Catalyst with Shayle Kann

It’s a Catalyst first-of-a-kind: our very first live event! We hosted it last Wednesday at San Francisco Climate week. In this episode, Shayle talks to Mike Schroepfer, co-founder and partner at Gigascale Capital and former CTO of Meta, and Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US. Together they cover: Lessons on building products that consumers love  Over and under hyped trends, including data center load growth, carbon removal, and fusion What areas will benefit most from the current administration The most important, least appreciated category of climate tech The craziest idea that just might work Recommended resources: Catalyst: A skeptic’s take on AI electricity load growth Catalyst: The geopolitics of rare earth elements Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. This special Catalyst Live was sponsored by JP Morgan Chase and DLA Piper. Catalyst is brought to you by Anza, a platform enabling solar and storage developers and buyers to save time, reduce risk, & increase profits in their equipment selection process. Anza gives clients access to pricing, technical, and risk data and tools that they’ve never had access to before. Learn more at go.anzarenewables.com/latitude. Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com.

Ahmad Ghahreman, co-founder and CEO of Cyclic Materials, dives into the critical world of rare earth elements (REEs) that are essential for tech and renewable energy. He discusses China's overwhelming grip on the global REE supply chain and explores the ramifications of recent export controls. Ahmad offers insights into how recycling can create a more sustainable alternative and predicts a future where a robust, non-China reliant supply chain could flourish. The conversation unpacks challenges, opportunities, and the importance of innovation in this vital industry.

Jeff Waters, CEO of Powin, a leader in utility-scale battery storage, shares insights on the booming U.S. market amid policy uncertainties. He highlights the need for global partnerships, especially with China, to bolster domestic battery manufacturing capabilities. The discussion uncovers the surge in electricity demand, particularly from data centers, and innovative scaling in storage technology. Waters remains optimistic about navigating challenges, emphasizing resilience in the face of tariff changes and evolving market dynamics.

Julio Friedmann, the Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct and a self-proclaimed carbon wrangler, discusses the intricate balance between tech's growing energy needs and climate goals. He advocates for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a potential game-changer for data centers powered by natural gas. The conversation highlights the surprising economics of CCS, the challenges of building CO2 infrastructure, and the support from big companies like Meta. Julio also addresses the uncertain political landscape surrounding CCS investments and its future role in clean energy.

Judd Boomhower, an assistant professor of economics at UC-San Diego, dives into how climate disasters are reshaping insurance markets. He discusses why insurers are pulling out of high-risk areas like California and Florida, and the unique challenges of disaster insurance facing simultaneous claims. The conversation highlights the limitations of catastrophe models and the complications of private reinsurance markets. Boomhower also explores parametric insurance as a possible solution, shedding light on the world of undercapitalized insurers and their risks.

Adib Nasle, CEO of Xendee, brings his power engineering expertise from the aviation sector, while Michael Stadler, CTO, draws from his extensive research in microgrids. They discuss how data centers can tackle urgent power shortages using microgrids, emphasizing adaptability and future-proofing of technology. With striking cost reductions observed, they advocate for integrated solutions combining heat and power systems, batteries, and renewables. Their strategies highlight the importance of decentralization and innovative energy infrastructures to meet surging demands.

In this discussion, Sam Smith-Eppsteiner, a partner at Innovation Endeavors focusing on specialized AI for industries, shares insights on the limitations of general-purpose models. She highlights the unique needs of physical sectors with siloed data, showcasing innovations like AI tools for electrical engineering and automated truck scheduling. The conversation delves into the hurdles of deploying specialized models, data access strategies, and the balance between selling technology and providing informed solutions. Sam emphasizes how these advances can enhance efficiency and knowledge retention in industrial environments.

Tyler Norris, a PhD candidate at Duke University and former VP of Development at Cypress Creek Renewables, dives into the fascinating world of data center flexibility. He highlights the paradox that while data centers are often seen as inflexible, there's potential for them to support grid stability. Tyler shares insights from a study revealing that small load curtailments could free up 98 gigawatts of capacity. They discuss innovative strategies like colocating power generation and optimizing operations, illustrating how data centers can actively participate in demand response.

Join Alfred Johnson, CEO of Crux, Stephanie Deterding, managing director at Crux, and Timmi Kloster from US Bank Corp as they dive into the booming transferable clean energy tax credit market. They explore how recent policy changes have tripled market size and diversified options beyond wind and solar. The trio reveals surprising trends, including the swift influx of investors and the rise of hybrid transactions and tax insurance. Discover how infrastructure development is driven by increasing energy demands and what this means for the future of clean energy finance.

In this discussion, Andy Lubershane, a partner and head of research at Energy Impact Partners, brings his expertise in robotics to the forefront. He explores how AI advancements are making robots both cheaper and more powerful, revolutionizing industries like manufacturing and construction. The conversation highlights the potential of robotics-as-a-service models to counteract high startup costs and addresses the looming labor shortages in climate tech. Lubershane also shares insights on the promising future of humanoid robots and the challenges still faced in their development.