Hardware Podcasts

Volts crossover: Six big energy questions

Catalyst · 25 Feb 2026 · 1h 04m

What this episode covers

David Roberts and Shayle Kann discuss six critical energy questions for the next decade, starting with the urban and climate impacts of self-driving cars, noting that while they are electric, they may accelerate sprawl and vehicle miles traveled. They then analyze the 'data center fever' crisis, debating whether massive loads will go fully off-grid with on-site generation or if the grid will eventually expand to meet demand. The conversation shifts to the risks of 'shitification' in software-controlled home devices like thermostats and EVs, arguing for interoperability to prevent platform lock-in. Finally, they address the strategic importance of recycling critical minerals through companies like Redwood and Cyclic Materials, and the moral hazards of unregulated solar radiation management (SRM) geoengineering.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tesla, Redwood Materials, Cyclic Materials, EnergyHub, Uplight, Antenna Group
Products
Waymo, Nest, EcoBee

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