CleanTech Talk — Tesla, Solar, Battery, Climate, AI, EV, & Other Tech News & Analysis

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!

CleanTechnica's Jose Pontes and Zachary Shahan talk EV sales trends in Europe, the US, China, and the world as a whole. In particular, they spend a lot of time talking about BYD's growing leadership, Volkswagen Group's fresh rise in the EV market, and Tesla's sales trend, business approach, and potential crises around the world.

GM Energy’s Chief Revenue Officer, Aseem Kapur, and Director of Clean Energy Transportation at PG&E Lydia Krefta join CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan to discuss a new Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot program eligible to GM EV owners in Northern California. GM EV owners in the region can now enroll and get up to $4,500 in incentives to unlock the power of bidirectional charging. That means their GM electric vehicle can supply energy back to their home, or eventually even to the grid.

Brian Nelson, ABB’s Renewables Segment Leader in the United States, sits down with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney to discuss the ins and outs of innovation accelerating the solar economy, the timeline for the next leap forward, and what it means for end-users, utilities, developers, and EPCs.

Mark Z. Jacobson, a renowned Stanford professor and expert in renewable energy, dives deep into the evolution of clean technologies over the last 25 years. He reflects on the shift from bioenergy and nuclear to wind and solar, sharing humorous anecdotes about early skepticism from the fossil fuel industry. Jacobson passionately critiques carbon capture technologies, arguing they detract from true renewable solutions. The discussion also highlights innovative clean energy advancements and the urgent need for united action against climate change.

Will Wiseman, co-founder and CEO of Climatize, is on a mission to revolutionize renewable energy funding, helping everyday Americans invest in solar and EV projects while earning attractive returns. He dives into the potential impact of a Trump presidency on U.S. renewable investments, discussing how innovative financing can empower communities. Wiseman also highlights the role of accessible investment in advancing clean technologies and the positive effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on climate initiatives.

In this episode, we delve into the world of alternative plastics. As plastic usage continues to rise, against a backdrop of climate change and the need to reduce emissions and waste across the globe, there is a desperate and time-sensitive need to scale plastics that don’t cost the earth. Lignin Industries is a Swedish-founded company that has done just that, having developed a new bio-plastic from lignin, the second most abundant organic material on Earth. CEO Fredrik Malmfors is this week’s guest. Fredrik Malmfors joined Lignin Industries in April 2023. His background includes 17 years at Accenture, over two spells. His final position at Accenture was leading their Nordic supply chain work. Malmfors' time at Accenture was punctuated by several years at Swedish agricultural cooperative Lantmännen (agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products in 20+ markets) in senior leadership positions.

CleanTechnica sits down with LandGate CEO & co-founder Yoann Hispa to discuss the past, present, and future of renewable energy technology and data. Yoann Hispa is CEO and co-founder of LandGate, a leading ClimateTech and PropTech company. Prior to that, he was Executive Director of Engineering at Ruspetro, and led the engineering and drilling operations for a Private Equity’s mineral acquisitions which successfully divested for a 3x. Yoann has 19 years of experience in the energy and carbon industry in various technical and leadership roles. He has been an Instructor of Energy Land Resources at UT-Austin and at the Realtors Land Institute for several years. Yoann holds an Executive MBA from the University of Colorado, an MS in Geosystems Eng. from the University of Texas at Austin, an MS in Geomechanics from the University of Birmingham (UK), an MSc in Civil Engineering from ESTP (Paris, France), and a BS equivalent in Math/Physics.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, Scott Cooney and Zach Shahan discuss the current state of climate action, reflecting on past US clean energy and EV policies from Obama and Biden, discuss some of the achievements of the Biden administration, and look into the implications of the recent US presidential election and challenges ahead. They explore the impact of local politics on climate initiatives, the role of complacency in political engagement, and the future of electric vehicle adoption in the US. The conversation also touches on global trends in renewable energy and the influence of fossil fuel companies on climate policy — globally and in the US. Scott and Zach delve into the complexities of climate change a little bit, the illusion of technological solutions and geoengineering, and the geopolitical implications of Donald Trump being elected ... twice. They also discuss the evolution of Elon Musk's thinking, influence, and involvement in political narratives, particularly regarding climate issues. The conversation culminates in a critical examination of Musk's transformation from a cleantech leader to a far-right political influencer, highlighting the challenges and responsibilities of influential leaders in addressing climate change.