# Unlocking the renewable energy revolution with Ramya Swaminathan of Malta Inc.

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-10-12
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc

## Summary

Ramya Swaminathan, CEO of Malta Inc., explains how her company uses molten salt to provide low-cost, long-duration energy storage for the grid, spinning out of Google X in 2018. She details the technical advantages of thermal storage over lithium-ion batteries, specifically regarding scalability and supply chain security, and discusses the company's transition from pilot validation to commercial deployment. Swaminathan also reflects on her previous ventures in hydrokinetic power and the challenges of integrating renewable energy into the existing US grid infrastructure.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc#t=0) Introduction: Ramya Swaminathan and Malta Inc.
- [1:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc#t=117) Early Ventures: Free Flow Power and Rye Development
- [5:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc#t=302) The Energy Storage Problem and Grid Inertia
- [15:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc#t=940) Malta’s Molten Salt Technology Explained
- [18:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc#t=1104) Comparing Salt Storage to Lithium-Ion and Crescent Dunes
- [31:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc#t=1861) Commercial Deployment and Future Timeline

## 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

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Malta Inc. (company)
- Google X (company)
- Free Flow Power (company)
- Rye Development (company)
- Crescent Dunes (company)
- Tesla (product)
- UBS (company)
- Southwest Research Institute (company)
- Orlando Utilities Commission (company)
- Daywa Plant (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [How to Save a Planet: Spark Tank! How Do We Solve the Energy Storage Problem?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-01-how-to-save-a-planet-spark-tank-how-do-we-solve-the-energy-storage-problem) (Catalyst)
- [Decarbonizing Heavy Industry: Antora Energy’s 2400°C Thermal Batteries](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-24-decarbonizing-heavy-industry-antora-energys-2400-c-thermal-batteries) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [138. How Thermal Batteries Will Scale Sustainable Energy ☀️🔋](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-05-138-how-thermal-batteries-will-scale-sustainable-energy) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Decarbonizing Industrial Heat with John O’Donnell, CEO at Rondo Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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