DER Task Force

Last week we sat down with Dave Riess, the CEO and co-founder of Wunder. They’re working hard to scale mid-sized commercial solar projects, where they believe the real TAM is in this market. Dave is an awesome guy who’s been grinding in the space for years now, so we naturally had a ton to talk about.* (00:02:55) Introduction and Guest Overview: Introduction of the hosts and the guest, David Reese, co-founder, and CEO of Wonder (formerly Wonder Capital).* (00:07:33) Network-Based Energy Infrastructure: Discussion on evolving energy infrastructure to a more network-based architecture.* (00:40:42) Commercial Solar Market Challenges: Analysis of why the commercial solar market isn't scaling more quickly.* (00:50:25) Pricing and Merchant Exposure: Examination of pricing strategies and the risks of merchant exposure in solar projects.* (00:57:49) Reducing Transaction Costs: Strategies to streamline the underwriting, structuring, and de-risking processes in solar projects.* (01:27:39) DERs and Market Dynamics: Insights on the role of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and their impact on the energy market.* (01:34:42) Future of the Grid: Speculations on how the main grid might evolve or shrink in favor of the grid edge.* (01:45:03) Technology Development vs. Deployment: The imbalance between resources allocated to technology development and deployment.* (01:46:06) Solid-State Power Electronics: Potential impact of solid-state power electronics on grid infrastructure.* (01:47:24) Energy Market Evolution: The slow evolution of the energy market and the role of capitalism in driving change.* (01:48:38) Solving Energy Problems: Identifying and addressing the primary constraints in the energy market.* (01:50:15) Transformer and Power Electronics: Discussion on transformers, power electronics, and their role in future energy systems.* (01:50:59) DC Microgrids and EV Charging: Potential benefits of DC microgrids and advancements in EV charging technology.* (01:51:34) Capital and Risk Management: Matching capital with the risk profile of solar assets and the importance of certainty in asset performance.* (02:00:39) Revisiting Past Technologies: Reflection on past technological advancements and their relevance today.* (02:01:25) Deployment Focus: Emphasis on the importance of focusing on the deployment of existing technologies.* (02:12:35) CSP 2.0 for Data Centers: Exploration of CSP 2.0 technology for providing clean power to AI data centers.* (02:14:36) Opinions on Emerging Technologies: Mixed views on the potential success of emerging energy technologies like CSP 2.0.* (02:11:57) Solar and AI Data Centers: Discussion on the announcement of a new project for AI data centers using solar thermal energy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back! This time with Casey Handmer, founder and CEO of Terraform Industries. Terraform is building a system to turn cheap solar electricity into methane. To pull this off they’ll need to commercialize the most performant and lowest-cost electrolysis, carbon capture, and Sabatier reactors ever seen. Casey had a ton of interesting thoughts about how to pull this off from engineering fundamentals in a manner that is tailored to the capacity factor of solar. We also get into the history of the energy industry, space, incumbency, electricity versus gas distribution networks, utility-scale DERs, and a ton more. This is one for the true energy nerds! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back! This time we sat down with Quincy Lee, CEO and co-founder of Electric Era, an electric vehicle refueling company. Quincy has a super cool background - starting with designing skyscrapers, then moving on to space technology, and now he’s der-pilled.We talk about all kinds of stuff in this one:* what SpaceX and Starlink were like* why EV charging, or whoops, we mean “car refill”* EV charging reliability* grid constraints limiting EV infrastructure* the role of social media in shaping public opinion on energy* the category isn’t ClimateTech or even EnergyTech - its GridTech* and Deep GridTech is here!* solid state power electronics, quantum-level stuff* where the hell are all the transformers we need?* Quincy: Gundo is “okay”, but come to Seattle* innovation at the grid edge* the grid edge strangler figging the grid?This is a free episode for all subscribers, but if you want access to everything we do and would like to support our work broadly, be sure to visit www.dertaskforce.com and become a paid subscriber for just $5/month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.dertaskforce.comWe’re back! This time with a VIDEO POD. We recorded this live at DTECH a few weeks ago and haven’t had time to upload it. But this is a fun one that you don’t want to miss.Not only did we finally find out what a DERMS is, but we also became fully converted distribution utility maxis after walking the show floor. We’re all quitting our jobs and starting hardware companies with the Gundo boys! Tune in to hear why!The is a paid episode for the real DERTF heads. If you appreciate our work and want to support it, all while getting access to exclusive paid content, consider subscribing at www.dertaskforce.com.

In this episode, Jesse Jenkins discusses his DERs journey, rooftop solar costs in the US versus Australia, unfair advantages and disadvantages of DERs, rate design complexities, and strategies to tackle load growth and transmission buildout.

Economist Lynne Kiesling explores decentralized coordination and libertarianism in power markets, discusses projects involving thermostat automation and water heater chip engineering, delves into technological determinism's impact on power markets' evolution, navigates optimism and challenges in the energy sector, and explores historical development and regulation of the electric utility industry.

Discussion on potential changes in the grid over the next few decades, challenges in electrification and decarbonization with panelists Lynn Kiesling, Jesse Jenkins, and Andy Frank.

We’re back! This time we sat down with Pier LaFarge, co-founder and CEO of Sparkfund. Those who listened to the DERVOS recording released last week may remember Pier pitching a utility-led DER deployment model. It was a pretty interesting idea that we felt deserved its own deep dive on a pod, so we invited Pier on to make the case for what is likely a very counterintuitive DERs approach for many in the space. In the episode he envisions a world where utilities determine the best locations for DERs on the grid, design the systems, provide them via RFP, rate base them, and then use them to make tripling grid throughput cost effective. This of course brought up all sorts of discussion about natural monopolies, emergent outcomes, utility death spirals, price signals, socialization, cost of capital, and more. Hope you enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

The podcast discusses the benefits and drawbacks of central planning and public ownership in managing the grid and distributed energy resources. Panelists explore contrasting perspectives on off-grid living and central planning. The speaker highlights the challenges faced by a small cooperative in integrating DERs and the importance of doubling the grid. The chapter also explores the role of government in public power and proposes regional regulatory commissions.

Duncan and James reflect on the past 5 years in the energy space and look ahead at 2024 and beyond. They discuss the current tech environment, building energy startups, and the difference between energy tech and climate tech. They also explore if the CA grid failures are a warning for other regions.