We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mohamed Hauter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mohamed below.
Mohamed, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
The idea of starting a photovoltaic panel manufacturing facility brewed for years. The market was scarce in 2005 and raw material suppliers were very hard to find. For those reasons, we decided that opening a solar design, manufacturing, and installation company was the better option at the time, and that is what we did. However, considering the ever-increasing need for clean energy, availability of raw materials, maturity of the market, we decided that the time has come to start a manufacturing facility. Thus, the Advanced American Clean Energy Company was formed in mid-2022. It is in Salalah Free Zone, Sultanate of Oman. The location was carefully chosen for its proximity to suppliers, customers, and international shipping lanes.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My story with solar started as a humble goal to contribute towards the greater goal of a 100% clean energy world. It is a scientific and realistic fact that our world is undergoing serious climate changes. The debate might linger whether or not global warming is new or historically cyclical. But regardless, clean energy, energy independence, and cheaper energy sources are pros that are not doubted by anyone. My start was tough and required a lot of time and effort to learn, practice, and implement. At the end, I managed to create a company and along the way attract the greatest and most talented team one can find. We are committed to providing custom, reliable, competitive, and efficient solar solutions to all.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
My background is in Computer Science and Engineering, yet the Clean Energy field has always been atop my Wishlist. To make a living, I had to manage working a fulltime job as a principal engineer to make ends meet and at the same time take on a fulltime career developing a clean energy company. As you can imagine, a very demanding adventure and few failures along the way. However, at last, I was able to create a solar design and installation company (Elements Solar LLC) and now close to opening a solar panel manufacturing company (Advanced American Clean Energy Company).
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My business partner is a very successful person who has an amazing starting-from-nothing story and his name is Yasir Khanshali. Yasir grew up in New York until his teen years. Yasir and his family relocated to California in the late 1990s. Through hard work as an employee, then a manager, then a small business owner, to finally an owner of many national and international companies in the business of fuel distribution, stores, properties, and coffee farming. Yasir is my cousin from my mother’s side and have known him all my life as a relative, friend, and mentor. We share the same aspirations, drive, and commitment.
