# Volts crossover: Six big energy questions

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-02-25
- Length: 1h 04m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [3:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=201) Introduction: Six Big Energy Questions
- [3:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=216) Self-Driving Cars, Sprawl, and Urbanism
- [13:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=815) Data Center Off-Grid and Grid Capacity
- [26:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=1568) Software, DERs, and Platform Shitification
- [38:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=2311) Industrial Electrification and Electricity Prices
- [45:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=2710) Recycling Critical Minerals and Supply Chains
- [54:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions#t=3258) Geoengineering and Solar Radiation Management

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Waymo (product)
- Nest (product)
- EcoBee (product)
- Tesla (company)
- Redwood Materials (company)
- Cyclic Materials (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Uplight (company)
- Antenna Group (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Decentralizing the Energy Grid | Evergen's Nick McGrath | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-11-15-decentralizing-the-energy-grid-evergens-nick-mcgrath-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The non-Stinky Car](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-20-the-non-stinky-car) (The Amp Hour)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [Road trip to the deep space network](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-04-17-road-trip-to-the-deep-space-network) (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/2026-02-25-volts-crossover-six-big-energy-questions. 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.