Conversations in Cleantech

In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Will Rowe, Founder and CEO of Octopus Hydrogen. Octopus Hydrogen are on a mission to play their part in the energy transition through decentralising production of green hydrogen via electrolysis, colocated with renewable energy generators to help balance the grid. Counting industry giants like Octopus Energy as investors, the company has made waves in the sector since its founding in April 2021.  In this episode, Will takes us on his career journey so far from starting at OVO as an agency employee to overcoming challenges after a start-up failure before founding the Octopus Energy Hatchery which eventually hatched the idea behind Octopus Hydrogen.  Discussing why hydrogen is the missing piece of the energy transition puzzle, Will demystifies some of the misconceptions about the industry and explains why green hydrogen is the only path we can take to meet Net Zero before it is too late.    Timestamped Guide:  00:55 - Introduction to Will  01:45 - Who is Will both in and outside of work? 02:52 - What do Octopus Hydrogen do? 05:34 - What is the history of Octopus Hydrogen and your relationship with Octopus Energy? 08:54 - How would you describe the culture you have built? 11:00 - How do you maintain your culture as you grow? 12:38 - What are the types of projects you work on? 15:14 - Can you explain to the sceptics how Octopus Energy ensures sustainability across all elements of the business? 17:17 - Could you explain more about the software side of the business? 20:02 - Where do you see yourselves fitting into the energy transition? 21:35 - How have you tackled the commercial viability problem? 25:10 - How have partners helped you on your start-up journey? 28:49 - In the two years, you have been operating what are some of the wins you've experienced? 30:56 - What would you say to your future employees? 34:10 - The importance of co-founders 37:25 - What's on the horizon for Octopus Hydrogen?   Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Will Rowe, on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.  This is a Loaded Hype production. 

In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, your host, Jenny Gladman, is joined by Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, Head of Business Unit Hydrogen at H2 Green Steel.    Describing themselves as hydrogen accelerators, H2 Green Steel are on a mission to use hydrogen to help hard-to-abate industries to decarbonise starting with the steel sector. After the huge success of their pilot scheme, H2 Green Steel are now in the process of building a large-scale plant in the north of Sweden.    Kajsa takes us on her career journey, starting with where her unwavering motivation comes from to her journey to finding her passion in the hydrogen sector and the importance of role models for fueling the fire in her belly.     During the insightful discussion, Kajsa details the potential hydrogen has to revolutionalise the steel industry and why diversity is so important for fostering creative thinking and decision-making.   Timestamped Guide: 00:56 - Introduction to Kajsa  05:04 - Who are H2 Green Steel and how are they approaching decarbonisation in the steel industry? 09:09 - What does H2 Green Steel’s first plant look like? 12:19 - What does your role involve? 15:10 - What drives you? 21:04 - Could you tell us about your role in PowerCell Sweden 23:41 - What would be your advice for someone wanting to get into the sector?   Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

On the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by Energy Transition Partner at PA Consulting, Rhys Vigna.    Rhys originally started his energy transition career in industry, working in business development for OCI N.V. before making the move into consulting. He is now an Energy Transition Partner at PA Consulting helping project developers to develop viable business models pushing their projects past financing and thrusting them into the mainstream where they can truly make a difference. Working in industry helped Rhys to build up his knowledge and 'earn his stripes', whilst on the consulting side, he now has the ability to have a wider-reaching impact and solve a diverse range of problems.   A globe trotter, Rhys spent his career working on almost every continent before starting his cleantech journey. This unique global perspective has allowed Rhys to offer advice on the global energy market and how we can help every country to transform its systems.    During this insightful conversation, hosted by Brightsmith's Jenny Gladman, Rhys discusses the energy transition from a consulting viewpoint and how he is partnering with companies to bring revolutionary solutions to the mainstream. Rhys also gives his opinion on how we can overcome limiting factors and why it is often the infrastructure, not the technology, that is the wicked problem we need to overcome to create our cleaner, greener future.    Timestamped guide:  00:55 - Introduction to Rhys  01:47 - Rhys’ career background  04:36 - What has the transition to consultancy been like? 06:44 - How have you taken your career into your own hands? 08:57 - Has working in different continents shaped your view on energy transition?  12:07 - What does your day-to-day role look like? 13:56 - Could you explain more about hydrogen and how it is helping the energy transition? 19:55 - Looking ahead, what does success look like in the hydrogen industry? 24:47 - How do we attract the best people to work in the sector? 27:42 - How do we ensure that the solutions are commercially viable so that investment firms want to invest? 30:27 - Where do you expect the industry to be in the next three to five years?   Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Rhys Vigna, on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.  This is a Loaded Hype production.

In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are joined by Christopher Jackson, CEO and Founder of Protium.  Unlike many cleantech founders, Christopher comes from a commercially focused background - in his own words, his career has been esoteric. This somewhat unconventional path has allowed him to bring a new offering to the hydrogen space with Protium.  Protium is a full value-chain green hydrogen energy solutions provider that helps its clients to achieve sustainability targets by transitioning them to a low-carbon future. With a partnership with Budweiser and several high-profile integrated green hydrogen projects nearing completion, the future looks bright for Christopher and the team at Protium.  During this insightful conversation with Brightsmith Director, Jenny Gladman, Christopher discusses his twisting journey to founding Protium and the huge opportunities which the space has to offer to anyone passionate about making a difference.  This discussion examines the true value of green hydrogen, moving past the conventional analysis, to understand how we can use it to fuel our cleaner, greener future.    Timestamped guide:   00:56 - Introduction to Chris  06:36 - The journey to founding Protium 11:43 - How does Protium focus on the people side of the energy transition narrative? 20:45 - Working with Budweiser on a decarbonisation project  26:30 - The energy ecosystem and Protium’s role  31:50 - Re-evaluating the value proposition of hydrogen 38:08 - What is your advice for people considering entering the sector? 40:38 - Why does the sector need diversity to meet ambitious Net Zero targets? 43:49 - What do the next couple of years have in store for yourself and Protium?   Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Christopher Jackson, on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are joined by Vaitea Cowan, Co-founder of Enapter.    After meeting co-founders Sebastian-Justus Schmidt and Jan-Justus Schmidt in Chang Mai, Thailand and inspired by technology in the Phi Suea - the world's first self-sustaining house, the idea for Enapter was born. With the values of urgency, simplicity and transparency underpinning all of the company’s decisions, Enapter is striving for a world where hydrogen is a commodity.    After winning, the inaugural Earthshot Prize in 2021, Enapter was thrust onto the world stage and has since gone from strength to strength. The future looks bright, with plans to open their first campus to mass produce their electrolysers and add to their 250-strong headcount.    Hosted by Brightsmith’s Jenny Gladman, in this conversation Vaitea gives an insight into what it is like founding a pioneering company at the age of 23 with the hope of inspiring the next generation of budding cleantech entrepreneurs to find their voice.    This discussion is a deep dive into the fuel of the future and how green hydrogen pioneers such as Vaitea and the Enapter team have the power to revolutionise energy systems to create a greener, cleaner future for us all.    Timestamped guide:    00:55 - Introduction to Vaitea 02:00 - Introduction to Enapter 03:48 - Tell us about the origins of Enapter in Thailand  09:00 - How do you find the dynamic of having three co-founders? 11:06 - How did your childhood growing up on an island influence your passion for clean energy? 14:47 - Can you explain the Enapter electrolyser and how it works? 17:55 - What is the difference between green, blue and grey hydrogen? 21:05 - How are Enapter looking to scale up? 23:26 - What are some of the use cases for green hydrogen? 28:57 - Tell us about winning The Earthshot Prize 36:06 - How do you ensure the Enapter values remain strong as you grow? 39:44 - What pushes you through tough times? 42:41 - How nurturing is the hydrogen community? 47:04 - What advice would you give to your teenage self? 48:53 - What does the near future look like for Enapter?   Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Vaitea Cowan, on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.  This is a Loaded Hype production.

In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech we're joined by Amy Dobrikova, Vice President of Fleet Solutions at Blink Charging.  An entrepreneur at heart, Amy has ridden the rollercoaster of EV fleet start-ups since the beginning of her career - playing a pivotal role in helping them to accelerate, in turn hitting the gas on the electrification of fleets.  In her current role as Vice President of Fleet Solutions, Amy is working globally to provide a 'one-stop solution' for every type of fleet whether the fleet is public or private, large or small. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, Amy and the Blink Charging team are working tirelessly to tackle the challenges associated with fleet charging to drive forward the EV revolution.  In this insightful conversation, Amy offers pearls of wisdom from her own experiences of the good, the bad and the ugly world of EV fleet start-ups - from why you have to have a burning passion for your work to why being open to opportunities is the only way to succeed.  Hosted by Brightsmith Vice President, Ben Sparks, this episode takes a deep dive into the EV fleet sector to understand how the transport networks of the future will take shape.    Timestamped guide:  01:03 - Introduction to Amy  01:39 - About Amy and her current responsibilities Blink Charging 02:20 - Could you start by giving an insight into your career journey?  03:31 - Could you tell us a little more about Blink and how they are positioned in the market? 04:42 - What does a typical day look like for you at Blink? 06:06 - How are you fostering partnerships with the different stakeholders needed to electrify fleets? 07:31 - What are some of the big challenges to overcome within EV charging? 09:20 - What are some of your key learnings from your time with Blink? 10:09 - What advice would you give to someone entering the cleantech sector? 12:01 - What have been your biggest career tipping points and looking back what advice would you give to yourself in those moments? 13:48 - What does living your purpose mean to you? 14:39 - How did you originally make your move into cleantech? 16:25 - The good, the bag and the ugly of cleantech start-ups 19:19 - What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in the world of cleantech start-ups? 20:51 - How do you see the EV charging infrastructure changing over the next five years? 22:06 - What are the challenges you foresee from an EV charging infrastructure perspective?  23:22 - What token of wisdom would you like to finish with? Connect with your host, Ben on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Amy on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.  This podcast is a Loaded Hype production. 

In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are joined by Maryline Daviaud Lewett, Director of Business Development and Transformative Technologies at Black & Veatch.  Maryline's climb into cleantech could be described as somewhat unconventional. Maryline originally set out to pursue a career in journalism in her native France before she made the move across the pond. An early adopter of clean technologies, Maryline followed her passion and started her cleantech journey in the US, studying for an MBA in Sustainability Management, which led her into a career in which she could live her purpose.  Since then Maryline has held a number of positions across a broad number of specialisms in the sector which has culminated in her latest role looking after the clean transportation area at Black & Veatch. In this varied role, Maryline is playing her part in accelerating the adoption of future mobility innovations by working with cross-functional partners to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support the EV revolution.  During this insightful discussion, Maryline shares her thoughts on the challenging road ahead to make our transportation networks cleaner and greener - from supply chain hurdles to difficulties converting fleets to electric, whilst highlighting the incredible steps which have been already made and the pioneers who never waver in their commitment to finding solutions.   Hosted by Ben Sparks, Vice President of Brightsmith, this conversation in cleantech takes a deep dive into the career of a clean transportation industry veteran to offer you pearls of wisdom to adopt into your own career.    Timestamped guide: 01:04 - Introduction to Maryline  05:36 - What attracted you to initially pursue a career in journalism? 06:58 - Could you tell us more about your current role in clean transportation? 09:38 - The US EV market compared to the European EV market  11:17 - What are the big events which are going to change the race to Net Zero? 13:53 - What are the events in your career which have allowed you to live your purpose? 17:54 - What are some of the big challenges you have faced within the industry? 20:50 - What drives you when you face complex challenges? 23:57 - What moments have been stretch moments in your career? 25:34 - What is on the horizon for the EV sector in the next five years? 29:02 - What would be your token of wisdom for anyone looking to enter the sector?   Connect with your host Ben Sparks on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Maryline Daviaud Lewett on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.  This is a Loaded Hype production.  

In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, co-hosts Jenny Gladman and Ben Sparks are joined by not one, but two brilliant guests - Sara Sloman, Director of Future Fleet at Paythru and Sam Clarke, Chief Vehicle Officer at Gridserve.    Passionate believers in the EV revolution, Sara and Sam have dedicated their careers to breaking down the barriers to ensure the successful electrification of transport systems. Through their webinar series, The EV Cafe, they are spreading innovative solutions entering the market, hoping to inspire more people to go electric.    In this insightful conversation, Sam and Sara discuss a broad range of topics - from expanding networks to accommodate electric fleets to how to speed up the migration to EV ownership and how to encourage more young people to enter the industry.    Hosted by Brightsmith's Jenny and Ben, this episode is a deep dive into how the EV revolution will take shape and the steps we still need to take to increase the percentage of electric vehicles on UK roads from 2% to 100%.   Timestamped guide:  00:58 - Introduction to Sara and Sam  02:14 - About Sara and her EV journey  03:07 - About Sam and his EV journey  04:33 - Why is putting the consumer first so important with EV charging? 07:13 - What can we expect from the future of EV charging payments? 08:37 - How have you seen the industry accelerate over the past couple of years? 12:09 - What is sun-to-wheel? 14:48 - How do we ensure that the electricity used is from a clean source? 17:15 - Sara's thoughts on the 'cultural migration' towards EVs 20:45 - What are the opportunities for young people interested in a career in EVs? 23:36 - What are some of the key takeaways you have learnt from your time in the sector? 29:14 - What are some of the barriers we have to overcome to scale EV charging? 34:15 - What token of wisdom would you offer to people entering the industry?   Connect with your hosts, Ben and Jenny on LinkedIn.  Find your guests, Sara and Sam on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

In this episode of conversations in cleantech we’re joined by Michael Bakunin, Chairman of EpicCharging and Managing Director of Advanced Mobility at global consulting firm FTI Consulting.    After leaving a successful career in telecoms in Moscow, Michael decided to explore international opportunities by attending IE Business School in Madrid. It was here he discovered that Nissan was in the process of releasing the first mass-market EV, the Nissan Leaf and this event completely altered his career trajectory.    From this, his adoration for EVs flourished and he has since dedicated his life to spreading his extensive knowledge through his Youtube channel, Bakunin Live | Electric Vehicles and increasing EV ownership by helping companies create innovative solutions to overcome barriers.    In this conversation in cleantech, Michael shares an insightful look into how to skyrocket the EV revolution - from the collaboration needed between different agencies to how to tackle one of the main barriers to ownership: charge points.    Hosted by Ben Sparks, Vice President of Brightsmith, this episode of conversations in cleantech is a deep dive into the future of EV vehicles and how electrification will power every aspect of our transportation networks in the world of tomorrow.   *All views are Michael's own.   Timestamped guide: 00:55 - Introduction to Michael  02:32 - About Michael and his journey so far  06:44 - Do you have any funny career stories to share? 10:35 - How can culturally different organisations learn to collaborate? 12:28 - Why has it been important to share your content on YouTube? 17:42 - What are some of the themes driving EV charging in the US? 25:01 - How are consulting companies helping firms navigate the EV charging environment? 28:49 - What are the opportunities and challenges on the start-up side of the marketplace?  31:45 - In the vehicle-to-grid sector, what are the main challenges organisations are trying to solve? 33:53 - What most excites you in the EV space in the next three to five years?   Connect with your host Ben Sparks on LinkedIn.  Find your guest, Michael Bakunin on LinkedIn.  Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.  This podcast is a Loaded Hype production. 

Hello and welcome back to Conversations in Cleantech - we hope you missed us as much as we missed doing the podcast! It's almost time to launch our thrilling third season, and we're delighted to share a little bit more about it…   As the podcast that celebrates the cleantech industry and the people that power it, for this season we want to take a deeper dive into an area which is increasingly influential in driving sustainability for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.    You guessed correctly! In season three, we'll explore the acceleration of future mobility.    Whether it's expediting the EV revolution, maximising the potential of micro-mobility, or transforming transport networks, we'll be exploring how these innovations and the trailblazers behind them are propelling us towards a brighter tomorrow.    For a refresher on the podcast: your host is Jenny Gladman, one of the three partners of Brightsmith, a cleantech search firm, and based at our London HQ. This season, Jenny is joined by co-host, Vice President of Brightsmith, Ben Sparks, who is based at our Austin office.   At Brightsmith we partner with people and organisations globally, who are as passionate as we are about creating a cleaner future through technology, innovation and strategic change under the philosophy of ‘live your purpose’.    Ultimately, our aim for the conversations in cleantech podcast is to provide support to the cleantech community, highlight the pace at which we are travelling towards a cleaner future and inspire everyone to live their purpose.   With the first episodes of season three launching soon, be sure to subscribe now wherever you like to enjoy your podcasts.   This, is Conversations in Cleantech.