Tesla hires Sunedision’s grid-solution expert for its Grid Solution team to maximize the value of energy-storage solutions

The world’s largest renewable-energy developer, Sunedision Inc (NYSE:SUNE), is on the verge of filing for Chapter 11, with stock price down 92% year-to-date (YTD). While the company’s employees are searching for new employers, it appears that one important member of the SunEdision family has joined Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA).

Electrek reported that Tesla scooped former manager of Energy Storage Center of Excellence at SunEdision, named Mohammad Bozchalui last month, for its new battery-storage arm. According to his LinkedIn profile, he attained his MSc in Electrical Engineering, Power System from University of Tehran and Ph.D. in Power and Energy Systems from University of Waterloo. His Ph.D. research paper was on “Optimal Operation of Residential Energy Hubs in Smart Grids.”

Mr. Bozchalui started working at SunEdition in August 2014, as Senior Power Engineer and after 10 months was promoted to Principal Engineer, Advanced Solutions. During the last four months, he was Manager, Energy Storage Center of Excellence at the solar developer.

The grid-solution specialist has been working for Tesla Energy’s Grid Solution team and is responsible for “Maximizing the value of energy storage solutions for behind-the-meter customers, microgrids, utilities, and grid operators.”

Tesla has big plans for its battery-storage business which is expected to bear fruits faster than the automotive division. The company will be providing its Powerpack systems to SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) for it’s project with Kaua’I Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) in Hawaii. Powerwall, the battery system for households, is being installed in the US, the UK, Germany, Australia, and South Africa.

Since October 2015, Tesla Energy products are being built at the $5 billion lithium-ion battery factory, the Gigafactory, in Reno, Nevada, where cell production is scheduled later this year. By the end of last year, Tesla’s stationary batteries were sold out for the entire 2016 production and well into 2017. The management plans to earn roughly $500 million in Tesla Energy revenue in 2016.