Best Smart Grid Forums Podcasts (2025)

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Breaking Gridlock: Congestion Solutions for a Saturated Grid 17:05

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5d ago17:05

17:05

The Dutch grid is reaching its limits, but innovative, integrated BESS solutions could unlock a smarter, more flexible future. Jeff Kartanegara of Alliander explains to Mandana White how new models and private investment can break the gridlock.By Smart Grid Forums

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Unpacking DOE's proposal to transform data center interconnection 40:37

5d ago40:37

40:37

Last Thursday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider rulemaking to fast-track interconnection for large loads — as long as they agree to be curtailable or colocate with dispatchable generation. So what does this proposal actually mean for interconnection? In this episode, Shayle talks with Allis…

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Why Clean Energy's Future Still Shines 44:34

12d ago44:34

44:34

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil presents a special double header from the recent SED Forum Fall, examining how recent U.S. policy changes are reshaping the clean energy landscape. Stanley Reynolds, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Arizona, unpacks the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) and its reversal of …

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Five big questions about the future of energy 44:23

12d ago44:23

44:23

We’ve covered AI’s massive power appetite in depth over the past year – with good reason. It’s the driving force behind much of the change and uncertainty in the energy world right now, from the error bars around our demand for electricity to the lineup of technologies vying to meet that demand. In this episode Shayle talks to his colleague Andy Lu…

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The thermal battery transforming cold storage for India’s dairy farmers 40:37

13d ago40:37

40:37

In 2007 Sam White, co-founder of Promethean Power Systems, was traveling through India looking for a rural electrification problem to solve. He and his team had just won a $10,000 grant in an MIT competition, and they wanted to find an industry in India that needed their help. After looking at the sugar industry and the grape industry, they finally…

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Frontier Forum: The new power map for AI infrastructure 36:04

14d ago36:04

36:04

As AI reshapes the industrial landscape, companies are questioning whether the grid can keep pace. Permitting delays, transmission constraints, and reliability risks are forcing developers to rethink where power comes from. In this episode, KR Sridhar, CEO of Bloom Energy, lays out a radically different vision. He believes that many data centers wi…

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Calibrating hype with Akshat Rathi 41:14

19d ago41:14

41:14

In the climate space, every idea sits somewhere along the hype continuum. Some command outsize attention. Others fly under the radar despite big potential. And a rare few hit the sweet spot, earning exactly the buzz they deserve. But how do you tell which is which? In this episode, Shayle teams up with Akshat Rathi, senior reporter for climate at B…

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How insurance can narrow the valley of death [partner content] 26:50

20d ago26:50

26:50

Jamie Daggett started his career as a mechanical engineer working for cleantech startups in Silicon Valley. But after five startups and three buyouts, Daggett saw the same story repeat itself: good technologies that worked in the lab often died before reaching commercial scale. And often they didn’t fail because the science was wrong; they failed b…

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Digital Substations and Smarter Networks 17:20

24d ago17:20

17:20

Mandana White speaks with David Akerman and Anton Krupskii on how their solutions are driving the energy transition and what to expect at SGT26 Paris.By Smart Grid Forums

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W.L. Gore’s Cross-Functional Environmental Progress 35:12

26d ago35:12

35:12

In this episode of Plugged In, Raj Bazaj, Vice President of Sustainability Solutions at Constellation, sits down with Ryan Kelley, Global Carbon Footprint Reduction Champion at WL Gore & Associates, a global materials science company spanning thousands of products including high-performance fabrics. Kelley shares Gore’s path to achieving 100% renew…

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How Base Power plans to use its fresh $1B 39:51

26d ago39:51

39:51

Yesterday, Base Power announced a $1 billion series C, giving the residential battery company an eye-popping $4 billion post-money valuation. Base manufactures, installs, owns, and operates residential batteries — a vertical integration strategy that CEO Zach Dell says is the “magic” to beating utility-scale batteries on CapEx. The company also act…

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This VC wants climate tech to play hardball in Washington 48:46

27d ago48:46

48:46

Clean energy founders love to talk about technology, capital, and scale. But few are prepared for the fourth pillar of success: government. Shomik Dutta, a co-founder and managing partner at Overture VC, learned that lesson firsthand after a career that spanned Obama’s White House, private equity, and venture capital. His takeaway: “If you’re not a…

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Frontier Forum: A new playbook for clean energy growth 31:57

29d ago31:57

31:57

After the failure of federal climate legislation in 2010, clean energy advocates realized they had to look elsewhere for momentum. The result was a shift toward states and regional markets — and the creation of Advanced Energy United, a trade group built to make policy progress outside of Washington. Today, that strategy is more important than ever…

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Advancing Sustainability in Air Mobility 35:55

1M ago35:55

35:55

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil sits down with Glade Gunther, Market Manager at Syensqo, to explore the fast-growing field of advanced air mobility and its sustainability impact. Gunther shares how Syensqo’s high-performance composites and specialty materials are enabling breakthroughs in lightweighting, energy efficiency,…

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Grid Resilience and Digital Transformation 16:22

1M ago16:22

16:22

Powering the Future Ep22: Grid Resilience and Digital Transformation How do we modernize the grid for a renewable future? In this episode, we explore digitalization, automation, and self-healing networks that strengthen resilience and stability. From integrating distributed energy resources to navigating Europe’s regulatory landscape, discover how …

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The new wave of DERs 39:03

1M ago39:03

39:03

Demand response was the original distributed energy resource. In its early days, it was surprisingly manual: a grid operator would call up a large load, like a factory, and request a few hours of reduced demand during peak times. Fast forward to today and DERs look dramatically different. They’re automated, deployed frequently across the country, a…

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Ag residue and carbon removal 35:16

1M ago35:16

35:16

Agricultural byproducts like corn stover, wood chips, and soybean husks typically get left to decompose and release carbon dioxide. Don’t call them “waste” though; some farmers use these byproducts as field cover to improve soil health. And industry uses a fraction of this biomass as feedstock for valuable products like ethanol, electricity, and he…

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Virtual Substations Explained 13:14

1M ago13:14

13:14

Can a substation really live forever? Straton Automation’s Anthony Burille joins Mandana White to unpack how virtualisation is changing the game for utilities, bringing flexibility, independence, and long-term cost savings.By Smart Grid Forums

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Shortening the nuclear development cycle from decades to years 47:51

1M ago47:51

47:51

For decades, nuclear has struggled with cost overruns and delays — Georgia’s Vogtle plant being the latest example. Kairos Power co-founder and CEO Mike Laufer thinks the solution is to flip the script: focus first on non-nuclear demonstrations and then iterate quickly. It’s a counterintuitive and potentially risky strategy . Rapid iteration isn’t …

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Automated Device Management for the Power Grid 10:28

2M ago10:28

10:28

From one-way power flow to a dynamic, device-driven grid, utilities face new challenges in cybersecurity and vulnerability management. SUBNET Solutions President and CEO Ameen Hamdon joins Mandana White to explore how operators can keep control in real time.By Smart Grid Forums

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OT Meets IT - How Fortinet is Protecting the Future of Power Utilities 13:59

2M ago13:59

13:59

As the energy sector digitalises, cyber threats are accelerating, especially across OT systems where outages can have massive consequences. Antoine d’Haussy, Head of OT Practice EMEA at Fortinet, explains to Mandana White how utilities can build resilience through integrated IT/OT security platforms.…

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Keeping the Grid in In Sync 13:53

2M ago13:53

13:53

What does it take to keep our power grid running in sync? Sebastian Huante, Sales and Technical Engineer for IT solutions at BITSTREAM Poland, tells Mandana White why precision timing is critical for the future of energy.By Smart Grid Forums

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Can Smarter Regulation Unlock Solar’s Full Potential? 11:10

2M ago11:10

11:10

In this episode, Mandana White speaks with Thomas Rightover, Head of Division Grid and Executive Board Member at CKW, about how regulation and smart grid management can turn solar expansion into a driver of stability and resilience.By Smart Grid Forums

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Reinventing the Grid with Flexibility Services 18:55

2M ago18:55

18:55

Host Mandana White talks to Mihkel Härm, CEO of Elektrilevi, about how Estonia is using flexibility services to turn homes, EVs, and businesses into active grid players — and why this is key to a renewable-powered future in Europe.By Smart Grid Forums

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Why Can’t Grid Systems Just Talk to Each Other? 28:08

2M ago28:08

28:08

Interoperability remains one of the biggest challenges in today’s power grid. Mandana White speaks with Andrea Bonetti, Senior Specialist in Relay Protection and IEC 61850 at Megger, about why legacy systems struggle to connect with modern digital tech.By Smart Grid Forums

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Is now the time for DERs to scale? 41:01

2M ago41:01

41:01

A decade ago, DERs were hot. The hype was that things like batteries, smart devices, and other distributed energy technologies would offset the need for expanding traditional grid infrastructure. But DERs never took off, at least not at the scale that many hoped for. They had high price tags and short track records compared to the existing substati…

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When to colocate data centers with generation 36:32

2M ago36:32

36:32

The idea of colocating data centers with behind-the-meter generation is picking up steam, including large projects in Memphis, Texas, and Utah developing significant on-site capacity, mostly from combined-cycle gas plants. The main argument is speed to power. Building your own generation allows data centers to sidestep the challenges involved in gr…

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Sustainability & Climate Resilience at the City of Hollywood 23:02

2M ago23:02

23:02

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil welcomes Elaine Franklin, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Hollywood, Florida. Franklin shares how the city is advancing its sustainability action plan through clearer accountability, innovative digital tracking tools, and regional collaboration to achieve net zero em…

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The sunk cost dilemma 32:35

2M ago32:35

32:35

Deep into engineering studies for Project Cormorant, 8 Rivers' massive low-carbon ammonia facility, the team discovered new efficiencies that would create a safer, more advanced version of their hydrogen technology. But there was one problem: they'd already invested heavily in the current design. CEO Damian Beauchamp faced a classic dilemma. Should…

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AMA: Geoengineering, nuclear, power prices, and more 42:06

2M ago42:06

42:06

You sent in great questions, and today we’re answering them. In this episode, Shayle hands it over to Lara Pierpoint, the managing director of Trellis Climate at the Prime Coalition and host of The Green Blueprint. Together they cover topics like: Whether solar radiation management will remain the “black sheep” of climate technologies What technolo…

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How AI and Data Are Shaping the Grid 15:48

2M ago15:48

15:48

AI is transforming grid management, but without strong data strategies and network model management, utilities risk falling behind. Sally Jacquemin, VP - Power & Utilities at AspenTech DGM joins Mandana White to explore the future of renewable integration and smarter grid operations.By Smart Grid Forums

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The mechanics of data center flexibility 36:07

2M ago36:07

36:07

Adding flexibility to data center loads could ease strain on the grid and reduce the need for costly new generation. And, according to one study, shaving off just a few megawatts during peak hours could also unlock unused capacity —as many as 98 gigawatts in the U.S — if those facilities reduced load by just 0.5% each year. The problem: data center…

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John Hickenlooper’s optimism in the face of opposition 34:22

2M ago34:22

34:22

Three years ago this month, the Inflation Reduction Act passed, marking the largest investment in climate policy in U.S. history. It included over $300 billion to address global warming and was expected to unlock nearly $3 trillion in private investment by 2032. But then came Donald Trump. Over the last eight months, the Trump administration has wo…

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Heard at SED Forum Summer: How Much Will It Cost To Replace All Fossil Fuels & How Much Will We Gain? 26:36

3M ago26:36

26:36

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil introduces a keynote session from the Smart Energy Decisions Summer Forum featuring Dr. Wolfgang Bauer, where he tackles two vital questions: How much will it cost to replace all fossil fuels, and how much will we gain? With compelling data and economic analysis, Bauer outlines the feasibili…

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The Green Blueprint: Terrawatt Infrastructure’s billion-dollar strategy 35:45

3M ago35:45

35:45

Editor's note: With the Trump administration's efforts to roll back California's electric trucking rules, there's new attention on heavy duty transport right now. So we're bringing you a deep dive into the industry, an episode of The Green Blueprint on Terawatt Infrastructure's $1 billion strategy to build charging depots. In 2021, Neha Palmer co-f…

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The case for sodium-ion 45:36

3M ago45:36

45:36

Our first episode covering sodium-ion batteries featured a cautious take on the chemistry: Back in February Adrian Yao, founder of Stanford’s STEER program, explained the challenges of reaching competitive energy density and costs, especially given the falling price of LFP. Still, sodium-ion chemistries are picking up steam, thanks largely to growi…

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The rogue idea that saved a hydrogen startup 38:07

3M ago38:07

38:07

In 2022, Zach Jones learned that his technical team at Graphitic Energy was secretly working nights and weekends on an unsanctioned approach to producing clean hydrogen from natural gas. It was an approach that abandoned the technology Zach and the company had spent years developing. And Zach wasn’t happy. With investors to answer to and a pilot pl…

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Can Open Source Unlock the Grid’s Full Potential? 13:39

3M ago13:39

13:39

Can the grid learn from tech’s open-source playbook? Jonas Van den Bogaard of Alliander tells Mandana how open-source tools are helping utilities break vendor lock-in, drive innovation, and accelerate Europe’s energy transition.By Smart Grid Forums

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Grid Chaos and Data Centers: Where To Go From Here 26:34

3M ago26:34

26:34

In this episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna welcomes Brian Janous, Co-founder of Cloverleaf Infrastructure and former leader of Microsoft’s global energy team. They explore the energy sector’s changing dynamics, driven by skyrocketing demand from data centers and a shift in emphasis from buying energy to securing capacity. Janous shares insight…

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Explaining the ‘Watt-Bit Spread’ 42:01

3M ago42:01

42:01

Editor’s note: The uncertainties of data center construction — like when, where, and how much to build — are as pressing as ever. So we’re revisiting a conversation with Brian Janous, co-founder and chief commercial officer at data center developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure. In this episode, he explains his theory of the ‘Watt-Bit Spread’, which of…

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PJM and the capacity crunch 31:43

3M ago31:43

31:43

The PJM capacity auction this month broke records with sky-high wholesale power prices — and that was by design. Under PJM’s auction rules, tight supply raises prices, incentivizing the development of new generation and encouraging existing generation to stay online. The big driver of that tight supply? Data-center driven load growth. The independe…

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Are Power Grids Being Left Exposed? 24:41

3M ago24:41

24:41

As power grids go digital, are we outpacing our own ability to secure them? In this episode of Powering the Future, Mandana White speaks with Styrmir Jonsson, CISO at Landsnet, about the rising cybersecurity risks in the energy sector.By Smart Grid Forums

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Repurposing EV batteries for grid storage 27:35

3M ago27:35

27:35

The job of an EV battery is unforgiving. If its performance slips too far — say, lost acceleration or range — it's probably off to the recycling heap. That’s even though it may have plenty of usable life, if only for something less demanding than powering a vehicle. Grid storage is theoretically a gentler job, involving slower discharging and more …

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Leveraging IEC 61850 to future-proof the power grid 14:42

4M ago14:42

14:42

In this episode of Powering the Future, Mandana White catches up with Jackson Moore, Application Engineer at Triangle Microworks, to demystify IEC 61850, the global standard that keeps power systems connected, secure, and future-ready.By Smart Grid Forums

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Why Grid Flexibility is Key to Renewable Success 13:09

4M ago13:09

13:09

As renewables surge, so does the need for smarter, more flexible grids. In this episode, Mandana White speaks with Davide Della Giustina of A2A about how energy storage is transforming grid flexibility—and the future of clean power.By Smart Grid Forums

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Can the Grid Handle Renewables? 16:35

4M ago16:35

16:35

As the world races toward clean energy, our grids are under pressure to keep pace. Smart Grid Forums CEO Mandana White speaks with Davide Della Giustina, Head of Business Development and Transformation Officer at A2A Smart Infrastructure, to find out how we're integrating renewable energy into existing power systems.…

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Are EVs Helping or Hurting the Grid? 13:24

4M ago13:24

13:24

EVs are on the rise, but can our power grids keep up? In this episode of Powering the Future, Mandana White speaks with Baerte de Brey, Vice President of The European Association for Electromobility, about the real impact of electric vehicles on the grid.By Smart Grid Forums

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Five big questions emerging from the OBBB 44:19

4M ago44:19

44:19

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) complicates things. Together with a related executive order, it dismantled key parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, while also injecting uncertainty into tax credit eligibility. The uncertainty in particular throws a wrench into project planning and leaves big questions about the impact across climate tech. So wha…

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New Approaches to Demand Response with GridBeyond, Plugged In Ep. 8 32:15

4M ago32:15

32:15

In this episode of Plugged In, Abhinav Krishna talks to Joe Hayden, Executive Vice President for North America at GridBeyond, to explore the evolving opportunities and challenges of energy flexibility in today’s world. As the conversation dives into how commercial and industrial customers can unlock new revenue streams and support grid stability th…

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Tumult in residential solar 34:34

4M ago34:34

34:34

Residential solar has had a rough couple of years. In 2024, the market contracted 31% and major companies like Sunpower and Titan went bankrupt. Now, only halfway through 2025, Sunnova and Mosaic have filed for bankruptcy, too. The market has suffered from low demand, high interest rates, and major policy changes like California’s cuts to net meter…