Interchange Recharged

Wood Mackenzie’s Grid Edge Innovation Summit is now on and we’ll be bringing you all the action from the two days of talks right here on The Interchange Recharged. Host David Banmiller is live in Phoenix, bringing you highlights from each day of the conference. Across the next three episodes, David talks to experts and representatives from the leading distribution utilities, software technology developers, public utility commissions and distributed generation players in North America.  On day one, David is joined by:Chris Seiple, Vice-Chairman, Energy Transition and Renewables, Wood MackenzieAimee Bailey, Director of Innovation and Portfolio Management, National Grid PartnersMartin Milani, CEO, Sunverge EnergyStephen Hendrickson, US Department of EnergyCrystal Stiles, Florida Power & LightMelissa Chan, Director of Grid Solutions and Strategic Partnerships, Fermata EnergyBen Hertz-Shargel, Global Head of Grid Edge, Wood Mackenzie.  Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world is undergoing a slow but much needed transition. The need to phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable sources of energy was a major theme at COP27. But with past efforts to reach certain goals falling short, what technologies are being developed to put us back on track?On this episode, we are joined by Fredrik Mowill, CEO at Hystar.Hystar is a high-tech company that specializes in PEM electrolysers to produce green hydrogen from water electrolysis. With their unique and patented technology, they hope to make the production of hydrogen from renewable electricity significantly more affordable and more accessible.Join them as they discuss how this technology works, what makes it unique, and what else can be done to further the energy transition.Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a single show and let us know your thoughts and comments.   The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric.  Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered. Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control —including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process and assume financial and operational risks.  Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more.  Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we publish this episode, COP27 is well underway. World leaders and policymakers are gathering in Egypt to formulate plans to tackle the climate crisis. Recent reports, notably a report from the UN in recent weeks, indicate that the current efforts being made by the world are not enough to restrict us to 1.5c of global heating. With the pledges made at COP26 a year ago still not being met, the focus is on the Western world and its responsibility to lead the charge, not least financially. It was proposed that $100b a year would be set aside for spending on climate action, but current figures put the actual amount as being far lower. On today’s episode, we are joined by Rick Saines, Managing Director at Pollination. They are a climate change advisory and investment firm which aims to deliver net zero, focusing on decarbonisation and nature-positive outcomes. They liaise with large NGOs, governments, and investment firms. They have a key focus on investment; advisory insights, as well as understanding trends and analysing the intersection between policy and investment. All of which lead to better decision-making in ESG investing. Transitioning to a zero-carbon economy is imperative. Through the noise of mid-term elections, and a cost of living crisis, the urgency to act on the climate must cut through. What needs to be changed on a global policy level, as time starts to run out? Join them as they take a markets-based look at how companies and governments are working toward net-zero, and what needs to be done to ensure governments are sticking to the promises they make. The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric.  Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered. Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control —including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process and assume financial and operational risks.  Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more. Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Power grids across the world are under huge strain, as communities and businesses struggle to keep up with costs and the unreliability of an aging infrastructure. We’re seeing it now in the UK as the National Grid warns of planned blackouts throughout the country. While in the US, electricity companies prepare for the winter with an unreliable grid. But how can energy users help restore balance and maintain the grid without breaking the bank? On this episode of The Interchange Recharged, we are joined by the Senior Vice President of GridBeyond, Wayne Muncaster. Companies are always looking for new technologies that will keep their energy costs low, while ensuring they have power when they need it. GridBeyond is doing just that. A leader in intelligent energy technology, they are focused on providing industrial customers with real-time solutions to manage every aspect of the energy transition including resiliency and integration of battery storage. Listen as we discuss the challenges that arise from an aging grid, the uncertainty around energy security and look at how companies can transform energy into opportunity.Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a single show and let us know your thoughts and comments.   The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric.   Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered. Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control —including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process and assume financial and operational risks.  Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more.  Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With 90% of the world's trade being transported by sea, the cost to the environment is significant. Following our focus on commercial sea travel in the last episode of The Interchange Recharged podcast, we now step onto the decks of Maersk, who are looking to alternative ways to power their engines.  Hydrogen has been seen as the go-to sustainable aviation fuel, but can it power the mammoth ships that transport our freight across the globe? Maersk, one of the largest global shipping companies, doesn’t seem to think so. They want to look elsewhere.  Jacob Sterling, head of ocean decarbonization and innovation at Maersk, joins us to discuss how the company is sailing towards climate neutrality by 2040 with a new fleet of vessels that run on green methanol, a low-carbon fuel.  Maersk is also focused on helping other companies lower their ocean shipping’s carbon footprint with an ECO Delivery service that uses second generation green biofuels, which reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80%. What led Maersk to choose methanol fuel? How far along are they on the deployment of methanol-powered ships? How much are companies willing to pay to support the global effort for the energy transition? And how realistic are their goals? Tune in as Jacob takes us through the future of shipping fuel. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a single show, and do let us know your thoughts and comments.   View the landing page to hear all episodes of The Interchange Recharged. The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered. Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control —including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process and assume financial and operational risks. Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more. Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode we step aboard a hydrogen-powered ferry that’s hoping to lead the shift away from fossil fuels in a carbon-intensive industry. We’ve examined technologies that are helping the energy transition on land, such as wave drilling technology and data-driven tools that help consumers slash emissions, and in the air with aviation companies working to develop hydrogen-powered engines and sustainable aviation fuel. Today we’re casting a wider net and looking at sustainability at sea.  Pace Ralli, co-founder and CEO at SWITCH Maritime, joins us to discuss how his company is building the first fleet of zero-emissions vessels in North America. Their flagship zero-emissions ferry, The Sea Change, is currently undergoing sea trials and is powered by hydrogen fuel cells and batteries. What are some of the challenges SWITCH has faced during this transition? How has the maritime industry evolved and is this the starting point for a wider shift across the industry? Listen as Pace takes us through his journey as a climate-tech investor and what led him to focus on hard-to-decarbonize sectors like maritime.  Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a single show, and please do let us know your thoughts and comments.  The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric.  Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered. Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control — including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process and assume financial and operational risks.  Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more.  Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With major airline companies setting net zero goals by 2050, we’ve talked a lot about the aviation industry and its contribution to our emissions problem.   In recent episodes we have featured several companies which are creating technologies that will get us closer to meeting this goal. We’ve visited the world of sustainable fuel, had a layover in the land of hydrogen-powered engines and today, we’ve arrived at our next destination: speed and sustainability.  On this episode, we are joined by Ben Murphy, Head of Sustainability at Boom Supersonic. Boom is building a supersonic plane they are calling the Overture – the world's fastest airliner.  Boom is redefining the future of flight with their goals of speed, safety and sustainability. The company aims to usher in a new era of supersonic travel by transporting passengers from places like New York to London in only a few hours. The Overture will be equipped with noise-reduction technologies and emit zero carbon. But how will it work? What sustainable aviation fuel will it use?   With major investment already secured from the likes of United and American Airlines, are we inching closer to realising the dream of ultra-fast, carbon-neutral air travel? When will people be able to fly it? Listen now to find out.  The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered.  Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control — including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process and assume financial and operational risks.  Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more.  Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you.  The RE+ conference is the clean energy industry's largest and most comprehensive event in North America. This year it’s taking place in Anaheim, California from Sept. 19 through to Sept. 22. Wood Mackenzie is excited to be attending the conference this year and we hope to see you there on the floor. To learn more about RE+, including how to buy tickets, visit woodmac.com/replus See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s something we reiterate every episode: we’ll achieve net zero by adopting the new energy transition technologies that are developed every day around the world. Often we focus on the main areas: the solar tech, the ways the industry is maximizing wind power or the developments being made in sustainable aviation fuel. This week however, David turns his attention to an often over-looked but important piece in the energy transition puzzle: how to improve efficiency and create total sustainability in food and medicinal storage. 40% of our total food production is thrown away before it reaches plates. That’s a US$1.6 trillion a year problem, and it’s caused primarily by poor food storage. Refrigerated storage is costly and uses a huge amount of energy. With the entire world in an energy crisis, the strain on the US power grid has caused states to put caps on the amount of energy being used in businesses and in homes. Restaurants are particularly liable to waste due to food safety laws which demand that food must be thrown away if improperly stored. That can be caused by anything from faulty equipment to food being stored in a place below the required temperature threshold. With energy prices skyrocketing, businesses need a way to improve efficiencies in storage. How can this be solved? We investigate the ways that the industry can save energy and reduce emissions with founder and CEO of Therma, Manik Suri. Therma is a tech startup that builds safety and sustainability tools to eliminate food waste, improve energy efficiency and reduce refrigerant emissions — protecting consumers and combating climate change. It’s not just refrigeration – Therma also focuses on cooling in a broader sense. Malik claims that improving ventilation is another way of creating efficiencies in energy use and saving individuals money. The world is paying the price for the inefficiencies across the entire supply chain, so streamlining and reducing energy use has a knock-on effect, and ultimately could lead to significant positive impacts for the world in combatting climate change.The Interchange podcast is brought to you by Schneider Electric.  Are you looking for more energy control but worry about the upfront costs of a microgrid and renewables? Schneider Electric have you covered.  Schneider Electric offers Energy as a Service for customers like you who spend $40,000 or more each month on energy. With Energy as a Service, you get customized solutions to help you meet goals for sustainability, efficiency, and cost control — including a microgrid and adjacent energy infrastructure. They also handle every step of the process, and assume financial and operational risks.  Upgraded electrical equipment. Reduced emissions. Predictable long-term pricing. Energy as a Service provides all this, and more.  Visit se.com/us/eaas to find out if Energy as a Service is right for you.  The RE+ conference is the clean energy industry's largest and most comprehensive event in North America. This year it’s taking place in Anaheim, California from Sept. 19 through to Sept. 22.Wood Mackenzie is excited to be attending the conference this year and we hope to see you there on the floor. To learn more about RE+, including how to buy tickets, visit woodmac.com/replusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, the global aviation industry is responsible for around two percent of carbon dioxide emissions. With major airlines pledging to hit net-zero by 2050, all eyes are on sustainable fuel manufacturers to help power these airlines towards their goal. But what if there’s another way?  When it comes to making aviation sustainable, the industry seems to have just two options: make the fuel sustainable or build engines powered by renewable energy. In this episode, we are joined by Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia – a company betting their chips on the second option.  ZeroAvia has developed a hydrogen-powered engine which they hope will provide the foundation for the future of sustainable air travel. Some of the world’s biggest airlines share this hope with United, British Airways and American Airlines invested in the technology. Over 1,000 engines have been pre-ordered.   Val explains why ZeroAvia looks to hydrogen engines rather than investing in processes to make zero-emission fuel. Their engine is undergoing certifications on small propeller planes, but Val and ZeroAvia have their eyes on the ultimate prize: powering wide-body jets and revolutionising the industry. What does their path look like? Let’s find out.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk a lot on the podcast about the technology that powers the latest innovations in energy supply. But what about a solution to the problem of energy procurement?A few episodes ago, we spoke to the Founder and Executive Director of WattTime, a nonprofit tech company that uses the power of data to reduce emissions at the consumer level. By using more energy when the grid is powered by renewables and less when it's relying on fossil fuels, WattTime automatically manages your home energy usage based on a smart metering system.This week we look one step along the energy supply chain to where we source our energy. Our guest is Founder and CEO Ryan Peusch. Ryan’s company, Zentility, uses data and an advanced UI to simplify and streamline the energy buying process for businesses. Zentility links energy suppliers to customers through an automated contract management system.We look at the technology in more detail with Ryan, exploring why it could help businesses across the US make smarter decisions with their energy contracts and lead to a higher concentration of renewables powering our cities.What are the long-term trends for energy prices amid a global fuel crisis? Can the Zentility platform alleviate price woes for customers? Find out right here, on the Interchange: RechargedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The energy transition is a machine with hundreds of moving parts. The problems we face in getting to net zero will be solved by a combination of technology, policy and consumer action. The cleantech sector is awash with technological marvels. Today, we look at a company with huge potential – a tech company that utilises the power of waves.On the podcast: how harnessing that power can fill in a crucial gap in the energy transition puzzle, when solar and wind can’t deliver enough power on their own. We are joined by Jan Skjoldhammer, from NoviOcean. NoviOcean has developed a wave energy converter which it says can deliver lower energy costs and supplement the solar grid.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 months ago The Interchange spoke with Harald Overholm from Alight. Alight is one of the leading providers of Power Purchase Agreements in Europe. Since then we’ve seen massive changes in the market, rampant inflation and stock market turmoil.To analyse the changes currently underway in the PPA sector, we are joined by Luca Pedretti, from PexaPark. PexaPark use unique data sets to offer pricing across multiple European markets. The discussion moves from talk of price volatility and how it can be managed, to the future of the renewable sector and what needs to be done to mitigate the negative effects of inflation. There are lessons for the US from Europe. Can a PPA hedge against inflation? Luca says we need to find a way to incentivise and integrate private capital. How do we do this? Dive into the episode to find out.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To continue to accelerate the energy transition investment in clean tech companies is essential. We’ve seen more growth in the last 5 years than the last 100 with trillions of dollars flooding the market in the interests of accelerating the path to Net Zero. On today's Interchange, we are joined by Matthew Nordan for an eye-opening conversation. Matthew is the General Partner of Azolla Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech companies with the potential for gigaton-scale climate impact. Azolla have unique evaluation criteria; gigaton scale climate impact, the principle of additionality and only investing in cases where they can see bullet point level seed milestones.In this episode, we discuss the current investor appetite for green tech investments, how the sector deals with green washing and whether SPACS are still an effective tool.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowThe Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wood Mackenzie’s Solar Energy and Storage Summit has wrapped for 2022.Across 3 days of talks on solar and storage, we were live in San Diego, bringing you highlights from each day of the conference.On the final day we have a packed show for you, featuring an extended interview with Kelly Sarber from Strategic Management Group and Vanessa Witte, Senior Research Analyst on Solar Storage at Wood Mackenzie, as they go in depth into the current state of the storage market.We're also joined by Ty Keefe from EPC Power, Justin Hopkins from Franklin Whole Homes, Ananth Benedict from Phoenix Contact, Aaron Bingham from BayWA r.e Solar and Wilfred Audley from eleXsys Energy as they give their thoughts on the future of storage and their tech is impacting the market.With extra discussions with analysts Rachel Goldstein and Sylvia Martinez on ESG investment this episode is full of analysis on the key role solar storage will play in the energy transition.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowThe Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wood Mackenzie’s Solar Energy and Storage Summit is on now, and we’re bringing you all the action from 3 days of talks right here on The Interchange.We are live in San Diego, bringing you highlights from each day of the conference.We're here on day 2 of the summit, and the focus of the day is on the ever-evolving connection between solar and storage. In this recap of the second day, David is joined by Bridget Van Dorsten, Hydrogen Research Analyst, to look at solar-to-hydrogen tech, Matt Cox from Greenlink Analytics to explore the ESG impact on projects in terms of job creation and the displacement of fossil fuels and Michelle Davis, Principle Analyst of Distributed Solar, to talk trends in the solar markets.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowThe Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.SummarySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wood Mackenzie’s Solar Energy and Storage Summit is on now, and we’re bringing you all the action from 3 days of talks right here on The Interchange.We are live in San Diego, bringing you highlights from each day of the conference.Across the next 3 special episodes, we talk to some of the best and brightest in solar and storage, exploring new technology and policies.  Day one is all about solar. In this recap of the first day, we explores the implications of the Biden administration's recent announcement to boost domestic solar production, with some big industry names: Chris Seiple, Vice-Chairman Energy Transition and Renewables at Wood Mackenzie, Sean Gallagher, Vice President of State & Regulatory Affairs at the SEIA, and Wood Mac's Head of Solar Xiaojing Sun.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowThe Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For this special episode - we look back at some of the highlights of the past 6 months, featuring clips from Alight, the Coalition for Community Solar Access, WattTime, UC Davis, Quaise Energy and Ecosene.We’ll be back in 2 weeks and taking a look at the financing of the energy transition, with Matthew Nordan, Partner at Azolla Ventures. The podcast is also going to be heading off to the Solar and Storage Energy Summit from June 6-9, where we will be broadcasting live from the 3 days of solar and storage talk with some of the biggest names in the industry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are currently going through a reformation of the power grid, and a revitalization process in how we produce clean energy. Not only are there more ways to create and harness energy than ever before, but there are also new ways to store that energy. The energy storage industry is booming, but the modern batteries we use require one key component; lithium. To continue utilizing and perfecting these batteries, however, requires a sustainable and environmentally sound method of lithium and mineral extraction. On today's Interchange, we had the pleasure of having Zachary Sadow sits down with us for an eye-opening conversation. Zachary is the CEO and Co-founder of KMX Technologies. KMX is an emerging leader in rare Earth mineral extraction and wastewater treatment. Why is this important? Today's modern batteries require high levels of lithium ion, a finite material. KMX is changing the process of how we extract these minerals from the Earth and making sure the wastewater from these processes is returned to its pure form. Not only is KMX improving wastewater treatment processes, but they are in turn improving living conditions around these sites as well.In this episode, we query Zac on the traditional processes for extracting lithium. What is the commercial use concentration that the lithium needs to be at? What policy and government action does KMX need to help the progress of its business? As always, we find out if the model is viable, and the technology tried and tested.Follow us on Twitter @InterchangeShowThe Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the sun stays out for a few extra hours in summer, where do we store the excess energy? This is one of the biggest challenges facing the renewable energy industry. When looking at countries like Norway, which is currently powered by 50% renewable energy, mostly coming from Hydropower, they run into the same old problem: having high influxes of energy and then dips. How do you store energy when you have excess and then use that same energy when the grid is in higher demand? That's where energy storage comes into play.In today's episode, we speak with Freyr Battery CEO and Co-Founder, Tom Jensen. Tom’s company is currently constructing one of the largest battery cell production facilities in Europe, aiming for capacity of a whopping 43GWH. The facility is based in northern Norway and is being constructed utilising the abundant renewable energy from the grids. Freyr is committed to supporting cluster-based R&D initiatives and the development of an international ecosystem of scientific, commercial, and financial stakeholders to support the expansion of the battery value chain in their region.In this episode, we explore why Freyr’s technology sticks out from the crowd. What are some of the roadblocks to furthering battery storage initiatives and how can they be overcome? What are some ways that we can recycle older batteries and give them another life? How is inflation affecting Freyr's current efforts? All of these questions and more, on The Interchange: Recharged. The Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you were offered free software that would automatically reduce the CO2 emissions from your energy usage would you accept it? This week's guest, WattTime, found that 90% of survey participants said “yes” to that very same question. At the other end of the scale, only about 55% of Americans believe in climate change, according to a 2019 survey. New programs that help reduce emissions from domestic utilities can take time to deploy, and are could be more of a hassle than a benefit. WattTime wants to change that. That's why they have developed their Automatic Emissions Reduction Software that can be downloaded by any smart device.In this week's episode, we sit down with Gavin McCormick, the Founder and Executive Director of WattTime, a nonprofit tech company that uses the power of data to reduce emissions at the consumer level. Gavin holds a master's degree in Energy Economics from UC Berkeley and left his Ph.D. program to pursue his dreams of launching a start-up. Nine years later, WattTime has partnered with a range of companies, from your local utility companies to Google. Gavin has a goal to implement his AER technology into every IoT device to help significantly reduce emissions at home and beyond. We explore WattTime's business model, and Gavin’s plans for staying as a non-profit. We ask how WattTime collects, analyzes, and shares the data they retrieve, and poses questions regarding WattTime's place in the net zero transition, as Gavin hopes to implement his software into every IoT device. It’s a bold idea, and works at the consumer level, but is it scalable? And what’s next? Let’s find out.The Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It feels like every other week we hear news about another CEO or billionaire jetting off into space. Are we entering a new era of the Space Race? instead of politicians and governments gloating about their space programs, we now have billionaires live-streaming their afternoon flights to the edge of the ozone. Every one of these launches emits 300 tons of carbon dioxide into the upper atmosphere. With the frequency of private launches increasing, as well as the demand for space exploration constantly growing, the need for sustainable space travel is urgent.What environmental impact do these privately funded space programs have? Should governments have more of a say?In today's episode of the Interchange: Recharged, we are joined by Derek Harris, the CEO of an aerospace fuel company aiming to create a sustainable rocket fuel mix. The company, Ecosene, believes that space travel does not have to be a burden on our environment. They are even taking it a step further, by researching and creating a new fuel that is composed of plastic waste dredged from our oceans. Derek walks us through the science behind the fuel and how it will be applied to the real world. Is it possible for them to solve two environmental issues with one process? Is their plan viable? These questions, as well as the science, financing and ethics behind sustainable space travel are put under the microscope this week, so buckle in.The Interchange is brought to you by JinkoSolar, a leading solar panel manufacturer and energy storage integrator.JinkoSolar now offers energy storage for a variety of residential, C&I, and utility projects.To learn more about Jinko’s EAGLE Storage products visit www.jinkosolar.us/interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever played around with the idea of installing a solar system for your home? Where would you start? What worries you most about the process? The price? Quality of work? What about the durability of the equipment? These concerns are often a barrier to residential solar. This week in the Interchange recharged we meet Otovo – an interesting business with European roots who are trying to remove the barriers for homeowners to solar installation.In this episode, we are joined by Andreas Thorsheim the CEO of Otovo, and Chloe Holden a US residential Storage analyst from Wood Mackenzie to discuss the global evolution of residential solar and how to unlock the potential and remove barriers for homeowners. The three also discuss recent solar policies, the future of residential energy storage, and the difference between the US and European solar markets. Tune in to hear how the CEO of an Oslo-based solar company expanded to over 7 European countries in just 5 years and then stick around to hear what an expert in energy storage has to say when we ask her where the future of storage in the US is headed. Welcome to this week's Interchange, recharged. The Interchange is brought to you by the Yale Clean Energy Conference: Renewables Integration & Grid Modernization for a Clean Energy Future, happening April 1 – April 2, 2022. Network with leading clean energy experts while utilizing and deepening your knowledge of clean energy justice, finance, technology, policy, and careers. The Interchange is brought to you by the Yale Clean Energy Conference: Renewables Integration & Grid Modernization for a Clean Energy Future, happening April 1 – April 2, 2022. Network with leading clean energy experts while utilizing and deepening your knowledge of clean energy justice, finance, technology, policy, and careers. Learn more and register for this virtual event before April 1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

75% of American households do not have access to solar power. Residents that do not own their own home or who live in apartments are unable to host a solar system and reap the benefits. So, what’s the solution? Community solar. Community solar projects subscribe multiple customers, including households, businesses, municipal buildings, and community organizations. These subscribers receive energy from an offsite solar facility in exchange for discounts on their electricity bills. Subscribing to community solar allows customers who might not otherwise be able to go solar to receive clean energy.  At the National Community Solar Partnership summit, the DOE laid out plans to try to help meet the Biden administration’s goal of powering 5 million homes by 2025 with community solar – with plans to develop 20 GW of new capacity. Meeting this target will require an unprecedented amount of community solar growth. By the end of 2021, 4 GW of community solar had been installed across the country. The latest Wood Mackenzie Community Solar Outlook Report forecasts 4.5 GW to come online in the next five years under current market conditions. The industry has its work cut out for it to reach DOE’s targets. In today's episode, we are joined by 3 bright lights in the community solar sector. Jeff Cramer is the CEO of CCSA - the Coalition for Community Solar Access. CCSA is a national coalition of businesses and non-profits, looking to increase access to solar for all American households. Kacie Peters also joins us – she’s the Director of Industry Relationships at Pivot Energy, a solar provider that develops, builds and manages solar projects. We’ve also got Rachel Goldstein, Solar Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, to offer insight into the Wood Mac Community Solar Outlook Report and examine the policies and market drivers that are fueling solar growth.What will community solar look like in 10 years? What share of clean energy will be met by community solar? What federal and state-level investment is needed to reach the Administration’s aggressive emission goals? What political reform helps pave the road to more access to community solar? How much can families save on their electricity bills by subscribing to community solar? The team tackle these questions and more in this enlightening episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The energy transition is an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ journey. As we know, there is no silver bullet or golden ticket that will get us to where we need to be. Just like our economy, it is compiled of complex systems, smaller markets, and key stakeholders. Another thing about our economy? It is always in a state of motion. Moving from one system to the next - carbon is an invisible stakeholder that is singlehandedly the backbone of modern society. In the past two decades, we have begun to rapidly recognize that the management of carbon is more essential, visible, and crucial than we previously thought. In today's episode of the Interchange Recharged we have an eye-opening conversation with Claude Letourneau the CEO of trailblasing carbon capture company, Svante. Claude shares with us his plans and goals for building a carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure that is comparable to what the tech industry looks like today. Claude believes that carbon capture and management will play a large part in moving the energy transition forward and tells us why Svante’s technology has the possibility of creating real tangible results. Throughout this episode, we cover the key topics regarding the scalability of carbon capture technology and what the future for Svante looks like. Claude helps describe to our listeners the process of putting a price on carbon, creating a carbon marketplace, and some of the biggest barriers facing carbon capture technology today. Listeners should expect some of the following questions. How much does carbon capture cost? What do the tech industry and carbon management have in common? How does Hydrogen play a role in carbon capture, and what makes this technology different than competitors' from previous years?The Interchange is brought to you by the Yale Program in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy, training working professionals to accelerate the deployment of clean energy worldwide. To connect with Yale expertise right from your laptop, grow your professional network, and deepen your impact, visit yalecleanenergy.info/Interchange and apply before March 13, 2022.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Geothermal technology is a hugely untapped sustainable energy source. In this episode of the Interchange: Recharged, we drill Carlos, the CEO of Quaise Energy, on all things geothermal and the opportunities it presents to decarbonise energy production. Quaise seeks to unlock the potential of geothermal at the Terawatt scale. Carlos studied at MIT and then spent 15 years with Schlumberger, before he moved to The Engine, MIT’s fund where Quaise was born.Quaise is an emerging clean energy company leveraging decade-long research, combined with cutting-edge new tech, to access the 90% of clean untapped geothermal energy under our feet. What was possible only on paper a decade ago is emerging as a reality today. Quaise is currently creating ground-breaking millimetre drilling technoogy, developed in partnership with MIT, to dig deeper, faster, and safer than ever before. This innovative technology will break down the many barriers currently inhibiting access to geothermal energy: location, outdated technology, infrastructure costs, and scalability.They analyse the potential for geothermal in solving the world's energy crisis and accelerating the energy transition. How many terawatts of energy does the world need to operate in the next 50 years? What is Quaise even looking for 12 miles under our feet? Does this new technology mean we can access geothermal energy in most places on the globe? How does Geothermal compare to solar or wind?" The discussion goes deep, so strap in for this week’s Interchange: Recharged. The Interchange is brought to you by the Yale Program in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy, training working professionals to accelerate the deployment of clean energy worldwide. To connect with Yale expertise right from your laptop, grow your professional network, and deepen your impact, visit yalecleanenergy.info/Interchange and apply before March 13, 2022.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

America's energy transition is a complex and intricate process with a lot of moving parts. When discussing decarbonizing the globe, the electrical grid is usually overlooked and left out of the conversation. With an influx of renewable energy entering the grid, a constantly growing energy demand, coupled with record-breaking weather events and ageing infrastructure we have seen the strength of the existing grid tested to the limit. The American Electrical Grid is in need of physical updates and digital modernization. This week, we are accompanied by two leaders of grid modernisation industry, Peter Wells (CEO of Smart Wires) and Hudson Gilmer (CEO of LineVision) whose companies are using data and new tech to enable the grid to cope with the new demands.Smart Wires uses Modular Power Control to direct power where it's needed and decrease the chances of possible outages and LineVision uses the power of innovative data and analytical tools to ensure the power lines and grid are being optimized and used at their fullest capacity. Hudson and Peter discuss the biggest challenges utility companies across the US are facing. How is the introduction of new renewable energy projects affecting the grid? How reliable is our grid in times of extreme weather events? Is the grid currently on track to keep up with the future projections of energy demand? What are the policy changes required to modernise the grid? All these questions and more, on The Interchange: Recharged.The Interchange is brought to you by the Yale Program in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy, training working professionals to accelerate the deployment of clean energy worldwide. To connect with Yale expertise right from your laptop, grow your professional network, and deepen your impact, visit yalecleanenergy.info/Interchange and apply before March 13, 2022.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the Interchange this week, we are joined by Alight CEO and founder Dr Harald Overholm. Harald was previously a cleantech venture capitalist and an advisor on solar markets to the WWF and the Swedish Government. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge with a thesis on solar diffusion and PPA. Alight is the leading solar Power Purchase Agreement provider in the Nordics. The company builds, operates, and owns solar projects, onsite and offsite, specialising in solar PPA. They are currently on track to develop more than 500 MW of PPA-based onsite and offsite projects across Europe.We discuss the future of large scale commercial solar projects, the benefits of a PPA for businesses and investors, the role of co-located storage and the policies and legislation in the US that impede (or accelerate) progress in the sector. They discuss the past, present and future of solar funding and the M&A landscape.The Interchange is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you building a microgrid? With a microgrid you can store electricity and sell it back during peak times. Keep your power on during an outage. Integrate with renewables. Control energy on your own terms. Having built more microgrids in than anyone else, Schneider Electric has the expertise to help.The Interchange is brought to you by Bloom Energy. Bloom’s onsite energy platform provides unparalleled control for those looking to secure clean, reliable 24/7 power that scales to meet critical business needs. It eliminates outage and price risk while accelerating us towards a zero carbon future. Visit Bloom Energy to learn how to take charge today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden’s Build Back Better bill includes tax incentives for consumers to switch to electric vehicles, and a multi-billion dollar plan for charging stations and infrastructure. The intent is there, but why is EV adoption in the US still lagging behind the rest of the world? This week on The Interchange, we are joined by Professor Gil Tal from UC Davis, and Professor Peter Wells from Cardiff University, to compare the attitudes towards electric vehicles in the US and Europe.What are the barriers standing in the way of mass EV adoption? And what tech and policy breakthroughs are we seeing to overcome these hurdles? Tesla’s market share of EVs hovers around 80%, so what are other manufacturers doing to increase their share of the ever-growing market?The Interchange is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you building a microgrid? With a microgrid you can store electricity and sell it back during peak times. Keep your power on during an outage. Integrate with renewables. Control energy on your own terms. Having built more microgrids in than anyone else, Schneider Electric has the expertise to help.The Interchange is brought to you by Bloom Energy. Bloom’s onsite energy platform provides unparalleled control for those looking to secure clean, reliable 24/7 power that scales to meet critical business needs. It eliminates outage and price risk while accelerating us towards a zero carbon future. Visit Bloom Energy to learn how to take charge today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can develop enough renewable energy to power the world, but without energy storage systems, those developments are rendered somewhat moot. To achieve President Biden’s target of 90% renewables by 2035, the US needs an additional 9 terawatts of solar storage.What do our current storage solutions look like? Are batteries leading the charge?To answer those questions we turn to Rebecca Ciez, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University.We look at the current storage options. Are batteries powerful enough to deliver power during outages or periods of no sunlight? Rebecca talks about the materials needed for solar batteries and how we can improve the technology to reduce the strain on supply chains. Investment and government incentives are then thrust under the microscope by David, before the discussion wraps with examining the technological advancements in the space.The Interchange is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you building a microgrid? With a microgrid you can store electricity and sell it back during peak times. Keep your power on during an outage. Integrate with renewables. Control energy on your own terms. Having built more microgrids in than anyone else, Schneider Electric has the expertise to help.The Interchange is brought to you by Bloom Energy. Bloom’s onsite energy platform provides unparalleled control for those looking to secure clean, reliable 24/7 power that scales to meet critical business needs. It eliminates outage and price risk while accelerating us towards a zero carbon future. Visit Bloom Energy to learn how to take charge today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why wouldn’t everyone invest in solar? Well, for that reason exactly: it’s an investment. Although it’s praised for its low maintenance costs and long-term savings, it is still a hefty investment in terms of individual finance cost, manufacturing, and installation. The production of solar panels requires expensive raw material, such as high-grade silicon, and silver for the wiring and cells.If the industry could just get the cost of materials down, the climate and environmental benefits would extend far beyond the energy sector.An Australian organization called SunDrive solar recently made headlines for their use of copper wiring in solar cells, opening up the opportunity for solar production costs to plummet and increase global solar adoption. We are joined by PV Magazine Founding Editor Jonathan Gifford to examine this achievement, and what it could mean for solar.They also explore supply chains issues, tackling NIMBYism and together they predict the Next Big Things in solar tech.The Interchange is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you building a microgrid? With a microgrid you can store electricity and sell it back during peak times. Keep your power on during an outage. Integrate with renewables. Control energy on your own terms. Having built more microgrids in than anyone else, Schneider Electric has the expertise to help.The Interchange is brought to you by Bloom Energy. Bloom’s onsite energy platform provides unparalleled control for those looking to secure clean, reliable 24/7 power that scales to meet critical business needs. It eliminates outage and price risk while accelerating us towards a zero carbon future. Visit Bloom Energy to learn how to take charge today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An announcement: this is Shayle Kann's last episode of the show.In Shayle's final episode, he shares a few words about the history of the show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the beginning of the pandemic, energy prices crashed. We did an episode of this show trying to figure out how oil prices fell to negative $40 per barrel.Times have changed. Oil is up over $100/barrel. But far more acute is what’s happening with natural gas, particularly in Europe and Asia. In the US, natural gas prices have doubled in the last year. But in parts of Europe, the price has risen more than 5 times.The disruptions are clear. We're seeing stories of power shortages in China, fertilizer plants being shut down in the UK, and fears about home heating costs in the Northeast US as winter approaches.So what the heck is going on? How long might it last? And what does it tell us about the future?To answer those questions Shayle turns to Leslie Palti-Guzman, the President of Gas Vista and a non-resident fellow at NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.Shayle and Leslie cover the many demand-side and supply-side issues. Then they talk about what comes next: What does this crisis reveal about the vulnerability of the energy system? And will countries double down on renewables, gas, or both to shore up their resiliency?The Interchange is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you building a microgrid? With a microgrid you can store electricity and sell it back during peak times. Keep your power on during an outage. Integrate with renewables. Control energy on your own terms. Having built more microgrids in than anyone else, Schneider Electric has the expertise to help.The Interchange is brought to you by Bloom Energy. Bloom’s onsite energy platform provides unparalleled control for those looking to secure clean, reliable 24/7 power that scales to meet critical business needs. It eliminates outage and price risk while accelerating us towards a zero carbon future. Visit Bloom Energy to learn how to take charge today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re rebroadcasting one or our favorite episodes, called “Would I Lie to You?” We originally ran it right after the 2020 election as a light-hearted distraction during a dark news cycle.Shayle Kann gets together with Adam James, the Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President at Energy Impact Partners (where Shayle also works) to play an energy-themed version of the British game show Would I Lie to You?Here are the rules:Each player selects three energy-related facts or stories. Any number of the three can be lies, and at least one has to be a lie.They have to be clear lies, not slight adjustments of the truth.The other person can ask three questions, and they must get an answer.At the end of the round, the truths and lies are revealed. If the score is a tie, it moves to a penalty shootout where each person offers a fact/story and the other person has to determine whether it is the truth or a lie. If someone misses and the other person gets their next answer right, they win.The Interchange is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Are you building a microgrid? With a microgrid you can store electricity and sell it back during peak times. Keep your power on during an outage. Integrate with renewables. Control energy on your own terms. Having built more microgrids in than anyone else, Schneider Electric has the expertise to help.The Interchange is brought to you by Bloom Energy. Bloom’s onsite energy platform provides unparalleled control for those looking to secure clean, reliable 24/7 power that scales to meet critical business needs. It eliminates outage and price risk while accelerating us towards a zero carbon future. Visit Bloom Energy to learn how to take charge today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shayle has been brewing up an investment thesis around how decarbonization will create stratification in traditional commodity sectors, like chemicals and materials. If you can produce the same thing in the same cost range -- but you can do so in a CO2-free or carbon-negative -- you'll reap the rewards.Lanzatech is a great test case for that thesis, as well as a great story to tell about the history of this sector. It was founded in 2005 as a biofuels company. Now, it captures industrial waste gasses, such as CO2 and CO, and recycles them into the chemicals used to make everything from plastics to medical supplies to fabric for Lululemon. It has even spun out an entire company focused on jet fuel.Shayle talks to CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren about carbon recycling and the big dent it could make in global greenhouse gas emissions. They break down the economics of competing with undifferentiated ethanol, jet fuel, and chemicals and the brand interest driving interest in carbon recycling tech.Jennifer hints at the potential for applying genetics expertise from medicine to industrial biotechnology; one day Lanzatech hopes to produce acetone, isopropyl alcohol and other valuable chemicals directly from its carbon-eating microbes. She reflects on leading one of the few companies to survive booms and busts of cleantech over the years. And she explains why the Lanzatech team decided not to ask their bacteria to do cartwheels. The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In January 2020, Brad Smith, the President of Microsoft, announced that the company had set a target of becoming carbon negative by 2030.How does the company plan to do it? What does going carbon negative actually entail?Brandon Middaugh, the Director of Microsoft’s $1B Climate Innovation Fund, comes on the show to explain. The fund invests in various climate technologies as a part of the company’s overall climate efforts. Investments in its portfolio cover carbon removal, carbon marketplace innovation and the circular economy, among others.(The fund’s first investment was in Energy Impact Partners, where Shayle is a partner). Shayle and Brandon break down the sources of the company’s emissions, its climate strategy, and building a climate “fee” into the company’s operations to funnel back into the fund. They talk about the the need to scale promising new technologies far faster than than even wind and solar, discussing what Microsoft can do to support wide-spread adoption. Plus, Brandon highlights some of the investments she's excited about so far.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The road to solar glory has been littered with failed companies -- the ones you may know (Solyndra) and hundreds you probably do not.Will the burgeoning hydrogen space follow a similar bumpy road? Hydrogen is at a similar phase of market and technological maturity, with similar levels of hype. In this episode, Shayle talks to Raffi Garabedian, the former CTO of pioneering solar manufacturer First Solar and now the co-founder and CEO of Electric Hydrogen Co. (Disclosure: Shayle just led Energy Impact Partners’ investment in the company).First Solar was one of the very few Western companies that survived the price pressure, commoditization and trade dynamics in the solar industry during its early growth phase. How did First Solar do it? And what does that tell us about surviving the heady-but-volatile hydrogen space?Shayle and Raffi dig into that history, covering First Solar’s bet on mass-producible cadmium telluride technology, as well as the risky step of retooling manufacturing.They also cover the parallels to hydrogen: How does a novel technology compete against dominant incumbents? How does that technology navigate the boom-and-bust cycles of an emerging market? How can an executive team pick the most useful metric for its creative teams? The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the world of venture capital, climate tech is about as hot as it gets. In the first two quarters of 2021, climate tech companies raised $16B from VCs. New designated funds are announced regularly, startup valuations are sky high, and times are frothy. It's never been a better time to be a climate tech entrepreneur.It's easy to get lost in the noise -- so what does the hard data say? How much investment are we talking about, really? Where is it coming from, and who is it going to? And what does that tell founders about how to operate and grow their businesses?To answer these questions, Shayle turns to Climate Tech VC, the leading newsletter on climate and innovation. Co-founders Kimberly Zou and Sophie Purdom have gathered and crunched the data in a new report.Sophie is a sustainability business practitioner and early-stage climate investor, and was a co-founder of the microbial fertilizer company Kula Bio. Kimberly is an investor at Energy Impact Partners, where Shayle is a partner.Shayle, Sophie and Kimberly define the space, look at hotspots, and discuss where the influx of capital is coming from. Also, be sure to check out the job board and investor list that Clean Tech VC maintains.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is no path to deep decarbonization that doesn't involve a clean power sector. And there is no path to a clean power sector that doesn't involve deploying massive amounts of wind, solar, and lithium-ion batteries.Those three technologies don't solve the entire problem of climate change, but they are the workhorses that will power a broader, multi-sector decarbonization approach.The power sector itself is around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. And a net-zero electricity sector is the key that unlocks a host of other decarbonization pathways, from hydrogen to carbon removal to transportation.So what exactly is happening in the utility-scale renewables market? How cheap are those resources, really? And what might hold them back? And if they work as we think they might, what could they unlock?This week, Shayle Kann sits down with Sheldon Kimber, the CEO of Intersect Power. Intersect is one of the largest developers and owners of utility-scale clean power and storage in America. Sheldon has a long history in this sector, so we brought in on to discuss where it’s headed.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Nobel prize in chemistry in 1918 was awarded to a German man named Fritz Haber for a process to fix nitrogen from the air. The technique, which later became known as the Haber-bosch process, is probably one of the four or five most important inventions of the last century.Because nitrogen feeds crops. And as our population boomed during the 20th century, nitrogen fertilizer became the core fuel of our food system. It is estimated to have fed about half of the world's population.Nitrogen fertilizer is incredibly important, and we still produce the vast majority of our fertilizer using this same process. This has all sorts of ramifications that are less than ideal for farmers and crops, but in addition to that, it has become a major source of global warming pollution -- around 5 percent of emissions when you include both the production and application of nitrogen fertilizer.So it's a big climate issue, and a big ag issue. One company, Nitricity, has a unique technology to produce nitrogen fertilizer at point-of-use, using only air, water and electricity.In this episode, Shayle talks with Nico Pinkowski, the company's CEO and co-founder, about the world of nitrogen fertlizer, and how you can capture lightning in a bottle to let farmers take control of this key resource.This podcast is a production of Wood Mackenzie.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We use the term “energy transition” to define markets, technology, business models. But what about people?The transition away from fossil fuels isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have. The hardest part isn’t building out the clean resources. It’s shutting down the dirty stuff at a pace the science demands. And that means disrupting entire classes of employment and communities that depend on fossil fuel extraction — in other words, helping people find work in another sector. The phrase often used to describe this approach is “just transition.”We have a guest who’s been researching and writing about this subject for years: Sandeep Pai. Sandeep is the co-author of Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution. He’s a former journalist and a senior research lead for the energy security and climate change program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)We’ll talk with Sandeep about his analysis of the strategies for transitioning fossil fuel workers in economies around the world. This episode originally aired in June of 2020.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carbon accounting and disclosure is getting attention at the highest levels.Gary Gensler, the chairman of the SEC, said in July: "I think updates to public company disclosures and to fund disclosures [on climate] could bring needed transparency to our capital markets. When it comes to disclosure, investors have told us what they want. It’s now time for the Commission to take the baton."Gensler directed SEC staff to pull together a rulemaking proposal on mandatory corporate climate risk disclosure by the end of this year. It could be a watershed action, so to speak.The world of enterprise carbon accounting, management and disclosure has been garnering a lot of attention, particularly in Silicon Valley circles. It’s a sexy sector. But it's also an early one -- carbon accounting has seen limited adoption to date, and in its current form is often led by consultants doing pretty high-level annual surveys.Will this become the next big enterprise software vertical, and maybe the first truly at-scale software sector in climate tech?Shayle is joined by Taylor Francis, co-founder of Watershed, one of the most well-regarded emergent players in this enterprise carbon management sector.Taylor and his founding team spun out of Stripe, where they were building internal tools, to help other companies follow suit. They've since raised capital from Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins, along with the co-founders of Stripe themselves.Taylor has a really thoughtful approach to this market and what companies are going to need as they enter the quickly-evolving world of enterprise carbon management.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the great debate over crypto mining vs. climate, there are two camps.First, the crypto enthusiasts, like Square, say things like, "Bitcoin is key to an abundant, clean energy future". And then there are the energy wonks, who point out that, if bitcoin mining were a country, it would already be in the top 30 for total energy consumption, rivaling Ukraine. The energy camp tends to dismiss the crypto enthusiasts’ thinking. They’re skeptical of how crypto mines could be assets to a decarbonizing grid, rather than a strain on it.So to cut through the noise, Shayle spoke to Nick Grossman, a partner at the respected venture capital firm Union Square Ventures. USV was the largest early investor in Coinbase, which currently has a $49B market capitalization. But USV has gone big on climate tech and raised a specific climate fund. Nick straddles both the crypto and climate worlds, so he's the perfect person to help me make some sense out of this madness.Nick and Shayle break down the basics of crypto currencies as energy-backed assets. They examine the argument that crypto mines improve the economics of renewables, because they will always be willing to buy cheap renewable power. This, in turn, helps to finance the overbuilding of renewable projects to help meet peak demand, or so the thinking goes.But do intermittent renewables improve the economics of crypto mines? In other words: Is it profitable to mine intermittently? They also discuss green bitcoin certificates and alternatives to the energy-intensive proof-of-work crypto security model: proof of stake, proof of space-time, and proof of locationAnd they evaluate Shayle’s (surely serious) startup pitch to match crypto mines with seasonal renewables: put the mines on barges and shuttle them back and forth between renewable projects in the northern and southern hemispheres. The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in 2016, Mateo Jaramillo left Tesla, where he was leading the stationary energy storage business, and started looking for a new challenge to tackle. He took on long-duration energy storage -- not long duration like 8 hours or 12 hours, but days or weeks or more. In 2017 he came on the show to talk about it. He formed a company, now Form Energy, that has been toiling on this problem in stealth mode. Apart from saying they were building a "metal air" battery, his team held the technology close to the vest.That is, until last week. The company announced a $200M Series D financing led by ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, and in the process finally made public the technology, which is an iron air chemistry. Full disclosure: Shayle led Energy Impact Partners’ investment in Form.Shayle and Mateo discuss the technology itself and the counterintuitive economics that Mateo believes will make it work. They also examine how it beat out the alternatives and how it might complement more efficient, but more expensive lithium-ion. It turns out financial modeling was far more important than spec sheets in understanding the tradeoffs.They tackle the critical question: Where exactly are the profitable applications of this technology before we hit very high 80% renewables? They also talk about the semantics of long-duration storage vs. multi-day storage, why Mateo hates holy grails, and potential partnerships with tofu companies.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’ll take a peek at the news. Last week, president Biden unveiled his administration's plan for a $3.5 trillion infrastructure plan which the democrats hope to pass through reconciliation. While the details are still sparse, we do know that one of the linchpins of the Biden administration's climate strategy -- a national clean electricity standard (CES) -- is included in the plan.It's a big deal. If you care about the power sector, a national CES might be the most impactful piece of legislation affecting it in decades. If you care about decarbonization, almost every pathway drives directly through a decarbonized power sector combined with large-scale electrification of other sectors such as transportation, industry and heating.But the details are still being worked out, and there’s a labyrinth of parliamentary rules that a CES would have to navigate to make it through the US Senate’s budget reconciliation process. To shine a light on the process and what a CES could look like, Shayle turns to Jesse Jenkins, an energy modeling expert at Princeton who is helping to design the policy in the bill. Shayle and Jesse talk about the differences between a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and a CES, crafting a CES through the budget instead of regulation, the role that technology-neutral tax credits could play in the bill, the funds and penalties utilities might face, and how to get the incentives right for the energy transition given the limitations of reconciliation. Helpful links:E&E News: Payments or fines: How Dems’ CES would affect utilitiesJesse’s Twitter thread on designing a CES for the budget, rather than regulationEvergreen Action’s explainer on a CES: Everything You Need to Know About a Clean Electricity Standard The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we’re measuring the energy transition -- using “Price is Right” rules. Our former co-host Stephen Lacey is back on the show to face off against our current host, Shayle Kann. Producer Daniel Woldorff steps in as arbiter. We’ll guess stats and trivia about climate tech, and discuss what those figures mean for the energy transition. They cover the MSRPs of popular EVs, the cheapest PPA in the world, carbon prices, carbon capture investments, industrial materials and more.Who won?* Have a listen to find out!*Note: Our producer Daniel miscounted the score. It didn’t affect who won, but he’s going back to math classes to relearn how to count.The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elon Musk’s magic is making huge promises to transform a tech sector -- and then, after a series of setbacks, ultimately deliver. But the Solar Roof never delivered on its promise of chic, affordable solar-power generating roof shingles, as Dana Hall’s recent article in Bloomberg lays out.Today, there are some solar roofs on homes. The Gigafactory that was meant to churn them out in Buffalo, New York is humming along, but not nearly at the 1,000 Solar Roofs per week that Tesla was originally aiming for. In the meantime, the company has raised prices on customers, fired a number of executives, and faced a shareholder lawsuit in which the Solar Roof played a central role. So how did Tesla get here?We’re re-running one of our favorite episodes, a conversation with Austin Carr of Bloomberg  about Tesla’s solar woes. It’s from back in June 2019.We’ll look at the history of SolarCity/Tesla’s manufacturing plans, the derailed plans for the solar roof, and how current manufacturing activity compares with Tesla’s promises to New York.Read Austin’s reporting on Tesla’s solar business:Bloomberg: Did Elon Musk Forget About Buffalo?Fast Company: The Real Story Behind Tesla’s Acquisition of SolarCityThe Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There were about eight years when climate tech was wandering in the wilderness, so to speak. It started after the Solyndra bankruptcy in 2011 and ended about two years ago, when the market began heating up again.During that time, people in this space examined the valleys of death. What are the stages in a climate tech company’s life cycle that might be painful -- or even fatal -- to go through? And what resources can a company draw upon to cross these valleys?To tackle those questions, Shayle spoke to Amy Duffuor, a principal at PRIME Impact Fund, which is set up specifically to help startups cross that chasm (Shayle is on PRIME's investor advisory council).Amy and Shayle name the four major valleys, drawing on Hara Wang and Cyril Yee’s RMI article, “Climate Tech’s Four Valleys of Death and Why We Must Build a Bridge.” Then, they compare the climate tech world of today to 2014, a low point in the space when the Prime Coalition was started, examining some of the biggest changes:The influx of generalist investorsThe maturing ecosystem of incubators, accelerators and funds that provide support at multiple stages in a startup’s path to growthThe explosion of corporate commitments, reflecting the growing demand for climate action from consumers, investors and the general publicThe growing options for exit, such as SPACs and M&As, that are making it easier for entrepreneurs to raise more money, fasterFinally, they look toward 2025 and ask: How might the valleys of death shift in the future?The Interchange is brought to you by Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Are you building a renewable plant? Looking for a battery energy storage system? Thinking about how to integrate renewables to your grid? Hitachi ABB Power Grids is your choice. The Interchange is brought to you by LONGi Solar, the world’s leading solar technology company. A global market leader, LONGi has unmatched bankability, quality and performance validated by third-party laboratories, and has breakthrough innovation at both the wafer and module level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We spend most of our time on this show talking about what's happening in climate tech. What technologies, business models, and markets are being developed? By whom? And how much impact will they ultimately have on decarbonization?But there's an equally interesting topic. What isn't happening? In other words, where is the white space? What areas, technologies, or markets need more attention? The mandate of a new non-profit called Actuate is to identify and fill gaps across multiple areas, including climate. They focus on R&D, using a model similar to the US federal government’s DARPA or ARPA-e programs. Today, Shayle talks to Actuate’s Director of Climate Lara Pierpoint. Prior to actuate she led the Technology Strategy team at Exelon. She's also worked at the US Department of Energy and has a PhD from MIT in engineering systems.Shayle and Lara talk about:Demand response, an example of one type of gap where we have the technology but don’t know how to use it yet.Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), a type of nuclear technology used to power spacecraft -- that could also be used planetside as low-density, always on-batteries.The exorbitant costs of laying of wires, a potential cost saver for nuclear plants and other power projects.High-temperature superconductors (HTS) that could act like high-capacity transmission built at distribution scale. For example: VEIR.Sensors and the surprisingly high error bars of many country-level emissions measurementsStorage and competing against transmission, demand response and overbuilding renewables to solve renewable intermittency Oh, and cows. They talk about burp-catching masks and improving the profitability of forests.The Interchange is brought to you by Smarter Grid Solutions, a leading enterprise energy management software company. Find out how Smarter Grid Solutions’ software can give you real control over your clean energy assets at sgsderms.com/interchange.The Interchange is brought to you by Enel X, a leader in energy storage, DER management software, and smart electric vehicle charging stations to increase project value. Learn what Enel X can do for your business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The array of AI applications within climate tech is staggering -- and rapidly expanding. There are lots of exciting point solutions, but there’s no clear example of AI directly and meaningfully reducing GHG emissions on a global scale. Yet.Last year we had Priya Donti on the show. She’s a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon and co-chair of the Climate Change AI organization. This week, she came back with her Climate Change AI co-chair Lynn Kaack, a postdoc researcher at ETH-Zurich. Priya and Lynn were co-authors on a blockbuster paper on the topic back in June 2019, called “Tackling climate change with machine learning.”They came back on the show to talk about what has changed since that episode -- both the progress and the bottlenecks in applying AI to climate change. They detail the strengths and weaknesses of AI in climate technology using a few case studies: Optimizing power and heating/cooling systemsInsight into large bodies of data, such as analyzing the physical and transition risk to a company’s assetsAccelerating technology innovationThey also discuss the organizational approaches to AI: Do you go vertical or horizontal? That is, do you hire AI practitioners to work within an organization with deep domain experience, such as a utility, or is it more effective to leave those challenges to an organization of AI generalists who work across many fields?Lynn points out there’s a third way: spinning up an AI group within an organization.The Interchange is brought to you by Smarter Grid Solutions, a leading enterprise energy management software company. Find out how Smarter Grid Solutions’ software can give you real control over your clean energy assets at sgsderms.com/interchange.The Interchange is brought to you by Enel X, a leader in energy storage, DER management software, and smart electric vehicle charging stations to increase project value. Learn what Enel X can do for your business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Was 2020 the year of carbon transparency? That’s what our host Shayle predicted back in 2019. Today, we’re checking in on that prediction with a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes. It originally aired almost a year ago in late June 2020. A handful of companies have experimented with labeling the carbon content of their products, but it's never really caught on. Now that might be changing.Logitech CEO Bracken Darrell recently called carbon “the new calorie" after the electronics maker implemented a CO2 label on all of its packaging. It’s one of many recent attempts by food and consumer goods producers to make the lifecycle emissions of their products clearer to consumers. Is it the start of a trend?In this episode, we’ll examine the new generation of climate labels. We’ve seen attempts at carbon labeling before. What makes these newer ones different? And will they stick?Plus, we’ll try to answer listener questions about renewable natural gas, vehicle-to-grid, environmental, social and governance standards, and COVID-19 predictions.This episode was recorded live in front of hundreds of listeners (remotely). The Interchange is brought to you by Enel X, a leader in energy storage, DER management software, and smart electric vehicle charging stations to increase project value. Learn what Enel X can do for your business. The Interchange is brought to you by Smarter Grid Solutions, a leading enterprise energy management software company. Find out how Smarter Grid Solutions’ software can give you real control over your clean energy assets.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.