265 episodes
Volts David Roberts
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- News
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4.8 • 435 Ratings
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Volts is a podcast about leaving fossil fuels behind. I've been reporting on and explaining clean-energy topics for almost 20 years, and I love talking to politicians, analysts, innovators, and activists about the latest progress in the world's most important fight. (Volts is entirely subscriber-supported. Sign up!)
www.volts.wtf
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What's the deal with burning wood pellets for energy?
An enormous amount of wood is harvested from forests in the southern US to be burned in Europe as “renewable energy.” Now the industry wants to open more wood-pellet facilities in the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, Rita Frost of NRDC and Brenna Bell of 350 PDX explain why that’s a bad idea and why wood pellets aren’t as renewable as they look.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe -
What's the deal with Passive House?
In this episode, Beverly Craig of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center discusses what passive house building principles entail, the benefits they generate for building occupants and the grid, and what it would take to persuade more US builders and policymakers to adopt them.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe -
EV charging for those without a garage
EVs are great for people with garages to charge them in, but what about everyone else? In this episode, Gabe Klein of DOE’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation talks us through new approaches to EV charging for people in multifamily residences in urban settings, including new business models, new technologies, and even new vehicles.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe -
How are we going to decarbonize shipping?
In this episode, David Wooley and Ed Carr, lead authors of recent papers outlining policy and technology options for reducing emissions in the shipping industry, discuss the fuels (and batteries?) that could power ships of the future, the policies needed to move forward, and California's pivotal role.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe -
Electrolyze everything!
A startup called Mattiq is using a combination of nanotechnology, AI, and electrolysis to produce novel materials that could eventually substitute for carbon-intensive materials in sectors from chemicals to plastics to fuels. In this episode, CEO Jeff Erhardt and I dig into the technological and business details.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe -
What's up with solid-state batteries?
In this episode, CEO Siyu Huang of Factorial Energy talks through recent advancements in solid-state batteries, which promise significant improvements in energy density and safety and are paving the way for electric vehicles with substantially increased range to hit the market within the next few years.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe
Customer Reviews
Volts
This is a fascinating and hopeful podcast while remaining hard headed and realistic. I am more likely to tell friends about things I heard on Volts than almost anything else I listen to.
The most hopeful show on climate
Every episode leaves me thinking about dropping what I’m doing and joining the guest’s mission. Unabashedly technical, hopeful with zero Pollyanna, realistic and informed without being bleak. I never miss an episode of Volts.
Volts: Energizing Conversations on Clean Energy and Climate
"Volts" is an exceptional podcast that delves into the intricate world of clean energy and climate policy. Hosted by the insightful and articulate David Roberts, this podcast offers listeners a deep dive into the critical issues and innovations driving the transition to a sustainable future. Each episode is a masterclass in clarity and depth, making "Volts" a must-listen for anyone passionate about the environment and energy.