Welcome to Episode 17 of Series 4!

We talked a bit about Energy Storage in frontier markets in the last episode, and that’s also a major part of the theme here. While there is huge potential for solar power in hot countries, the key is to ensure that the power is available where and when you need it. 

At the same time, there is growing global dependency on Lithium-ion batteries, despite being a less than perfect solution, not least because of the lack of sustainable lithium supply.

My guest this week is Will Tope, Chief Commercial Officer of LiNa Energy, who have developed and patented an alternative based on sodium. The business was set up within Lancaster University, and Will Tope joined a couple of years ago to drive the commercialisation of the product.

He talks about the origins of lithium-ion as an energy source, the huge uptick in demand, particularly from electric vehicles and the limitations of reliance on lithium. He explains the need for constant focus on the problem and not the solutions, and ensuring product/market fit.

I also ask him about his transition to a startup from the ‘comfy couch’ of the oil & gas industry, and the appetite for renewables in India, one of LiNa’s core markets.

Will Tope is passionate about the mission and is a very engaging podcast guest. I really enjoyed the chat and I’m sure you will too.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LINA ENERGY

• Website: https://www.lina.energy/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lina-energy/ 

CONNECT WITH WIL TOPE

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamtope/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: matt@impactexecs.com

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 16 of Series 4!

Plenty of startup business challenges can be daunting, not least in the Clean Energy space. If anything, the urgent global need to transition to renewable energy, and the consequences of not doing so, add another level of pressure. Even if more people now understand what is at stake and what is required. 

The challenge of replacing fossil fuels with renewable supply is pretty serious in any market. But I’ll bet that it’s tougher in emerging markets like Sub Saharan Africa.

But at the same time, the potential for solar power in Africa is vast. For anyone with the drive and acumen to overcome the complexities of these emerging markets, it’s a huge opportunity for impact.

My guest this week is Mike Rosenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Circadian, an IoT and SaaS platform that catayzes renewable energy adoption in frontier markets. Their technology empowers solar developers in West, East and Southern Africa so that they can drive the mass adoption of decentralised energy - moving from ubiquitous diesel generators to efficient solar & storage installations.

This is such an interesting business, with an enormous opportunity to facilitate energy transition where it is desperately needed. 

Mike’s own journey is remarkable and  his clarity of purpose and motivation are impressively evident in this conversation. I urge you to keep listening and be inspired by Circadian’s ambitious mission.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CIRCADIAN

• Website: https://circadian.io/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/circadiantech/ 

CONNECT WITH MIKE ROSENBERG 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikerosenberg/?originalSubdomain=uk

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: matt@impactexecs.com

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 15 of Series 4!

One of the things I find most interesting about developments in the climate tech space is that they usually depend on serious, fundamental behaviour change. To make real progress towards net zero and genuine sustainability, every aspect of our way of lives has to change. 

On a corporate level, a lot of the transformation has to be pretty comprehensive, and is inevitably being driven by employees.

My guest this week is Tim Riedel, a successful Human Resources Business Leader and Entrepreneur based in Berlin. Having sold his business a few years ago, he was looking for his next challenge and decided he wanted to be part of the solution in fighting climate change. So, he began building a business that could leverage his skills in HR and organisational change.

Tim is Founder and CEO of planetgroups, an HR consulting firm whose goal is to bring about change in companies by enhancing and supporting climate and planet action from their employees. He believes this will create more successful companies, more fulfilled employees, and of course a sustainable economy.

Tim believes that HR leaders have to play a more important role in directing this corporate change, and focusing on the customer and their journey to sustainability is also key to success.

Keep listening to learn about how they work with their clients, about how they begin with the climate solution game, the impact of green teams and much more. Tim articulates the mission extremely well and it’s great to hear about the impact they are having.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANETGROUPS

• Website: https://planetgroups.net/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/planetgroups/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_planetgroups_/ 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iHWVFqJf2PLEAPG2gswyw 

CONNECT WITH TIM RIEDEL

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/planetgroupstimriedel/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: matt@impactexecs.com

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com