Catalyst with Shayle Kann

Lara Pierpoint, Managing Director of Trellis Climate and host of The Green Blueprint podcast, dives into compelling questions about climate tech. She discusses the contentious status of solar radiation management and the complexities of transitioning to electric systems amid rising energy prices. Lara shares insights on the potential nuclear renaissance and the promising vehicle-to-home technology. They also tackle misconceptions regarding plastics in climate change, emphasizing the need for effective decarbonization strategies.

Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI, discusses the fascinating world of flexible data centers. He explains how adjusting data center loads can significantly alleviate pressure on power grids, potentially unlocking up to 98 gigawatts of unused capacity. Varun highlights the challenges of maintaining high reliability while enabling flexibility in power usage. He shares insights on innovative strategies like demand response and discusses case studies, including Google's latest agreements, to illustrate how adaptability can transform data centers into valuable grid assets.

Neha Palmer, Co-founder and CEO of Terawatt Infrastructure, is on a mission to revolutionize electric trucking by building essential charging depots. In this discussion, she shares insights about securing a billion-dollar investment and the ambitious vision for a nationwide charging network. Neha addresses the challenges of heavy-duty electric truck infrastructure amid market skepticism and highlights strategic site selection for future charging hubs. The conversation also touches on the implications of electrification for combatting climate change and enhancing the logistics industry.

Landon Mossburg, Founder and CEO of Peak Energy, discusses the potential of sodium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage. He highlights how current advancements in China could reshape energy storage solutions. Mossburg explains the thermal advantages of sodium iron pyrophosphate and its lower capital expenditures. The conversation dives into supply chain benefits and how these innovations could offset costs while ensuring safety and long cycle life. Overall, there’s an optimistic outlook on sodium-ion technology’s competitiveness against traditional lithium-ion systems.

Brian Janous, co-founder and chief commercial officer at Cloverleaf Infrastructure and former VP of energy at Microsoft, dives into the critical concept of the ‘Watt-Bit Spread.’ He discusses how data centers have evolved from being passive energy users to pivotal players in the electricity market. Janous highlights the rising demand for power as AI technology advances and the strategic importance of energy procurement. He also explores the complexities of securing reliable power supplies and the implications of pricing strategies for sustainable growth in this rapidly changing landscape.

Steve Piper, Research Director for North American Power and Renewables at S&P Global, joins to discuss the recent record-breaking PJM capacity auction prices. He explains how inflated prices are designed to incentivize new generation amidst tight supply, driven largely by the surge in data centers. The conversation reveals concerns over low prices previously discouraging market participation, as well as the challenges of developing new resources and enhancing demand response strategies. Steve emphasizes the need for regulatory adaptations to navigate these complexities.

Colin Campbell, Chief Technology Officer of Redwood Materials and expert in battery recycling, discusses the intriguing world of repurposing electric vehicle batteries for grid storage. He highlights how advancements in software management and cost-efficiency have made this process profitable. Colin emphasizes that even short lifespans for repurposed batteries can be valuable, especially for long-duration storage. The conversation also dives into the competitive landscape against new battery systems and the exciting potential of transforming end-of-life batteries into vital energy resources.

Shayle speaks with Andy Lubershane, a partner at Energy Impact Partners and their head of research, about the complexities following the One Big Beautiful Bill. They delve into the biggest unresolved issue surrounding foreign entity concerns and explore the implications for tax credits across renewable sectors like nuclear and geothermal. The duo also discusses the extended timeline for hydrogen tax credits, how EV tax credits will affect both personal and commercial vehicles, and the broader impact on project planning in climate tech.

In this discussion, Julien Dumoulin-Smith, who leads clean energy equity research at Jeffries, sheds light on the challenges facing residential solar. He examines the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill, particularly how phasing out tax credits will influence the market. Julien highlights the struggles posed by high interest rates and debt burdens that have led several companies to bankruptcy. He also predicts that leasing will favor larger companies over smaller installers, while energy price hikes might reshape demand in the coming years.

Nat Bullard, cofounder of Halcyon, dives into the intricacies of utility regulatory filings, uncovering insights that reveal how utilities are grappling with unprecedented interconnection requests and the emergence of new tariff structures for large-load customers like data centers. He discusses historical parallels, sharing concerns about rising electricity rates, especially for smaller utilities. Nat also highlights the battle between factories and data centers for prime locations, and the growing costs tied to new gas generation, emphasizing the need for transparency in these projects.