WattPod

It takes a special type of person to be an entrepreneur and it takes a special type of courage to build a truly innovative business. @Leroy Nyangani and the team at @Need Energy including his cofounder @Desire Masunda are those special people with that special type of courage. NeedEnergy is an energy, technology and utility startup inspired by the increasing need for clean, renewable and sustainable energy. They provide effective, intelligent solutions to Africa's growing energy demands focused on distributed small-scale renewables. Using machine learning and ssatellite imagery they identify high-potential assets for rooftop solar. In this episode we get deep insights from one of those hundreds of millions of people who grew up without access to energy and is now working hard to disrupt Africa's energy market. As Leroy reminds us, his journey is not one of being a statistic. Your understanding for the audio quality on this episode is appreciated as Leroy dialled in from Zimbabwe. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Danny Thai launched zecar, a data-driven one-stop shop for all things electric cars, to help consumers make the switch to a clean, electrified future. Zecar provides a database of EV cars, helping match EV buyers to their perfect car, as well as guides on the cost of EV ownership. It's an area with string tailwinds with Australian EV sales up over 200% in 2021. As more consumers demand electric vehicles how can entrepreneurs like Danny Thai support their journey and accelerate the energy transition. Danny's story is a familiar one to many entrepreneurs - Following your passion to solve the world's great problems whilst building a successful business. The energy transition needs more Danny Thai's. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

@Paul Martin is one of the most vocal advocates for a fossil-fuel free future. He is a leading voice in the fight against #hopium often applied to the use of hydrogen. In today's episode, we discuss some of the myths surrounding the energy transition. We also explore the difficulties of hydrogen as an energy carrier, its applicable use cases in our fossil free future and why it gets so much attention in the energy transition despite the laws of thermodynamics. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

It's not often we get an expert straddling both energy transition and carbon markets. This week we get the opportunity to look holistically at how technology and innovation are accelerating decarbonisation with Peter Knowles. Peter is the President of @Financial Machines, a software company delivering tools to Manage Risk and Maximize Revenue, for Wind, Solar and Energy Storage. He is also an advisor at @Net Zero Markets, environmental pioneers creating market-based products that make individuals' and company's climate ambitions a reality and drive investment in carbon removal projects. They recently released the Global Emissions Reduction Contract on @ACX and @Nodal and soon to be released on @EEX. Peter is leveraging his expertise, gained through 20 years of work with Barclays, Enron and others to accelerate our carbon-free future. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

"The moment we have something we can measure is when we get excited. Without being able to measure it there is no clear business model". Awesome interview with @Jacqueline van den ende, the co-founder & CEO @ Carbon Equity. We dove deep into the foundations of Carbon Equity and their mission to connect Capital to Climate. It is clear this solution makes sense for retail investors by delivering attractive financial returns from the biggest transition of our generation by accessing alternative asset classes these investors would not have otherwise been able to participate in. Jacqueline is a serial entrepreneur and it was great to understand how they have approached a problem and built a successful climate tech startup in such a short period. Per the short video clip we need to urgently find new ways to measure success so that we can truly value nature and climate solutions. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Source Global's hydro panel technology uses renewable energy to produce safe, clean drinking water out of the air. Backed by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures their revolutionary technology will do for drinking water what solar panels have done for electricity, making water a distributed renewable resource. Rob Bartrop is the Chief Revenue Officer and has expanded operations to see Source operate in more than 50 countries across the world. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

“There's no better solution to energy poverty than distributed energy” @Bboxx is a Pan African super platform transforming lives and unlocking potential. Their core business solves energy poverty by servicing consumers with life-changing solar, clean cooking and other valuable services that give the 'on-grid' experience. @Anshul, originally founded the Bboxx business in Kenya and is today the Director of Global Partnerships creating strong relationships with the likes of @Mitsubishi, @Engine MKB, @Bamboo, @Doen foundation, @Khosla ventures, @EDF, @AIIM. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Quentin Draper-Scrimshire is the co-founder and CEO of Modo Energy. Modo are accelerating the energy transition by enabling companies to make better, data-backed decisions hyper-focused on energy storage. Used by 75% of participants in the GB market with over 3000 subscribers Modo is the powerhouse in energy storage data analytics for the UK market. They have a great product with an excellent founding story that will resonate with many entrepreneurs. @RWE --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Marija Petkovic is the founder and MD of Energy Synapse. Alongside bespoke advisory and research services, the Energy Synapse software platform crunches billions of data points to allow renewable energy developers, financial institutions, large corporates, government and public interest groups to easily assess the opportunities and risks of large-scale clean energy investments. In this episode we discuss current energy market disruptions and how an increasingly renewable grid provides both a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity and a way to create a more secure and stable energy system. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

@Tom Miller is a co-founder and the CEO of @Cambridge Energy Partners (CEP). CEP is at the leading edge of the next phase of solar development and deployment. Their unique pre-fab solution means that a solar farm can be shipped, ready to deploy, with tracking to any destination. The combination of pre-fabricated solar with tracking means that it can achieve the lowest cost electron possible while minimising credit risk for generators. They have forged their technology in frontier markets alongside partners such as @Scatec and are now looking to expand into developed markets. If you are wondering how renewables can get any cheaper this is the episode to listen to - it's not only about scale. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

@Assaad Razzouk is a high-profile thought leader on climate change and clean energy. He is perhaps best known as the “@Angry Clean Energy Guy” with his regular podcast covering all the topics that anger him on our transition to a cleaner future. Today, Assaad is the CEO @Gurin Energy - Developers, Owners, and Operators/Asset Managers who deploy solar, wind and storage solutions at scale. He is also the Founder @Reneum Institute - a marketplace to provide capital to renewable energy projects and incentivize new renewable development. In today's episode we cover Assaad's 20+ years in renewables, the urgent need to price environmental destruction and how blockchain technology is supporting the expansion of climate solutions. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Did you hear the story of the serial clean-tech entrepreneur who sold his successful energy technology company to Shell and started a battery network company in Africa to change the way energy is distributed and delivered to customers? Well, that's the story of @Erik Nygard, our next guest on the @Watt Pod. Having exited @Limejump, following its sale to @Shell, Erik is currently plowing all his time and resources into urban energy access in Africa using portable batteries. @Kofa is the brainchild - a swappable battery platform that's delivering clean energy and zero emissions starting with their motorcycles designed specifically for Africa, but also for other use cases such as backup power or energy where no socket is available --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Carola Jonas is the CEO & Founder of Everty, an EV software startup that allows EV charging station operators to monitor, manage and monetise their charging infrastructure assets and provides an interface to EV drivers for the use of chargers.  So, how does a solopreneur build a successful EV SaaS software startup? Hear how Carola has grown Everty since 2016, why EVs are part of national security policy and how important the right support has been from the likes of @Energy Lab and venture capital firm @Artesian. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

"KlimaDAO has arguably been one of the most impactful and disruptive innovations in carbon markets to date. In the last 6 months, KlimaDAO has incentivised around 25% (worth approximately $250M) of the carbon credits certified by Verra during the period to be bridged onto the blockchain. Today, we hear about the story behind KlimaDAO from one of its founders, 0xymoron. 0xymoron is an environmental scientist and renewable energy professional. He has designed sustainable energy policy, performed energy consulting and lobbying as well as worked in academia. Today he finds himself at the vanguard of the intersection of crypto and climate." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

"Impact lives in any company". Nancy Pfund is the original impact investor. As the Founder and Managing Partner of DBL Partners she has led the field of impact investing for almost 20 years showing that it is possible to achieve both purpose and profits. She has sat on the board of or overseen investments in some legendary companies such as @Tesla, @SolarCity and @FBNFarmers. Today, DBL Partners works with companies as diverse as @ZolaElectric, @Andela, @SpaceX, @Spatialinc, and @DroneSeed. We discuss double bottom line investing, how this leads to superior returns and the fallacy of sacrificing returns for impact. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

"You just get different challenges, not fewer of them". Jaap van Dijk, the Co-Founder and CEO of @greenatlas.earth lays out what its like being an early-stage climate-tech founder. We chat about leaving behind a successful career at @Citi heading both power trading and environmental products trading desks. What were the opportunities and risks he saw jumping into entrepreneurship and what drove him to focus his life on the energy transition. We discuss investors and accelerators such as @ImpactCity @Startupbootcamp of which greenatlas.earth is taking part on their journey to getting first customers. greenatlas.earth is Europe's first dedicated marketplace and analytics platform for early-stage renewable energy projects. greenatlas.earth maps sites, analyzes their potential and helps site owners connect with project developers, financiers and other key stakeholders to kick-start their renewable energy projects. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Accurassi is a B2B2C Saas platform for energy retail customer acquisition and management. Ross Sharman and Colin Fraser are disrupting the energy retail market by helping retailers offer hyper-personalised energy plans to customers. We cover the disruption of energy markets, the future of the energy transition and the difficulty of having households care about their energy use. Ross also provides his input on the recent investment by @1Bill in Accurassi and how the founder friendly terms and revenue based debt financing model offered by Tractor Ventures were more appropriate than equity from a traditional VC. https://www.accurassi.com/ https://www.tractorventures.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Mick Liubinskas is one of Australia's leading climate tech investors. He has invested in and advised hundreds of startups and is a Co-Founder of @Climate Salad which is helping to build climate-focused startups and get the world beyond net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He is well placed to give us investor insights into the energy transition and climate tech investments. We cover a lot of ground including companies and investors in this space who Micks work with @Startmate, @Energy Lab, @Tenacious Ventures, @Floodmap, @Cecil, @BCG Ventures, @Australian Investment Commission, @Fable, @Goterra, @Ripe Robotics, @Village Energy, @Beyond Zero Emissions, @Alan Jones, @Rachel Neumann @Phil Morle --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

As an ex-trader I have a particular fondness for optionality - the right but not the obligation to buy or sell. It's something that really lights the neurons up as it is usually where the money is to be found. Today we dive right into why the optionality of a battery is so impactful with Steven Meersman, Founder Director @ Zenobē, EV fleet and battery storage specialists. Along the way we discuss the team's ambitious plans to double capacity under management every year (from 180MW to 300MW's and from 400 to >800 e-buses this year), how they are working towards a circular economy and the journey they have taken from the first 4 x 1MW asset purchase. We also hear how Zenobe has grown with the support of financing pioneers such as Al Gore's Generation Investment Management and now more traditional banks such as Santander. Steven explains to us why big is beautiful for batteries which are increasingly taking up the task of firming the grid and easing transmission choke points as fossil electricity generation dies away. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

“Renewables are prisoners of time and geography”. How do we create degrees of freedom for renewable energy assets by pairing them with onsite bitcoin mining? How can bitcoin mining help the solar and wind industry to break their race to the bottom and improve returns for renewable asset owners and operators. What are the benefits of flexible loads and how are Bitcoin miners supporting the Texas grid through another winter storm? Why is bitcoin “energy backed money” and how do the laws of thermodynamics apply to the security of bitcoin mining? Is Bitcoin the Global New Green Deal? Listen in as Ali Chehrehsaz and Nima Tabatabai, Co-Founders @ Optimize Infrastructure explain how their software is supporting a world of energy abundance and greater penetration of intermittent renewable generation. We discuss if Bitcoin mining can speed up the energy transition and energy access for all by providing a buyer of last resort. Can Bitcoin mining kickstart energy infrastructure and help to overcome the challenges of grid expansion and congestion? Share your thoughts Coinshares report on bitcoin network carbon & energyhttps://coinshares.com/research/bitcoin-mining-network-2022 Bitcoin Mining Council Q4 report: https://bitcoinminingcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022.01.18-BMC-Q4-2021.pdf Video of the Q4 Bitcoin Mining Council update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZP3aXUnEoo https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/03/winter-storm-descends-on-texas-bitcoin-miners-shut-off-to-protect-ercot.html --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Today we welcome one of the most successful disruptors in the energy space, Octopus Group. Its tentacles include Octopus Renewables which has been one of the most active developers of renewables globally and Octopus Energy which was recently valued at over $5B with investment from the Generation Fund, co-founded by AL Gore. In our conversation with Dennis Freedman, Head of Investments and Development @ Octopus Investments, we focus on the opportunities and challenges facing large scale renewables developers. Dennis explains how the Octopus Investment team are opening access for wholesale investors alongside institutions to gain direct exposure to renewables projects. There's some great insights on careers in renewables and the opportunities available to innovators in the clean energy transition. https://octopus.com/company/careers https://octopusinvestments.com.au/our-products/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

In episode 10 of the WattPod we speak to Bill Lenihan, CEO of Zola Electric about how their technology is improving the lives of millions. Energy access remains one of the world's great problems and is being addressed front-on by some amazing and innovative companies such as ZOLA. Bill reminds us that energy access is not an off-grid issue that affects only the underprivileged people in rural Africa. Unreliable and unaffordable energy impacts the lives of over 2 Billion people globally who lack a primary power source - be they rich or poor, on-grid or off. He also highlights the social impact of ZOLA's work. ZOLA Electric has its roots in providing clean energy access to Africa and emerging markets and today is a leading technology company delivering energy access in 10 countries across 3 continents. I like to think of ZOLA as the Tesla of off-grid solutions. They are a leading technology developer working with amazing partners such as Tesla, EDF, Total, ADP, DBL Ventures, Vulcan Ventures, FMO and USAid who are supporting ZOLA's unique purpose, market position, and customer proposition to deliver energy solutions to millions globally. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

A special episode of the Watt Pod where we get to hear from both sides of the fence - the startup and the investor. Join us as Alexander Post (Co-Founder & CTO @ MGA Thermal) and Martin Duursma (Partner @ Main Sequence Ventures) give us the inside track on how they are powering the energy transition and what brought them together. We get to hear what a deep-tech investor is looking for in climatetech disruptors and some of the other areas of focus, including space travel. We also learn what it takes to develop a deeptech startup (hint: lots of research). MGA Thermal is enabling the shift to renewable energy by providing a new way to store energy that's clean, economical and scalable. They have invented a brand new type of thermal storage material capable of storing a huge amount of heat in a safe and easy way to use. This is enabling intermittent renewable energy sources to provide base load electricity to the grid. Main Sequence Ventures is a venture capital firm working with inventors who are building something hard from their unique expertise in science. They aim to bridge the ‘valley of death' between research and commercialisation solving the world's greatest challenges by turning scientific breakthroughs into next century's giants. Main Sequence was formed in 2017 to manage the CSIRO's innovation fund and now has two funds at close to $600M under management with 42 companies in the portfolio. https://www.mgathermalstorage.com/ https://www.mseq.vc/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

In Ep8 of the Watt Pod we talk to co-founder and director of BoomPower, Tosh Szatow, about the ability of their software to turn almost anyone into a proficient energy consultant. BoomPower is helping to streamline the delivery of distributed energy projects for all players in the ecosystem including product suppliers, consultants and end-customers, with BOOM Software supporting rooftop solar, energy efficiency, battery storage projects end to end. This helps drive down the sticky and stagnant soft costs, and so accelerate the transition to 100% renewables. We cover the journey of BoomPower, the investing landscape for energy startups, biofuels and the future of the grid .. no small feat in less than 50 minutes! Tosh also shares his views on resurrecting a 19th century process designed to produce steel via an electric furnace as a viable alternative to coal and hydrogen. Link below. What are your thoughts? https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12279/m2/1/high_res_d/Bulletin0067.pdf --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

How do you better plan and optimise projects in the era of decentralised intermittent renewable energy assets? In Ep7 of the WattPod, @Fabian Le Gay Brereton, Co-Founder & CEO of Gridcognition talks to us about their software which does just that. We hear about the startups exciting achievements to date and plans to grow going forward. Being a favourite thought-provoker of mine we also take the opportunity to get Fabian's input on a range of topics regarding the energy transition including government policies, regulatory changes, battery revenue stacking and the disruption of incumbents. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

From EV's to stationary storage, batteries are a well recognised part of todays energy system and a significant part of our carbon free future. However, today only 2-5% of lithium ion batteries actually being recycled and the balance typically end up in landfill. What solutions are available to ensure our race to zero carbon doesnt result in excessive waste? In S1 Ep6 of the Watt Pod we speak to Dominic Spooner, Founder & CEO of Vaulta. Vaulta has developed a lighter, reusable battery case that promotes recycling of battery packs by allowing single batteries to be replaced rather than discarding the whole pack. We discuss how design has led the rethinking of the battery casing, what applications they are focused on (more than you can imagine) and a bit about who Vaulta are partnering with. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Wondering how we will solve congestion in the new decentralised and digitilaised grid without relying on the lengthy and expensive need to build additional transmission? Trying to find a solution to rooftop, C&I or utility scale renewables curtailment and make a project more bankable? Want to understand how we will ensure stability and inertia with increasing renewables and the alternative solutions to large centralised analog synchronous condensers? In S1 Ep5 of the Watt Pod, Richard Romanowsky - Co-Founder and Executive Director of eleXsys Energy explains their hardware and software solution to solve some of the energy transitions fundamental difficulties. Learn about eleXsys, the technology behind it, the companies IPO plans and Richards journey as an energy entrepreneur. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

In S1 Ep4 of the Watt Pod we talk to founder of DNA Energy, Daniel Barber about his journey building a climatetech startup. DNA Energy is an early stage measuring and monitoring technology company helping customers monetise their energy assets and looking to disrupt the way customers think about their energy usage. We cover the importance of energy efficiency and the opportunities available to end users. We learn that customers are usually motivated to react to their energy needs only once they are aware of a problem. We also touch upon the Australian investment environment for energy technology disruptors and ponder if the investment community has the depth of expertise to deploy capital to the best opportunities and those that will power the energy transition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

In S1 Ep3 Anne Foster, Director and Head of ESG at Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, gives us her insights into what a large global asset manager and renewables developer is currently focused on. Whilst utility scale solar and wind remains the core component, Quinbrook is powering the energy transition through investments in optimisation including Virtual Power Plants, Flexible Loads and Demand Response. We also touch upon how to attract the talent required to build the energy system of the future and addressing the gender imbalance in the industry. Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners is an ESG-focused, ‘value add' investment manager with a specialist focus on low carbon and renewable energy supply, storage, grid stability and related assets and businesses. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

James Bradley, CTO and Co-Founder of Diffuse Energy, discusses their revolutionary technology that is enabling distributed, mini-wind generation. We also touch upon the importance of the startup ecosystem (universities, government and private investors) and the opportunities and support available to clean-tech disruptors today. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Tim joins us for our first episode to discuss entrepreneuralism and the future of EV Charging. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message

Wondering what is happening in the future of energy? Listen to our short intro to the Watt Pod - a podcast dedicated to the amazing stories of the startups and entrepreneurs powering the energy transition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/watt-pod/message