Shows
Energy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldMove Over Lithium: The 60-Gigawatt Rise of Sodium Grid StorageIn this week's episode, we explore a massive shift happening in the world of stationary grid storage: the long-awaited commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.For years, stationary storage was just a "tick on the electric vehicle dog," relying entirely on the EV market to drive battery development and manufacturing scale. Because EVs have to physically haul their batteries around, energy-dense lithium-ion technologies like lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-manganese cobalt (NMC) dominated. But stationary grid storage does not care about weight.Now that the global electric power industry has achieved massive scale, stationary storage...
2026-06-0405 min
The New Yorkers PodcastNew York City During the Revolutionary War! -With Peter AignerIn this episode, Kelly is joined by NYC Historian Peter Aigner! He is the director of the Gotham Center for New York City History, and the co-founder of “Echos of Revolution: NYC,” A new immersive walking tour experience that uses geolocation to put you in the world of historic New York.
Join them, as Peter talks to Kelly about the process of obtaining his PHD. Peter talks about why he decided to pursue higher education, and talks a bit about the history of the study of history and why it was important for him in his family. Peter...
2026-05-241h 06Energy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldThe Perovskite Tipping Point: Is the Next Solar Revolution Finally Here?In this week's episode, we explore a technology that has teased the energy world for years: perovskite solar cells.Like solid-state batteries or commercial fusion, perovskites have long felt like an innovation that is perpetually "just around the corner". Derived from a calcium titanium oxide mineral originally discovered in 1839 in Russia's Ural Mountains, perovskites are uniquely promising because they can be easily deposited onto flexible or textured surfaces.The real magic happens when they are layered on top of a conventional PV module. Because thin layers of perovskite capture a different spectrum of...
2026-05-2105 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldA Tale of Two Eastern GridsIn this week's episode, we explore a tale of two very different eastern power grids: PJM and ISO New England.For years, PJM's interconnection queue was hopelessly snarled, with the grid operator getting overwhelmed by small renewable projects and speculative developers. Project reviews were taking five to seven years under a "first-come, first-served" model, leading to massive delays and withdrawn projects.Now, PJM has overhauled its process to a "first-ready, first-served" approach, requiring developers to provide meaningful upfront financial commitments and proof of site control. The results of their latest application window are...
2026-05-1408 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldThe Compute Heat Rate - AI, Data Centers, and the Future of Power Market PricingGreetings from Mexico! In this episode, we dive deep into a fascinating new metric called the Compute Heat Rate (CHR) and explore its potentially profound implications for the future of electricity prices and the power grid.With the explosive growth of AI, power grids are facing unprecedented demands. For example, Texas's ERCOT grid operator recently projected that load could max out at a staggering 319,650 megawatts by 2030, driven largely by data centers. We are already seeing the impact in markets like PJM, where data load growth has blown up capacity revenues to the tune of an e...
2026-05-0808 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldAI's Massive Power Grab: The PJM Grid Crisis ExplainedIs it now AI's world, and we just live—and pay for electricity—in it? The AI revolution requires a staggering amount of electricity, and our power grid is struggling to keep up with the astonishingly rapid growth of data centers.In this video, we dive into the unprecedented crisis facing grid operators like PJM Interconnection. With some regions seeing data-related energy loads jump from just 600 megawatts to 11,000 megawatts, grid operators are facing challenges never seen before in power markets.Key topics covered in this video:The Data Center Explosion: H...
2026-04-2407 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldThe State of Energy Storage: From Lithium-Ion to 100-Hour BatteriesIn this week's energy market update, we explore the explosive growth of the energy storage sector, now widely recognized as the "Swiss Army knife" of the modern power grid. Ever since the Aliso Canyon gas leak in 2016 kickstarted utility-scale battery deployment, plunging lithium-ion costs—driven largely by the EV industry—have completely transformed how we balance the system.We break down the latest US Energy Storage Monitor report from Wood Mackenzie and American Clean Power, which reveals that an incredible 18.9 gigawatts (51 GWh) of storage was installed in 2025, marking a massive 52% year-over-year increase. Since 2019, the US has added over...
2026-04-1010 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldNvidia's 100 GW Promise: Can Flexible AI Data Centers Fix the Grid?In this week's energy market update, we explore a major announcement from leading AI chipmaker Nvidia, software company Emerald AI, and major energy players like Constellation to power a new class of "flexible AI factories". By utilizing Nvidia's latest Vera Rubin chip and Emerald AI's conductor platform to modulate compute demand in real-time, Nvidia claims this approach could unlock up to 100 gigawatts of capacity across the US power system.With the US grid staring at expected peak demands that existing infrastructure simply cannot accommodate in the next three to five years, flexibility is becoming critical. For energy...
2026-04-0209 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldUnlocking Hidden Power In Transmission LinesIn early March, mid-Atlantic grid operator PJM Began using Ambient Adjusted Ratings to better determine how much power can flow through its lines based on actual weather conditions. In addition, the DOE announced it will award billions for quick and effective upgrades to the transmission system.First we have to fix the broken interconnection issue. For all projects seeking interconnection to the grid from 2008 through 2019, only 19% of the projects actually flowed power by the end of 2024. The typical project built in 2025 took 55 months to get through the queue, compared with 36 months in 2015.
2026-03-2607 min
Definitely, Maybe AgileAI Agent Governance in Production with Logan KellyMost organizations are somewhere between experimenting with AI agents and quietly hoping nothing breaks in production. Logan Kelly, CEO of Waxle AI, has spent a lot of time in that gap, and he thinks governance is the piece most teams are walking past too quickly.In this episode, Logan joins Peter and Dave to talk about what agentic governance actually looks like in practice, why a single consistent layer beats a pile of point solutions, and how to keep developers moving fast without letting things go sideways when it counts.This week's takeaways:Let...
2026-03-1928 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldDecoding Solar Capacity: What do those huge megawatt numbers actually mean for the grid?The U.S. solar industry installed 43.1 gigawatts-direct current (GWdc) of capacity in 2025, down 14% from 2024. GWdc is the nameplate rating of projects before they connect to the grid through inverters, which convert direct current (DC) to the alternating current (AC) our grid uses.Two elements lower DC ratings to AC ratings. First, inverter losses account for around 4%.More importantly, solar panels have specific output duration curves; there’s only a very small period when they produce maximum output, or even 80–90%. It’s uneconomical to buy an inverter that rarely hits full MW ratings, so developers resort to “so...
2026-03-1905 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World100 Hours of Storage: Unpacking the Iron-Air Battery Deal That Changes EverythingXcel Energy and Google recently announced a monumental clean energy agreement to power a new data center in Minnesota. While the deal includes massive wind and solar additions, the real game-changer is the energy storage component: 300 MW of iron-air batteries manufactured by Form Energy, boasting an unprecedented 100 hours of duration.To put the scale into perspective, this single 30,000 MWh (30 GWh) project represents over 50% of the entire battery energy storage installed across the U.S. last year.In our latest update, we unpack the details of this historic deal, including:...
2026-03-0506 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldState of Commercial Fusion Energy: Market UpdatesI have spell-checked and fixed the grammar in the document's content. I've focused on corrections that maintain the original meaning and structure of the text.-----The last few weeks have seen numerous announcements by U.S. fusion energy companies.First, let’s briefly explain fusion. With fission, you take a heavy and unstable nucleus and split it into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy and creating a chain reaction.With fusion, you cause two light nuclei (usually hydrogen isotopes) to collide and merge into a heavier nucleus (such as helium), releasing energy. The sun is an en...
2026-02-2307 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldLessons from January: Building a Resilient Energy Mix Against Over-Reliance on Single Sources of SupplyLet’s explore the complexity associated with keeping the lights, using New England as an example. The region is a bit of an outlier because of its proverbial end-of-the-pipeline location. Most days, its two pipelines are sufficient to heat homes and generate power. But late January to early February was unusually cold and there was not enough gas for both.We’ll look at both energy and capacity issues. Capacity is the instantaneous amount of electricity produced or consumed. Energy is a function of capacity times the duration.The hott...
2026-02-0608 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldA 15-year guarantee? Inside the "Emergency" Capacity AuctionThe "Power Game" is shifting. Here’s what you need to know from this week’s Energy Story:Courts 3, White House 0: Three different federal judges have now lifted the "stop-work" orders on massive offshore wind projects, ruling that the administration failed to prove any urgent "national security" risk.A "Social Good" vs. A Commodity: PJM took the rare step of siding against the administration, arguing that stopping these projects causes "irreparable harm" to the reliability of the grid for 67 million people.The 15-Year Hook: A new bipartisan proposal suggests an "Emer...
2026-01-2305 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldWhy Meta and Google are betting billions on NuclearIs a Nuclear Renaissance finally here? In our latest update, we look at how the insatiable energy appetite of AI is catalyzing a new era of fusion and fission.Fusion Hits the Gas: From Commonwealth Fusion’s massive magnet breakthrough to Google’s $1 billion commitment, the "future" of energy is arriving faster than expected.Big Tech as a Utility: We break down Meta’s massive new deals with Oklo and TerraPower, and why Amazon is targeting 5,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2039.The Reality of Sca...
2026-01-1508 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldCourts, Contracts, And The Fight To Keep U.S. Offshore Wind AfloatOffshore wind was targeted by the Trump Administration in 2025, with multiple rationales offered to cripple the industry. On January 20th 2025, President Trump issued an executive memorandum to suspend issuance of any approvals required to develop and operate wind energy projects, pending wide-ranging federal assessment. Seventeen states and DC filed suit, and won, with a Circuit Court judge ruling the executive order was “arbitrary and capricious.” The Department of Interior also went after Orsted’s Revolution Wind project with a stop work order in August 2025, citing unclear national security concerns, though DOI Secretary Burgum cited und...
2026-01-0807 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldThe PJM Grid Crisis: How AI & Data Centers Are Spiking Energy PricesIs the "AI butterfly effect" about to send electricity prices through the roof? In this video, we break down the critical PJM Base Residual Auction taking place between December 4th and December 10th, 2025. While grid auctions usually sound arcane and boring, this one is deciding the capacity and cost of power for June 2027—and the stakes have never been higher.Here is what we cover in this episode:• The AI Boom & Power Demand: How the launch of ChatGPT and the manufacturing of energy-hungry Nvidia chips kicked off a massive spike in data center load, specifically in stat...
2025-12-1507 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldData Centers, Nukes, And The GridAI is hungry for power, but the grid’s most precious resource isn’t just generation—it’s time. We dig into a headline‑grabbing plan to build a 1,500‑megawatt nuclear‑powered data campus in South Texas and unpack why the near‑term reality starts with on‑site gas, not fission. From regulatory approvals and factory build‑outs to fuel and financing, modular nuclear still has miles to go. Meanwhile, data center builders face a thicket of interconnection queues, uneven utility processes, and hardware lead times that stretch to 2030.We trace the practical playbook emerging across the industry: bridge wit...
2025-11-2008 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEnergy Update | Week 5 – Oct 2025: Nuclear Revival, Offshore Wind Setbacks & AI Grid InnovationIn this Week 5 – October 2025 Energy Update, I take a look at another eventful week in U.S. energy — one defined by offshore wind setbacks, renewed nuclear ambitions, and AI-driven grid innovation.I start with Shell’s withdrawal from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, which leaves EDF Renewables as the sole developer after a key EPA permit was pulled. I then discuss the Trump administration’s $80 billion nuclear partnership with Brookfield and Westinghouse, signaling a strong policy shift toward new reactor development.I also cover FERC’s efforts to streamline large-load...
2025-11-0706 min
Navigating Net Zero with Alexia KellyNavigating Net Zero: Peter Freed on Clean Energy Strategy & Principled PragmatismIn this episode of Navigating Net Zero, Alexia Kelly welcomes Peter Freed, a seasoned clean energy strategist with over two decades shaping the future of corporate clean energy and climate strategy. Peter, who has led energy strategy at Meta and now advises companies through Near Horizon Group, shares his journey from early work at Terra Pass to advancing corporate renewable energy initiatives. The discussion delves into the evolution of clean energy strategies, from initial carbon offsets to current greenhouse gas accounting practices.Peter highlights the importance of practical sustainability measures and the role of...
2025-11-0356 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEnergy Update | Week 4 – Oct 2025: Nuclear Revival, UAE Solar Boom & China’s Battery SurgeIn this week’s Energy Update, I take a look at some of the biggest developments shaping the global energy landscape — from a nuclear revival in South Carolina to solar and battery breakthroughs overseas.South Carolina’s Santee Cooper has selected Brookfield as its partner to restart the long-abandoned 2.3 GW V.C. Summer nuclear plant, signaling renewed U.S. interest in large-scale baseload power. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has begun building a $6 billion, 5.2 GW solar + 19 GWh battery hybrid project — the largest of its kind — designed to deliver a...
2025-10-3105 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEnergy Update | Week 3 – Oct 2025: NY Grid Strains, U.S. Fusion Plan & Amazon’s Nuclear MoveEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World with Peter Kelly-Detwiler explores the forces reshaping the global energy landscape — from grid reliability in the U.S. to renewable breakthroughs in Europe and Asia. Each episode dives into the week’s most important developments across clean energy, power markets, EVs, nuclear innovation, hydrogen, and sustainability policy.As a leading energy expert and industry analyst, Peter brings clarity and context to complex stories about how technology, policy, and investment are driving the energy transition. Whether it’s the rise of small modular...
2025-10-2404 min
From There to HerePeter Kelly-Detwiler: The Mad ScientistPeter Kelly-Detwiler is a definitive leader in the electric energy industry (who literally wrote the book on it). In this episode, Peter talks about getting off the conveyor belt, devaluing the future, letting the trip take you, funding the opposition, serving others first, and examining your life.About Peter Kelly-DetwilerPeter Kelly-Detwiler has over 35 years of experience in the electric energy industry, with much of his career in competitive power markets. Currently, Mr. Kelly-Detwiler is a leading consultant, researcher, speaker and trainer in the electric industry. He provides strategic advice to clients and investors, helping t...
2025-08-131h 06From There to HerePeter Kelly-Detwiler: The Mad ScientistPeter Kelly-Detwiler is a definitive leader in the electric energy industry (who literally wrote the book on it). In this episode, Peter talks about getting off the conveyor belt, devaluing the future, letting the trip take you, funding the opposition, serving others first, and examining your life.About Peter Kelly-DetwilerPeter Kelly-Detwiler has over 35 years of experience in the electric energy industry, with much of his career in competitive power markets. Currently, Mr. Kelly-Detwiler is a leading consultant, researcher, speaker and trainer in the electric industry. He provides strategic advice to clients and investors, helping t...
2025-08-131h 06Energy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldCalifornia's Distributed Battery Network Shows Its Power in Recent TestThe rapidly evolving energy landscape of 2025 is bringing remarkable innovations across multiple sectors, from affordable electric vehicles to creative renewable energy solutions and unexpected comebacks in nuclear power.Ford's announcement of a $30,000 electric pickup truck represents what CEO Jim Farley calls a "Model T moment" for the company. Using revolutionary manufacturing techniques including unicasting and parallel assembly, this vehicle will contain 4,000 fewer feet of wiring than conventional models. Despite having a smaller battery than the current Lightning, it's engineered to power a home for up to six days during outages – positioning it as both transportation and energy re...
2025-08-1205 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldUS Energy Market Faces Data Center Boom, Fusion Breakthroughs & Offshore Wind RollbacksThe digital revolution is fundamentally reshaping America's electrical grid, with data centers emerging as the dominant force driving unprecedented demand growth. American Electric Power's staggering forecast of 24 gigawatts of new load by 2030—18 gigawatts from data centers alone—signals a transformation that utilities across the country are scrambling to address. Their system, currently at 37 gigawatts, has received requests totaling a mind-boggling 190 gigawatts, highlighting the scale of potential growth.A ray of hope emerges from Google's groundbreaking agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Valley Authority to curtail power consumption during peak demand periods. These first-of-their-kind commitments suggest AI load...
2025-08-0607 min
The PulseTHE Vancouver Island Photography Book & Transforming Lives Through Community Singing"Send us a text about this episode!"This PULSE podcast episode celebrates Vancouver Island community arts through two inspiring local stories. Featuring Sylvia Humble of Humble Harmony community singing groups and photographer duo Dave and Kelly Hutchinson discussing their bestselling book "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape."This Episode Features:(10:08) Sylvia Humble, founder of Humble Harmony, shares her inspiring journey from government worker to community singing facilitator. After a cancer diagnosis prompted her career change, Humble created inclusive singing groups across Parksville and Nanaimo where perfection isn't required—ju...
2025-08-0545 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldPJM Capacity Auction Results As Bad As Feared, Portending a Grim Future For CustomersThe energy landscape is transforming rapidly, with remarkable developments across multiple sectors reshaping how we generate, distribute, and consume power. Oregon leads the charge in grid modernization with groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that will enable both private and community microgrids, creating designated zones where these localized energy systems can flourish. Meanwhile, Native Hawaiians on Oahu are gaining access to affordable clean energy through innovative microgrids combining solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers at just 18 cents per kilowatt-hour—less than half the standard utility rate.On the global stage, China has begun construction on a mammoth $167 billion hyd...
2025-07-2905 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World$20 Billion Energy Shockwave: Nuclear Revival, AI Grids & EV Takeover!A potential nuclear revival emerges as Santee Cooper selects top contenders from fourteen proposals to complete the abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear reactors in South Carolina. After $9 billion spent and construction halted in 2017, the site remains in "mostly excellent condition" according to recent inspections, breathing new life into nuclear energy's prospects. Meanwhile, Constellation Energy eyes new nuclear development in upstate New York, capitalizing on Governor Hochul's directive for at least one gigawatt of new nuclear power in the state.The battle over critical energy infrastructure intensifies with the $11 billion Grain Belt Express transmission project caught in political...
2025-07-2106 min