What’s it all about?I love how Jeff and Dan have built Key Capture Energy to be a leading player in the utility scale energy storage sector since founding not many years ago. I first met and worked with Jeff Bishop three years ago, and we recorded one of the early episodes of the podcast. So much has changed in the business and the sector I wanted to share that journey, and Jeff’s thoughts and insights for energy storage for the next three to five years, and his insights into important leadershi...
Feb 16, 2022•47 min
More energy dense, faster charging batteries. Batteries, or any energy storage of all natures, are so critical to the ongoing energy and mobility transitions. One of the areas that doesn’t get much thought, but is so critical, is material science, the materials which enable bigger, better, faster, more efficient batteries. This week I speak to Francis Wang, CEO of Nanograf. From PhD to entrepreneur and CEO, he has a great story to tell, and some superb insights into both the startup entrepreneur...
Jan 26, 2022•40 min
What’s it all about?The electrification of transport continues at pace (literally and metaphorically), and one of the most interesting areas of growth, particularly for those who have to deal with high levels of local and regional road traffic congestion, is electric taxi’s. One of the leading pioneers in this sector is Vertical Aerospace. I was able to speak to founder and CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick ahead of his hot footing to New York to ring the bell on their NYSE public Listing on 16th December...
Dec 15, 2021•42 min
What’s it all about?Extreme fast charging of electric vehicles! I love batteries, and cars, and of course electric vehicles, and I’ve been watching Storedot for some time, and how they are creating batteries that can charge a car fully in 5 minutes. Now I don’t mind a 30-40 minute charge whilst stopped at a service station, or trickle charging at home, but for some people it’s still a barrier to entry, and faster charging will remove another excuse for adoption, and make it easier for us all. A ...
Nov 03, 2021•43 min
What’s it all about?I first met Jules through his work at Cleantech Group, but was delighted when I saw, via a number of VC contacts, that he was leading the Cleantech for Europe initiative. I’ve worked for and with many of the VC’s involved, and their portfolio companies. This is a great initiative, with the mission to help the EU lead the race to net zero by putting innovation at the center of the public policy debate, and building bridges between the EU’s cleantech community and policymakers....
Oct 20, 2021•40 min
What’s it all about?In a nutshell, Lithium! So much is spoken about the supply and availability of Lithium, and about the Lithium battery sector, from availability of source material, the impact of extraction, and of course the geopolitics of lithium and battery supply. There is no doubt these are huge topics, with a significant impact on how and if we can make the transitions to clean energy and mobility that are essential to the future of our economy, society, and the human race’s survival! So...
Oct 07, 2021•42 min
What’s it all about?It’s great to hear about start-ups, and those journeys, but we all know scale is what we want, it’s not easy, but you can have more impact and do more ‘good’ when you have scale. I’ve seen Anesco grow over the last ten years and make a real impact in the deployment of solar and energy efficiency in particular. It was great to have time to speak to the (relatively) new CEO Mark Futyan about the company culture, growth and plans for the future, as well has his thoughts on the p...
Sep 01, 2021•42 min
What’s it all about?One of the things that drives me most is helping cleantech founders and start-ups to scale and bring great products and solutions to the world. I do this through the Hyperion Executive Search team, through mentoring for accelerators and incubators like Plug & Play, and Foresight Cananda, and through this podcast. This week I’m keen to share a great new Rockstart accelerator opportunity. Doors close to entry on 30th September, so take a listen, and see if this could be the...
Aug 20, 2021•33 min
What’s it all about?At last. With caution and compliance being followed, live events are back. I expect very many of the Leaders in Cleantech audience are familiar with the all things clean mobility and energy Youtube Channel Fully Charged. As well as having over 800,000 subscribers and 2 million monthly views, the Fully Charged team have also been running fantastic events, in the UK and Austin, Texas. Then Covid interrupted that flow. Now they’re back, starting in the UK in September 2021. I sp...
Aug 16, 2021•44 min
What’s it all about?I was delighted when the Fifth Wall people reached out about the podcast. For some time I’ve wanted to address areas of the climate challenge, and areas of technology that are hugely important, but don’t often get much press or attention, including on this podcast. In particular the Built Environment is of enormous importance to us all on many levels, it is of course where we live and work, and because of that impacts not just our immediate lives, but as you will hear, contri...
Aug 11, 2021•46 min
What’s it all about?Energy Storage!! More importantly optimising and commercialising grid scale energy storage assets. I first met Ben at a conference in London some years ago. He has since gone on to co-found one of the leading energy storage optimisation companies, recently expanding into Australia and the US. We have a dive into battery tech, long duration storage, entrepreneurship, and internationalisation. I hope you enjoy the episode.About Ben IronsBen is a co-founder of Habitat Energy, wh...
Jul 29, 2021•38 min
Toddington’s is a fascinating story, if you want to know about his childhood of TV powered by Solar in the deserts of Bahrain, or why he’s named after a service station, listen to our first conversation (episode 15- link below), but on this episode we focus on the concept of ‘Sun to wheel’, using solar power and batteries to power fast charging of electric vehicles through Electric Forecourts and Electric Highway hubs. The Gridserve story is a great one, enjoy the episode.About Toddington Harper...
Jul 14, 2021•49 min
What’s it all about?Money and People, the two main ingredients for a successful business (a damn good product/service is the other). More specifically it’s the RIGHT money and the RIGHT people. The right people is something we specialise in at Hyperion Executive Search, but I love to engage with passionate, experienced and mission driven VC’s and Investors who can provide money and so much more. The right money! Though Patrick expresses that all money is good! We talk about future trends, and ho...
Jun 30, 2021•34 min
In my early days in renewable energy Good Energy were one of the few companies out there providing customers with clean energy to the consumer. They were a pioneer and inspiration as I co-founded my solar business. Now, many years later I have had the opportunity to have CEO and Founder Juliet Davenport share her founding story, and much more besides. An engaging and passionate climate activist, entrepreneur and climate scientist makes for an interesting story and set of experiences. I hope you ...
Jun 16, 2021•39 min
What’s it all about?Green Hydrogen! I’ve been aware of Graham and the work of ITM for some time, since meeting their Germany team at Power to X event in Dusseldorf, and seeing the scale of their recently expanded manufacturing capacity, I thought it would be a great time to have CEO Dr Graham Cooley on the podcast. Hydrogen is still in some ways contentious, but as I’ve said many times, it’s about the right tech solving the right problem. There is much to be done to replace grey/dirty hydrogen w...
Jun 02, 2021•40 min
Lubomila Jordanova is a cleantech force of nature. A passionate founder, leader and connector of people. I’ve enjoyed working with Lubomila via the Greentech Alliance, and seen how she has built and raised funds for the innovative Plan.A Earth platform, and transitioned the business during Covid. She has a great story and energy, and was delighted to be able to share that on the podcast.About Lubomila Jordanova: Lubomila Jordanova is the founder and CEO of PlanA.Earth, a Berlin-based startup dev...
May 19, 2021•47 min
What’s it all about?Addressing the heating issue through geothermal energy, even at a domestic level. I’ve seen Dandelion growing, and raising funds and thought it is a technology we haven’t yet covered on the podcast, so I was delighted when Michael agreed to join me and tell his, and their story, and how heat pumps are one more solution in our armoury.About Michael Sachse: Michael Sachse is an experienced executive who has previously scaled start-ups through periods of rapid growth. Sachse was...
Apr 21, 2021•44 min
What’s it all about?Going Double Unicorn in 5 years, and still knowing you are still only at the beginning of the journey! I speak to tech founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Greg Jackson about how he used tech as the platform to disrupt one of the industries most resistant to, and in need of disruption- energy supply. With a focus on technology solving problems, and driving down costs, AND a focus on creating cultures which support and empower people to be their best and most creative. I hope you...
Apr 08, 2021•49 min
What’s it all about?Flow batteries have had their technical and commercial challenges over the years, so it’s good to see that the technology is really starting to get traction in that 6-12 hour storage category. It’s also good to hear a good traditional ‘started in my garage’ cleantech start-ups story, just watch for the EPA. This week I talk to Craig Evans about scaling a the flow battery technology and company of ESS Inc.About Craig Evans: Craig Evans is the President and CEO, and a founder o...
Mar 24, 2021•40 min
One of the biggest challenges I face is trying to keep up with all the great books my guests recommend as part of the show. One that I absolutely loved and found incredibly useful was The Grid: The fraying wires between Americans and our energy future. After the recent black outs in Texas I thought it a great time to speak with the author Gretchen Bakke, and ask why that happened, what needs to change, and what opportunities that creates for cleantech start-ups, scale-ups and VCs. I’m delighted ...
Mar 17, 2021•47 min
Green Hydrogen! It’s hard to do or read anything in the sustainable technology sector without hearing about Green Hydrogen at present. What part does hydrogen have to play in the clean energy and mobility transitions? I’ve been working recently with hydrogen founders and entrepreneurs and I’m really intrigued as to where and how we could or should utilise hydrogen in the decarbonisation mission we share in the sector. Having had CEOs of fuel cell and hydrogen flight companies on the podcast rece...
Mar 10, 2021•36 min
I first spoke to Christian about joining on the podcast over two years ago, we planned to do so at the Hyperion office in Munich, time and pandemics conspired against us. But with so much happening in the space, and so much need for long duration energy storage, I didn’t want to wait any longer, seeing the progress they are making as a company, so I’m delighted to return to one of a few favourite topics, long duration energy storage. I hope you enjoy the episode.About Dr. Christian Thiel: Christ...
Feb 24, 2021•48 min
Those who listen to the podcast will know I’m a big fan of the electrification of everything, but I’m also a (clean) technology agnostic, and in the drive to reduce fossil fuel consumption, sectors like hydrogen and biofuels may have a significant part to play. This week I talk with the very passionate and driven CEO of a biofuel company that recently made a game-changing breakthrough. Sarah Ellerby has a great story to tell. Take a listen.About Sarah Ellerby: Sarah is the CEO of Nova Pangaea Te...
Feb 10, 2021•45 min
The mobility transition, and the electrification of transport! If that doesn’t get you excited perhaps you’ve found the wrong podcast!! Desmond Wheatley, a Scotsman in San Diego has a passion for this transition, and a great story to tell of the evolution of a cleantech business, he has lead for nearly ten years. Who saw the emobility transition ten years ago? Well, Desmond was one of a handful of hardy, optimistic souls that did, and has built this company to accelerate that transition. A great...
Jan 29, 2021•45 min
I make no apology for starting the year back talking about batteries. EnerVenue caught my eye recently after a $12m seed round, but whilst they are a very young company, their technology has been used for many years, mainly in space! They now have a way to make their technology cost competitive and not so astronomical in cost (see what I did there?). Getting energy storage right, at all scales and for various use-cases is vital to a successful energy and mobility solution. Take a listen to where...
Jan 13, 2021•41 min
What’s it all about?My passion for helping cleantech start ups ot grow and scale has been a driving force behind founding and growing Hyperion Executive Search. On top of this in the last couple of years I have been working with an exploring both the cleantech VCs and global Incubators and Accelerators. You may have heard my recent podcast episode with Emily Reichart of Greentown Labs, one of the best known US Incubators. In this episode I talk to the clean energy Managing Partner at one of the ...
Dec 16, 2020•44 min
What’s it all about?Wireless Charging!! A concept that blows the mind of some, and yet it’s here and in operation. I met Andy Daga at a conference we were both speaking at, and I’ve wanted to get him onto the podcast ever since. From working on the Space Station, to working on irradicating fuel stations, Andy has a fascinating background, and company doing amazing things. I hope you enjoy the episode.About Andy DagaAndy is the founder and President and CEO of Momentum Dynamics. Andy’s fascinatin...
Nov 18, 2020•41 min
What’s it all about?Flexibility! The key to the clean energy transition is flexibility and all the other tools and services energy storage provides, the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of cleantech. I discuss the latest trends and activities, financial and technological with Florian Mayr. Florian is a regular speaker at cleantech conferences and shares some very valuable insights with me on this episode.About Florian MayrFlorian Mayr is a partner and the founder of the energy storage practice at Apricum – Th...
Nov 04, 2020•48 min
What’s it all about?Hydrogen vs Batteries!! Not at all. We’re (Clean) technology agnostic here. The challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss are enormous, and we need all the tools in the armoury to stand a chance. That said, it’s important we use the right tool for the right job, and that’s something I discuss with Phil Caldwell, CEO of Ceres Power, what is the best use case for fuel cells and hydrogen. We touch on the different challenges and advantages of leading a listed company, a...
Oct 21, 2020•51 min
We’ve had the opportunity to speak to some of the pure play cleantech VCs in Europe over the last few months, this time I was delighted to reach out to Dan to share his thoughts from a US perspective. I really like Dan’s approach to both technologies and management teams, and his efforts and take on the diversity and inclusion issue. I hope you enjoy the conversation.About Dan Goldman: Dan Goldman is the co-founder and managing director of Clean Energy Ventures, a $110 million early-stage, advan...
Oct 07, 2020•48 min
