CleanTech Talk — EVs, Solar, Batteries, AI, Tesla

Richard Halsall, the innovative Founder and CEO of Exhale Fans, shares his journey from Army aviator to HVAC inventor. He discusses the unique bladeless design of his ceiling fan, which optimizes energy use while ensuring comfort in various indoor spaces. Halsall highlights how his product can enhance air quality, reduce humidity, and maintain thermal comfort at higher thermostat settings. He also delves into market strategies, the challenges of changing consumer perceptions, and the potential environmental impacts of energy-efficient solutions.

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.

Join Dr. Denis Phares, CEO of Dragonfly Energy, and Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, for a fascinating conversation around dry electrode battery manufacturing, Tesla's dry electrode battery manufacturing vs. Dragonfly Energy's, dye-sensitized solar cells, nanotechnology, solid-state batteries, and more.

Nicole Richards, CEO of Allonnia and a chemical engineer, shares her insights on using biotechnology to tackle environmental challenges. She discusses the innovative solutions Alonnia is developing for mining remediation and the removal of PFAS chemicals, often termed 'forever chemicals.' Nicole highlights their nature-inspired approaches, including a groundbreaking chemical-free foam solution for PFAS. The conversation reveals how biotechnology can reshape industries and pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Mike Richter, former NHL star and current President of Brightcore Energy, dives into the world of geothermal energy. He explains how geothermal systems provide cost-effective heating and cooling solutions. Listeners learn about recent innovations making these technologies more accessible. Richter shares his own inspiring journey from sports to sustainability advocacy and highlights Brightcore's pioneering efforts in adopting geothermal practices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of clean energy in the quest for deep building decarbonization, showcasing its substantial benefits.

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 Action Fund 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: https://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=07.30.25 Joining CleanTechnica's 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.

Kris Ohleth, Director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, delves into the evolving landscape of the U.S. offshore wind industry. He discusses the historical challenges and current obstacles, including slow policy responses and competition with global leaders like China. Despite these issues, Kris highlights a hopeful future, emphasizing the economic potential of offshore wind and its benefits over traditional energy sources. He also shares insights on navigating procurement complexities and the unique challenges California faces in developing this clean energy source.