Catalyst · 28 Sept 2026 · 31m
Aman Joshi, chief commercial officer at Bloom Energy, explains how long interconnection queues and grid constraints are driving data centers and industrial customers to adopt permanent, on-site fuel cell power. He details why the traditional levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) model is misleading for on-site generation, arguing that total delivered cost per watt into the rack—including reliability, community acceptance, and water use—makes Bloom's solid-state fuel cells economically superior to combustion turbines. Joshi highlights that community pushback regarding emissions and water consumption is forcing major projects, such as Oracle's New Mexico deployment, to switch from gas turbines to Bloom's technology to secure permits and social license.
companies scaling up
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Chris Gammell details his new 13kW solar and Tesla Powerwall 3 installation, discussing the economics of virtual power plants and peak pricing. Dave Jones analyzes Australia's energy market, highlighting negative wholesale prices and the high cost of peak power generation. The hosts also discuss the impact of new US tariffs on the global electronics supply chain and the challenges of designing with tiny 0.35mm pitch BGA components.
Donnel Baird, founder of BlocPower, explains how he built a for-profit company to electrify low-income buildings, drawing on his upbringing in Brooklyn where residents used gas ovens for heat. He details the technical process of replacing fossil fuel systems with heat pumps and induction stoves, and the financial model that allows building owners to repay upgrades through energy savings. Baird also discusses the company's partnership with cities like Ithaca, its competitive advantage in serving underserved markets, and his vision for broad-based investment in the green energy transition.
Ted McKlveen, co-founder and CEO of Verne, explains how his company’s cryo-compressed hydrogen technology offers a cost-effective alternative to diesel generators for data centers and remote sites. He details the engineering challenges of storing hydrogen at -200°C and 500 bar, and describes Verne’s pivot from heavy-duty trucking to stationary power generation as the primary market. McKlveen argues that replacing the 50 GW of upcoming diesel backup capacity with clean hydrogen can support grid stability and decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors without requiring immediate grid expansion.
Gareth Evans, CEO and founder of VECKTA, discusses how manufacturing companies can transition from relying on an aging, unreliable grid to modern, on-site renewable energy systems. He explains that combining solar, battery storage, and efficiency measures significantly reduces downtime risk and operational costs, citing a defense contractor saving $1.2 million annually and a steel manufacturer saving $391,000. Evans highlights the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act's tax incentives, which can slash system payback periods to under a year, while warning against the pitfalls of relying solely on solar without storage or purchasing illegitimate renewable energy credits.
Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the Boeing Starliner launch scrub due to a faulty oxygen valve, highlighting the risks of outsourcing in aerospace. They analyze the business failures of the Airbus A380 and Tesla's Supercharger network, noting how long-term market predictions and financial pressures impact hardware strategy. The conversation shifts to home energy systems, comparing AC and DC battery architectures from brands like DEYE and Tesla, and exploring blockchain-based energy trading via Power Ledger. Finally, they examine the cultural and operational challenges of TSMC building chip fabs in Arizona, including workforce training and massive power consumption.
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