Michael La Marca
About Michael La Marca
Michael La Marca is the Technical Operations Manager at Sunnova Energy Corp., specializing in solar plant optimization and performance engineering.
Technical Operations Manager at Sunnova Energy Corp.
Michael La Marca currently serves as the Technical Operations Manager at Sunnova Energy Corp., a leading residential solar and energy storage service provider. Based in the Houston, Texas Area, he has been with the company since 2016. In this role, he focuses on developing simulation and performance testing tools aimed at optimizing solar plant operations. La Marca's expertise in photovoltaic properties plays a key role in improving site design and efficiency.
Previous Roles at NRG Energy
Prior to his current role, Michael La Marca worked at NRG Energy in several capacities within their Phoenix, Arizona Area operations. As the Manager of Performance Engineering (2015-2016), he held responsibilities for performance evaluations and optimization over a six-month tenure. Before that, from 2013 to 2015, he served as a Project Engineer at NRG Renew, where he focused on project development and engineering solutions for renewable energy initiatives.
Experience at Suntech
La Marca also gathered significant experience at Suntech, one of the world's largest producers of solar panels. In 2012, he worked as a Performance Engineer for 11 months, spread across the Phoenix, Arizona Area and San Francisco. Additionally, he held a role as a Research Intern from 2010 to 2011, where he was involved in early-stage research and development projects.
Academic Background in Physics and Mathematics
Michael La Marca has a robust academic background. He earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Arizona State University, completing his studies from 2003 to 2008. Prior to that, he obtained a B.S. in Physics from the University of Michigan, where he studied from 1999 to 2003. His academic pursuits also included work as a Research Associate at Arizona State University from 2005 to 2008 and again in 2010-2011.
Early Career and Internships
Michael's early career includes a stint at PwC as a Research Intern from 2009 to 2010 in San Jose, CA. This was preceded by an earlier period as a Research Associate at Arizona State University from 2005 to 2008. These roles equipped him with foundational skills in research methodologies and data analysis, which have significantly contributed to his later work in the solar energy sector.