a full look at what Dean is building and why he believes the next three years will define the industry.
Find Dean Solon and Create Energy at the solar shows.
Dean Solon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-solon-b8876649/
Create Energy Website: https://www.create.energy/
Topics covered in this episode: Create Energy solar plant ecosystem, snap-in solar module MC4 replacement, open architecture solar plant design, Graze Robotics solar mowing acquisition, solar field automated mowing, Dean Solon Shoals founder, solar installation labor challenges, ITC phase-out solar industry 2026
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