Victor Arredondo: Solar Conversion
“If I can run two 400-megawatt sites, I can figure it out.”
Victor Arredondo got into oil and gas production at a young age, working his way up from roustabout to lease operator before eventually moving into automation. A native of Iraan, Texas, Victor found himself building tank batteries and compressor stations, work that suited his natural affinity for solving puzzles and hands-on work. But when the COVID-19 pandemic led to reduced hours and pay, Victor decided he had to make a move.
“I went on Linked In and applied for the first electrical technician job I saw.” He had a successful interview and was quickly hired. He reported for his first day of work and was immediately confused. Instead of a typical oil and gas facility, he was looking out across a vast field of photovoltaic solar panels. Had he got the wrong address? No one had mentioned anything about working on solar inverters. He assumed there had been some kind of mix-up, given his background in oil and gas. The site manager reassured him that there was no mistake: “We hired you for a reason.”
Resolving to make the best of this unexpected opportunity, Victor set out to learn as much as he could about the solar industry. He became friends with an older coworker who offered to teach Victor everything he knew about the job, and in exchange Victor helped his coworker with administrative tasks and English/Spanish translation. After several months of this on-the-job mentorship, Victor was offered a job as a lead solar technician for another company and decided to accept.
Along with better opportunities for training and advancement, Victor was drawn to the challenge of his new job: improving the output of an existing solar facility. To increase the efficiency and operating health of the site's inverters, Victor followed each problem to its source. He repaired broken panels and traced the location of wiring problems. When he encountered something he didn’t know how to fix, he quickly realized calling tech support wasn’t the answer. Instead, he got copies of manuals and diagrams, so he could handle repairs himself. His determination to get the details right began to add up, as the facility began to operate in the “green” for the first time ever. Soon, he was promoted to site manager over two solar facilities.
He had made a good career for himself in the less crowded and still emerging solar industry. He was developing contacts and leading a successful team. But when a friend suggested he apply for a soon-to-be-open position leading Danos’ renewables efforts, he wasn’t sure he had the right qualifications. Sure, he knew the solar business, but could he really lead a major effort like Danos had planned?
“If I can run two 400-megawatt sites, I can figure it out.” Victor had faith that with hard work and a can-do attitude, he could rise to any challenge. And since joining Danos in May 2023, he’s built a sustainable, profitable solar services operation that continues to grow. As operations manager for the company’s renewable services, Victor has recruited a team of highly skilled professionals who share his commitment to quality and excellence. “These guys are the reason for our labor service success in the solar energy sector,” he says. “They take great pride in their work and earning the trust of our customers.”
That trust is evident in the many direct service referrals Danos receives from Sungrow, one of the biggest inverter manufacturers in the world. As an authorized service provider, Danos’s teams perform repairs and maintenance on behalf of Sungrow throughout the greater Texas region. From southeast of Houston to remote areas of northwest and southwest Texas, Victor and his team are demonstrating that “the Danos way” of doing business is one solar operators can rely on.
“Victor has been instrumental in the growth and success of Danos renewables division,” says Shawn Portier, general manager of energy systems at Danos. “His knowledge, passion and commitment to customer service is second to none and we are happy he is leading Danos Renewables.”
Pictured above from left to right: Oldest Boy – 6 yrs old will turn 7 on Sept 21 – Mateo Arredondo, 2 yr old – Isaac Arredondo and Wife – Daisy Arredondo