PI Energy Podcast

On this episode of the PI Energy Podcast, we talk to Timothy Kim, founder and CEO of ibV Energy Partners. They are a utility-scale solar and storage company who collaborate with businesses and local energy providers to expand solar.

Before founding ibV Energy, Timothy was a Lieutenant in the US Navy, held senior roles in international finance and M&A, and co-founded the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s Office of Renewable Energy Finance. These days, he lives in Washington D.C. and is involved on the Hill in promoting clean energy policy.

Today we are discussing perspectives on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which is a budget bill that passed Congress and was signed by the president in August 2022. It is designed to provide long-term support for domestically produced clean energy, and build a domestic manufacturing capability with the end goal of reducing carbon emissions; additionally there are provisions for healthcare and tax reform.

Follow Timothy Kim on Twitter: @solarphreak
ibV Energy Partners Website: https://www.ibvpartners.com/
Follow ibV Energy Partners on Twitter: @ibvenergy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibvenergy/

On this episode of the PI Energy Podcast, Phil interviews Dr. Raj DasGupta, CEO of Electrovaya.  Electrovaya  produces lithium ion  batteries, named the Infinity Battery, and is working on a next generation solid state battery technology. They’re looking to bring this technology to E-buses and trucks, autonomous guided robots, and grid energy storage.

Raj’s has a PhD in  materials science. He’s been at Electrovaya working in both R&D and business development, and was recently promoted to the CEO.

They discuss how Electrovaya's Infinity Batteries are so long-lasting, they out outside the current consumer EV heuristic and economies surrounding it,  but have so much potential for commercial and future applications. You can learn more about Electrovaya at:
Website: https://electrovaya.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electrovaya
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Electrovaya
Twitter: @electrovaya

This week, Phil interviews Charles Bayless, a retired utility executive, lecturer on energy policy and climate change, former provost of West Virginia Institute of Technology, and business advisor to PI Energy. They discuss some of the over-arching issues with utility-scale energy, and how this leaves a lot of room for improvement as we face our climate crisis. Read more about Charles here.

This week Phil interviews Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. Desmond gives us his take on the future of electrification of the transportation sector, and how Beam is making that possible. He tells us about the first commercial sunshine-powered plane, the need and want for new car-charging solutions, and the inevitable change in how we think about powering transportation.

This week Phil interviews Dr. Scott Cushing, an assistant professor at Caltech University and Technical Advisor to PI Energy. They discuss lasers, plasmonics, and the PIRET (plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer) project untaken together at PI Energy.

See more about Dr. Cushing’s work here: https://cushinglab.caltech.edu/

Today, Phil interviews Ellen Spooner, a marine biologist and communications specialist with ECS Federal in support of NOAA. Ellen tells us about how she got passionate about marine biology, the nature of science communication, and how NOAA uses scientific data to manage fisheries around the country.

Read more about these programs at https://ecstech.com/solutions/environmental-science/ and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/

On this episode, Phil interviews Lesley Anderson, a science teacher, researcher, and entrepreneur developing curriculum to introduce the variety science careers to different age groups of students. (Check out her website!)

Lesley tells us about her multitude of summer research projects to help bring real experiences to her students, including at the South Pole Neutrino Observatory, “The IceCube” (and you can also read more from her journals there), and aquarium projects in Cape Town, South Africa. They also discuss problem-solving-focused ways for teaching kids about climate change, and Lesley offers us perspective on why we can be optimistic for the future.

Since recording this episode, Lesley has secured a new adventure through the Einstein Fellowship! You can follow her future adventures on your favorite platform:

Twitter: LAnderson_STEM

Instagram: @adventuresofmslesley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesleySouthPole

The PI Energy Podcast is hosted by CEO Phil Layton. Phil invites scientists and leaders in clean technology and renewable energy to discuss the latest trends, technology seen in the clean technology industry, and solutions for helping global climate change. 

This episode, Phil interviews Lane Sharman of the San Diego Energy District Foundation. They discuss Net Metering, the program utilities use to compensate end-users with solar panels on their homes who provide energy back into the grid throughout the day. Lane gives us an overview of Net Metering programs in California, and discusses the upcoming proposed changes that de-incentivize residents to switch to solar and what a more equitable system would look like. He also looks into the role that new technologies are required to play in this type of system.

Read more about Lane’s foundation, the San Diego Energy District: https://www.sandiegoenergydistrict.org/

This episode, Phil interviews David Epstein of Epstein Advisors professor at Stanford University. Dave boasts many titles, from advisor, investor, entrepreneur, engineer, teacher, and coach. He shares with us the complicated processes involved in getting industry-disrupting technologies off the ground, what the solar PV industry is lacking today, and what it was like working as an engineer in the early stages of CPU development. You can read more about Dave’s advising company, Epstein Advisors, on their website.

Today we have Brendan Reed on the podcast, the Director of Planning and Environmental Affairs at the San Diego Airport Authority. 

Brendan shares his impressive work on mitigating climate change by keeping the San Diego airport as sustainable as possible. He explains how he and his team are following a carbon neutrality plan to help guide the airport to reduce emissions. 

We discuss how an airport works as a city, and how being mindful of all parties can help contribute to the goal.

Finally, we look at the future, and compare the old to new implementations being used, to fully utilize the stored energy from solar power to battery energy storage systems. One great takeaway from this episode is that we all can contribute, which Brendan demonstrates from their program “ The Good Traveler” which guides everyday travelers to do their part. 
Learn more here: https://thegoodtraveler.org/aviation-partners/san-diego-international/ 

This week´s guest on the podcast is Caroline Trowbridge, Project Manager at Metrus Energy and Boardmember at Women in CleanTech & Sustainability.

Caroline shares her experiences in working at San Fransisco-based Metrus Energy, and how they help mitigate climate change. She explains how their service helps their customers to reach their sustainability target and bring up the challenges they work to overcome. We discuss the high demand for solar power and other new energy-efficient solutions that can increase a business´ economy. 

Finally, we discuss how Caroline is shedding light on women in her industry by creating a central platform for women to come together. We look at the future, and how diversity equity inclusion has increased opportunities for a more equal CleanTech industry. 
Check out their website: https://www.womenincleantechsustainability.org/


Make sure you give it a listen! 

Phil interviews Franz Hochstrasser, Co-founder and CEO of Raise Green. Franz tells us about the necessity for a platform like Raise Green, where individuals can take ownership of local projects that benefit the community and the environment. He also discusses his path to get here on the team of the Obama campaign and position at the USDA where he was part of the Climate Action Plan creation. You can find about more about Franz’s company Raise Green at https://www.raisegreen.com/. You can find out more about the basics of Regulation CF funding and the benefits it can give to small businesses at https://www.sec.gov/smallbusiness/exemptofferings/regcrowdfunding.

Phil interviews Jimmy Jia, founder of the Jia Group.  
Jimmy discusses his holistic approach to energy and explains how it is done by looking at the organizational structure and how they look at energy use itself. With his consultancy, they help companies align their strategies from the ground facility to the board level,  creating better energy outcomes. 
He also shares how his observations inspired him to write "The Corporate Energy Strategist´s Handbook". 
Check out Jimmy´s book here  https://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Energy-Strategists-Handbook-Sustainability/dp/3030368378 

Phil interviews Renee Yarmy, Program Manager of Energy and Sustainability for the Port of San Diego. She discusses the role the Port plays in a city’s economy and maintaining of some of its most vital resources, the success San Diego’s Port has had meeting their Climate Action Plan, and the development of new technologies such as microgrids to continue innovating and improving. She also shares how the Port interacts with other groups within San Diego, including the Navy, airport, and Universities. Check out more on the Port of San Diego’s Energy and Sustainability Program here: https://www.portofsandiego.org/environment/energy-sustainability/energy

Phil interviews Jason Anderson, President and CEO of Cleantech San Diego. They discuss the role San Diego plays as an unexpected but growing player in the clean energy and technology realms, and how the organization works to provide mentoring, funding, and community outreach. Learn how Cleantech is not just about the environment, but has an important economic role as well. Find out more about Cleantech San Diego at https://cleantechsandiego.org/

Phil interviews Dr. Austin Sendek, founder and CEO of Aionics. Dr. Sendek tells us why AI and ionics make sense together and how they can improve technology development in many fields and how his company does this with batteries, plus how a lab joke turned into trying to name a standardized unit based on some Northern California slang. Find out more about Aionics at https://www.aionics.io/

Phil interviews Lee Krevat, board member of PI Energy and former Sempra Energy Director of SmartGrid, and they discuss Lee’s work developing new technology programs for utility companies using solar to power an EV fleet, solar entrepreneurship, and what it takes to be an improv musician. Check out Lee’s podcast The Climate Champions: https://climatechampions.podbean.com/, and see the episode with Phil and fellow board member David Andresen: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-i2cr8-a60996

Phil interviews Hans Janzon, president of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce (SACC), whose San Diego branch focuses on Clean Tech/Renewable Energy and Life Sciences and bringing together small businesses in both countries, creating a collaborative environment to work towards common goals. Hans discusses the path forward for developing and financing these types of technologies. Learn more at the SACC Green Connections conference: http://www.sacc-sandiego.org/green-connections.html

Phil interviews David Andresen, a board member of PI Energy and longtime friend who was part of the company’s conception, and discusses how he was introduced to the concept of renewable energy, and how that evolved, and what challenges it has faced.  David spends most of his time in the realm of commercialization, strategy and corporate finance of next-generation sustainability technologies, including PI Energy. You can find about more about him:  http://ecotechadvisors.com/davidandresen