Shows
Power Flow3.12 Season 3 Wrap Up with Amy SimpkinsJoin Amy Simpkins for a “state of the [renewable energy] union” in 2023-2024, her predictions for 2025, reflections on innovation theory and the importance of creative rest for the entrepreneurial (and life!) journey, and a summary of Power Flow’s stunning Season 3 guests. To consider this summer: How do we give ourselves mental and creative rest as professional adults in an extremely fast-paced industry?Quotes (all by Amy Simpkins)“Innovation is not just a cyclical process, but an iterative one.”“The federal funding and the visibility that it has given to #CleanTech...2024-07-0244 min
Power Flow3.11 On Offshore Wind & Building Coalitions of Local Support with Nadia Adam and Elina KhutoryanskyIn this episode, Nadia, Elina, and Amy discuss the new landscape of offshore wind in America and how this holistic solution is providing revitalization to American manufacturing, in addition to the importance of engagement with the local community and meeting people where they are in renewable energy outreach.Quotes“It sounds like people are not opposed to renewable energy if it’s done correctly.”– Nadia Adam“This is our generation’s oil boom.” – Nadia Adam“Artists do motion -based artwork all the time – why can’t this [wind turbines] be one of th...2024-07-0246 min
Power Flow3.10 On Obliterating Entrepreneurial Underprivilege with Holistic Innovation Support with Deepa LounsburyIn this episode, Deepa and Amy discuss ways to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in climate tech and “making the umbrella bigger for who gets to be a climate entrepreneur,” along with the reality and challenges in the entrepreneurial space.Quotes“Underrepresented people are underrepresented often because they are undersupported.” – Deepa Lounsbury“Bringing that productization piece is almost as important - or just as important - as the technical solution in and of itself.” – Amy SimpkinsDeepa is the CEO of LabStart, which unlocks underrepresented entrepreneurial talent from diverse communities and breakthrough climate innovations out...2024-06-0442 min
Power Flow3.09 On Breaking Knowledge Silos with Continuing Education with Esther MoralesIn this episode, Esther and Amy discuss innovation, continuous learning, and the courage to bring your ideas out into reality.Quotes“Energy education is a fundamental building block of participation.” – Esther Morales“Part of what energy education and access to energy education does is it creates a synergy between people’s values and how they can actually show up in the world with work.” – Esther Morales“There’s a difference between knowing some things and then knowing how that translates into workforce, into implementation, int...2024-04-3042 min
Power Flow3.08 On the Viability of Commercial Energy Storage and the Art of System Architecture with Diane DandeneauIn this episode, Amy and Diane discuss the past and present landscape of opportunities in solar, along with the viability of commercial energy storage and the art of architecture in renewable energy projects.“It is hard to do this, but the hard work needs to get done.” – Diane DandeneauDiane Dandeneau is a serial entrepreneur and lifelong artist. She has had a passion for renewable energy since living in a passive solar home while going to art school in NM. Her purpose in life is now focused on creating functional and beautiful integrated renewable energy, EV cha...2024-04-0942 min
Power Flow3.07 On Holistic Sustainability and Solar Packaging with Vanessa BenkertIn this episode, Vanessa Benkert shares her passion for working in the renewable energy field, the power of storytelling and innovation, and an overlooked, yet important piece of the solar puzzle: transporting solar panels with reusable packaging.Learn more: https://www.pvpallet.com/With ~20 years of experience, Vanessa has a proven track record of developing and executing marketing initiatives for a range of companies, from small startups to large international organizations. Her skillset includes big picture thinking as well as hands-on tasks like website development, graphic design, and writing. Successfully starting and managing her own...2024-03-1941 min
Power Flow3.06 On Streamlining Technology Deployment in the Field with Sierra FanIn this episode, Sierra Fan describes co-founding illu to better support technicians in the renewable energy field. She says, “It really came from personal experience… we tried to look for the software. We thought someone must have built something that makes this easier. We kept looking for it. We couldn’t find it… and that’s how we got started with this.”She and Amy also discuss international renewable energy projects vs those in the US from her experience as a developer of solar and storage microgrids in Myanmar. Quotes“These are...2024-01-3039 min
Power Flow3.05 On Unlocking the Barriers to Accessible Solar Solutions with Erika Ginsberg-KlemmtIn this episode, Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt shares her family’s journey to creating Gismo Power, her joy in driving EVs and traveling the seven seas, as well as her drive to make solar solutions more accessible to everyone.Quotes“It’s fun to run on sun.” – Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt“Ease of interconnection, especially for small systems, would really explode growth.” – Amy Simpkins“There are things that have to be addressed at a regulatory level that can help more than just this technology.” – Amy Simpkins“I feel like I’m muc...2023-12-1237 min
Women in AEC: Wine After WorkGet Ready to Geek Out with Energy Enthusiast Amy SimpkinsWe are over the moon to bring you the latest episode of our electrifying podcast, where we have the privilege of having none other than the brilliant Amy Simpkins on board! 🎙️💡 🔬📊 Amy, as the co-founder and CEO of muGrid Analytics, tackles those head-scratching challenges at the thrilling intersection of energy technology and economics. Armed with her trusty math and modeling skills, she fearlessly dives into the abyss of wicked problems and emerges with groundbreaking solutions. 💥💡 At muGrid, her exceptional team specializes in providing bankable techno-economic analysis, optimized control strategies, and project development for renewable energy, energy storage, and...2023-11-2237 min
Power Flow3.04 On the Push for Long Duration Energy Storage with Julia SouderIn this episode, Julia Souder shares her passion for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and shares her ideas on how global organizations can work together to make it more widespread as an extremely resilient energy solution.Quotes“We are a huge part of the solution in the green energy transition.” – Julia Souder“Despite what they tell you, it’s not a solved science.” [battery energy storage] – Amy Simpkins“LDES really does de-risk the transition. It just needs more doors opened to play on the playground with everyone el...2023-10-3135 minPower Flow3.03 On Delivering Financial Returns for Energy Storage and Microgrids with Amy Simpkins featuring Laura NovakIn this episode, Laura and Amy discuss the energy storage and microgrid landscape, with a peek behind the curtain as Amy Simpkins finally answers her own questions as CEO of muGrid Analytics and microgrid architect.Fresh from the RE+ 2023 conference, Amy and Laura explore the gap between the marketing around battery systems as solved science versus how much more research is truly necessary. Amy explains why 15 years of industry experience led to muGrid’s transition from strictly energy consultants to software vendors, tackling the current chasm between actual economic results delivered and how much more is possible, as...2023-10-1057 min
Power Flow3.02 On the Sustainable Future of Lithium with Ali HajiIn this episode, Amy and Ali discuss lithium mining and how it affects the clean energy future.Ali Haji is the CEO of ION Energy - a leader in the exploration and development of lithium salars within Mongolia and a strong pioneer in the third wave of the green energy revolution.Together, Ali and Amy explore the split between mobility/electric vehicles and stationary batteries, the supply and demand of minerals (including the rising cost of lithium and the importance of recycling) as well as lithium extraction technology, and lithium vs other chemistries...2023-09-2641 min
Power Flow3.01 On the SPI/RE+ Legacy with Julia Hamm - Live from RE+ 2022On this episode’s one year anniversary, we are sharing for the first time our recording from the LIVE episode with Julia Hamm on her last days as the founder of Solar Power International (now RE+) and President and CEO of SEPA. This episode was recorded at RE+ in September 2022.Quotes:“We all want to accelerate this transition as fast as possible but we cannot do it in a way that sacrifices reliability or affordability or resiliency and most certainly not equity.” – Julia Hamm“All players – n...2023-09-1134 min