Author(s): Andy McCarthy

Startups & Entrepreneurship

How a high-school dropout brought renewable energy to coal country Here Comes the Sun is a story of succeeding in the face of adversity, about finding and following a purpose, and the potholes that can bring you unstuck. Suffering from ADHD at school, misunderstood, tormented and bullied for years, Andy McCarthy was unable to find his pack. When he dropped out in Year 10, his prospects weren't good. He had no idea then that his personal drive and dogged determination would lead to incredible success. At 19, Andy connected his first solar panel and suddenly found himself powered by a purpose: to accelerate the world's transition to renewable energy. Where best to make that happen? Coal country, and a place that has provided Victoria with most of its energy for a century, the Latrobe Valley. From tiny beginnings in his home garage, Andy overcame a tide of ridicule, setbacks and opposition to build one of Australia's largest employers in the renewable energy sector: Gippsland Solar. But his obsession took a terrible toll. When he was rushed to hospital crippled by panic attacks, Andy realised something had to give. Then, in ways that no one expected, he turned his life around again. Here Comes the Sun is a candid, swashbuckling and electrifying tale for anyone interested in renewable energy, and in what it takes to run a business and follow a purpose without burning out.