logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
56m 46s

The extraordinary resurgence of concentr...

Wood Mackenzie
About this episode
Complex, outdated, expensive: concentrating solar power used to be a clunky way of harnessing the sun. What’s changed to now make it viable?  Concentrating Solar Power, or CSP, takes energy from the sun, converts it to heat, and uses it to drive a turbine to provide renewable electricity. It has more moving parts than photovoltaic (PV) solar – which has non ... Show More
Up next
Jan 27
How a Texas electric co-op rebuilt for reliability | Sponsored content from Rayburn Electric
As Texas battles another bout of bitterly cold weather, Energy Gang looks at the lessons that one generation and transmission electric co-operative learned from Winter Storm Uri in 2021. The freeze and subsequent shock to energy prices showed providers how dangerous it can be to ... Show More
45m 26s
Jan 8
Venezuela and what to expect from energy in 2026
The new year has only just begun, and already we have seen an event with massive significance for the world of energy. The US operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro opens a new era for a country that holds – according to some definitions – the world’s largest oil ... Show More
51m 37s
Jan 6
Electric vehicles create problems for the grid. Could they also help solve them? The plan to turn EVs into reliable grid infrastructure
As we head into 2026, electricity grids aren’t just under strain; they are facing transformational change because of the shifts in the ways that we work, entertain ourselves, and get around. EVs are one of the fastest-growing new loads on the grid in many parts of the world, but ... Show More
54m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Boosting Solar Efficiency with Perovskite Tech
<p>Solar electricity generation is on the rise. In fact, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reported in late 2023 that more new solar generating capacity was installed in the U.S. during the first eight months of 2023 than any other renewable or fossil fuel-based energy sou ... Show More
21m 10s
Nov 2024
Glint Solar grabs $8M to help accelerate solar energy adoption across Europe
Solar energy is booming, which is good news for Glint Solar. The Norwegian software-as-a-service startup has built a platform that’s helping energy giants and large solar developers such as E.ON, Recurrent Energy, and Statkraft cut the time it takes to plan and pre-design solar i ... Show More
6m 49s
Jul 2024
804: AI x Solar Power = Abundant Energy
Solar power now provides 6% of the world's electricity, thanks to rapid growth. Host Jon Krohn discusses the factors driving this rise, the challenges ahead, and how AI and data science are optimizing solar technologies. Tune in for insights on the future of solar power, and don' ... Show More
13m 57s
Jul 2024
[Episode #229] – US Distributed Solar Potential
What is the full potential for distributed solar power in the US? 
21m 36s
Mar 2025
Solar energy is even cheaper than you think | Jenny Chase
How prevalent is solar power, really? According to researcher Jenny Chase, it's already displacing fossil fuels in key energy markets around the world. She explains the rise of affordable solar power and dives into how her team tracked its rapid installation in unexpected countri ... Show More
11m 53s
Dec 2024
Turning Solar Energy Into Fuel (The Solar Era, Part 3)
Solar power and batteries are becoming cheap and ubiquitous. Great. But there are problems batteries can’t solve – like fueling ships and planes. One way to solve those problems: Use solar power to create hydrogen, and turn that hydrogen into fuel. Today’s guest is Raffi Garabedi ... Show More
50m 38s
Jun 2019
Ep65: The Solar Market: Today and Tomorrow
Tom Buttgenbach, CEO and president of 8minute Solar Energy, one of the most successful developers of utility-scale solar projects in the United States, joins us to discuss what he sees in store for the solar market. We get into how solar technology has affected the energy industr ... Show More
24m 27s
Jun 2022
Solar Energy
First up in our energy series: solar! How do we harness the energy from the sun to produce electricity? Why should we? What are the environmental impacts?   Resources for this episode: National Renewable Energy Laboratory How Does Solar Work (energy.gov) End of Life Solar Panels: ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 2021
Solar Panels: Will They Save Us?
<p>This week we are talking about SOLAR PANELS! We recently had Solar panels installed on our house, so we wanted to discuss how solar energy can have a huge impact on the climate crisis. We'll also chat about our experience so far living with solar energy and our thoughts on it. ... Show More
48m 3s