Description: Stephan Herrmann, Co-founder & CEO of Reverion, and Sebastian Heitmann, Co-Founder and Partner at Extantia Capital—an investor in deep decarbonization technologies—joined Nick for a live discussion in New York City to explore breakthroughs in Reverion’s biogas energy technologies and discuss the state of energy and climate tech in general across the world. Reverion is redefining biogas, enabling up to 5x revenue additions for biogas plant operators by converting excess renewable energy into green gas, all while enhancing grid stability.In this episode, the trio discusses the following:Biogas Tech Evolution: Biogas has evolved beyond traditional combustion engines, with Reverion integrating fuel cells and electrolysis to maximize efficiencies. Reverion’s tech enables biogas plants to operate when renewable power is scarce and then flip on a dime to produce green methane when there’s an excess of renewable power, transforming downtime into additional revenue and benefits for other stakeholders from the plant to the grid.The Role of Biogas in a Decentralized Grid: As power grids shift to include more intermittent sources like wind and solar, biogas offers dispatchable energy that can balance grid demands. Stephan and Sebastian explain the unique benefits of Reverion’s solution and how it can help meet the needs of modern, dynamic energy systems.Market Fit and Commercialization: Stephan shares his journey from PhD research to piloting the first plants and securing customer interest across Europe and beyond. Reverion is now poised to expand across markets, including the U.S., where biogas remains an underutilized resource.Diverse Climate Impact and Benefits: Reverion’s systems offer not just power but pure CO₂ streams for carbon capture and utilization. This positions it as part of the bioenergy ecosystem alongside solutions like biogas carbon capture and storage (BECCS). Versatility is a crucial strategy for business building or climate outcomes, like reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions and producing dispatchable clean energy for a resilient power grid.Broader Climate Tech Landscape: Nick and the guests wrap up with a discussion on geothermal, carbon capture, geological hydrogen, and much more, including the macroeconomic environment and the outlook for energy and climate tech solutions.Listen in for insights on balancing innovation, energy demands, a changing world, and expanding climate solutions globally.Timestamps:00:02:07 - Live Podcast from Climate Week NYC00:03:07 - Guest Introductions00:04:14 - Stephan's Journey to Reverian00:07:35 - Extantia Capital00:10:12 - Technical Overview of Fuel Cells00:13:41 - Market Applications of Fuel Cells00:16:59 - Summary of Energy Grid Transition00:20:10 - Introduction to Biogas00:24:20 - Importance of Methane Emissions00:25:50 - Reversion’s Commercialization Journey00:28:00 - Technical Components of Reverian's System00:33:35 - Hydrogen and Methane Production00:36:39 - Series A Fundraising00:39:44 - Audience Q&A: Logistics and Transportation00:45:08 - Audience Q&A: Ideal Customer Locations00:46:26 - Audience Q&A: Efficiency Comparison00:48:18 - Audience Q&A: Green Ammonia ProductionLearn more about Reverion here: https://reverion.com/…and Extantia Capital here: https://extantia.com/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter (X): https://x.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Description: Nick is joined by Tim Hill, the General Manager of Sustainability Solutions for Nucor Corporation. Nucor is the largest steel producer and recycler in North America. Plus, Nucor produces steel via a larger circular and electricity-powered process; their steel uses recycled scrap and is made in electric arc furnaces (EAF) instead of blast and basic oxygen furnaces (BF/BOF). This makes Nucor not just one of the largest steel producers in the world, but a leader in steel decarbonization. Whereas green steel is often something that’s referred to as a future possibility, much greener steel is already available domestically today. In addition to these points, Nick and Tim discuss the following…:Misconceptions about ‘hard to abate’: A necessary reframe for the fact that steel is often seen as a ‘hard to abate’ sector, given that Nucor already offers steel that In comparison, emits only 0.77* tons of CO2 per ton of steel produced for Scopes 1-3. That’s less than one third the GHG intensity of BF-BOF steelmaking (Worldsteel).Additional decarbonization: There are many areas where Nucor can achieve additional emissions reductions along their supply chain, including in sourcing renewable and cleaner power. This is an area where Nucor is leading the market with numerous technological partnerships. Global leadership: How can Nucor’s expertise in greener steel manufacturing spread to the rest of the world? There’s a lot of work to do to decarbonize steel; Nucor finds itself in a powerful leadership position, not just to export greener steel to markets globally, but to shape and influence how the entire world approaches decarbonization.… and much more!Timestamps:00:02:17 - Guest Introduction: Tim's Career at Nucor00:04:47 - Nucor's Enterprise Strategy and Decarbonization00:05:08 - Common Misconceptions About U.S. Steel Industry00:07:08 - Nucor's Leadership in Steel Recycling00:11:19 - U.S. vs. Global Steel Production Methods00:14:17 - Nucor's CO2 Emissions Compared to Global Averages00:17:06 - History of Nucor's Decarbonization Journey00:21:46 - Market Evolution and Customer Demand00:25:56 - Catalytic Demand for Clean Energy00:28:12 - Decarbonizing Remaining Emissions00:31:05 - Investments in Fusion and Hydrogen Technologies00:34:42 - Policy and Regulatory Frameworks00:38:39 - Opportunities for Nucor in Global Markets00:42:26 - Broader Climate and Energy TopicsLearn more about Nucor and their sustainability efforts here: https://nucor.com/sustainabilityIf you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Nick is joined by Arpita Bhattacharyya, Chief Climate Officer at the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, where she helps understand common barriers that slow down deployment in the Loan Programs Office's $200+ billion portfolio of deals. Her work also entails understanding the community engagement, equity, and communication considerations necessary to develop and fund new programs and projects, like the LPO's Tribal Energy Financing Program. Specifically, Nick and Arpita discussed:Tribal Energy Finance Program: Arpita shares insights into the Tribal Energy Finance Program, highlighting how the LPO provides specific technical assistance for tribes across the country to develop new clean energy projects like solar and storage microgrids to enhance energy resilience and sovereignty. Nick and Arpita also discuss the success of the Viejas microgrid project as a template for future tribal energy initiatives.Industrial Decarbonization: Nick and Arpita delve into the challenges and opportunities inherent to industrial decarbonization, focusing on sectors like low-carbon cement and steel. Arpita emphasizes the need for patient capital and innovative solutions. We also discuss how the federal government's investments in industrial decarbonization projects signal a shift towards a more holistic energy transition and a broader lens of sustainability.Community Engagement and Communication: Arpita highlights the foundational importance of effective community engagement for the entirety of the energy transition.Timestamps:00:03:23 - Arpita's Background in Climate Work00:05:12 - Role at the Loan Programs Office00:06:31 - Disambiguation of Government Offices and the Department of Energy's Mandate00:10:03 - Work at the Loan Programs Office in 202400:12:08 - Tribal Energy Finance Program Stewardship00:17:39 - Viejas Microgrid Project Overview00:22:10 - Templatizing Solar and Storage Projects00:25:07 - Addressing Program Challenges00:30:03 - Speeding Up the Loan Programs Office Process00:36:02 - Communicating Energy Transition Benefits00:40:05 - Challenges in Industrial DecarbonizationDon't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and the DOE's Loan Programs Office in said transition. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about the Loan Programs Office and projects like the Viejas Tribe microgrid on their website: https://www.energy.gov/lpo/loan-programs-office + https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/lpo-announces-conditional-commitment-viejas-microgrid-build-renewable-utility-scaleIf you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://x.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Nick is joined by Tom Ferguson, Founder and Managing Partner at Burnt Island Ventures, one of the first venture capital firms focused on investing in startups driving innovation in water-focused applications and industries. Despite touching nearly everything on Earth, water is an under-discussed, under-invested in, and under-resourced category. As a result, innovation in the space often lags other areas that get more attention, whether fintech, crypto, or AI. At the same time, water is one of several categories that could see the most disruption due to climate change. Hence, Tom & team are on a mission to not just invest well in water but to grow the category as a whole. As part of their conversation, Nick & Tom also discussed:Scope & Definition: Nick & Tom spend time breaking down and decomposing what is even meant by ‘water’ when we try to understand it as an industry. Portfolio Companies: Tom runs through seminal examples of several portfolio companies that underscore the types of companies Burnt Island Ventures invests in and the impact they’re targetingStorytelling and Intangibles: Nick & Tom stress the need for better storytelling in the water sector to attract more investment and public interest.Timestamps:00:01:23 - Tom's Journey into Water Investment00:03:23 - Breaking Down the Water Investment Landscape00:06:09 - Challenges in Water Sector Investment & Reframing the Industry00:13:07 - Burnt Island Ventures' Mission00:15:51 - Highlighting Portfolio Companies00:22:03 - FundOne Portfolio Overview00:27:00 - The Overlooked Importance of Water in Various Sectors00:34:17 - The Importance of Storytelling + The Role of Investors in Water Sector00:37:00 - Cross-Cutting Issues in Climate and Energy00:39:53 - The Role of Water in Climate AdaptationDon't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and  investing in water and what the ‘water’ category as a whole even entails and represents. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about Burnt Island Ventures on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.burntislandventures.com/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Description: Nick is joined by Rob Hanson, the CEO of Monolith, a company building methane pyrolysis plants to turn methane into hydrogen and carbon black, both of which are critical products for global industries and which are predominantly produced with significant emissions footprints today. Monolith’s process aims to decarbonize hydrogen and carbon black production while commercializing to scales of clean production not seen almost anywhere else in the world. Nick and Rob also discuss the duality of methane’s inherent economic value and its staggering cost to the environment, especially as a major global warming driver, as well as:Technical ins and outs: Among other things, one of the pieces of technologies Monolith has built is one of the world’s largest plasma torches. Not sure what that means? Listen for more.What it’s like working with the DOE’s Loan Programs Office: While the Loan Programs Office's risk appetite doesn’t suit itself to every type of project, Rob breaks down under what circumstances working with the LPO can be a powerful partnership to scale critical clean technologies.Sustained will for the energy transition: Why ‘sustainability’ is about a lot more than just greenhouse gas emissions and other ‘green’ metrics.Timestamps:00:03:08 - Methane's role across environmental and economic impact00:04:11 - Rob's background and journey to Monolith00:06:10 - The Role of DOE's Loan Programs Office 00:09:03 - Deep dive into Monolith's technology and development00:19:08 - Carbon Black production and usage00:26:33 - Challenges and rigor required to work with the LPO00:30:08 - Monolith's future production capacity and impact00:33:32 - The importance of economic viability without green premiums00:36:07 - Sustained will and what the energy transition holistically requires00:38:33 - Perception of the energy transition in the Midwest00:41:47 - Calls to action Don't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and the role of hydrogen in decarbonizing industry. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about Monolith on their website and LinkedIn: https://monolith-corp.com/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/monolith-corp/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Description: Nick is joined by Jigar Shah, the Director of the DOE’s Loan Programs Office, and Ian Dickinson, the CEO of LongPath Technologies, to discuss the commercialization of novel methane monitoring technologies to accelerate lower-hanging fruit in methane mitigation. Specifically, Jigar, Ian, and Nick discuss the ongoing methane measurement technologies LongPath is building for oil and gas infrastructure in the Permian Basin and what climate, economic, safety, and regulatory impacts are being driven by a step-change in methane measurement and monitoring technologies. Further, Jigar, Ian, and Nick also discuss:Bridging financing gaps: The Loan Programs Office’s role in financing climate and energy technologies to create “flywheels of irreversible momentum,” in Jigar’s words. Momentum for methane: The range of tailwinds coalescing right now for methane measurement and mitigation that are accelerating the work of companies like LongPathThe oil and gas industry’s role: What does the oil and gas industry think of trends in methane measurement and monitoring, whether from a technology perspective or with respect to new regulations coming to the fore in the U.S. to price methane emissions?Timestamps:00:03:31 - Loan Programs Office's Support for Climate Tech Companies00:04:40 - Methane's Impact on Global Warming vs. Lack of Financing00:05:16 - Economic Incentives to Address Methane Leaks00:08:33 - Technologies for Methane Detection and Monitoring00:10:26 - LongPath's Development and Commercialization00:15:15 - Safety Benefits of Novel Methane Monitoring00:18:45 - Operational and Compliance Challenges in Methane Management00:22:40 - EPA's Methane Regulations and Industry Impact00:27:29 - Potential Global Impact of Methane Management Technologies00:30:12 - Broader Economic and Environmental Benefits of Methane Reduction00:31:38 - LPO's Goals and Impact on Hard Tech Innovation00:33:40 - Working with the Loan Programs Office00:35:09 - Other Exciting Developments in Climate Tech and EnergyDon't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and the role of DOE's Loan Programs Office in accelerating the energy transition in the U.S. and globally. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about LongPath Technologies on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.longpathtech.com/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/longpathtech/Learn more about the DOE’s Loan Programs Office on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.energy.gov/lpo/loan-programs-office / https://www.linkedin.com/company/doe-loan-programs-office/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Allison Wolff, CEO of Vibrant Planet, discusses using AI and ML for climate action with rapid outcomes in natural resource management. They talk about nature-based solutions like proactive land management and reintroducing beavers. The episode covers global expansion, business models, challenges, and calls to action for the future.

In this podcast, Glassdome's co-founder, CTO, and Product Manager discuss their platform for industrial decarbonization. They cover topics like regulatory compliance, data acquisition from old equipment, carbon emissions analysis, and the impact of new regulations on sustainability outcomes. The conversation also explores the battery industry's sustainability challenges and the importance of global teamwork in driving sustainable practices in manufacturing.

Nick and Augustus Doricko, Founder and CEO of Rainmaker, discuss the viability of cloud seeding to (quite literally) make it rain more. Whether for farmers dealing with drought or depleted aquifers or for adaptive purposes such as mitigating wildfires, the potential applications of cloud seeding and making rain more abundant are endless. Nick and Augustus dive deep into the history, theory, and modern current state of cloud seeding while turning an eye to what to expect from Rainmaker in Q2 2024 and beyond. In addition, they discuss:The various approaches and technical complexities inherent to cloud seedingWhether cloud seeding simply “pulls forward” rain that would otherwise have precipitatedHow to encourage more people to pursue hard problems and the value of non-linear career and life pathsTimestamps:00:02:06 - Overview of Rainmaker's Mission00:03:00 - Public Perception and History of Cloud Seeding00:04:49 - Breakthrough in Cloud Seeding Validation00:07:40 - Cost Challenges and Rainmaker's Innovations00:10:52 - Discussion on Cloud Seeding Materials00:13:04 - The Confluence of Technologies in Modern Cloud Seeding00:19:41 - Complexity in Climate and Water Systems00:22:00 - Public Interest in Complex Climate Solutions00:23:10 - The Importance of Long-Form Content00:24:24 - Business Model and Customer Agreements at Rainmaker00:30:03 - Pricing and Servicing Agreements for Water Production00:31:57 - Rainmaker's Seeding Operations and Results00:34:14 - Supply-Side Conversations in Water Resources00:36:05 - Drone Technology and Altitude in Cloud Seeding00:38:01 - Potential Synergies with Other Geoengineering EffortsDon't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and the role of novel geoengineering efforts in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about Rainmaker on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.makerain.com/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/rainmaker-technology-corporation/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/

Description: Nick and John Skrinar, Partner at Cresta Fund Management, explore the intersection of infrastructure investment, private equity, and the energy transition in the U.S. in 2024. Specifically, Nick and John discuss the merits of technologies ranging from carbon capture to hydrogen and renewable natural gas while also casting an eye to the political landscape and how sustainable infrastructure investing has changed over the past five years in the U.S. In addition, Nick and John dove deep on the following topics:Other technologies like thermal energy storage, which is commercializing as we speak and offer a cost-effective solution to store and utilize excess renewable energyThe importance and state of stable policy: Nick and John discuss the IRA, the need for further clarification on its components, and other stable policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).The importance of "boring capital" in climate tech and energy investment: As more large private equity firms enter the market, it signals a maturation of the industry.Timestamps:00:01:52 - Climate Tech Investment Landscape00:04:48 - Molecule-focused Energy Infrastructure00:05:09 - The Role of Private Equity in Energy Transition00:06:13 - Types of Projects and Technologies for 202400:07:17 - The Mainstreaming of Carbon Capture00:11:27 - The Role of Stable Policy in Infrastructure Investment00:15:22 - Specific Projects Supported by Cresta00:21:07 - The Potential of Renewable Natural Gas00:24:06 - The Process of Creating Sustainable Aviation Fuel00:29:57 - Cresta's Investment Strategy for 202400:31:24 - The Practical Applications of Green Hydrogen00:34:24 - The Need for Stable Policy in Energy Investments00:35:16 - Policy Tailwinds and Headwinds in the US00:37:25 - The Impact of State-Level Policies on Energy Transition00:40:37 - The Importance of Boring Investments in Energy TransitionDon't miss out on this podcast if you're interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, the energy transition, and the role of infrastructure investing in various critical capital stacks. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform to catch all the latest episodes.Learn more about Cresta on their website and LinkedIn: https://www.crestafunds.com/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/crestafunds/If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcoolThank you so much.Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/