WattPod

Today we welcome one of the most successful disruptors in the energy space, Octopus Group. Its tentacles include Octopus Renewables which has been one of the most active developers of renewables globally and Octopus Energy which was recently valued at over $5B with investment from the Generation Fund, co-founded by AL Gore. In our conversation with Dennis Freedman, Head of Investments and Development @ Octopus Investments, we focus on the opportunities and challenges facing large scale renewables developers. Dennis explains how the Octopus Investment team are opening access for wholesale investors alongside institutions to gain direct exposure to renewables projects. There's some great insights on careers in renewables and the opportunities available to innovators in the clean energy transition. 

https://octopus.com/company/careers

https://octopusinvestments.com.au/our-products/

In episode 10 of the WattPod we speak to Bill Lenihan, CEO of Zola Electric about how their technology is improving the lives of millions. Energy access remains one of the world's great problems and is being addressed front-on by some amazing and innovative companies such as ZOLA. Bill reminds us that energy access is not an off-grid issue that affects only the underprivileged people in rural Africa. Unreliable and unaffordable energy impacts the lives of over 2 Billion people globally who lack a primary power source - be they rich or poor, on-grid or off. He also highlights the social impact of ZOLA's work. ZOLA Electric has its roots in providing clean energy access to Africa and emerging markets and today is a leading technology company delivering energy access in 10 countries across 3 continents. I like to think of ZOLA as the Tesla of off-grid solutions. They are a leading technology developer working with amazing partners such as Tesla, EDF, Total, ADP, DBL Ventures, Vulcan Ventures, FMO and USAid who are supporting ZOLA's unique purpose, market position, and customer proposition to deliver energy solutions to millions globally.

A special episode of the Watt Pod where we get to hear from both sides of the fence - the startup and the investor. Join us as Alexander Post (Co-Founder & CTO @ MGA Thermal) and Martin Duursma (Partner @ Main Sequence Ventures) give us the inside track on how they are powering the energy transition and what brought them together. We get to hear what a deep-tech investor is looking for in climatetech disruptors and some of the other areas of focus, including space travel. We also learn what it takes to develop a deeptech startup (hint: lots of research). 

MGA Thermal is enabling the shift to renewable energy by providing a new way to store energy that’s clean, economical and scalable. They have invented a brand new type of thermal storage material capable of storing a huge amount of heat in a safe and easy way to use. This is enabling intermittent renewable energy sources to provide base load electricity to the grid.

Main Sequence Ventures is a venture capital firm working with inventors who are building something hard from their unique expertise in science. They aim to bridge the ‘valley of death’ between research and commercialisation solving the world’s greatest challenges by turning scientific breakthroughs into next century’s giants. Main Sequence was formed in 2017 to manage the CSIRO’s innovation fund and now has two funds at close to $600M under management with 42 companies in the portfolio.

https://www.mgathermalstorage.com/

https://www.mseq.vc/

How do you better plan and optimise projects in the era of decentralised intermittent renewable energy assets? In Ep7 of the WattPod, @Fabian Le Gay Brereton, Co-Founder & CEO of Gridcognition talks to us about their software which does just that. We hear about the startups exciting achievements to date and plans to grow going forward.

Being a favourite thought-provoker of mine we also take the opportunity to get Fabian's input on a range of topics regarding the energy transition including government policies, regulatory changes, battery revenue stacking and the disruption of incumbents. 

From EV's to stationary storage, batteries are a well recognised part of todays energy system and a significant part of our carbon free future. However, today only 2-5% of lithium ion batteries actually being recycled and the balance typically end up in landfill. What solutions are available to ensure our race to zero carbon doesnt result in excessive waste? 

In S1 Ep6 of the Watt Pod we speak to Dominic Spooner, Founder & CEO of Vaulta. Vaulta has developed a lighter, reusable battery case that promotes recycling of battery packs by allowing single batteries to be replaced rather than discarding the whole pack. We discuss how design has led the rethinking of the battery casing, what applications they are focused on (more than you can imagine) and a bit about who Vaulta are partnering with.  

Wondering how we will solve congestion in the new decentralised and digitilaised grid without relying on the lengthy and expensive need to build additional transmission? Trying to find a solution to rooftop, C&I or utility scale renewables curtailment and make a project more bankable? Want to understand how we will ensure stability and inertia with increasing renewables and the alternative solutions to large centralised analog synchronous condensers?

In S1 Ep5 of the Watt Pod, Richard Romanowsky - Co-Founder and Executive Director of eleXsys Energy explains their hardware and software solution to solve some of the energy transitions fundamental difficulties. Learn about eleXsys, the technology behind it, the companies IPO plans and Richards journey as an energy entrepreneur.

In S1 Ep4 of the Watt Pod we talk to founder of DNA Energy, Daniel Barber about his journey building a climatetech startup. DNA Energy is an early stage measuring and monitoring technology company helping customers monetise their energy assets and looking to disrupt the way customers think about their energy usage. We cover the importance of energy efficiency and the opportunities available to end users. We learn that customers are usually motivated to react to their energy needs only once they are aware of a problem. We also touch upon the Australian investment environment for energy technology disruptors and ponder if the investment community has the depth of expertise to deploy capital to the best opportunities and those that will power the energy transition. 

In S1 Ep3 Anne Foster, Director and Head of ESG at Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, gives us her insights into what a large global asset manager and renewables developer is currently focused on. Whilst utility scale solar and wind remains the core component, Quinbrook is powering the energy transition through investments in optimisation including Virtual Power Plants, Flexible Loads and Demand Response. We also touch upon how to attract the talent required to build the energy system of the future and addressing the gender imbalance in the industry. 

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners is an ESG-focused, ‘value add’ investment manager with a specialist focus on low carbon and renewable energy supply, storage, grid stability and related assets and businesses.

James Bradley, CTO and Co-Founder of Diffuse Energy, discusses their revolutionary technology that is enabling distributed, mini-wind generation. We also touch upon the importance of the startup ecosystem (universities, government and private investors) and the opportunities and support available to clean-tech disruptors today.