CleanTech Talk — Solar, Batteries, EVs, AI

The Executive Director of new energy coalition Common Charge, Mary Rafferty, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about what the organization is doing and how we can continuing advancing distributed energy in the United States in 2026.

Deforestation is accelerating, biodiversity loss is at record levels, and conservation funding still falls short by more than $700 billion a year. On this episode, Dr. Drea Burbank of Savimbo and Doug Heske of Newday Financial Technologies join CleanTech Talk to discuss how a new generation of “bio-credits” could transform how the world funds nature. From the Colombian Amazon to global investors, they explore how verified biodiversity credits and transparent funding platforms are reshaping conservation — and what it will take to scale a market that finally values ecosystems for what they’re worth.

In this episode, Taiga Motors CEO and Co-Founder Sam Bruneau shares the story behind building the world’s first electric powersports company and why electrification on water and off-road matters now more than ever. From the launch of the new Orca WX3 — a versatile crossover watercraft designed for watersports and adventure — to innovations like bi-directional charging, geofencing, and speed limiting, Sam explains how electric vehicles unlock capabilities combustion could never match. He also dives into the technical challenges his team has overcome, scaling advanced battery manufacturing, and what it takes to lead the transition to clean, high-performance fun in some of the toughest environments.

Gagan Dhillon, CEO of Synop, and Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, discuss why electric school buses are the perfect starter V2G fleet, real-world results from electric school bus V2G programs, making electric school bus (and other EV) fleets pencil out after the federal tax-credit cliff, EV fleet energy management, and more!

Exhale Fans has developed an extremely efficient (arguably the most efficient) HVAC delivery system, created with the world’s only bladeless ceiling fan. It is designed to support the energy efficiency needs of offices, hotels, airports, data centers, restaurants, schools, homes, and indoor spaces. In this fascinating interview, CleanTechnica talks with Richard Halsall, CEO and Founder of Exhale Fans.

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/