Empower communities by education and empowerment. Building a cleaner planet requires collective action, and education is key to fostering a sustainability mindset. Schools must not only talk about the problems we have but should also incorporate the efforts that society is putting towards sustainability. This boosts confidence and advanced thinking.
As we face an unprecedented environmental crisis, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. This series seeks to spotlight the innovative minds and passionate advocates who are in charge of environmental conservation and sustainable practices. We aim to explore the most effective strategies, breakthrough technologies, and transformative policies that are shaping a more sustainable future for our planet. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Manoj Gopu.
Manoj Reddy Gopu is a seasoned engineering leader specializing in energy storage and renewable energy systems. As Director of Engineering, he has spearheaded the development and execution of large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and has extensive experience with SCADA and Energy Management Systems in operational technology. His career encompasses roles such as Senior Applications Engineer in renewables and Project Manager in control systems, underscoring his comprehensive expertise in the energy sector.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
Coming from an Indian background, I have always wanted to be an engineer and have always been curious about electricity and its production. My first project in high school was making a concave mirror with the glass I found and assemble into a concave shape to absorb the incident sunlight and reflect it to a single focal point. Using that, I created a flywheel with a timer and boiled water without electricity. I was very fascinated at that time and started to research more. With a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, I was the IEEE Student Chairman at my university and conducted several activities with an eye toward innovation. One of the projects in my undergrad that I am still proud of today is installing solar panels in a public school in a very rural area in Tamil Nadu where there is a power cut for 15 hours a day.
I knocked on several doors to pool the money to buy and install the panels at a school. To this day, the panels operate and provide basic power to the students ( fans during summer and lights when needed). I won the IEEE Global Humanitarian award for building a hybrid ( solar wind) cell tower that can feed the energy to operate by itself. These experiences made me pursue more in this area, and I came to the US in 2013 to pursue a master’s in EE with a specialization in power and control systems. Today, I am in the energy storage industry, designing and building 100 MWs of energy storage to support the US grid. I am passionate about the energy and sustainability aspects of things.
I have learned several things in my career, and I am curious. I enjoy being innovative and challenged all the time.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
My first time on a project as the lead, I was given a critical project that impacted the company and investors. I took it as a challenge to prove myself and make it a success. But, I was also stressed as I got minimum help, and I was struck at multiple phases. I had to educate some key stakeholders on the technology and the innovations, which included the city fire department, mayor’s office, and media, so that the project could cross the finish line, After 18 months of hard work and overcoming challenges, the projects are operational, creating a sustainable impact on the city distribution grid and also supporting the communities with unreliable power.
This first leadership experience, though challenging, ultimately shaped my approach to problem-solving, decision-making, and stakeholder management. It strengthened my belief that success is born from persistence, collaboration, and the willingness to step into the unknown.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Looking back on my career, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped me into the leader I am today. I have never viewed success as an individual pursuit it is the result of personal growth guidance from mentors and a willingness to embrace change. Throughout my journey, three key traits have been instrumental in my growth: empathy and respect, listening first and being open to criticism.
Empathy and respect form the foundation of leadership. I once had a team member facing personal challenges while working under an intense deadline. Instead of focusing only on the project timeline, I took the time to listen and offer support. This simple act of understanding helped them navigate their difficulties and strengthened our working relationship. One of my mentors once told me that empathy fosters trust, and trust builds high-performing teams.
Listening first is the key to unlocking great potential. This is a lesson I learned from my mother, who spent her life as a teacher. She taught me the importance of truly listening and understanding another person’s thoughts and ideas. I always try to listen carefully to my team and understand their perspectives, asking thoughtful questions to gain deeper insight. This approach has introduced me to new ways of thinking and problem-solving and has helped me grow as a leader and a teammate.
Being open to criticism is essential for growth. No career journey is without mistakes and no leader is without flaws. Accepting criticism with an open mind has been one of the most transformative lessons in my career. I believe that criticism, when embraced, is a tool for growth rather than a setback.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
Yes, I am working on not one but designing two battery energy storage projects totaling 516MWh in New York State that would help the Long Island grid. These two projects are very important for the state of NY, and I am proud to be the engineering director who manages the design and executes the projects. New York State aims to reach 6GW by 2030, and the projects I am designing will contribute to the state’s goal. This in turn helps towards the sustainability goals.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. What pivotal moment led you to dedicate your career to sustainability, and how has that shaped your approach to environmental challenges?
The smiles that I saw on students’ faces when I installed the solar panels to utilize renewable energy and provide basic needs like a fan during 45C weather and help them focus on education made me fall in love with renewable energy. Since then I have been studying and working in the sustainability industries. I believe the current energy storage industry that I am working on is helping the environment by facilitating renewables integration, reducing peak demand and emissions, and enhancing energy efficiency.
Could you describe a groundbreaking project or initiative you’ve been involved in that significantly contributed to sustainability?
One of the most transformative projects I have worked on is designing a microgrid for an underprivileged community by providing clean and reliable solar and storage power, reducing high electricity costs, and creating a decentralized system.
How do you navigate the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation in your sustainability strategies?
Balancing economic growth and environmental preservation requires innovative and long-term strategies, and that is the most exciting part of my career. Besides collaboration with stakeholders, strong policy frameworks and lifecycle impact assessments ensure sustainable practices remain economically viable; the systems have to be engineered in a way that is operationally efficient and safe for the environment and public.
What emerging technologies or innovations do you believe hold the most promise for advancing sustainability and why?
Energy Storage is critical for sustainability as it overcomes the intermittency of solar and wind and ensures reliable power. It also supports grid resiliency by providing a stable electric grid as it reduces the need for fossil fuel backup systems. and accelerates the transition to clean energy systems across sectors, including transportation, industry, and buildings. Emerging technologies like solid-state batteries and hydrogen storage have the potential to reshape how we store and use energy, driving us closer to a carbon-neutral future. Investing in these innovations can unlock a sustainable energy future for all.
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet”?
1 . Expanding renewable energy with storage integration
Projects like Moss Landing and others worldwide have solar plus storage that allows for full capture of energy even when the grid won’t need it.
2 . Building Community Microgrids
After the devastating hurricane Maria, microgrids were established with solar and storage in Puerto Rico. These systems will ensure uninterrupted power supply for schools, hospitals and other emergency needs.
3 . Supporting Grid Stability flexibility
The Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, powered by Tesla’s BESS, has become a game-changer for grid stabilization. It rapidly responds to frequency fluctuations and supplies backup power during outages, saving millions in operational costs and enabling higher renewable energy penetration.
4 . Advancing long duration energy storage
The RedFlow Project in Australia uses zinc-bromine flow batteries to provide long-duration energy storage for remote solar microgrids. These batteries handle extreme temperatures and frequent cycles without degradation, making them ideal for remote or industrial applications.
5 . Empower communities by education and empowerment
Building a cleaner planet requires collective action, and education is key to fostering a sustainability mindset. Schools must not only talk about the problems we have but should also incorporate the efforts that society is putting towards sustainability. This boosts confidence and advanced thinking.
In your view, what are the key steps individuals, communities, and governments need to take to achieve a more sustainable future?
Adopt a sustainable lifestyle and constantly educate and advocate. Communities must support more renewable energy microgrids, and the government should implement more ambitious climate goals, support companies that are working towards the climate goals, and support research and innovation.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would run climate hackathons to spark interest in communities and universities and to think of solutions to the climate problem we have from a technological and impact standpoint.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
You can find me on Linkedin here.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
The Future Is Green: Director of Engineering Manoj Gopu On Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.