CleanTalk

Luke Harmer
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Career stories & insights from the front lines of the energy transition, hosted by film-maker Luke Harmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Brutal Reality of Climate Tech Entrepreneurship | Matt Stedman

    Need help turning an idea into a real product? Work with Hard Stuff to build your MVP today: https://www.hard-stuff.com/ __________________________ In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Matt Stedman, a startup engineer and fractional CTO who helps early-stage companies turn ambitious ideas into real, working products, particularly in climate and clean technology. We explore what founders consistently get wrong when building MVPs, why “perfect” products are often the enemy of progress, and how marrying yourself to a solution instead of a problem can quietly kill a startup. Matt shares hard-won insights from working with hardware founders, from breaking perfectionism to testing whether anyone will actually pay for what you’re building. We also dig into why climate tech isn’t just about big infrastructure and renewables, how niche physical products can make a meaningful impact, and why building “stuff that matters” requires humility, iteration, and the willingness to fail fast. This episode is for startup founders, engineers, climate tech builders, product leaders, and anyone navigating the messy early stages of turning an idea into something real, especially when time, money, and certainty are in short supply. Enjoy! __________________________ Connect with Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-a-stedman/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ __________________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: [https://www.harmervisuals.com](https://www.harmervisuals.com/) Many thanks to… Matt Stedman Our rental suppliers – O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ __________________________ Chapters for today’s episode: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 12m

  2. FEB 2

    Inside Wind Turbine Training: Safety, Risk & Offshore Wind | Iain Tindall

    To learn more about training courses needed to pursue a technical career in the wind energy sector, visit: https://belayropeaccess.co.uk/ ________________ In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Iain Tindall, owner of Belay Rope Access Training Centre in Newhaven, East Sussex, to explore what safety training really looks like behind the scenes in the offshore wind industry. This conversation is released in conjunction with a full training vlog following Luke through his GWO Basic Safety Training, which drops this Friday. The film documents the reality of working at height, sea survival, fire awareness, manual handling, and first aid, and why these skills are non-negotiable for anyone working on or around wind energy infrastructure. In today's discussion, Iain shares insights from decades working offshore across oil, gas, and wind. We talk about dynamic risk assessment, complacency as a leading cause of incidents, how training must evolve as turbines move further offshore and increase in scale, and why human judgement still matters even as automation and robotics improve. Audio-only listeners: this episode includes short excerpts from the full vlog. You’ll still get plenty of value listening, but for the best experience we recommend watching on YouTube or Spotify. This episode is for offshore wind technicians, safety professionals, trainers, operators, engineers, and anyone curious about what it really takes to keep people safe while building the energy system of the future. Enjoy! Connect with Iain on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-tindall-8137817b/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com Many thanks to… Belay Rope Access training team & trainees for making the project possible Our rental suppliers – O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ Chapters for today’s episode:00:00 – Intro & Vlog Release Date 01:48 – Iain's Background 03:24 - Working At Heights & Manual Handling 11:08 - Evacuation Training In The Real World 15:17 - Training To Employment - The Learning Curve 17:20 - Iain's Rescue Stories 20:04 - Sea Survival - An Evolving Training Experience 25:44 - Floating Turbines & Changing Safety Landscape 30:00 - First Aid - Complexity, Skill-Fade, Competitions & Horror Stories 39:37 - Fire Awareness - Engineering Risk Out 44:03 - The Human Factor vs Automation 44:47 - Iain's Final Thoughts 46:00 - Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  3. JAN 26

    Who Gets a Say in the Energy Transition? Systems, Power, and Generations | Ivo Wakounig

    This episode is sponsored by Leafcloud. For heating networks, property portfolios, and public infrastructure operators, Leafcloud offers decentralised cloud infrastructure designed to align digital workloads with energy and climate goals. Learn more at https://www.leaf.cloud __________________ In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Ivo Wakounig, a PhD researcher and active member of the World Energy Council, to unpack why the energy transition is far more than a technical challenge. Starting from a background in physics and astronomy, Ivo explains how he moved toward energy systems research, not in pursuit of status or salary, but impact. From there, the conversation opens up into three deeply interconnected themes: systems thinking, infrastructure, and intergenerational responsibility. We explore why energy systems are often invisible despite shaping everyday life, how Europe’s electricity grid reflects decades (and centuries) of political and social decisions, and why renewable integration cannot be solved by engineering alone. Ivo breaks down systems thinking as a lens rather than a solution, a way of understanding complexity, feedback loops, and unintended consequences without pretending the world is simple. A major thread running through the discussion is youth engagement. Not as a branding exercise or slogan, but as a structural necessity. Energy infrastructure lasts for decades; decisions made today will be executed by people who currently have little formal power. Ivo argues that excluding younger and marginalised voices isn’t just unjust, it actively weakens the transition. We also tackle uncomfortable but necessary topics: - Why the energy transition is inherently political - Why disagreement and disruption are features, not bugs - Why labelling communities as “NIMBYs” misses deeper justice concerns - Why changing the goal of a system matters more than tweaking its rules The episode closes with reflections on learning, career uncertainty, and why inspiration usually follows action, not the other way around. This is a conversation for anyone working in energy, infrastructure, policy, research, or climate communication, especially those who sense that the hardest problems ahead aren’t technical, but human. Enjoy! __________________ Connect with Ivo on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivo-wakounig/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ ____________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com Many thanks to... - Leafcloud for sponsoring our recording venue - Our rental suppliers - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ ____________________ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:55 – From Physics to Energy Systems 05:09 – Inside the World Energy Council 09:45 – What the Future Energy Leaders Programme Really Does 11:34 – Beyond Youth Engagement 15:15 – Making An Impact In Infrastructure 20:06 – Systems Thinking Explained 26:48 – The European Electricity Grid as a Living System 28:07 – Ad Break 29:42 – Integrating Renewables: Why Balance Is Hard 30:48 – Technical Models vs Human Behaviour 34:15 – Institutions, People, and the Grid 37:13 – Why the Energy Transition Is Political 39:44 – Youth, Power, and Changing the Goal of the System 44:00 – Disagreement, NIMBYism, and Energy Justice 48:09 – Inspiration Comes After Action 50:43 – Quickfire Curiosity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  4. JAN 19

    Why Sustainability Needs To Create Value | Thaddeus Anim-Somuah

    In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, a corporate sustainability professional, chemical engineer, World Energy Council contributor, and advisor on impact and energy-transition investments, to explore how energy, materials, finance, and human behaviour are deeply interconnected, and why sustainability only works when it creates real value for people. Drawing on his upbringing in Ghana, his engineering background, and his work across industry, finance, and policy, Thaddeus unpacks the circular economy, material efficiency, behavioural change, sustainable finance, and the limits of “moralised” renewable energy narratives. We discuss why optimisation often matters more than abundance, how regulation like CSRD is reshaping corporate behaviour, and why finance, more than technology alone — will determine the pace of the energy transition. This episode is for sustainability professionals, engineers, investors, policymakers, founders, and anyone trying to understand how the energy transition actually works beyond slogans, marketing, and moral posturing. Enjoy! _______________ Connect with Thaddeus on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeusanimsomuah1/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ _______________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com Many thanks to… Our rental suppliers – O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ _______________ Chapters for today’s episode: 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – Growing Up in Ghana: Inequality, Community, and Early Sustainability Lessons 03:28 – Scarcity, Reuse, and the Roots of the Circular Economy 06:51 – Why Materials and Energy Can’t Be Separated 08:21 – Holistic Thinking: Energy, Behaviour, and Culture 11:51 – The Energy Trilemma Explained 14:12 – Decentralised Energy and Value Creation in Developing Economies 15:41 – Why Moralising Renewables Backfires 18:07 – What CSRD Is and Why Data Matters 21:04 – Community, Collaboration, and the World Energy Council 24:30 – Optimising the Built Environment 30:35 – Abundance vs Optimisation in Renewable Energy 36:08 – The Power of Finance in the Energy Transition 40:14 – Sustainable Finance and Financial Literacy 42:35 – Quickfire Curiosity: Futurism, Risk, and Career Advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  5. JAN 12

    Why Energy Transitions Fail Without Social Justice | Charissa Leiwakabessy

    This episode is sponsored by Leafcloud. For heating networks, property portfolios, and public infrastructure operators, Leafcloud offers decentralised cloud infrastructure designed to align digital workloads with energy and climate goals. Learn more at https://www.leaf.cloud __________________ The energy transition is often treated as a technical challenge, retrofit the buildings, deploy the technology, reduce emissions. But what happens when those solutions ignore the social realities of the people they’re meant to serve? In this episode of CleanTalk, we’re joined by Charissa Leiwakabessy, a political scientist and PhD researcher studying social justice in the energy transition in the Netherlands. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork in social housing and retrofit programmes, Charissa explains how well-intentioned energy policies can unintentionally reproduce inequality, and why siloed, technocratic approaches often generate resistance, delays, and loss of trust. This conversation reframes the energy transition as a social process, not just an engineering one, and shows why addressing lived realities isn’t a moral extra, but a practical necessity. Enjoy! __________________ Connect with Charissa on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charissa-leiwakabessy/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ ____________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com Many thanks to... - Leafcloud for sponsoring our recording venue - Our rental suppliers - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ ____________________ Chapters for today's episode: 00:00 – Introduction Setting the context: social justice and the energy transition in the Netherlands. 01:33 – From Political Science to Energy Justice How academic curiosity leads into sustainability and social justice research. 01:48 – What a PhD Actually Looks Like in Practice Why this research happens in the field, not just in theory. 04:52 – Energy Transition as a Political Process How decisions redistribute power, money, time, and responsibility. 06:50 – Energy Poverty Is More Than High Bills How housing conditions, practices, and social factors intersect. 09:40 – Two Very Different Professional Responses Ignoring claims vs creating pathways for solutions. 11:22 – Damp, Mould, and Hidden Costs of Retrofit Why unresolved issues come back more expensively later. 13:48 – Trust Is Lowest Where Transition Is Happening Fastest The paradox of neglected neighbourhoods and quick CO₂ wins. 14:55 – Treating Energy as a Social Transition How addressing justice restores trust and avoids delays. 17:14 – The Risk of a Purely Technocratic Transition Why technical success can still reproduce inequality. 19:10 – Visibility, Consistency, and Being Present in Communities Why trust is built face-to-face, not through institutions alone. 21:33 – Ad Break 23:09 – Visibility Continued... 25:13 – Public–Private Collaboration Done Well What Rotterdam gets right about learning by doing. 26:39 – Informal Feedback Loops That Actually Work Why low-key community meetings outperform formal reporting. 28:32 – Storytelling as Infrastructure How narratives create recognition, hope, and engagement. 32:26 – Local Ambassadors vs Influencer Climate Messaging What scales — and what doesn’t — in public engagement. 34:26 – Navigating Political Polarisation Around Energy Why dialogue matters more than winning arguments. 38:09 – When Siloed Work Delays the Transition Why ignoring social issues wastes time and money. 40:11 – Quickfire Curiosity Futurism, intuition, and career advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  6. 09/11/2025

    James Sterling: Social Justice & The Energy Transition

    This week on CleanTalk, Film Director-Producer Luke Harmer sits down with James Sterling, Communications and Social Value Manager at Bristol City Leap, to explore how one city is pioneering a socially just energy transition. In this episode, we dive into Bristol City Leap’s innovative approach to building a fairer, cleaner energy system — one designed not only to decarbonise but to protect the people who contribute the least to climate change from bearing the greatest cost. James unpacks how their model is creating a replicable blueprint for other regions and cities to follow, while ensuring that community voices remain central to the process. From tackling fuel poverty and embedding social value, to driving investment and inspiring wider systemic change, this conversation highlights what a just transition can look like in practice and why Bristol’s story could mark a turning point for the way we think about local energy systems across the UK and beyond. Enjoy! ____________________ Connect with James on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sterling-a96169104/ Unlock support for decarbonising your home, business or community: https://www.bristolcityleap.co.uk/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ ____________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film production company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: harmervisuals.com Many thanks to... - Bristol City Leap for co-ordinating recording space - Our rental suppliers - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ | Shutter Films | https://www.shutterfilms.co.uk/ ____________________ Chapters for today's episode: 00:00-01:44 Intro 01:44-03:06 Early Life 03:06-11:12 First Jobs & Finding Purpose 11:12-13:12 How BCL Came About 13:12-14:56 What Is Ameresco? 14:56-17:19 Impact On The Local Job Market 17:19-21:04 Social Justice & The Energy Transition 21:04-24:47 Underrepresentation & Funding 24:47-26:27 The Importance Of Case Study Storytelling 26:27-26:41 ADVERT 26:41-28:44 Understanding The Organisational Model 28:44-31:26 BCL’s Goals 31:26-35:54 Inspiring The Next Generation 35:54-37:18 A Favourite Project 37:18-39:50 BCL’s Blueprints For Other Regions To Use 39:50-41:33 Winter On The Way 41:33-43:23 Social & Environmental Justice 43:23-46:21 Can BCL Help Your Organisation? 46:21-47:01 Outreach Methods 47:01-48:50 EV Infra 48:50-52:51 Quickfire Curiosity 52:51-53:20 Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  7. 07/14/2025

    Justice Ohene-Akoto: Africa's Energy Future

    This week on CleanTalk, Film Director & Producer Luke Harmer visits Virginia Beach, USA to meet Engineer & Inventor Justice Ohene-Akoto, Founder and Executive Director of the Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC). ASEC is developing scalable blueprints for sustainable energy transformations, supporting organisations and governments across Africa in building practical, repeatable solutions to the energy access challenge. In this conversation you'll learn: ⚡ How policy decisions shape real-world progress in African energy infrastructure 🌍 Why ASEC is building transformation templates for use across the continent 🔧 The engineering realities of energy access—and what’s often overlooked 🤝 How ASEC’s work connects with the World Energy Council’s global initiatives 🧠 Justice’s evolution from inventor to advisor, and how systems thinking drives his work Enjoy! __________________________ Connect with Justice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justice-ohene-akoto-mba-pmp-2b4328107/ Learn more about ASEC or reach out to collaborate: https://www.asecafrica.org/ Join the CleanTalk community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ __________________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film production company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com __________________________ Big shoutouts to: Studio: 24/7 Jamz Rehearsal Studios - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078426701489 Our production suppliers: Mark Gamsey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgamsey/ | Sunipa Pictures - https://www.sunipapictures.com/ | O'Riordan - https://oriordan.io/ __________________________ Chapters for today's episode: 00:00-02:03 Intro   02:03-06:10 Early Life & Education   06:10-10:17 Engineering Philosophy   10:17-13:10 Africa's Energy History   13:10-14:52 The Complexities Of Africa's Place In The World   14:52-18:04 Understanding The Roadmap For A Sustainable Future   18:04-20:20 Navigating National & International Stakeholder Dynamics   20:20-32:12 ASEC - Frameworks & Support For A Better Future   32:12-35:47 The World Energy Council   35:47-38:02 Humanising Energy   38:02-42:34 ASEC's Ongoing Activities   42:34-50:58 Quickfire Curiosity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  8. 03/31/2025

    David Kohnstamm: Turning Waste Server Heat Into Hot Showers

    This week on CleanTalk, Film Director & Producer Luke Harmer ventures over to Amsterdam to meet the Founder of a sustainable cloud startup called Leafcloud. Leafcloud has developed a more sustainable alternative approach to big tech's method of building and scaling cloud infrastructure. In this conversation you'll learn: How a school misfit would go on to channel a passion for technology, science and efficiency into revitalising a startup's vision for the future of internet infrastructureThe hidden caveats to big tech's sustainability claimsMortal risks experienced by tech startups during market & product positioningHow waste server heat is used to heat showersThe implications of software experts being more vocal than infrastructure experts in AI news & commentaryAn IT expert's take on existential AI risksThe DeepSeek shake up & the Jevon's Paradox - why efficient software & hardware will drive hardware demand up, not downHow waste heat from servers is being repurposed to heat homes & showersHow Leafcloud can offer a secure & reliable alternative to big tech's cloud services at a more competitive priceWhat kind of organisations Leafcloud can help with their IT and cloud needsDavid's ambitions for future sustainability ventures Enjoy! ____________________ Connect with David on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkohnstamm Start your sustainable cloud journey with Leafcloud today: www.leaf.cloud/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ ____________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film production company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: harmervisuals.com Many thanks to... - Leafcloud for co-ordinating recording space - Our rental suppliers - Camera Dept. - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ | Shutter Films | https://www.shutterfilms.co.uk/ Lighting & Grip - Masterwork Films | https://rent.masterwork.film/ | eQuipme Amsterdam | https://equipme.amsterdam/en/ ____________________ Chapters for today's episode: 00:00-02:53 Intro 02:53-04:17 David's Early Life 04:17-06:32 Early Career 06:32-07:33 Personal Sustainability Conviction 07:33-09:06 Re-entering Education 09:06-11:28 An Introduction To Data Centres 11:28-14:37 Why Heat Waste Is A Problem In The Cloud Industry 14:37-17:20 Big Tech & Sustainability 17:20-18:23 David's Entry Into Enterprise IT 18:23-21:20 How An Overly Technical Market & Product Position Caused The Company Challenges 21:20-24:36 Rebooting The Company 24:36-25:18 The Potential For Heat Repurposing 25:18-26:51 Hiring The Leafcloud Team 26:51-28:37 Building The Hardware & Software 28:37-33:07 The DeepSeek shake up & the Jevon's Paradox - why efficient software & hardware will drive hardware demand up, not down 33:07-34:58 The Tech Sectors Redundancy Problem 34:58-39:09 Pros & Cons Of Being Based In The Netherlands 39:09-44:03 An Infra Experts Take On Existential AI Risks 44:03-44:33 Ironing Out Remaining Kinks In The Business 44:33-46:48 Space Radiating Paint - David's Inspiration For Future Sustainability Ventures 46:48-54:02 Is Leafcloud Your Ideal Next Cloud Provider? 54:02-59:00 Quickfire Curiosity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
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About

Career stories & insights from the front lines of the energy transition, hosted by film-maker Luke Harmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Luke Harmer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Luke Harmer
  • Show Website
    CleanTalk