The Green Blueprint

Shreya Dave, co-founder and CEO of Via Separations, leads a company focused on innovative energy-efficient filtration systems. She discusses the challenges of rapidly scaling her groundbreaking graphene dioxide membrane technology at a Canadian paper mill. Shreya shares insights on overcoming self-doubt, finding the right customers, and navigating financial hurdles. She reflects on lessons learned from the journey and the urgency of making impactful climate technology viable for broader commercial use. Her bold decision to scale 100x could redefine industrial operations!

John Woolard, former CEO of BrightSource Energy and now at Meridian Clean Energy, shares insights from his journey in concentrated solar power. He recounts the challenges faced while developing the Ivanpah project, including the impact of the 2009 financial crisis on funding. Woolard highlights the fierce competition with photovoltaic technologies, discussing key lessons learned about flexibility and the importance of adapting to industry changes. His experiences illuminate the complexities of navigating environmental regulations and financing in the solar energy landscape.

We’ve already invented many of the solutions needed to decarbonize the global economy. But a big chunk of emission reductions will come from technologies that are not yet commercial.We don’t have decades to get these commercialized – we have years.So what can we learn from the people who are bringing new technologies from the lab to the market, constructing first-of-a-kind projects, building companies, challenging and transforming incumbents, and finding the right kind of investment to support their scaling?The Green Blueprint is a new show from Latitude Media and Trellis Climate about the architects of the clean energy economy. Hosted by Lara Pierpoint, managing director at Trellis, the show profiles the people who are doing the hero’s work of scaling clean technologies: founders, investors, engineers, policymakers, and organizational leaders who are solving a complex set of challenges in the quest to scale quickly.Every other week, we’ll hear stories about the complexity of building gigafactories, the mind-boggling logistics of mega-clean energy projects, and the risky choices on how fast to scale – plus boardroom disagreements, financial hardships, and moments of failure and redemption.The Green Blueprint is dropping this fall. You can find it on Latitude Media, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Since we stopped The Carbon Copy, some listeners had questions about what’s next. Here's a preview of our new podcast, the Transition-AI event in December, and a new newsletter called the AI-Energy Nexus. Stay tuned to the feed for our new show, dropping later this fall!

Scott Engstrom from GridX and economist Ahmad Faruqui delve into the critical role of dynamic pricing in the energy transition. They discuss how adaptive rate designs can effectively engage consumers and promote energy efficiency. The conversation highlights the need for transparent communication about pricing strategies to enhance customer participation. They also critique current pricing models and advocate for innovative approaches, exploring the transformative impact of technologies like virtual power plants and emphasizing the importance of a consumer-centric focus.

Jigar Shah, director of the DOE’s loan programs office, and Katherine Hamilton, chair of 38 North, explore pressing issues in clean energy policy. They analyze the impacts of AI on energy demand and debate the future of geothermal and nuclear energy. The duo highlights the challenges California faces in rooftop solar and the potential of America's Green Bank, which could mobilize billions for clean initiatives. Their insights on overrated and underrated trends provide a clear roadmap for the future of the energy sector.

Mike Phillips, CEO of Sense, discusses the potential of advanced meters for grid intelligence and bill savings. He highlights the need for a shift in mindset from data collection devices to distributed platforms. The podcast explores the shortcomings of past smart meter deployments and the importance of investing in the right architecture for AMI 2.0 to avoid similar outcomes. The conversation delves into leveraging high-resolution data from smart meters for grid efficiency and consumer energy management, emphasizing the role of machine learning in advancing energy transition.

Exploring the shift from Chinese aluminum to domestic recycled steel in the US solar industry and the benefits it brings, such as corrosion resistance and reduced weight. Discussing the vulnerabilities of China's dominance in solar manufacturing and the need to diversify supply sources. Highlighting the advantages of steel frames in solar products for enhanced supply chain resilience, technical performance, and environmental sustainability. Delving into the focus on low embodied emissions products in the solar supply chain and the policy implications of Europe's carbon border adjustment tax. Lastly, discussing the impacts of the Biden administration tariffs on the solar industry supply chains and the importance of transitioning to more resilient and diversified supply chains.

AI is shaping the future of climate tech with startups using it for material discovery, geothermal exploration, and more. Andrew Beebe from Obvious Ventures discusses the impact of AI on clean energy solutions and the importance of utility rates in the energy transition.

Experts discuss scaling critical climate technologies, readiness levels of renewables, hydrogen, and lab-grown meat, importance of effective rate design in energy transition, challenges in technology deployment and forecasting, varying stages of readiness in climate tech sectors, distinctions between globally deployed and commercialization phase energy technologies, and potential of sleeper technologies in combating climate change post-2030.