The Clean Energy Show

• Solar Plus Batteries Proven As the New Baseload

  Solar plus batteries are having a breakthrough moment, signaling a major shift in global energy. An aluminum plant in Australia is moving to solar plus battery storage, making its production greener than ever. We also hear from a listener who connected his heat pump hot water heater to his HVAC system, proving once again that our audience is the smartest around. And in a groundbreaking development, scientists have achieved 100% lithium recycling, which could make EV battery production truly sustainable. Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for great rewards from Brian and James like our exclusive Patreon Podcast on Clean Energy! Meanwhile, a new millimeter-wave drilling technology could revolutionize geothermal energy by reaching depths conventional drills can't handle. Plus, we discuss fossil fuel subsidies in Canada and Alberta’s premier’s threats to national unity over green policies. Topics This Week: Solar plus battery storage powering an aluminum plant in Australia A listener shares his heat pump water heater and HVAC integration 100% lithium recycling breakthrough for EV batteries Millimeter-wave technology for next-gen geothermal drilling Canada’s ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and Alberta’s political maneuvers Listener Mail: Roshan Gervais shares his experience with a heat pump hot water heater in Edmonton, how it affects his home’s temperature, and how he integrated it with his furnace ducts for cooling benefits in summer. Lightning Round: China is expanding its grid to keep up with its solar boom Mercedes-Benz unveils its most affordable and advanced EV sedan Germany locks its net-zero goals into the constitution Trump’s plan to kill clean energy tax credits could spike U.S. household energy costs China’s Sinopec halts Russian oil purchases Tesla deliveries drop 43% in Europe, while EV sales rise 28% BYD advances silicon-ion battery technology for improved safety and durability UK announces its first national forest in 30 years Global building sector emissions stop rising for the first time since 2020 Landmark youth climate lawsuit in the U.S. comes to an end, but leaves a lasting impact Join the Conversation: Email us at [email protected] Leave a voicemail at speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and community discussions: https://www.patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod Follow us on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@cleanenergypod, https://www.instagram.com/cleanenergypod/, https://www.youtube.com/c/thecleanenergyshow, https://open.spotify.com/show/7nIGJi8pZ9EmiJTPY4VOr5, https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-clean-energy-show/id1498854987

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• Five Minute EV Charging: RIP Internal Combustion Engine

  James goes on a well-deserved rant about his local government doubling the road tax on electric vehicles. Despite rarely using highways, his Nissan LEAF EV is now subject to a tax that funds road repairs outside the city and it's six times what a similar gas vehicle would pay. It’s a move that highlights how some governments continue to punish EV owners instead of encouraging clean transportation. Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Meanwhile, California has unveiled an ambitious plan to deploy six million heat pumps by 2030. However, despite incentives, the state is projected to fall two million units short of its goal. We discuss what’s being done to promote heat pump adoption and how the initiative could serve as a model for the rest of the U.S. In a major shake-up for the automotive industry, Chinese battery and car manufacturer BYD has delivered what could be the final blow to the internal combustion engine. With their latest breakthrough in ultra-fast EV charging, vehicles can now recharge in just five minutes—matching the convenience of refueling a gas car. If this innovation takes hold, it could rapidly accelerate EV adoption worldwide. Also on the show: London is set to install 570 sidewalk-flush EV chargers, making it easier than ever for city dwellers to charge their vehicles. The Ultra Low Emissions Zone in London continues to be a success, reducing air pollution significantly and improving public health. Listener Mail: A real-life experience with Hyundai’s ICCU recall, and a discussion on the future of electric air taxis ahead of the L.A. Olympics. The Lightning Round: Global BEV sales surge, solid-state battery advancements, and U.S. states wrestling with Chinese automaker investments. Links & References: California’s Heat Pump Initiative London’s Flush EV Chargers Ultra Low Emissions Zone Impact BYD’s Five-Minute Charging Announcement 🚗🔋 Want to support the show? Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE 📢 Follow us: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cleanenergypod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanenergypod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thecleanenergyshow Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nIGJi8pZ9EmiJTPY4VOr5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-clean-energy-show/id1498854987 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod

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  1:09:02
• Why U.S. Refineries May Drop Alberta Oil

  Alberta has long believed its oil would sell forever, but U.S. refineries are signaling they could drop Alberta crude in a heartbeat. Looks like “forever” lasts about as long as a duck on a tailings pond. Meanwhile, Korea’s $800 billion pension fund is ditching coal, an 8-year-old activist has forced India’s Supreme Court into action, and Brazil wants to reverse deforestation with reforestation. Main Stories 🔹 Korea’s Pension Fund Ditches Coal – One of the world’s largest pension funds is divesting. 🔹 Trump’s Tariffs Hammer Canadian Oil – Marathon Petroleum plans to drop Alberta crude due to 10% tariffs. Read more. 🔹 8-Year-Old Activist vs. India’s Supreme Court – The court demands ministries collaborate on climate action after this case. 🔹 Brazil’s COP30 Reforestation Push – Brazil seeks funding for tree-planting as a climate fix. Lightning Round! ⚡ Erin Brockovich calls for battery storage oversight (Read) ⚡ Fossil fuel lawyer joins U.S. EPA leadership (Read) ⚡ Ontario adds 25% tariff on U.S. electricity ⚡ Montana’s power is 90.4% renewable & cheap ⚡ China aims to cut energy use per GDP unit by 3% in 2025 ⚡ Texas power grid sets wind, solar & storage records (Read) Support & Follow Us 📧 Email: [email protected] 📞 Voicemail: speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow ❤️ Donate: PayPal | Patreon

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• Solar Boom in Pakistan from the Ground Up

  The develping country of Pakistan has a terrible power grid but that's why it is experiencing a massive shift to solar, from the ground, up! With a payback period of just 1.5 years, solar is becoming a necessity for many Pakistanis. Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Also this week: Mapping industrial heat pump opportunities BYD and forced labor allegations  Massachusetts launches V2X pilot program – While a great step toward energy resilience, we discuss why it’s time to move beyond pilot programs and into real-world deployment. Eagle Cam - Watch live here. Main Stories: Pakistan’s grassroots solar revolution: We examine how businesses and everyday citizens are adapting to an unreliable grid by embracing small-scale solar installations. Even rickshaws and motorcycles are going electric! Listen to the Volts podcast featuring experts Mustafa Amjad and Waqas Moosa discussing Pakistan’s transition. Industrial heat pumps in the US: Canary Media has mapped out the best areas to replace industrial boilers with heat pumps to reduce ozone pollution. BYD’s Brazil controversy: The Guardian and Reuters have reported on forced labor allegations at a BYD factory construction site in Brazil. Workers were found living in degrading conditions, and labor laws were violated in both Brazil and China. Massachusetts' V2X Pilot: Electrek reports on Massachusetts launching a two-year vehicle-to-everything (V2X) pilot program to explore energy-sharing possibilities between EVs and the grid. The Lightning Round: Companies shift to ‘greenhushing’ Bloomberg Japan’s worst wildfire in 50 years Norway’s zero-emission transport zones – The country allows cities to ban fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Bloomberg China’s nuclear fusion timeline – Bloomberg A racist oil change sticker leads to a free EV – After an appalling incident in Wisconsin, a Nissan dealership in New York is giving a free Leaf EV to the victim. Electrek Email us at [email protected] or find us on Patreon!

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  1:00:52
• Nuclear Stalemate, Solar Breakthrough

  In this episode of The Clean Energy Show, James and Brian explore a groundbreaking startup backed by OpenAI's Sam Altman that's turning sunlight into heat stored in bricks. These modular containers can be deployed anywhere, potentially revolutionizing data center power supply. They also discuss how heat pumps continue to outsell gas furnaces in the U.S., signaling a major shift in home heating technology. Meanwhile, Japan's largest nuclear reactor remains inactive, stalled by local political resistance even as public opinion on nuclear power shifts. Support the Show: Follow us for free or join our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod. Donate via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE.\ CONTEST ALERT! If you have a free or Supporter Patreon account and follow our podcast by March 3, 2025, you will automatically be entered to win a free 1 Year Clean Club Membership! The episode also features a humorous story from the Czech Republic, where industrious beavers thwarted plans for a new dam by building their own—completely free of charge. James and Brian explore the implications of these stories for clean energy adoption and environmental conservation. Brian revisits a classic SNL clip featuring Mike Myers in a climate change-themed Christmas special, while James shares his thoughts on a YouTube video documenting a train journey from Shanghai to Beijing. He humorously contemplates the highs and lows of communist amenities, including squat toilets. The hosts dive into the cold hard facts about wind turbines and whether they can function effectively at temperatures below -30°C. They also touch on the challenges of grid stability and energy demands during extreme weather conditions. In The Lightning Round, they cover a range of fast-paced stories including: Ram's electric truck with a unique battery reserved just for towing. India doubling its rooftop solar subsidies to $2.31 billion. Indonesia’s delayed coal peak timeline and its implications for climate goals. California’s push towards 100% renewable energy with massive wind energy imports from New Mexico. China’s clean energy boom, now accounting for 10% of its GDP. Texas gearing up for its windy season, which could significantly boost wind power output. A surge in U.S. battery manufacturing, doubling cell production capacity this year. Solar and battery combinations becoming cheaper than coal and natural gas in key markets. California’s ambitious offshore wind plans moving forward despite political challenges. This week’s CES FAST FACT™ reveals how Japan’s largest floating solar plant was redesigned after a typhoon-related fire, highlighting the importance of engineering clean energy projects to withstand extreme weather conditions. Don't miss this jam-packed episode of The Clean Energy Show! Contact Us: We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow.  See you in one week!

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