Climate Conversations with Divya

Ep 4 Lucas Maurice: How Batteries can (and can't) solve the climate crisis

Listen Later

Season 1 Episode 4: In this episode of Climate Conversations with Divya, we sit down with Lucas Maurice, a deep tech expert specializing in battery technology, critical minerals, and sustainable energy solutions. Together, we unravel the complexities of a sector that’s crucial to fighting climate change but not without its controversies.

We explore:

  • 🔋 Are batteries the climate saviors we think they are, or do they come with hidden costs?
  • ⛏️ The real impact of mining for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
  • 🇪🇺 Why Europe is struggling to compete in the global battery race and what needs to change.
  • 🌍 How much can advancements in energy storage really contribute to reducing the 51 billion tons of CO₂ emissions we face every year?

    • Lucas brings insider insights and practical solutions to light, breaking down myths and offering a clear-eyed view of the challenges ahead. Whether you’re curious about the future of clean energy or simply need a break from holiday chaos, this episode is the perfect listen to recharge your curiosity.

    🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation! With our host Divya Kabra

    #ClimateConversations #Sustainability #EnergyTech



    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to Lucas and His Background

    04:39 The Importance of Batteries and Minerals in Climate Solutions

    07:12 Current Trends in Battery Technology

    10:25 the duck curve

    12:11 Political Factors Affecting Battery Technology Development

    14:45 The Future of Battery Technology in Europe

    18:00 Playing the myths-and-controversies game

    19:25 Myths and Realities of Battery Technology

    21:35 Conclusion and Future Outlook

    23:55 why NorthVolt failed

    27:16 Geopolitical Pressures and Industry Dynamics

    30:10 interconnected economy, rethinking transportation and urbanism

    32:45 Quantifying Impact: The Role of EVs and Energy Storage

    33:43 Electric Vehicles are not clean? "low-cabon" technologies and the unexpected myth-busting

    35:53 EV's in Texas - a catastrophe!

    37:55 story of the buried wind turbines

    39:00 FINALLY!!! Quantifying all the impact - what's good and what's bad?

    44:57 destroying the Death Star

    45:08 Americanizing things?

    46:54 Ethics of Mining: Balancing Benefits and Social Responsibility

    49:44 Alternative technologies to traditional mining

    50:46 Innovative Mining Technologies

    52:32 the next big breakthrough in batteries

    54:43 Advice for Startups and Investors

    56:47 in all this craziness

    57:18 Closing Thoughts and Future Perspectives

    58:53 Outro


    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Climate Conversations with DivyaBy Purple Figs Production