Today, solar’s dominance feels inevitable. But in 1979, when Neville Williams started promoting the industry at the Department of Energy, it felt like a far-off dream.
That didn’t stop the early pioneers from thinking big and pushing the government to invest in the early technology – helping solar module costs fall from $55 per watt in the 1970s to 50 cents ... Show More
Apr 14
Inside the largest power market in the US: How PJM is navigating the collision of data centres, decarbonization, and affordability.
When the workings of an electricity market come to the attention of the White House, it’s usually a sign that something’s wrong. Back in January, 13 state governors went to the White House to agree plans for PJM, the largest electricity market in the US. The market is scrambling ... Show More
1h 10m
Mar 17
A power producer’s view of keeping the lights on. What does rising electricity demand from data centers mean for the US grid?
Energy bills are rising, data centers are multiplying, and the grid is straining to keep up. What happens next? For two decades, electricity prices in the United States barely moved. Demand was flat, natural gas was cheap, and the system was largely stable. That era is over. A su ... Show More
1h 10m
Feb 2024
Leading the charge in commercial solar | Steve Raeder, CEO of Summit Ridge Energy
<p>In this week's episode, Gil Jenkins sits down with Steve Raeder, the founder and CEO of Summit Ridge Energy. As a leading player in the community solar market, Summit Ridge Energy (SRE) has made significant strides since its inception in 2017, deploying over $1.6 billion into ... Show More
26m 36s
May 2023
The Four Horsemen of the Energy Transition: Where’s The Money Going?
<p>Solar, wind, hydrogen and nuclear – we need more investment in these renewables, but where can the money come from? </p><p>In 2022, worldwide investment in renewables hit almost half a <em>trillion </em>dollars. Investment in solar – the largest sector - jumped 36% to 308 ... Show More
55m 28s
Nov 2022
Climate tech to save the planet: Techno-optimism or greenwashing?
<p>Billions of dollars are being spent by tech companies and investors on new technology to fight climate change. In the final episode of this series of Tech Tonic, Eric Toone, from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, tells FT columnist and host Pilita Clark why he bel ... Show More
24m 22s
Apr 2022
Redefining Energy Storage
<p>When the sun stays out for a few extra hours in summer, where do we store the excess energy? This is one of the biggest challenges facing the renewable energy industry. When looking at countries like Norway, which is currently powered by 50% renewable energy, mostly coming fro ... Show More
1h 1m
<p>This week: what one entrepreneur's story tells us about the migration of talent from tech to climate.</p><p>Jason Jacobs is the founder of <a href="https://www.myclimatejourney.co/" target="_blank"><em>My Climate Journey</em></a>, a podcast, newsletter, and slack room that bri ... Show More
