# The Volts crossover episode

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-11-03
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode

## Summary

David Roberts, host of the Volts podcast, joins Catalyst host Shayle Kann to debate the most overhyped and underhyped trends in climatetech. They identify underhyped areas including the rapid onshoring of clean energy manufacturing driven by the Inflation Reduction Act, thermal storage for industrial heat, and networked geothermal systems. Conversely, they argue that electric stovetops, small modular reactors (SMRs), and voluntary carbon markets are receiving disproportionate attention relative to their actual impact or maturity. The conversation also highlights the significant headwind of rising interest rates on high-capex clean energy projects.

## Chapters

- [0:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=49) Introduction: Shayle Kann and David Roberts discuss the crossover format
- [7:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=438) Underhyped: Onshoring of clean energy manufacturing and the IRA
- [14:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=877) Underhyped: Thermal storage for industrial heating and cooling
- [22:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=1354) Overhyped: Electric stovetops and the gas stove culture war
- [29:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=1749) Overhyped: Small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear hype
- [39:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=2350) Underhyped: The impact of high interest rates on clean energy
- [45:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=2720) Underhyped: Networked geothermal and district heating
- [51:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=3095) Overhyped: Voluntary carbon markets and forestry credits
- [56:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode#t=3379) Overhyped: Mineral bottlenecks and supply chain constraints

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- Volts (other)
- Catalyst (other)
- Rondo (company)
- Antora (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- DOE (other)
- First Solar (company)
- NextEra (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Like a steam engine in your house](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-04-15-like-a-steam-engine-in-your-house) (The Amp Hour)
- [What It’s Really Going to Take to Save the Planet: Lessons from 2024](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-01-02-what-its-really-going-to-take-to-save-the-planet-lessons-from-2024) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Renewable Energy Policy with Ari Gerstman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-05-02-renewable-energy-policy-with-ari-gerstman) (The Amp Hour)
- [Professional Scooter Charger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-10-24-professional-scooter-charger) (The Amp Hour)
- [Wow, Dave REALLY likes Top Gun](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-25-wow-dave-really-likes-top-gun) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-11-03-the-volts-crossover-episode. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.