CleanTech Talk — Solar, Batteries, EVs, AI

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, CleanTechnica sits down with Founder and CEO of UbiQD, an advanced materials company powering product innovation in bifacial solar PV and controlled-environment agriculture. UbiQD has partnered with solar leader First Solar to advance solar PV technology using quantum dot technology. Additionally, the company's first product, UbiGro, is a layer of light that uses fluorescence to help plants get more from the sun in a greenhouse. Ultimately, the value proposition is about boosting crop yields and quality without the cost or energy impact of lighting. Learn much more in the full interview.

Dr. Denis Phares, CEO of Dragonfly Energy and expert in aerospace engineering and nanotechnology, dives deep into the future of battery manufacturing. He discusses the innovative dry electrode process that could revolutionize the industry, comparing it to Tesla's methods. With insights on market strategies, like targeting underserved sectors such as RVs and heavy-duty trucking, Denis highlights how Dragonfly aims to compete innovatively. Plus, he explores the promising potential of solid-state batteries for safer and more efficient energy storage.

Allonnia CEO Nicole Richards speaks with CleanTechnica COO Scott Cooney about leveraging the power of biotechnology to help clean up mining, get PFAS "forever chemicals" out of our environment, and move us toward a waste-free world.

This episode introduces listeners to the transformative potential of geothermal energy. Former NHL Ranger and current Brightcore Energy President Mike Richter explains what geothermal is, how it works, and why it’s now among the most cost-effective and scalable solutions for heating and cooling large buildings. Mike explores the innovations making geothermal more accessible than ever, takes a look at some recent projects, and discusses what’s next for Brightcore and the industry as demand for deep building decarbonization continues to grow.

Today we talked with Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, about the organization's 7th annual EV raffle, the tremendous work CCAN is doing at the federal and state level to try to advance climate action, clean technologies, and sensible policies. Listen in for plenty of insight and fun, and go here to buy an EV raffle ticket or three: ccanactionfund.org/ev-raffle/

Aquaria is a company reimagining water access through distributed atmospheric water generation systems. In this episode, CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney talks with founder Brian Sheng about the company's technology and Brian's history. To date, Aquaria has raised over $112 million from leading investors including Soma Capital, Bow Capital, SoftBank, and former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt. For its impact and innovation, Aquaria was named one of Fast Company’s World Changing Companies of 2023 and selected among TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024.

It’s one of the coolest raffles on the internet: Win the Tesla or EV of your choice or $50K cash, all while supporting people in need. Learn how ChesedChicago made it happen — and how you can get your chance to win before they run out of tickets. Here's the link to join the raffle, and be sure to use coupon code CLEAN for $25 off 2 tickets or $500 off 15 tickets: https://ccraffle.com/?utm_source=cleantechnica&utm_medium=sponsoredpodcast&utm_campaign=07.30.25Joining CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan today is Moshe Isenberg. Mo has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit and business worlds, with a focus on fundraising, community engagement, and leadership development. He serves on the board of ChesedChicago and is active in several national and local causes all in hopes of making the world a better place.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, dives into the future of clean energy and how AI technology is reshaping the industry. With operations in 18 countries and nearly 10 million customers, Octopus Energy is leading the charge in making renewable energy more accessible, affordable, and smarter. Chaset shares how Kraken, the world’s only proven end-to-end platform for utilities, is disrupting the space to help to scale up clean energy adoption and improving grid efficiency.Want to know how Octopus Energy is driving the energy transition? Tune in to hear about the next frontier in energy innovation and how Octopus Energy is harnessing the power of technology to create a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all.

I recently sat down with Kris Ohleth, Director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and progress in the US offshore wind market. It was a great and fascinating discussion of the US offshore wind industry, what it's been going through in the paste decade or more, where it stands now, and what needs to be done to progress it in coming years. The podcast discussion complements our previous one with Susan Muller, a Senior Energy Analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), regarding the US offshore wind market and the benefits of offshore wind power.

Offshore wind power has been slower to mature than solar power or onshore wind power, but it offers some big benefits. Its upfront costs may be higher, but the value it offers is immense, and there's also much potential for bringing down utility electricity costs. Susan Muller, a Senior Energy Analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, talk much further about these benefits. Enjoy!