Join Cody Simms each week as he engages with experts across disciplines to explore innovations driving the transition of energy and industry. Inevitable is an M...
Arvin Ganesan is the CEO of Fourth Power, which is developing a flexible-duration thermal energy system designed to meet the needs of an electrical grid increasingly powered by renewables. Their system heats liquid tin to extremely high temperatures, circulates it through carbon blocks for heat storage, and converts that heat back to electricity on demand via thermal photovoltaics. The technology aims to address both short-duration energy storage (5–10 hours) and long-duration needs (100 hours or more), with the ability to discharge power within seconds.At the end of last year, Fourth Power raised a Series A led by DCVC, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Arvin’s fascinating career includes time in the U.S. Senate as a senior policy advisor to the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, over five years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and nearly six years at Apple as the head of global energy and environmental policy.In this episode, we explore Arvin's career path, his decision to join Fourth Power, and why the company’s work matters for the future of energy storage.In this episode, we cover: [1:49] Arvin's career journey: From the EPA to Apple and beyond[8:13] Why Arvin chose to become CEO of Fourth Power[10:29] Focusing on electricity storage over industrial heat[12:06] Fourth Power’s thermal energy storage system explained[17:11] How Fourth Power uses photovoltaics for efficient energy conversion[20:36] Trade-offs between Fourth Power's technology and lithium-ion batteries[25:03] Co-location strategies and powering renewable energy[28:21] Collaborating with utilities to meet grid demands[31:09] Fourth Power’s milestones and current progress[32:57] Arvin’s transition to a CEO role and what he’s learning[34:59] Market optimism and the potential impact of Fourth Power’s solutionRecommended Listening: Onshoring Clean Energy with Giulia Siccardo, MESCEpisode recorded on Aug 20, 2024 (Published on Dec 12, 2024)
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41:09
Frontier’s $1B Bet on Carbon Removal
Hannah Bebbington is the Head of Deployment at Frontier, an advanced market commitment created in 2022, that aims to purchase $1 billion or more of permanent carbon removal by 2030. Founded by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey, Frontier has quickly become a leading force in the carbon removal space. Its portfolio includes a "who’s who" of innovators pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in carbon removal—many of whom have been guests on this show. Cody catches up with Hannah to explore how Frontier’s program is structured, what they’ve learned so far, and her perspective on the state of carbon removal today.In this episode, we cover: [2:03] What is Frontier? An intro to its $1B commitment to carbon removal[7:00] The scale of the carbon removal challenge and future funding needs[10:42] Gaps in the industry: demand, investment, and measurement[13:21] Hannah’s background and role as Head of Deployment[16:10] Frontier’s advanced market commitment model explained[18:05] How Frontier supports early-stage companies through pre-purchases[21:32] Tips for startups applying to Frontier’s programs[27:19] Frontier’s offtake track for scaling larger projects[30:16] The importance of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV)[35:05] Frontier’s criteria for funding: scale, cost, and permanence[42:14] Microsoft’s role as a leader in carbon removal[47:24] Key terms in Frontier’s offtake agreements[55:08] The impact of the data center boom on carbon removal[57:01] Carbon removal’s bipartisan support and policy outlookRecommended Listening:MCJ Startup Series: Charm IndustrialPermanent Geologic Carbon Storage with Vaulted DeepEnhanced Rock Weathering with Lithos CarbonCarbon Removal and Climate Policy with Heirloom and Senator Scott WienerEpisode recorded on Nov 22, 2024 (Published on Dec 9, 2024)
Stay Connected with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedIn | XVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ NewsletterEnjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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1:00:16
Stanford's Hydrogen and Natural Gas Initiatives
Dr. Naomi Boness is the managing director of the Natural Gas Initiative and co-managing director of the Hydrogen Initiative at Stanford University. With a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford and over 13 years in technical and management roles at Chevron, Dr. Boness combines deep scientific knowledge with real-world experience in energy operations.In this episode, we dive into the molecule side of energy, focusing on the evolving roles of natural gas and hydrogen in a decarbonizing world. Topics range from geopolitics and energy security to emissions challenges and the future of these key resources in the energy mix.In this episode, we cover: [1:38] Dr. Boness' work and focus at Stanford [5:10] Corporate involvement: utilities, investment firms, and oil majors[7:12] Natural gas in the global energy mix and its role as a coal alternative[9:09] Addressing the critical issue of methane leaks[11:42] Incentives for midstream players to participate [13:53] Dr. Boness' pov on the idea of halting oil and gas production entirely[16:04] Geopolitical dynamics of natural gas production and exportation[20:59] Breakdown of the global gas production mix[22:55] Effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the European gas market[27:10] DPower vs. heat transition and natural gas' role[29:49] Vision for the future of natural gas in a renewable energy landscape[33:55] Challenges and trade-offs in transitioning from natural gas and investing in infrastructure[39:25] Potential role of hydrogen in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors[43:38] Environmental impacts of hydrogen as a potential greenhouse gas[47:33] Policy and regulatory hurdles for clean hydrogen production[50:39] Issues surrounding the "45V rule" in the Inflation Reduction Act[54:21] Dr. Boness' top policy priorities and wish listEpisode recorded on Aug 14, 2024 (Published on Nov 21, 2024)
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56:29
TELO’s EV Pickup for Urban Adventures
Jason Marks is the Co-founder and CEO at TELO. TELO is developing EV pickup trucks in the footprint of a Mini Cooper with a bed the size of a Toyota Tacoma and the power of a mainstream truck. They're focused on urban use cases for pickup trucks, whether that be a weekend adventurer who lives in a city or an organization whose employees need trucks for work in urban environments but are fed up with navigating giant vehicles through traffic, parking, and underground lots.We were eager to hear Jason’s perspective on why now is the right time to build an electric vehicle from the ground up, what makes TELO’s approach uniquely positioned for a significant market opportunity, and why existing truck manufacturers haven’t pursued this segment. Plus, we dive into the fascinating history of why today’s pickup trucks have become so massive in the first place.MCJ is proud to support TELO as an investor through our venture capital fund, backing founders like Jason who are reshaping industries to be cleaner, more profitable, and more resilient.In this episode, we cover: [2:26] Jason's background in automotive[4:37] An overview of TELO and its purpose[6:13] How pickups have grown significantly larger over the past 15-20 years[11:15] The current EV truck market[12:47] Truck density in urban environments and challenges[15:51] TELO's approach to building EV an pickup[17:58] China's EV phenomenon and landscape[23:08] Current US EV market[24:51] TELO's unique approach to EV pickups[28:09] The company's battery chemistry[29:49] TELO's progress to date[32:05] Big milestones Jason and his team are working towards including homologation[35:59] TELO's go to market[38:20] Jason's vision for the future of his business[39:24] TELO's latest Seed Round led by Neo[41:08] Where TELO needs help[41:44] Biggest surprises in building a vehicle companyEpisode recorded on Oct 4, 2024 (Published on Nov 21, 2024)
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45:24
This Giant Aircraft Aims to Break Wind Energy’s Size Limits
Mark Lundstrom is the founder and CEO of Radia.Radia is developing the WindRunner, the world’s largest aircraft, specifically designed to transport massive offshore wind turbine blades—some reaching the length of football fields—to onshore sites. This capability, termed "GigaWind," could redefine the scope and scale of onshore wind projects. Radia isn’t stopping at building these groundbreaking aircraft; they also plan to develop wind energy projects to catalyze the GigaWind transformation. This episode dives into Radia’s verticalized approach to addressing a major challenge in wind energy: the physical limitations of transporting turbine blades via the U.S. interstate highway system. By circumventing these constraints, Radia envisions a future where wind farms can reach unprecedented scales.In this episode, we cover: [2:13] Mark's background in aerospace [6:27] Logistics of wind turbines on land today[9:03] Onshore vs. offshore wind energy in terms of turbine size, logistics, and economics [14:04] China's wind energy generation[15:53] An overview of Radia's WindRunner aircraft [20:57] Radia's plan to become a power provider[24:07] Siting and permitting process for Radia's projects [28:23] Radia's progress to date [30:20] Capital stack needed to fund Radia's WindRunner[35:05] Radia's decision to come out of stealth[38:32] Who Radia wants to hear from and hire [39:43] How Radia's solution can address AI power demandsEpisode recorded on Sept 19, 2024 (Published on Nov 13, 2024)
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Join Cody Simms each week as he engages with experts across disciplines to explore innovations driving the transition of energy and industry. Inevitable is an MCJ podcast. This show was formerly known as 'My Climate Journey.'
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