The EV Grid Challenge: Making 280 Million Cars Work for the Grid w/ Apoorv Bhargava, CEO of WeaveGrid
Show NotesWe hear a lot about electrification as quickly as possible, but most of that takes the electric grid for granted that it can handle the demand. But our guest today, Apoorv Bhargava, points out that the demand posed by electric cars is akin to putting industrial levels of demand in every residential neighborhood. With ⅓ of new cars in the US being electric by next year, the capacity just isn’t there.WeaveGrid, which Apoorv co-founded, partners with utilities and automakers to make EV charging more reliable and flexible to deal with this rapidly increasing demand - and to take advantage of new opportunities, like the fact that many families will have giant batteries on wheels sitting unused at night.In This Episode:⚡ Why a single EV can have the same power demand as 2-3 homes⚡ The surprising bottleneck to decarbonization (Hint: It’s not generation)⚡ Why charging at 10PM may not be the best solution for the grid⚡ The role of AI and automation in optimizing EV charging⚡ The lack of standardized protocols for EV-grid communication⚡ How WeaveGrid is building the most sophisticated EV Virtual Power Plant (VPP)⚡ The real challenge: Consumers don’t want decarbonization, they want reliability!Apoorv also shares hot takes on EV adoption, public charging infrastructure, and the future of AI in energy, plus why software engineers should consider working in climate tech.About Our Guest:Apoorv Bhargavahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/apoorv-bhargava/Apoorv has spent over 12 years at the intersection of climate, energy, and technology, driving innovation in utility software, grid management, and electrification. Before founding WeaveGrid, he worked on demand-side management at Opower (now Oracle), energy storage strategy at NRG Energy, and clean tech investments in venture capital. Apoorv holds an MBA and MS in Energy & Resources from Stanford University and degrees in Chemical Engineering and Energy Economics from Rice University.Under his leadership, WeaveGrid has grown to nearly 90 employees and serves 15+ utility customers across the U.S.. In 2024, the company expanded partnerships with multiple major automakers, solidifying its position as a key player in EV-grid integration.Apoorv at RE:Invent: Apoorv Bhargava on “How Can AI Accelerate Progress in ...www.youtube.com › watchApoorv on Climate Tech Cocktails - talking, and singing: https://www.instagram.com/climatetechcocktails/reel/C-gDpLdpknc/Your Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack
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48:26
"The Cure For Depression Is Action", Two Software Engineers fighting Climate Crisis!
ClimateStack is all about showing that the technology skills you already have can be applied readily to real problems that matter. In this episode, we have two guests who are parade examples of this fact. They run a climate technology consultancy, and have seen great variety of climate tech projects from several angles. About Our GuestsJaime and Jason Curtis have worked at software companies from small to large, and made the leap into climate - and working together - to put their energy toward climate resilience. We talked with them about their history in software, how they made the move to climate, and got some war stories from their experiences developing systems and advising climate startups in technology.Key Resource Mentioned In the show OptionZero - https://www.optionzero.co/Software for Climate Course - https://www.terra.do/climate-change-courses/software-for-climate/Climate Communitieshttps://workonclimate.org/https://mcj.vc/membersYour Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack
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41:00
Harnessing Data for Clean Power: Tyler McCandless on AI in Renewables
In this episode of The Climate Stack, we dive into the cutting-edge applications of machine learning in renewable energy with Tyler McCandless, Head of Data Sciences at Equilibrium Energy. Tyler shares how data science is driving innovation in the sector, from improving risk modeling and ROI forecasting to predicting failures and optimizing energy generation.This episode offers a comprehensive look at how technology is enabling the clean energy transition.About Our GuestTyler is an accomplished and forward-thinking data science leader renowned for spearheading strategic initiatives and delivering high-impact products at the convergence of weather, energy, and AI. Highly experienced at several companies in leading distributed cross-functional teams to conceptualize, develop, and deploy machine learning models, while balancing cost minimization with revenue maximization. Tyler is the Head of ML Sciences at Equilibrium Energy, a company focused on being energy innovators to combat climate change. Outside of work, Tyler balances a career in the sport of long distance running, having competed in four USA Olympic Marathon Trials. Learn more about Tyler on LinkedIn.Your Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack
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37:25
Powering the Future: Vish Ganti on Virtual Power Plants and Open Standards
In this episode of The Climate Stack, Mansi sits down with Vish Ganti, a visionary product leader at the nexus of clean energy, AI, and fintech. Together, they explore the transformative potential of virtual power plants (VPPs) in reducing reliance on carbon-intensive peaker plants and stabilizing the grid. Vish sheds light on how VPPs integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) and the critical need for open standards to create a frictionless ecosystem.VPPs are a prime example of how smart software optimizations can revolutionize the deployment and utilization of physical energy assets. By leveraging software to orchestrate diverse DERs, VPPs enable more efficient energy management, reducing waste and enhancing grid reliability. Discover why simplifying communication between DERs is essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions and making power management through VPP aggregators a reality.Our Guest Vish GantiVish is currently serving as Senior Director of Product Management for Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) at Qcells, Vish specializes in developing scalable energy platforms that integrate first-party hardware with industry-leading solutions from partners like Enphase, Tesla, and SolarEdge. His expertise lies in transforming distributed energy resources into bankable grid assets through advanced edge AI technologies, enabling smarter energy systems and sustainable revenue models.Previously, Vish held leadership roles at AutoGrid, where he spearheaded the development of AutoGrid Flex, a SaaS platform for VPPs and 24x7 Carbon-Free Energy solutions, and contributed to the company’s acquisition by Schneider Electric. He also worked with renowned organizations such as CPower Energy, Johnson Controls, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, focusing on demand response, DER optimization, and energy system innovation.Vish holds a Master of Science in Electrical & Energy Systems from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics & Communications from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. A thought leader in the clean energy space, Vish has co-authored industry-recognized publications and continues to drive impactful solutions that advance the global transition to renewable energy.https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishganti/Your Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack
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30:24
Data-Driven Charging: Jamie Schiel’s Vision for Smarter EV Infrastructure
To beat fossil fuels for energy density and portability, EV charging has to be fast and ubiquitous. But the infrastructure to deliver charging is expensive, both in the chargers themselves and the power infrastructure to deliver the electricity. Companies delivering charging infrastructure are thus cautious, wanting to be sure they’ll make back their investment. But this isn’t somewhere we can afford to be timid. Stable Auto employs machine learning algorithms to build a cloud based SaaS product that can run deep analytics to determine optimal locations for EV charging. This lowers the risk for infrastructure investment, making it easier for businesses to justify capital investment and hastening the EV revolution. Higher profitability will inevitably also lead to more entrants in the market driving prices down for consumers and accelerating the adoption curve.Rising energy costs and thoughtful legislation have created a landscape where work like Stable’s can enhance ROI for the companies capable of delivering the infrastructure while simultaneously benefiting consumers by increasing the density of EV charging options. It’s a fantastic example of capitalism driving climate impact. Jamie spoke with us about Stable’s machine learning approach, the state of the US energy industry, and the truly shocking amount of electricity that’ll be necessary to fully switch to EVs.And, you can work for Stable! They’re hiring for all roles.Our guest, Jamie SchielJamie Schiel is the Co-Founder and CTO of Stable. Before co-founding Stable, Jamie helped pioneer the use of drones by electrical utilities in New Zealand before landing at MIT Media Lab, where he built a billion frames-per-second camera for automotive and medical sensing. His contributions to clean transportation and energy earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieschiel/Stable Auto: https://stable.auto/Your Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack
Climate Stack, the podcast where digital technology meets the fight against climate change! If you're a software professional with a passion for solving hard problems and a drive to make a difference, you're in the right place.Your hosts Mansi and Joshua, are seasoned technologists who have dedicated decades to building enterprise software solutions in Silicon Valley. Driven by a shared commitment to leave behind a better world, they transitioned to climate action. Through Climate Stack, they hope to share the incredible advancements in climate technology driven by software innovations. Tune in to hear from industry leaders, startup founders, and tech visionaries who are leveraging software to cut GHG emissions, enhance renewable energy, and revolutionize sustainability practices. Get ready to be inspired, get ready to be challenged, and get ready to stack up your skills for the planet.https://climatestack.podcastpage.io/
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