Lunch & Learn: Solar plus Battery Microgrids with Mason Rolph
- Date
- 2025-09-11
- Location
- Parking is available in the building, entrance on University St (of note: there are EV chargers!) Also consider using Spothero. The closest Link Lightrail Station is the Symphony Station.There is a bike room located on the C/D level of the garage. It’s inside the double doors by the elevator (email seattle@9zero.com for the door code), Seattle, WA, USA
- Host
- Community
About this event
At a moment when energy resilience, electrification, and local climate action are moving from big ideas to practical decisions, understanding microgrids has never been more useful. This Lunch & Learn brings the conversation down to earth with a focused session on solar plus battery microgrids led by Mason Rolph, giving you a chance to learn, ask questions, and connect with others who care about the future of community-scale energy. Whether you work in climate, design buildings, support clean energy projects, or are simply curious about how distributed power systems actually work, this is a strong midday opportunity to get sharper on the topic. You’ll leave with a clearer grasp of what solar and battery microgrids can do, where they make the most sense, and why they’re becoming a more important part of the energy landscape. About the Event This is an in-person Lunch & Learn designed to make a technical and timely topic accessible without watering it down. The focus is on solar plus battery microgrids: how they function, what problems they solve, and how they fit into broader conversations around resilience, decarbonization, and community infrastructure. Expect a format that works well for both people already active in the space and those still building their understanding. The session is anchored by Mason Rolph and structured to support learning in a practical, conversational setting rather than a formal conference-style presentation. Because it’s a Lunch & Learn, the event is especially well suited to professionals who want meaningful content in a compact midday window. It also creates a natural environment for meeting others interested in solar, storage, climate solutions, and community-scale systems. This event sits at the intersection of clean energy, local resilience, and networking. If you’ve been looking for a way to deepen your understanding of distributed energy while also meeting people working on adjacent challenges, this is a smart place to do both. What to Expect You can expect a clear, grounded discussion of the role that solar plus battery microgrids can play in real-world settings. Rather than staying at the level of buzzwords, the session is likely to help frame the core components, use cases, and decision points that matter when people evaluate microgrid solutions. A typical Lunch & Learn flow makes room for both focused learning and informal exchange. Attendees should come ready to listen, think through practical implications, and engage with questions that connect the topic to policy, buildings, campuses, neighborhoods, and energy resilience planning. What the experience is designed to include: A focused midday talk centered on solar plus battery microgrids Context for why microgrids matter now, especially in climate and resilience conversations Practical insight into how solar and storage can work together at the local level Time for discussion or questions, giving attendees a chance to dig deeper Community connection with others interested in solar, clean energy, and infrastructure Because the gathering is in person, there’s also real value in the moments around the session itself. Arriving a little early or staying a few minutes after can open up conversations with people working across climate, energy, community development, and related fields. Why Attend If you’ve heard the term “microgrid” often but want a more useful, working understanding of it, this event offers exactly that. Solar plus battery systems are increasingly relevant to how organizations and communities think about backup power, load management, cost control, and emissions reduction. Getting clearer on the fundamentals now can help you make better decisions later. This is also valuable because it brings together multiple lenses on the same topic. For some attendees, the interest may be technical. For others, it may be strategic, civic, operational, or climate-driven. That mix usually leads to stronger questions and more useful conversations than a purely specialist room. You may find this event especially worthwhile if you want to: Better understand how solar and battery storage complement each other Learn how microgrids support resilience during outages or grid stress Explore how distributed energy connects to community-scale climate action Build more confidence discussing microgrids with colleagues, clients, or partners Meet people who care about the future of clean, local energy systems A good Lunch & Learn doesn’t just deliver information; it gives you language, context, and momentum. This session is a chance to leave better informed and better connected, without needing to block off an entire day. Practical Details The event takes place in person in Seattle on Thursday, September 11 at 12:00 PM PDT. As a lunchtime event, it’s well positioned for people who want to step away from the desk for a substantive hour of learning and conversation. The venue is easy to access using several transportation options. Parking is available in the building, with the entrance on University St. If you plan to drive, you may also want to consider Spothero. For those driving electric, there are EV chargers available, which is a fitting convenience for an event focused on the future of energy. Public transit and biking are also viable options: The closest Link light rail stop is Symphony Station There is a bike room on the C/D level of the garage The bike room is located inside the double doors by the elevator If you need bike room access, email seattle@9zero.com for the door code If this topic overlaps with your work, your curiosity, or the future you want to help build, this is a strong reason to spend your lunch hour in the room. Come ready to learn something concrete, ask a smart question, and meet people who are paying attention to the same shift in energy systems.
Who should attend
If you want a practical, accessible conversation about where clean energy and resilience meet, this will likely feel relevant right away. - You work in **solar, storage, climate, energy, sustainability, or electrification** and want a sharper understanding of how microgrids fit into the broader landscape. - You’re involved in **buildings, facilities, campuses, real estate, or infrastructure** and want to better understand the value of local power systems and battery-backed resilience. - You’re part of a **community organization, local initiative, or mission-driven team** thinking about preparedness, decarbonization, or long-term energy strategy. - You’re a **founder, operator, consultant, or decision-maker** who needs to talk confidently about solar plus battery systems with partners, clients, or colleagues. - You’re technically curious but don’t need a highly specialized conference setting; you want a session that is **substantive, clear, and grounded**. - You enjoy meeting people across **climate, community, and clean energy networks** and want a useful in-person gathering that combines learning with conversation. If you’ve been looking for a reason to get more fluent in microgrids without committing to a full-day event, this is a very good fit.