Conversations in Cleantech

Brightsmith
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Conversations in Cleantech offers insight into the opportunities, challenges and rewards of working in the cleantech space from the investors, leaders, entrepreneurs, accelerators & technologists within it. We talk all things cleantech, sustainability, renewables, agritech, solar, wind, e-mobilty, hydrogen & energy storage. The time for cleantech is now – join the revolution and live your purpose.
 Conversations in Cleantech is bought to you by Brightsmith, the cleantech search specialists.

  1. 19h ago

    Tony Burkart, Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Public Affairs at Beale Infrastructure: on Community, Trust & Building Digital Infrastructure | Season Eleven, Episode Three

    Welcome to Season Eleven of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we're exploring the talent equation, examining the people, skills, and leadership required to accelerate the energy transition. From workforce strategy and culture, to talent development and organisational growth, we'll explore what it really takes to build the teams driving the sector forward.   In this episode, Jenny Gladman and Chloe England are joined by Tony Burkart, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Public Affairs at Beale Infrastructure - a leader helping shape how digital infrastructure is developed, communicated and integrated into local communities.   As demand for data centres continues to grow, Tony argues that success depends on far more than power, land, and capital. The future of infrastructure will be determined by trust: how developers engage with communities, communicate their purpose, and create lasting local value long before construction begins.   The conversation explores why workforce development, community partnerships, and public policy have become essential parts of infrastructure delivery, and why attracting the right talent means looking beyond technical expertise alone. From skilled trades to public affairs, Tony explains why people remain at the heart of every successful project.   This episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the industry's biggest challenges: as digital infrastructure scales at pace, how do we ensure the communities hosting it grow alongside it?   01:34 - Introduction to Tony 02:55 - What’s been the common thread behind your career decisions? 03:50 - After working at some of the world’s largest hyperscalers, what motivated you to join a much smaller, earlier-stage platform? 04:46 - You often speak about community trust and long-term impact - where does that personal commitment come from? 07:19 - Beale takes a community-first approach - what's changed that makes early community engagement so essential? 09:30 - Do you see the wider industry adopting this community-first approach, or is it still slow to change? 10:28 - From your perspective, what are the biggest talent bottlenecks in the industry today? 13:19 - Are the workforce bottlenecks you first saw at AWS now emerging at a much larger scale across digital infrastructure? 15:00 - Is workforce strategy now just as important as power and land strategy in data centre development? 16:40 - From your experience, what type of person thrives in a smaller, high-impact environment, and what does it take to succeed? 18:45 - How do you build a strong culture in a smaller, distributed team? 21:30 - Do you think people today are increasingly looking for impact and autonomy in their work? 24:13 - Do you think the traditional hyperscale playbook still works, or are we entering a new era of infrastructure development? 23:55 - Do you think the companies that succeed over the next decade will be those that engage communities best? 26:55 - Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of the industry? Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Chloe England, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Tony Burkart, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

    Tony Burkart, Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Public Affairs at Beale Infrastructure: on Community, Trust & Building Digital Infrastructure | Season Eleven, Episode Three

  2. Jul 7

    Karl Andersen, Founder & CEO at Lektra: on AI Growth, Decentralised Energy & Rethinking the Grid | Season Eleven, Episode Two

    Welcome to Season Eleven of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we're exploring the talent equation, examining the people, skills, and leadership required to accelerate the energy transition. From workforce strategy and culture, to talent development and organisational growth, we'll explore what it really takes to build the teams driving the sector forward.   In this episode, Jenny Gladman and Chloe England are joined by Karl Andersen, Founder & CEO of Lektra - an entrepreneur operating at the intersection of AI, energy, and digital infrastructure.   As excitement around AI continues to accelerate, Karl poses a different question: what happens when our energy systems can no longer keep up? He argues that the future of AI won't be limited by computing power, but by something far more fundamental - access to electricity.   The conversation explores why ageing grids are struggling to support the next wave of technological growth, why decentralised energy could reshape the way communities interact with power, and what a more resilient 'Grid 2.0' might look like. But beyond the technology itself, this episode is ultimately about people: the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers needed to build entirely new systems from the ground up.   Karl also shares a refreshingly human perspective on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of bringing together diverse thinkers who are willing to challenge assumptions and embrace complexity.   This episode offers a thought-provoking look at one of the biggest questions facing the energy transition: if AI is moving at extraordinary speed, can our infrastructure - and our workforce - evolve quickly enough to support it?   01:18 - Introduction to Karl 02:25 - Have you always had an entrepreneurial mindset? 04:30 - What is it about high-growth, fast-paced environments that energises you? 07:40 - You’ve said it’s not just about money, but about building something meaningful - where does that mindset come from? 12:10 - You’ve said the grid was never built for AI - can you unpack what that means and its implications for the future? 15:30 - Do you think society has fully grasped the scale of infrastructure needed to support AI? 20:00 - Does AI fundamentally change the economics of distributed energy by making compute a more valuable offtaker than the grid? 27:47 - How are you building diverse teams and fostering diversity of thought within Lektra, especially amid today’s talent challenges? 31:36 - What have you learned about leadership and people while scaling Lektra so far? 35:15 - If your vision of Grid 2.0 becomes a reality, how different will that world look? 38:18 - What advice would you give your younger self, and those following in your footsteps? Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Chloe England, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Karl Andersen, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

    Karl Andersen, Founder & CEO at Lektra: on AI Growth, Decentralised Energy & Rethinking the Grid | Season Eleven, Episode Two

  3. Jun 23

    Arne Weinig, Managing Partner at Tauber Solar & Tauber Energy: on Career Reinvention, Leadership & Building the Teams Behind the Energy Transition | Season Eleven, Episode One

    Welcome to Season Eleven of Conversations in Cleantech! This season, we're exploring the talent equation, examining the people, skills and leadership required to accelerate the energy transition. From workforce strategy and culture to talent development and organisational growth, we'll explore what it really takes to build the teams driving the sector forward. In this episode, Jenny Gladman and Paul Mazalov are joined by Arne Weinig, Managing Partner at Tauber Solar and Tauber Energy - a renewable energy business focused on solar, battery storage and energy infrastructure across Germany. After spending more than two decades in financial markets, Arne made the move into renewables to help build something tangible and impactful. He reflects on that career transition, the lessons learned from leading in highly regulated industries, and the realities of scaling a growing business in a market defined by constant change. The conversation explores the role talent plays in the energy transition, from attracting adaptable people and balancing experience with potential, to building teams capable of navigating new technologies, evolving market conditions and increasing grid complexity. Arne shares why curiosity, flexibility and a willingness to learn may be more important than ever in a sector where yesterday's solutions won't necessarily solve tomorrow's challenges. Alongside insights into Germany's renewable energy market, battery storage growth and grid constraints, Arne also discusses leadership, communication and the importance of embracing change. This episode offers a thoughtful perspective on the people behind the transition, and what it will take to ensure talent becomes a catalyst for growth rather than a cause of gridlock. 01:33 - Introduction to Arne 02:47 - Could you please tell us a little bit more about you? 03:50 - What motivated your move into renewables, and what were you hoping to find there? 06:32 - What lessons or skills from your earlier career have most shaped the leader you are today? 08:07 - What do Tauber Solar and Tauber Energy do, and what role do they play in the energy transition? 11:22 - What are the biggest lessons from scaling a renewable energy business? 13:40 - What has been the most rewarding moment since joining Tauber? 16:55 - How important are people and leadership to the success of the energy transition? 23:15 - What happens if the industry gets talent wrong? 27:48 - What gives you optimism about the future of renewables, and the people driving it? 30:05 - What advice would he give his younger self at the start of his career?   Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Paul Mazalov, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Arne Weinig, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

    Arne Weinig, Managing Partner at Tauber Solar & Tauber Energy: on Career Reinvention, Leadership & Building the Teams Behind the Energy Transition | Season Eleven, Episode One

  4. May 26

    John Belizaire, CEO at Soluna: on Renewable-Powered AI, Curtailment & Building the Future of Sustainable Compute | Season Ten, Episode Nine

    Welcome to Season Ten of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we’re deconstructing digital infrastructure - one of the fastest-growing and most influential parts of the energy transition. From hyperscalers and AI demand to talent, capital, software and sustainability, we’ll explore how data infrastructure gets built, powered, financed, staffed and scaled. In this episode, Chloe England is joined by John Belizaire, Founder and CEO at Soluna - a company rethinking how AI infrastructure and renewable energy can work together. John shares the story behind Soluna’s model: co-locating modular data centres with renewable energy projects to utilise otherwise curtailed power behind the meter. By bringing compute directly to stranded renewable generation, Soluna is helping unlock new economics for clean energy while supporting the rapid growth of AI and digital infrastructure. The conversation explores grid congestion, renewable-powered compute, the growing energy demands of AI, and why data centres could become a catalyst for accelerating clean energy deployment rather than competing with it. John also reflects on his journey from Intel and multiple successful technology ventures to building Soluna, alongside his views on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the importance of diversity within the technology sector. As Season Ten comes to a close, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the industry’s most ambitious intersections: the future of energy and the future of compute. 01:13 - Introduction to John 01:52 - You’ve had a fascinating journey from early renewables to building Soluna - what’s been the common thread driving your career? 05:11 - From your first startup to building Soluna, what’s the biggest lesson you carried forward into your later ventures? 07:40 - Was there a specific moment that led to the idea behind Soluna and pairing energy with compute? 13:08 - For those less familiar with the space, can you explain how Soluna pairs renewable energy with compute - and what’s happening behind the scenes? 20:30 - You’re not just building data centres, but an integrated energy and compute platform - is that how you think about Soluna internally? 25:43 - Are you primarily focused on the US market right now, or are you also expanding into Europe and other regions? 26:41 - Why has diversity been so important to you as a leader? 30:29 - How do you see Soluna evolving over the next few years, and what key milestones are you focused on?   Connect with your host, Chloe England, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, John Belizaire, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

  5. May 12

    David Miller, Chief Commercial Officer at Gridmatic: on AI, Grid Flexibility & Powering the Data Centre Boom | Season Ten, Episode Eight

    Welcome to Season Ten of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we’re deconstructing digital infrastructure - one of the fastest-growing and most influential parts of the energy transition. From hyperscalers and AI demand to talent, capital, software and sustainability, we’ll explore how data infrastructure gets built, powered, financed, staffed and scaled. In this episode, our hosts Joe Riley and Chloe England are joined by David Miller, Chief Commercial Officer at Gridmatic - an AI-powered energy company helping to optimise supply, demand and market participation across an increasingly complex grid. As data centre demand accelerates and electricity systems face mounting pressure, the conversation explores how AI, storage and flexible load could reshape the way power is bought, balanced and delivered. Drawing on experience across energy consulting, grid-scale storage and energy trading, David shares how the grid is evolving from a one-way system into a far more dynamic network of generation, demand and real-time optimisation. From the rise of controllable load resources to the growing role of battery storage and flexible demand, this episode unpacks how digital infrastructure and energy markets are becoming increasingly intertwined - and why smarter coordination may be just as important as new generation capacity. For anyone interested in where energy software, AI and data centre growth collide, this is a conversation well worth your time. 02:05 - Introduction to David 02:38 - Could you walk us through your journey across energy consulting, the grid, large-scale storage, and AI-driven energy markets - and how it led you to Gridmatic? 05:16 - What was the defining moment that pulled you into the energy transition and the opportunity to make an impact at scale? 06:35 - Outside of work, what keeps you busy, and what are you passionate about? 07:01 - At Brightsmith, we talk about “living your purpose” - what does that mean to you personally? 08:06 - What do you do at Gridmatic? 11:56 - How do you define Gridmatic in the value chain - an energy company, a software company, or both? 13:38 - When you were scaling grid-scale energy storage at Wärtsilä, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced? 15:30 - How did moving to Shell and stepping into a global energy company change your perspective? 17:07 - What has been the most rewarding moment of your journey so far? 18:19 - Texas has strong momentum in the energy transition - do you see that continuing? 19:45 - As clean power and digital infrastructure increasingly overlap, what challenges are data centres creating for the grid today? 25:46 - Could you explain what controllable load resources are - and why they’ve become so relevant in today’s data centre boom? 26:34 - Looking ahead, what’s next for you, Gridmatic, and the broader energy system? 29:09 - What markets excite you most right now? 30:22 - What’s one piece of wisdom you’d share with others looking to build in this space?   Connect with your hosts, Jow Riley and Chloe England, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, David Miller, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

  6. Apr 28

    Dr Ryan Hatcher, CEO & Founder at Phoenix Semiconductor: on Legacy Chips, Supply Chain Fragility & the Hidden Foundations of Digital Infrastructure | Season Ten, Episode Seven

    Welcome to Season Ten of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we’re deconstructing digital infrastructure - one of the fastest-growing and most influential parts of the energy transition. From hyperscalers and AI demand to talent, capital, software and sustainability, we’ll explore how data infrastructure gets built, powered, financed, staffed and scaled.   In this episode, Jenny Gladman and Ric Ashworth-Lord are joined by Dr Ryan Hatcher, CEO & Founder at Phoenix Semiconductor - a leader working at the intersection of advanced electronics, supply chain resilience and critical infrastructure.   While much of the spotlight falls on cutting-edge chips, Ryan brings attention to a less visible but equally critical layer: legacy semiconductors. These “older” technologies underpin everything from energy systems and transport to defence and data centres - yet their supply chains are increasingly fragile, overlooked, and difficult to replace.   Drawing on experience across Samsung, Lockheed Martin and now Phoenix Semiconductor, Ryan explains why mature-node manufacturing has become strategically important, how decades of optimisation have exposed systemic vulnerabilities, and why resilience across the full semiconductor ecosystem is now essential.   From supply chain shocks and obsolescence risk to the realities of scaling manufacturing and securing long-term capacity, this conversation shines a light on the infrastructure beneath the infrastructure.   01:02 - Introduction to Ryan 02:03 - What exactly are legacy semiconductors, and why are they so critical to modern infrastructure? 04:29 - How does legacy semiconductor manufacturing underpin energy and digital infrastructure, and why has supply chain fragility become such a constraint on growth? 08:29 - What led you to found Phoenix, and why is mature node manufacturing now so strategically important and often misunderstood? 13:44 - Why can’t mature node manufacturing capacity scale when demand spikes, and what’s exposed the fragility in the system in recent years? 18:23 - Why do even well-capitalised companies delay addressing predictable supply chain risks? 22:21 - How should leaders think about geographic risk in mature node production, and will securing manufacturing capacity become a competitive advantage? 26:47 - Looking ahead five years, what does a truly resilient semiconductor ecosystem look like, and what role does Phoenix play in building it? Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Ric Ashworth-Lord, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Dr Ryan Hatcher, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

  7. Apr 14

    Patrick Lynch, Executive Managing Director at CBRE: on Power, Pace & the Reality of Scaling Digital Infrastructure | Season Ten, Episode Six

    Welcome to Season Ten of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we’re deconstructing digital infrastructure - one of the fastest-growing and most influential parts of the energy transition. From hyperscalers and AI demand to talent, capital, software and sustainability, we’ll explore how data infrastructure gets built, powered, financed, staffed and scaled.   In this episode, our host Jenny Gladman is joined by Patrick Lynch, Executive Managing Director at CBRE - a market leader with a front-row seat to some of the industry’s biggest infrastructure decisions.   With more than three decades in digital infrastructure, Patrick brings a rare perspective on how the market is evolving under real-world constraint. As demand accelerates and supply struggles to keep pace, he shares how power availability is reshaping site selection, why speed-to-market has changed deal dynamics, and what it now takes to deliver capacity at scale.   From hyperscale growth and edge deployment to supply chain pressure and talent gaps, this conversation offers a practical look at how digital infrastructure is really being built.   For anyone curious about where the market is heading - and what it will take to keep up - this is a conversation well worth your time. 01:01 - Introduction to Patrick 02:44 - Could you briefly share your career journey and how you came to your current role? 04:20 - What feels fundamentally different about where we are today compared to 10-15 years ago? 05:59 - You’re a father of four, with some of your children now entering the industry - how has that shaped the way you think about the space? 08:00 - How do your children challenge your thinking, and what does that feel like? 09:32 - From your vantage point, what’s driving demand right now and what core forces are shaping decision-making? 12:06 - What are the key differences in how decisions are being made today compared to a few years ago? 14:20 - From your perspective, how is power influencing transactions and site selection today? 16:59 - How does the gap between sustainable ambition and what’s viable at scale or in location shape decision-making? 19:09 - From a global perspective, how do the US, Europe, and APAC differ in terms of opportunity and constraints? 21:26 - What are your top tips for people wanting to get into the sector? 23:02 - Where do you see the greatest need for talent in this sector, and which backgrounds are best positioned to move into it? 26:23 - As projects scale from 100MW to multi-gigawatt campuses, how has that changed how deals are structured and executed? 28:56 - At this scale, what’s the hardest point in a deal - what breaks first? 32:37 - For those building or investing in this space, what’s the one takeaway you’d want them to leave with? Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Patrick Lynch, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production

  8. Mar 31

    Sofie Käll, CIO and Anna Søndergaard, Co-Founder & CEO at The Footprint Firm: on Early-Stage Risk, System Innovation & Investing Beyond the Data Centre | Season Ten, Episode Five

    Welcome to Season Ten of Conversations in Cleantech! This season, we’re deconstructing digital infrastructure - one of the fastest-growing and most influential parts of the energy transition. From hyperscalers and AI demand to talent, capital, software and sustainability, we’ll explore how data infrastructure gets built, powered, financed, staffed and scaled. In this episode, hosts Jenny Gladman and Isabella Rova are joined by Sofie Käll, CIO, and Anna Søndergaard, Co-Founder, Partner & CEO at The Footprint Firm - two investors approaching digital infrastructure not from the centre of the asset, but from the edges of the system. As data centres place growing pressure on grids, water, cooling and materials, Sofie and Anna offer a different lens on what it means to invest in the future of digital infrastructure. Rather than backing the assets themselves, they focus on the technologies, services and efficiencies that can reshape the ecosystem around them - from grid balancing and energy storage to cooling innovation and software optimisation. This conversation explores what early-stage capital can realistically do in a market defined by speed, scale and physical constraint. It also digs into the balance between commercial viability and impact, the challenge of proving deep tech in real-world systems, and why some of the most meaningful opportunities may lie not in the “moonshots”, but in the less glamorous solutions that quietly improve performance at scale. For anyone curious about how venture thinking, systems change and sustainability intersect in the digital infrastructure buildout, this episode offers a sharp and refreshing perspective. 01:02 - Introduction to Sofie and Anna 02:45 - From an early-stage investor perspective, what makes the data centre ecosystem so compelling? 03:44 - Could you briefly introduce yourselves and share the story behind The Footprint Firm and the work you’re doing today? 07:31 - How do you approach digital infrastructure opportunities differently from traditional asset investors? 09:58 - How do you distinguish between incremental improvements and solutions that can truly scale commercially? 13:34 - How do you assess technical risk from a deep tech perspective? 18:14 - How do you see early-stage innovation helping address the growing energy demands of data centres? 21:47 - Do you see data centres acting as a stress test for broader energy transition technologies? 23:42 - Beyond power, where are the most under-discussed circular economy opportunities in the physical build of data centres? 27:00 - How do you connect the dots across sectors like energy, circular economy, and the built environment when investing in digital infrastructure - and who do you see as the winners? 32:25 - What drew you to this sector - was there a defining moment that shaped your decision to pursue it? Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Isabella Rova, on LinkedIn. Find your guests, Sofie Käll and Anna Søndergaard, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

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About

Conversations in Cleantech offers insight into the opportunities, challenges and rewards of working in the cleantech space from the investors, leaders, entrepreneurs, accelerators & technologists within it. We talk all things cleantech, sustainability, renewables, agritech, solar, wind, e-mobilty, hydrogen & energy storage. The time for cleantech is now – join the revolution and live your purpose.
 Conversations in Cleantech is bought to you by Brightsmith, the cleantech search specialists.

Information

  • Creator
    Brightsmith
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 7b431bcda68d44bfc16aadb8071f8b001446d690
  • Show Website
    Conversations in Cleantech

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