What is your current role, and what are your main responsibilities?
I’m Ben Odell, the Business Development Lead for Prolectric in North America. My primary focus is the expansion of our solar lighting and power solutions in North America.
I’m currently developing relationships with companies, building an extensive customer base and educating companies on the benefits of solar. With a background in the machinery and equipment industry and a solid three years in the refuelling business, I bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion for sustainable solutions.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day starts with pursuing leads, responding to inquiries, and weaving through a web of networking opportunities. I network and meet potential clients and set up demonstrations of our solar lighting and power solutions. What fires me up is the chance to educate different industries about the benefits of solar power as an alternative to diesel, challenging misconceptions, and introducing them to a product like our ProPower Solar Hybrid Generator and the ProRXM Solar Lighting Tower that they’ve never seen on the market.
What inspired you to pursue this field, and how did you get started?
I have always wanted to build something from the ground up, then the opportunity to do it along with making a positive environmental impact was and has been very exciting. I never thought that after 20 years as a Equipment Rental Professional that I would be working with some of the best engineers and developers in this particular field. The future is definitely bright.
What are some of the most exciting projects you have worked on recently?
One of the recent highlights was jetting over to the UK to meet the Prolectric team. I loved my time in the UK and had the opportunity to learn more about British culture, try different foods, and meet some great people. In the US, I’ve enjoyed networking and educating different companies and sectors on the benefits of solar, which has been incredibly fulfilling.
How do you see the industry evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what trends do you think will drive this evolution?
Solar is one of the few things that offer a great fuel source that is FREE!! Over the next 5-10 years, we should be seeing A LOT more Solar/Hybrid powered equipment and battery storage systems. For me personally, I would like to see a full range of generators up to 1 MEG.
How do you think technology is impacting the industry, and what opportunities and challenges does this present?
The technology has and will continue to create a range of positives and negatives. The positives are easy to see, i.e. zero cost for a fuel source. Then in my opinion, the leading negatives are caused by a lack of knowledge or having assumptions about the industry and exactly what the industry goal is. Change isn’t easy, and it just comes down to “you either evolve or become stagnant and eventually become part of the back in the day stories.”
What common misconceptions about your industry would you like to dispel?
Let’s tackle some myths head-on. One myth is that solar works only in optimal conditions. However, Prolectric and its advanced solar technology clearly show that solar is effective year-round.
Here’s another one: embracing sustainable energy is solely influenced by external factors like politics. Not true. It boils down to business owners realising the cost-saving benefits of solar as a free power source through education. Once we get that, we can start shaping a sustainable future, irrespective of political twists and turns.
I aim to inspire businesses to adopt solar solutions early, driving sustainable practices in the industry.
