E261: Solar to VPP: Powering the Future
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Clinton O’Neil, a distributed energy veteran whose journey began in Hawaii’s rooftop solar boom and evolved into driving innovation in grid modernisation and virtual power plants (VPPs). Clinton shares deep insights into the transition from net metering to non-export solar, the pivotal role of energy storage, and how DERs are transforming utility-scale grid operations. He discusses the emergence of electric vehicles as mobile batteries, the potential of bi-directional charging, and the exciting future of AI-driven grid orchestration. With real-world examples...
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E260: Electrifying Everything: The Role of EV Charging and Home Batteries
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Ned Funnell, a test engineer at Lincoln Electric and long-time electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast. Ned shares a decade of personal and professional insights from the EV world—discussing high-power chargers, grid resiliency, home batteries, and the evolving role of electrification in achieving net-zero goals. From transit buses and ferries in the Nordics to solar-powered homes in Australia, Ned offers a global view on the electric transition. He talks candidly about his early scepticism regarding home batteries, how autonomy is changing driving experiences, and why...
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E259: Australia’s Homegrown EV Journey
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Gregory McGarvie, founder of Ace Electric Vehicles—Australia’s pioneering homegrown EV startup. Gregory shares his eight-year journey building locally assembled EVs, from trolley collectors for Woolworths to advanced, grid-integrated vans. We explore the challenges of local manufacturing, the innovation behind Ace’s energy management system, and the growing role of microgrids in energy resilience. Gregory also reflects on Australia’s lost auto industry and how EVs could spark a new era of smart, sustainable manufacturing. Please join to find more. Connect...
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E258: Batteries in a Box: From Off-Grid to Global Energy Solutions
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Marc Sheldon, CEO of Red Earth Energy Storage. Marc shares his journey from solar thermal to leading innovations in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems. He explains how Red Earth’s Australian-made, plug-and-play solutions are transforming energy access — from rural off-grid sheds to large-scale commercial installations — and enabling grid stability through storage. Marc also reveals their “microgrid in a box” concept, which integrates generation, storage, and key household systems on a DC backbone, offering huge potential for remote communities,...
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E257: Charting the Future of Offshore Wind in the Philippines
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Alma Roxas-Aguila, a seasoned renewable energy expert with over two decades of experience in the Philippine wind sector. Alma shares her journey from early project development at Alternergy, including involvement in Southeast Asia's first onshore wind farm, to her current focus on scaling up offshore wind. She provides deep insights into the evolution of renewable energy policy in the Philippines, the complexities of the Green Energy Auction Program, and infrastructure gaps in ports and grid that still need resolution. Alma also discusses the environmental...
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E256: Energy Abundance, AI, and Human Potential
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Cameron Quin, a serial energy entrepreneur who reconnects with Sohail after years of impactful work across the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Cameron shares his journey from launching off-grid solar ventures to exploring the deeper aspects of human energy and spiritual well-being. He offers unique insights into the economics of solar and battery deployment in remote islands, where short payback periods are making energy independence a reality. The discussion expands to the future of decentralised grids, virtual power plants, and how the cost of electricity is...
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E255: Responsible AI and the Future of Inclusion
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Xiaochen Zhang, a global innovation leader and the driving force behind AI 2030 and FinTech for Good. Xiaochen shares his journey from the World Bank to founding organisations that champion responsible technology. He dives into the six-pillar framework of responsible AI—transparency, accountability, fairness, safety, security, sustainability, and privacy—and discusses the risks of digital divide, ethical AI design, and the future of collaborative intelligence. He also highlights the transformative potential of AI across climate, financial inclusion, and...
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E254: Hydropower’s Storage Role in a Solar Future
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is Mike Westerman, who leads the hydropower team at GHD, a global consultancy with deep expertise in water, dams, and geotech. Mike shares fascinating insights on the evolution of hydropower—from its origins at Niagara Falls to today’s high-efficiency, computer-modeled turbines. He explains why pumped hydro remains the dominant form of energy storage globally and how it's now essential for supporting low-cost solar. Mike also explores the challenges of large hydro development in modern times and the increasing appeal of off-stream and mine-repurposed pumped...
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E253: Orchestrating Australia's Home Battery Revolution
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is part of a dynamic roundtable exploring the global trends, economic drivers, and regulatory challenges shaping the future of home battery storage. Building on Part 1, this continuation dives deep into the falling costs of battery production, market implications of subsidies, and the technical and policy complexities of orchestrating distributed energy resources (DERs) at scale. The discussion highlights Australia's position as a global innovation leader, the debate between centralized versus distributed coordination, and the potential of peer-to-peer energy...
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E252: Beyond Backup: How Batteries Are Reshaping Australia’s Energy Future
Energypreneurs
In this episode, our guest is a diverse panel of Australia’s energy experts unpacking the rapid rise of home battery adoption. From manufacturing and policy to regulation and consumer behavior, they explore what’s driving the boom, including generous government subsidies, rising energy independence, and grid trading opportunities. The discussion dives into how average system sizes have doubled, the evolving economics of battery storage, and the growing divide between early adopters and everyday consumers. The episode also highlights the role of smart tariffs, resilience in off-grid areas,...
info_outlineIn this episode, our guest is Dr. Taher Saif, Professor at the University of Illinois and a pioneering researcher whose unconventional path took him from civil engineering to biomedical breakthroughs. Dr. Saif shares a fascinating journey through academia and research—from nanotech in electrical engineering to fertility diagnostics, and ultimately to cutting-edge cancer and longevity research. He discusses how mechanical forces in tumours impact cancer treatment, how lab-grown patient tumours could personalise therapies, and how simple lifestyle habits like brisk walking can regenerate brain cells even late in life. This is an inspiring and deeply insightful conversation on resilience, interdisciplinary science, and hope for the future of medicine.
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