143. Bill Gates and Energy (1/2) – the Thesis
Redefining Energy29 Juli 2024

143. Bill Gates and Energy (1/2) – the Thesis

Bill Gates is sucking a lot of oxygen in the Energy Transition. Is he a force for good, or a nuisance? What is his thesis and where does it come from? And is the thesis still valid in 2024 or obsolete?

In this episode, we will not analyse Breakthrough Energy Ventures, his VC fund celebrating its 10th anniversary. That will be the topic of Episode 144, next week.

Laurent, Gerard and Michael are going to analyse Bill Gates fascination for Vaclav Smil and David MacKay. We will dissect how their theories have been consequential in the shaping of Bill Gates’ vision.
We will delve into Smil’s errors, namely the Primary Energy Fallacy, the refusal to consider wind, solar and batteries as viable alternatives and the impact they have had on Bill Gates thinking, and - probably worse - investments.
We will discuss how the Oil Industry has found an ally (probably unwilling, but certainly powerful) in their quest for immobility. Elon Musk might be controversial, but at least he has made the journey in practice, not in theory.
A very heated discussion. And we are not going to make friends here. That’s OK. Country above Party.

Bill Gates on Smil
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Numbers-Dont-Lie

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(203)

244. AI Transforming Distribution Grids - Aug26

244. AI Transforming Distribution Grids - Aug26

There is no shortage of discussion about the role of AI in the energy transition. Yet while many talk about the future of intelligent grids, only a handful of industry leaders are delivering solutions...

31 Aug 30min

243. From EVs to BESS: Why capital is flowing to batteries - Aug26

243. From EVs to BESS: Why capital is flowing to batteries - Aug26

Recorded at the SolarPower Summit in Brussels this conversation between Laurent Segalen and Jonathan Gifford examines why batteries have become one of the fastest growing and most strategically import...

24 Aug 21min

242. HVDC & the Grid of the future - Michael Barnard - Aug26

242. HVDC & the Grid of the future - Michael Barnard - Aug26

Michael Barnard welcomes Cornelis Plet, CTO of Grid Systems Integration at GE Vernova, about the technologies reshaping modern power systems and the practical realities of building an electrified futu...

17 Aug 41min

241. The Great Oxford Debate: “Energy and Aristotle" - Aug26

241. The Great Oxford Debate: “Energy and Aristotle" - Aug26

In March 2026, Laurent was invited by Jan Rosenow at Oriel College, Oxford, for a public debate on the energy transition. Held in the College's historic library, the discussion brought together contra...

10 Aug 34min

240. The CHINT Blueprint, or the Chinese Solar revolution from the inside - Aug26

240. The CHINT Blueprint, or the Chinese Solar revolution from the inside - Aug26

During Intersolar (The Smart E), Gerard sat down with Dr Chuan Lu, CEO Astronergy and Director of Chint Group to discuss, from the inside the Chinese Solar revolution. 2026 was Dr Lu and Chint 15th pa...

3 Aug 29min

239. Space PPAs for satellites - Jul26

239. Space PPAs for satellites - Jul26

Laurent and Gerard set out to explore one of the biggest ideas emerging alongside the excitement around the SpaceX IPO: datacenters in space. To refuel those satellites emerged the concept of an orbit...

27 Juli 26min

238. Revealed: CIP’s Playbook (Live from DLA Piper) - Jul26

238. Revealed: CIP’s Playbook (Live from DLA Piper) - Jul26

In June 2026, Gerard and Laurent recorded a live episode at DLA Piper’s Charging Up Capital 2026 Global Energy and Digital Investments Forum with Rowan Parkhouse, Managing Director at Copenhagen Infra...

20 Juli 35min

237. Datacenters: "Let’s get Physical" with Quinbrook - Jul26

237. Datacenters: "Let’s get Physical" with Quinbrook - Jul26

Gerard and Laurent first welcomed David Scaysbrook to the podcast in Episode 66, back in January 2022, for a conversation about the future of 24/7 power. Four years later, it felt like the right momen...

13 Juli 31min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
rss-jossan-nina
varvet
rss-borsens-finest
badfluence
avanzapodden
uppgang-och-fall
svd-tech-brief
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
lastbilspodden
fill-or-kill
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
borsmorgon
bathina-en-podcast
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
rss-hos-psykologen
rss-dagen-med-di
kvalitetsaktiepodden
tabberaset
24fragor