Episodes
How Thermal Storage Is Solving The Intermittency Problem
We dive into the specific mechanics of molten salt thermal storage and how it is becoming the missing link for dispatchable renewable energy. By looking at the operational data from recent utility-scale projects, we explore why storing heat in sand or rocks might be more economically viable than lithium-ion batteries for long-duration grid stability. We break down the levelized cost of storage, the physical chemistry involved, and the strategic decisions utilities are making to hedge against…
How Direct Air Capture Is Scaling Beyond Pilot Plants
Direct air capture technology is moving from experimental pilots to industrial scale, but the economics remain steep. We look at Climeworks' Mammoth facility in Iceland and its new project in Utah as case studies for what it takes to sequester one million tons of carbon annually. The conversation breaks down the energy intensity of sorbent-based systems, the critical role of cheap geothermal power, and why scaling DAC requires solving the logistics of CO2 transport and storage rather than just…
How Green Steel Is Decarbonizing Heavy Industry
Steel production is responsible for roughly eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. This episode looks at how HYBRIT, a joint venture between SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall, is pioneering fossil-free steel using hydrogen instead of coal. We break down the technical and business case: hydrogen direct reduction, the economics of green hydrogen versus traditional blast furnaces, and why BMW and other manufacturers are already signing supply deals. We also consider the challenges—massive…
How Green Hydrogen Is Reshaping the Ammonia Industry
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet revolution happening in the ammonia industry. Ammonia is one of the world's most produced chemicals, essential for fertilizers that feed nearly half the global population. But its production is responsible for over one percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Enter green hydrogen: by splitting water with renewable electricity, green hydrogen can replace the fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen used in ammonia production…
Why Compressed Air Energy Storage Is Having a Moment
This week on The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet comeback of compressed air energy storage. In California, a facility using depleted underground salt caverns is storing wind and solar power for when the grid needs it most — an idea people laughed at two decades ago. The hosts walk through how the technology works, from the physics of air compression to the surprising role of heat in making it efficient. They also crunch the numbers on costs, compare it to grid-scale…
How Carbon Capture Is Turning Cement Plants Into Carbon Sinks
Cement production is responsible for about eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and the industry has struggled to decarbonize. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the emergence of carbon capture systems designed specifically for cement kilns, from amine-based post-combustion capture to novel mineralization processes that lock CO2 into aggregates. They discuss the economics, the policy support from the Inflation Reduction Act and the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and…
How Sodium-Ion Batteries Are Breaking the Lithium Grip
Lucas and Luna explore the quiet rise of sodium-ion batteries as a real alternative to lithium. Sodium is abundant, cheap, and works in extreme cold, making it a compelling option for grid storage and entry-level EVs. The episode digs into the chemistry, the manufacturing advantages, and the economics, using the example of a major Chinese battery maker and the first sodium-ion EV to hit the market. They discuss where sodium-ion fits — not as a lithium killer but as a complementary technology…
How Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Are Winning in Cities
In this episode, we explore the quiet rise of vertical axis wind turbines in urban environments. From rooftop installations in Chicago to ambitious projects in Rotterdam, we look at how companies like Windspire Energy and the Dutch startup BladeRunner are rethinking turbine design for the built world. We unpack the physics that make vertical axis turbines more suited to turbulent city winds, the economics of small-scale generation, and the regulatory hurdles that still stand in the way. With a…
How Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Are Winning in Cities
Lucas and Luna explore how vertical axis wind turbines are quietly becoming a viable complement to traditional horizontal axis turbines, especially in urban and distributed energy settings. They break down the engineering trade-offs, the companies leading the charge, and why the market is finally paying attention in 2026. Featuring concrete examples like the Dutch startup Archimedes and the UK's Alpha 311, they discuss the role of AI in turbine control, the challenges of noise and bird safety…
How Wave Energy Is Becoming a Reliable Grid Player
Wave energy has long been the tease of the renewables world—plenty of promise, little delivery. But in 2026, that's finally shifting. In this episode, Lucas and Luna look at how a handful of developers, particularly from Scotland's Orkney Isles, are turning ocean motion into grid-ready power, and why the latest wave devices are cheaper and tougher than ever. They break down the numbers: a 2025 report from Ocean Energy Europe showed wave installations grew by 30 percent year-over-year, with…
How Heat Pumps Are Quietly Changing Home Energy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna look at how heat pumps have moved from niche to mainstream, and what this means for the grid, consumers, and climate goals. With heat pumps outselling gas furnaces in the US for a third straight year, the hosts break down the technology behind the trend, from variable-speed compressors to smart thermostats. They discuss the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives, the role of state-level policies, and the surprising economics for homeowners—high upfront cost, lower…
How Microgrids Are Weatherproofing the Power Grid
When Hurricane Ida knocked out power to a million Louisiana residents in 2021, one New Orleans neighborhood stayed lit. That's the story of the Saint Charles Community Microgrid, a solar-plus-storage system that kept a pharmacy, a grocery store, and a senior center running while the rest of the city went dark. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the economics of community microgrids—how they're financed, who owns them, and why they're becoming a lifeline in the age of climate-driven power…
Why Old Batteries Are the New Lithium Mine
In Episode 161 of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the booming business of battery recycling. With the first wave of EV batteries reaching end-of-life, startups are racing to recover lithium, cobalt, and nickel from spent packs. Lucas explains how Redwood Materials, founded by a Tesla co-founder, is building a closed-loop supply chain that could cut the need for new mining. He breaks down the economics: recycling a ton of battery material can yield up to 90% recovery rates…
How Carbon-Negative Bricks Are Reshaping Construction
In episode 160 of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the emerging world of carbon-negative building materials. They focus on a California startup that is turning waste CO2 into mineralized bricks, which actually absorb more carbon than they emit during production. The conversation digs into the chemistry behind the process, the economics of scaling up, and the challenges of convincing a conservative construction industry to adopt a new material. With concrete numbers and…
How Solar Panels Are Powering Data Centers
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the growing trend of pairing solar arrays with data centers to cut both carbon and power costs. They dive into the economics of on-site generation, the role of battery storage, and how tech giants are hedging against volatile energy prices. With real-world examples and a look at the challenges of interconnection queues and land use, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of a practical decarbonization strategy. Tune in for a…
How Agrivoltaics Are Making Farms More Resilient
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how agrivoltaics—combining solar panels with farming—is transforming agriculture. They dive into a specific case in Massachusetts where a blueberry farm pairs panels with berry bushes, boosting yield while generating power. The episode breaks down the science behind the shade-loving crops, the economics of dual land use, and the policy incentives driving adoption. Lucas shares numbers on energy output versus crop yield, while Luna questions the…
How Tidal Kites Are Unlocking Ocean Current Power
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the world of tidal energy, focusing on a breakthrough technology: underwater kites that harness ocean currents to generate electricity. They explore a specific project in the Faroe Islands, where a startup has deployed a 1.2-megawatt kite that can power an entire village. Lucas explains how the kite's tether and control system allow it to fly in a figure-eight pattern, capturing more energy than a stationary turbine of the…
How Mining Waste Becomes Rare Earth Treasure
In Episode 156, Lucas and Luna dig into a surprising twist in the clean energy supply chain: recycling rare earth elements from mining waste. They focus on a specific pilot project in Appalachia where a startup is extracting neodymium and dysprosium from coal ash, a byproduct of decades of coal burning. The conversation breaks down why this matters for EV motors and wind turbines, how the economics are shifting with rare earth prices up 40 percent year-over-year, and why the U.S. is pouring $35…
How Perovskite Solar Cells Are Rewriting the Efficiency Race
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet revolution in solar photovoltaics: perovskite tandem cells. With a focus on Oxford PV's recent announcement of a 29.8 percent efficiency record for a commercial-size cell, they unpack why perovskites matter, the stability challenges they face, and how manufacturing scale-up could reshape the solar industry by the early 2030s. They also touch on the role of government funding and the incumbent silicon industry's…
How Digital Twins Are Optimizing the Power Grid
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how digital twin technology is transforming the way we manage and optimize the power grid. They dive into a specific case: a startup in Texas that has built a digital twin of a regional grid, helping operators predict failures before they happen and integrate renewable energy more smoothly. Lucas explains the concept of a digital twin—a virtual replica of a physical system—and how it uses real-time data from sensors to simulate scenarios, from storm…
How Agrivoltaics Are Making Farms More Resilient
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how pairing solar panels with crops is transforming agriculture. They dive into the data from a 2025 study by the University of Arizona, showing how shade from panels can reduce water use by 15 percent and boost yields for certain crops like cherry tomatoes and peppers. The hosts discuss the economics for farmers, the challenges of retrofitting existing farms, and how agrivoltaics could be a key tool in adapting to a hotter…
How Solar Panels Are Powering Wastewater Treatment Plants
Wastewater treatment is one of the largest energy consumers in the public sector, but a quiet revolution is underway. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how municipalities are turning their treatment plants into solar powerhouses. They discuss the case of a mid-sized city that slashed its energy bills and carbon footprint by covering its treatment ponds with floating solar panels. They also examine the technical challenges—like corrosion from the harsh environment—and the financial models…
How Startups Are Turning Captured CO2 Into Jet Fuel
In episode 151 of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the world of carbon-to-fuel startups, focusing on how companies are converting captured CO2 into sustainable aviation fuel. They unpack the chemistry, the economics, and the race to scale, using the example of a Texas-based startup that just secured a major offtake agreement with a European airline. With sustainable aviation fuel demand soaring and carbon capture tax credits on the line, the hosts explore whether this…
How Solar Canopies Are Turning Parking Lots Into Power Plants
In Episode 150 of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet revolution of solar canopies over parking lots. From Walmart's massive rollout to the economics of dual-use land, they break down how this overlooked space is becoming a key player in the clean energy transition. With insights on cost trends, grid benefits, and community solar models, they make a compelling case for why parking lots are the next frontier—and why the humble shade structure might be solar's smartest move…
How Solar Grazing Blends Sheep and Solar Panels
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet revolution of solar grazing — putting sheep to work on utility-scale solar farms instead of gas-powered mowers. They start with a striking stat: one large solar site in Texas now hosts over 3,000 sheep, a number that's growing as developers realize the dual benefits of vegetation management and soil health. Lucas breaks down the economics, from the cost per acre versus traditional mowing to the revenue streams for…
How Geothermal Startups Are Drilling Deeper Than Oil
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the new wave of geothermal energy startups that are borrowing drilling techniques from the oil and gas industry to tap into heat miles beneath the Earth's surface. They focus on the case of Fervo Energy, which has deployed horizontal drilling and fiber-optic sensing to create enhanced geothermal systems in Utah, and discuss how the company's recent partnership with Google is providing around-the-clock clean power for data centers. The conversation covers…
How Green Hydrogen Is Reshaping the Fertilizer Industry
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how green hydrogen is transforming the production of ammonia for fertilizer. They focus on a specific project in Norway that aims to replace fossil-based ammonia with renewable hydrogen, cutting emissions by hundreds of thousands of tonnes annually. Lucas breaks down the chemistry of the Haber-Bosch process, explains why fertilizer accounts for over one percent of global emissions, and discusses the economics of green ammonia versus the conventional grey…
How Regenerative Grazing Is Sequestering Carbon at Scale
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the carbon-sequestration potential of regenerative grazing on cattle ranches. They dig into the specific numbers: grazing lands could store up to 1.5 gigatons of CO2 annually, yet adoption is slow because of cost and measurement challenges. They highlight a startup called Grassroots Carbon, which pays ranchers per ton of carbon sequestered, and discuss satellite and AI verification methods. The conversation covers the controversy around whether grazing…
How Green Ammonia Is Fueling the Shipping Industry
The shipping industry emits nearly a billion tons of CO2 annually, and regulators are starting to demand change. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise of green ammonia as a potential zero-carbon fuel for the world's cargo ships. They break down the economics, the technology, and the race to build the first ammonia-powered vessels. With the first ammonia-ready ships hitting the water in 2026, and companies like Yara and MAN Energy Solutions leading the charge, this episode unpacks…
How Startups Turn Food Waste Into Profit
In episode 144 of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the surprising economics of food waste. Americans toss nearly 40 percent of the food they produce, and the EPA estimates that wasted food accounts for about 6 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. But a new wave of startups is turning that waste stream into a revenue source. Lucas walks through the rise of anaerobic digesters, which convert food scraps into renewable natural gas, and highlights a specific facility in…
How Direct Lithium Extraction Is Changing the EV Supply Chain
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the hidden backbone of the electric vehicle revolution: direct lithium extraction, or DLE. With lithium demand set to triple by 2030, the world can't rely on evaporation ponds and open-pit mines forever. Lucas breaks down how a handful of startups are using ion-selective beads, membrane filters, and even solar-powered evaporation to pull lithium from underground brine aquifers in days instead of months. Luna brings up the…
How One Startup Is Turning Ocean Heat Into Clean Power
In episode 142 of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a fresh frontier in renewable energy: ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC. While solar and wind dominate the headlines, a new generation of startups is tapping the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water to generate baseload electricity 24/7. The episode centers on one company, OceanCore Energy, which in early 2026 commissioned a 10-megawatt demonstration plant off the coast of Hawaii. Lucas…
How One Startup Is Turning Mine Waste Into Clean Energy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a fresh frontier in climate tech: turning abandoned mine waste into a source of clean energy. They focus on a startup called ReMine Energy, which is using a process called 'tailings-to-energy' to recover residual metals and generate geothermal-like power from flooded mine shafts. The conversation digs into the numbers — one abandoned site in Nevada could power 15,000 homes — and the regulatory hurdles that make repurposing old mines tricky. They also…
How Startups Are Making Carbon Credits Trustworthy
The voluntary carbon market is booming but plagued by greenwashing and double-counting. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how climate tech startups like Pachama use satellite imagery and machine learning to verify carbon removal projects in real time. They discuss why trust is the carbon market's biggest bottleneck, how technology is solving it, and what it means for companies trying to reach net-zero. With specific examples from forest conservation in the Amazon and the new role of AI…
How Methane Pyrolysis Is Making Clean Hydrogen Without Emissions
Lucas and Luna dive into the world of methane pyrolysis, a technology that splits natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon instead of CO2. They explore how startups like Monolith and C-Zero are turning a climate problem into a valuable byproduct, the economics of 'turquoise' hydrogen, and why this approach could be a game-changer for heavy industry. With natural gas infrastructure already in place, this method offers a bridge to a hydrogen economy while producing carbon black for tires…
How Seaweed Startups Are Making Biodegradable Plastics
Episode 138 dives into the emerging world of seaweed-based bioplastics. We focus on Seacell, a startup that grows kelp offshore and processes it into biodegradable polymers that can replace conventional plastic in packaging and textiles. As of July 2026, Seacell just announced a 10,000-ton annual production facility in Maine, backed by $85 million in Series B funding. We explore how the company's proprietary fermentation method converts alginate into a plastic-like material that decomposes in…
How AI and Satellites Are Catching Methane Leaks
On July 29, 2026, the EPA finalized new rules requiring oil and gas operators to monitor methane leaks at least monthly using advanced detection methods. That regulatory push is fueling a surge of startups using AI and satellite imagery to spot methane plumes from space. Lucas and Luna dive into the technology behind companies like GHGSat and Kairos Aerospace, which can pinpoint leaks smaller than a car tire from hundreds of miles up. They discuss how these systems combine hyperspectral sensors…
How Startups Are Pulling Carbon From the Ocean
Most carbon removal startups focus on the air — but the ocean holds 50 times more CO2 than the atmosphere. This episode explores a new wave of companies, including Captura, Ebb Carbon, and Planetary Technologies, that are using electrochemistry to extract dissolved CO2 directly from seawater. Lucas and Luna break down how the technology works, why it could also reverse ocean acidification, and the challenge of scaling from pilot plants to megatons. They also compare costs with direct air…
How Book-and-Claim Is Making Sustainable Aviation Fuel Work
Sustainable aviation fuel is expensive and scarce, so companies are using a system called 'book-and-claim' to claim emission reductions without ever pumping the fuel into a plane. We break down how it works, why Delta, Microsoft, and the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance are betting on it, and the key controversy about double counting. This episode explains the mechanics behind corporate SAF certificates and what they mean for the airlines' net-zero promises. #SustainableAviationFuel…
How Green Steel Startups Are Decarbonizing the World's Dirtiest Industry
Steel production accounts for roughly 7% of global carbon emissions, more than all the world's cars combined. This episode digs into the startups trying to clean up steelmaking — the technology behind green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron, the molten oxide electrolysis approach from Boston Metal, and the race to scale. We look at why cost remains the biggest barrier, how regulatory pressure in Europe is creating a market, and whether 2030 targets for near-zero-emission steel are realistic.…
How Small Modular Reactors Are Bringing Nuclear Power Back
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how small modular reactors (SMRs) are reshaping the nuclear energy landscape. They dive into NuScale Power's 77-megawatt reactor design, the first to receive US regulatory approval in 2022 and now heading for its debut at Idaho National Laboratory by 2029. Lucas breaks down the passive safety features that eliminate meltdown risks and the factory-built construction that promises to cut costs and construction time. Luna…
How Enhanced Rock Weathering Startups Are Removing CO2
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the emerging climate tech of enhanced rock weathering (ERW). They focus on Lithos Carbon, a startup that just raised a $50 million Series B to spread crushed basalt on farmland, accelerating a natural process that locks away CO2 for millennia. The hosts break down how ERW works, why it's attracting investment from groups like Shopify's sustainability fund, and the tough challenge of measuring carbon removal at scale. They also discuss the benefits for…
How Battery Recycling Startups Are Closing the Loop on EVs
By 2026, the first wave of electric vehicle batteries is reaching retirement age, creating both a waste crisis and a massive resource opportunity. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how startups like Redwood Materials are turning spent EV batteries back into cathode materials with over 90% recovery rates. They break down the pyrometallurgical vs. hydrometallurgical debate, the economics of recycling vs. mining, and why battery recycling could slash lithium-ion battery costs by 20% within a…
How Waste Heat From Data Centers Is Powering Buildings
In this episode of The Climate Tech Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a surprisingly simple yet powerful climate solution: capturing the waste heat from data centers to warm homes and businesses. They start with a concrete example from Helsinki, where a new data park will eventually heat over 40,000 homes using excess heat from servers. Lucas breaks down the thermodynamics—data centers run hot, and that heat has to go somewhere—and explains how startups like Heata and Qarnot are turning cooling…
How Dairy Waste Is Becoming Renewable Jet Fuel
Episode 129 of The Climate Tech Podcast explores a surprising new source of sustainable aviation fuel: methane from dairy farms. Lucas and Luna break down the process — from cow manure to captured biogas to synthesized kerosene — and examine a specific project in the Midwest that's turning 200,000 tons of dairy waste annually into low-carbon jet fuel. They discuss the economics, the role of federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, and whether this model can scale beyond the dairy…
How Lithium Startups Are Tapping Direct Extraction
Episode 128 of The Climate Tech Podcast. Lucas and Luna examine the rise of direct lithium extraction, a technology that promises to pull lithium from brine without the massive evaporation ponds and environmental damage of conventional mining. They focus on a single startup, Lilac Solutions, which has raised over $500 million and is now deploying its ion-exchange beads at sites in Argentina, California, and Utah. The hosts unpack why the industry is desperate for an alternative to Australian…
How Solar Panels Are Powering Community Land Trusts
Episode 127 of The Climate Tech Podcast explores a surprising pairing: solar energy and community land trusts. Lucas and Luna examine how a model designed to preserve affordable housing is now being used to finance rooftop solar for low-income neighborhoods. They walk through a specific case in Denver, Colorado, where a land trust helped a 40-unit apartment building install a 120-kilowatt solar array, cutting residents' electric bills by 30% while generating steady returns for the trust. The…
How Virtual Power Plants Are Reshaping the Grid
Episode 126 explores the rise of virtual power plants (VPPs) — networks of distributed energy resources like home batteries, smart thermostats, and electric vehicle chargers that utilities can dispatch to balance the grid. Lucas breaks down how Tesla's Autobidder platform and Sunrun's partnership with PG&E are turning thousands of small devices into a single, controllable resource. He explains the economics: VPPs can cost 40-60% less than building a new natural gas peaker plant, and they're…
How Startups Are Making Concrete Without Emissions
Concrete production accounts for roughly 8 percent of global CO2 emissions — more than aviation and shipping combined. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a new wave of startups is rethinking the world's most-used building material. They focus on one company in particular: Sublime Systems, a Massachusetts-based startup that has developed an electrochemical process to make cement at room temperature, entirely eliminating the need for fossil-fuel-fired kilns. Lucas breaks down the…
How Big Oil Is Quietly Betting on Direct Air Capture
Episode 124 takes you inside the recent wave of major oil-and-gas companies investing in direct air capture (DAC) technology. Lucas and Luna break down why Occidental Petroleum, Chevron, and others are pouring hundreds of millions into pulling CO2 from the atmosphere — even as they continue drilling. They examine the economics: how the 45Q tax credit makes DAC viable at $180 per ton, the role of carbon removal credits in voluntary markets, and whether this is genuine decarbonization or a…
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