# The rise of metal fuels

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-08-27
- Length: 40m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels

## Summary

Richard Wang, co-founder and CEO of Voya Energy, explains how his company is replacing diesel generators with electrochemical generators powered by aluminum pellets. Wang details why diesel remains dominant due to its high energy density and low cost, but highlights its issues with emissions, noise, and permitting, particularly for data centers. He describes Voya's metal-air cell technology, which offers superior power quality, compact footprint, and zero air emissions, while leveraging low-grade scrap aluminum as a cost-competitive fuel source.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=7) Introduction: Richard Wang and Voya Energy
- [4:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=246) The Dominance and Problems of Diesel Generators
- [10:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=628) Why Natural Gas and Batteries Haven't Replaced Diesel
- [16:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=961) Aluminum as a High-Energy-Density Fuel
- [19:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=1167) How Voya's Electrochemical Generator Works
- [23:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=1417) Voya vs. Diesel: Cost, Footprint, and Performance
- [28:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=1729) Grid Assets and Defense Applications
- [31:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=1906) Why Metal Fuels Are Viable Now
- [35:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels#t=2118) Fuel Strategy: Scrap Aluminum and Long-Term Vision

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Voya Energy (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- Latitude Media (company)
- EnergyHub (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Reframing Aluminum As a Sustainable Energy Source: Insights from Peter Godart, Co-Founder and CEO of Found Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-09-14-reframing-aluminum-as-a-sustainable-energy-source-insights-from-peter-godart-co) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Powering the AI Era Sustainably: Breakthrough Climate Hardware Tech from 8 Innovators](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-12-04-powering-the-ai-era-sustainably-breakthrough-climate-hardware-tech-from-8-innova) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Cryo-Compressed Hydrogen: Solving America’s 50 GW Diesel Generator Problem](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-08-14-cryo-compressed-hydrogen-solving-americas-50-gw-diesel-generator-problem) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [187. Turning Scrap Soda Cans & Coffee To Sustainable Car Fuel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-08-13-187-turning-scrap-soda-cans-coffee-to-sustainable-car-fuel) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Why Long-Duration Energy Storage Breaks Batteries – and How Hydrogen Fixes It with Mia Rath](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-01-22-why-long-duration-energy-storage-breaks-batteries-and-how-hydrogen-fixes-it-with) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-27-the-rise-of-metal-fuels. 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.