Energypreneurs (Sohail Hasnie)
Explore every episode of Energypreneurs
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| 13 Feb 2025 | E215: Future-Proofing Battery Technology with Cathode Innovation | 00:44:14 | |
In this episode, our guest is Virginia Klausmeier, CEO and founder of Sylvatex, a company revolutionizing battery cathode materials production. Virginia shares insights into optimizing battery manufacturing, reducing costs, and creating scalable and energy-efficient cathode materials. She discusses the importance of supply chain innovation, sustainability in battery production, and how new processes can drive the future of energy storage and EV adoption. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 21 Jun 2020 | E018: Energy Transition: How Bangladesh, Malaysia and Vietnam are using Solar Power to Transform their Power Sector | 00:59:25 | |
In this episode, Anthony Jude, an ex-ADB staff, explains the transition to renewable energy and explains the floating solar technology, its limitations, and challenges, especially the associated environmental concerns in Bangladesh where floating solar is proposed in fish farms and shrimp farms. He explains how Bangladesh has dramatically increased energy access to about 90% of households with increased nationwide generation capacity from 5,500 MW in 2009 to about 21,700 MW in 2019. Bangladesh still relies on about 95% fossil fuels, importing about $1-$1.2 billion of fuel, and with declining domestic reserve government has resorted to importing LNG. While 5,000-7,000 MW may be possible from rooftop solar in Dhaka alone, the government has not looked into this segment seriously yet. Anthony explains that 1.3 million diesel pumps operating in the country and solar irrigation pump is growing fast. We discuss drones, aeroponics, and other high technology use in Bangladesh. Overall, I got the impression that many solar power-related opportunities, in this country of 160 million people, is yet to be explored. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 06 Jan 2022 | E099: The Future of Electricity is Distributed — even Hydropower | 00:48:12 | |
Emily Morris returned as a guest and updated me on Emrgy’s latest projects and their expansion in New Zealand, South Africa, and Asia. She explained why she is convinced that the future of electricity is distributed. We discuss why the levelized cost of micro-hydropower could be between 2 to 6 cents a kWh, while the capital cost is relatively high ($1500 to $4000 per kW). We analyzed situations where micro-hydro hybrid systems can replace many small diesel generators. Please listen in to find out more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie:
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| 28 Apr 2021 | E069: Clean Energy, Hydrogen and Storage Perspectives from China | 00:47:30 | |
Yuki Yu, Researcher & Founder of Energy Iceberg, an information and intelligence in English about the Chinese renewable, and new energy market. Her company focuses specifically on wind or solar, and some of the emerging technology areas like hydrogen and battery energy storage. We discuss China's renewable energy vision, and why China's battery storage capacity will need to increase multifold from 2,500 MWh now. We engage in hydrogen and the future of feed-in tariff, and tariff and much more. Please join in to find more Yuki Yu Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 13 May 2020 | E008: Uzbekistan: Renewable Energy, Reform and New Technologies | 00:56:37 | |
Uzbekistan's power sector is changing--the sector was recently unbundled and government achieved record low prices from its large solar power auction. I met Ms. Aziza Umarova, the CEO of SmartGov Consulting, in Tashkent Uzbekistan and had a long chat over coffee on broad range of energy sector issues. We touched upon the power sector unbundling, future of solar power, and energy efficiency: why do we unbundle our power sector? what’s the point of wholesale electricity market and energy sector regulation? and what's the future of off-grid solar power, batteries and electric vehicles? If you want to find more, please join this conversation: You may connect directly with us on: Aziza Umarova
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| 09 Feb 2025 | E214: Transforming Food with Climate Innovation | 00:43:02 | |
In this episode, our guest is Chloë Payne, a climate-focused venture investor specializing in food, agriculture, and ocean technologies. Chloë shares insights into innovative solutions for climate adaptation and emissions reduction, the importance of resilient teams in early-stage ventures, and the challenges and opportunities in scaling sustainable technologies. She also discusses the evolving role of AI, venture capital, and strategic partnerships in driving impactful innovation across global markets. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 09 Mar 2025 | E221: Transforming Uzbekistan’s Energy Landscape | 00:44:04 | |
In this episode, Alfredo Baño Leal, an energy expert with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), discusses Uzbekistan’s evolving energy sector. The conversation highlights the country’s transition from gas dependency to renewable energy, with recent policy reforms driving energy efficiency and reducing waste. With over 1-2 GW of rooftop solar already installed and a target of 40% renewable capacity by 2030, Uzbekistan is rapidly reshaping its power grid. Alfredo shares insights into the challenges of modernising the grid, the growing adoption of electric vehicles, and how distributed generation is becoming a cost-effective alternative for rural electrification. He also discusses Uzbekistan’s push toward clean energy investments, including the development of local solar manufacturing and a new BYD electric vehicle assembly plant. The episode closes with a look at Uzbekistan’s cultural richness, its emerging role as an energy leader in Central Asia, and why it’s a fascinating place to visit.
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| 21 Aug 2020 | E024: New Lithium-ion Battery Giga-factory in Norway | 00:41:13 | |
After transforming Sarawak Power as the CEO, Torstein went back to Norway to retire. Retirement was too boring, so he decided to build a Giga factory on a 500,000 square meter of land with 32 million KWh of battery cells a year. We discuss the future battery price and how his Norwegian battery plans to supply all of Europe. Torstein Dale Sjøtveit is currently the Executive Chairman of Freyr AS. We discussed how batteries are competing with gas power generation head-on. He explains the cha lenses in building a new company and how the world is changing. About Torstein Dale Sjøtveit: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | E112: The Dark Side of Hydrogen | 00:58:58 | |
James Hamilton, John Poljak, Paul Martin, and I explored the Hydrogen debate's dark side (00:40 min) and the fundamental point of why it does not make sense to use Hydrogen as a fuel (03:00). While we hear about Mega projects like the $21 billion Asian Renewable Energy Hub, the viable entry points (07:00) remain unclear. We explored the key numbers (10:20 min) and established why Hydrogen is a Win-Win bet for the fossil fuel industry (13:00 min). Green steel and Ammonia may be great products, but how to find consumers (30:00 min) and create a sense of urgency (55:00 min) for climate change. Please join in to understand this complex game of Hydrogen. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 31 Dec 2023 | E149: Philippine Renewable Energy: Insights on Wind and Solar | 00:42:10 | |
Viktoria Locson knows the solar power scene in the Philippines and the region. Today, she explained the challenges of wind energy delivery. Drawing from her background as an electrical engineer, Victoria emphasises logistical hurdles, physical demands, and offshore complexities in wind projects. She underscores the significance of a balanced lifestyle and encourages aspiring professionals to join the renewable energy sector, highlighting the importance of sincerity and clear intentions. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 21 Aug 2024 | E186: Simplifying Energy Economics: From Solar to EVs | 00:57:19 | |
In this episode, our guest is John Poljak, an expert in energy economics, explains the critical role of numbers in understanding and driving the energy transition. John highlights the importance of simplifying complex data to make informed decisions, especially in the context of solar energy, electric vehicles, and hydrogen. We delve into how key numbers can help evaluate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different energy sources, the future of energy storage, and the impact of renewable energy on traditional energy markets. The conversation also touches on the challenges of transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives and the economic implications for countries reliant on oil revenues. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 30 May 2020 | E013: EV Strategy: Manufacturing, Scaling up and Investment in Charging Infrastructure | 00:43:06 | |
Based in Netherland, Roland operates a boutique EV consultancy. Today he shares the many policy intents behind e-mobility strategies for infrastructure development all around the world. Please join us today to find out why counties must start a staged approach to develop a new EV industry, opportunities a new EV industry will create, and why new Giga factories are essential—Central Asia definitely needs one such Giga factory. There is no going back, EVs are going to stay and grow. Roland explains why the introduction of electric buses by city governments makes more sense right now. He explains the Charge Point Operator or CPO, and the charge point manufacturing—a new business, which is the backbone platform managing the charging ecosystem. We discuss concession structures and “regulation by contract” and options for charging infrastructure—we contradicted on some points, especially should charging be a regulated monopoly or a competitive business. We discussed leasing fees and residual value maintenance of EVs and more.
Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 06 Oct 2024 | E196: The Shifting Mindset on Electric Vehicles and Clean Energy | 00:45:19 | |
In this episode, our guest is Carlos Santamaria, a senior editor at Horizon Engage, a political risk consultancy for energy companies. Carlos, a former geopolitical journalist, shares his insights into the rapid shift towards electric vehicles and the future of energy storage. He discusses typical consumer perspectives, including the challenges of integrating EVs into the grid, the role of battery technology in balancing energy supply, and the global push toward cleaner transport solutions. Carlos also highlights the importance of policies and innovation in shaping the future of sustainable energy systems. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 24 Mar 2024 | E164: Walking the Talk of Sustainability | 00:50:49 | |
Henry Cornwell is a lawyer with the Asian Development Bank and a passionate environmentalist who explores the role of the rule of law in preserving natural capital for the next generation. We touch upon the evolution of today’s car from the early invention of the bicycle and its impact on society. Henry literally “talks the talk” and runs to his work at least three days a week and avoids all forms of machine-driven transport. He also explored his views on autonomous vehicles and the overall adoption of electric vehicles. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 05 Dec 2023 | E135: Affordable Electric Vehicles in Bangladesh | 00:38:30 | |
In this episode, Mustafa Momin, the mind behind Palki, a Bangladeshi EV start-up up shares the thrilling journey of pioneering affordable electric vehicles in Bangladesh. With resilience against initial skepticism, he emphasizes Palki's commitment to indigenous EV manufacturing and the transformative impact of sustainable mobility. Mustafa explains the bold trajectory of Bangladesh's electric vehicle landscape from navigating technical intricacies, including the strategic $5,000 pricing and collaborations with microfinance partners. He outlines his expansion plans and ongoing fundraising efforts. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 22 Dec 2021 | E097: Is Green Hydrogen the Answer to net Zero | 00:46:18 | |
A long-term renewable energy and storage veteran, James Hamilton, shared his industry insight today. He leads the technology innovation and hydrogen team in BayWa Renewable Energy. In today's episode, James shared his renewable energy journey, especially his views on our path to net zero. He argues, solar, wind and batteries are great, but they won't be able to deliver a 100% decarbonized economy so hydrogen definitely will have a role. Then we got into the mixed feelings about the hydrogen boom we are seeing today, what are the technical limitations and where we need to focus and much more. Please listen in to find out more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 16 Jun 2024 | E173: Why the Future of Power Supply is Bi-directional Flow | 00:47:53 | |
Today, we hear from Hugh Gleeson, the former CEO of United Energy, a Director of several utilities since then, and senior leader in Australia’s power sector, about how cheap renewable energy has transformed the energy future from the grasp of coal in Victoria and Australia. Hugh shares his insights on the decade ahead and why our energy grid will need to mimic the internet and the telecommunication network and support bi-directional flows—distributed solar on rooftops as a significant power source for the grid. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 13 Oct 2024 | E198: Boosting EV Adoption Through Strong Policies | 00:41:53 | |
In this episode, our guest is Jamie Leather, Director of the Transport Group at the Asian Development Bank. Jamie shares insights on the progress and challenges in accelerating electric vehicle adoption across Asia. He discusses the role of strong government policies, financing, and partnerships in driving the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, with a focus on public transport and infrastructure development. He also highlights some of ADB's interesting projects and explains the sources of grants and concessional funding for which such projects can qualify. Please join to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 03 Nov 2024 | E203: Energy Access and Sustainability in Afghanistan | 00:46:41 | |
In this episode, our guest is Nilofar Ghazanfar, a leading entrepreneur from Afghanistan working in renewable energy. Nilofar discusses her journey in creating energy access for communities, particularly focusing on empowering Afghan women through sustainable energy solutions. She highlights the challenges and opportunities of building a clean energy future in Afghanistan and how renewable energy is key to driving economic growth and social progress. Please join to find more: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 03 Apr 2025 | E227: Empowering Island Women | 00:57:53 | |
In this episode, our guest is Cherrie Atilano, the dynamic founder and CEO of AGREA Agricultural Systems and the AGREA Foundation. Cherrie shares her powerful journey of building sustainable agricultural models in the Philippines, particularly by empowering women in rural and island communities. From transforming typhoon-hit buildings into solar-powered women's centers to promoting regenerative farming and financial inclusion for smallholder farmers, Cherrie’s mission is deeply rooted in social justice, environmental resilience, and inclusive development. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 10 Jul 2024 | E180: Efficient Cooling for Sustainable Urbanization | 00:44:17 | |
In this conversation, Nidhi Gupta, an expert in energy efficiency and sustainable urbanization, shares her insights on developing efficient cooling solutions in rapidly urbanizing regions. Nidhi, with a background in environmental design, advocates for a holistic approach to energy efficiency, emphasizing the need for policies that phase out inefficient appliances. She discussed the option of demand aggregation and public procurement strategies that make super-efficient appliances more affordable. She has worked on decarbonization roadmaps for cities in Maharashtra, India, focusing on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and adaptive comfort. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 31 Dec 2020 | E049: How do I do podcasts —a quick summary | 00:35:22 | |
If you are planning to start a podcast this will be useful for you. This episode is a recording of my presentation to an internal audience at the Asian Development Bank, on the software, hardware, and strategy behind my podcast. Some found it technical, but if you are interested to understand the various equipment, software, and system choices, this will save a lot of time. Please connect with me for the PowerPoint file and the video record. Happy New Year! Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 14 Dec 2022 | E115: Climate and Development: Be Part of the Change. | 00:36:41 | |
Cindy Malvicini, Senior Advisor at the Asian Development Bank, described her professional journey from an environmental policy and transparency expert (01:00 min) to climate adaptation initiatives in Nepal (02:00 min) to her involvement in gigawatt scale solar projects in Central Asia (06:00). Today, she rides her electric scooter (13:00 min ) and shaping ADB to become Asia’s Climate Bank (18:00). She talks about startups and venture fund (24:00 min and the importance of being part of the change and make things happen (35:00 min) Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie:
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| 26 Mar 2025 | E225: How Anyone Can Learn or Teach Anything | 00:46:39 | |
In this episode, our guest is Janine Teo, CEO of Solve Education! She shares her inspiring journey from a computer engineer in Singapore to a global changemaker leading scalable education programs for marginalized communities. With over 30 million lessons delivered, Janine breaks down how her organisation uses the “GAIN” framework—Gamification, AI coaching, Incentives, and Network—to tackle the root challenges of low literacy, self-confidence, and motivation. We discuss the power of mindset, the limits of traditional education, and how emerging technologies like AI can either bridge or widen the divide—depending on how we design them. Janine also highlights the importance of behavioural science, foundational skills and why education is the key to climate resilience and entrepreneurship in underserved communities. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 30 Nov 2023 | E133: Accelerating Finance to Match Speed and Scale for Climate Science | 00:55:22 | |
Tim Buckley, a finance expert with an environmental bent, delves into the challenges of climate change and the emerging solution of the electric vehicle revolution. Although the conversation went into deep thinking on the impact of the privatisation of public utilities, the conversation ended optimistically, primarily because of China's significant investments in renewables and electric vehicles. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 17 Mar 2021 | E061: Large Hydropower to Off-grid Solar: Where is Our Energy Future? | 00:54:03 | |
Xuefei Liu is now in Paris completing her EMBA. This is her third continent in search of a solution to development challenges. Having spent close to a decade in Sinohydro, one of the largest hydropower companies in China, and then in West and North Africa, and to Europe. She brought an extraordinary aura of energy into our conversation while talking about solving problems of others who can’t help themselves. Her advice to young people: life is short, please find something you like and not too huge, preferably in your own country. Xuefei also asked me many questions making this conversation a high-energy two-way exchange of ideas. Please join in to find more. Connect with Xuefei Liu: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 21 Jan 2021 | E052: Young Female Entrepreneur’s take on Future of Afghanistan | 00:48:32 | |
Nilofar Ghazanfar, the Head of Project Coordination Unit of the Ghazanfar Group in Afghanistan, shares her enthusiasm about the future of Afghanistan, especially its path to decarbonizing using solar power. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 17 Feb 2021 | E056: Entrepreneurship: Rooftop Solar to Mental Health during COVID | 01:15:21 | |
Cameron Quin and Yuri Marshall are the co-founders of Mind You, who are committed to protecting the mental well-being of people for more fulfilled lives. We talk about Cameron’s entrepreneurial journey from a rooftop solar startup in Australia to a startup for mental health in the Philippines. Their collective journey in lifting the stigma, lowering counseling costs, and many more. Please join in. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 07 Apr 2024 | E168: Energy Transition in Southeast Asia | 00:53:53 | |
In this podcast episode, Australian energy transition specialist Bridget McIntosh discusses the complexities of a cleaner energy future in Southeast Asia, a region she has dedicated 20 years of her career to support. With a background in driving change, she highlights ASEAN challenges arising from market dynamics, state utility monopolies and the role of governments in a region heavily reliant on coal power. The discussion further explores the obstacles in fulfilling corporate renewable energy demand, rooftop solar, and navigating early closure of coal plants across Southeast Asia. Please join in to find more. Bridget noted some corrections:
Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 06 Jun 2021 | E075: ADB's Energy Policy Review — the details | 00:53:41 | |
In this episode, I go through the ADB’s draft Energy Policy for public consultation. If you are interested to understand the proposed policy and want to engage in this consultation process, this may be a good start. I discuss the changing energy landscape, ADB’s support for climate change, and activities and investments that the energy policy will prioritize to align ADB operations with the Paris agreement. In this policy document you will find, how ADB pans to move away from investing in fossil fuels, promote energy efficiency, electric vehicles, improve cities and people’s lives, using renewable energy, battery storage and new technologies Here is a link to the policy document for public consultation:
Please join in to explore more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 22 Jul 2020 | E020: A Candid Talk on Lithium-ion Battery Prices | 00:21:19 | |
We hear a lot about battery prices going down but mostly from researchers and reporters. My today’s guest is Fancy Lu of Liyuan Battery Company, a battery manufacturer, who will share details of their products and some pricing. I learned lot about batteries on the market from her and was surprised that batteries with about 5,000-6,000 cycles are becoming so common. We discuss the large MWh scale batteries with system cost of about $300 per kWh or the plug and play home batteries from $5,000 to $20,000. To find out more, please join in: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 22 Dec 2021 | E098: What if the biomass waste could replace Graphite in a Lithium Battery? | 00:37:03 | |
Dr. Vinod Nair is currently the Chief Technical Officer and co-founder at FaradPower, Inc., developing advanced battery materials from agricultural waste. In this episode, he explained one of his innovations to use anode made from domestic waste and replace graphite, the hard carbon material. Vinod also touched on the idea of DC vs AC electricity, and in his view it was a “historical mistake” to opt for AC electricity. We touched on many other fun ideas. Please join to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 10 Apr 2025 | E229: Authentic Connections: LinkedIn as a Catalyst for Change | 00:47:51 | |
In this episode, our guest is Lynnaire Johnston, a New Zealand-based LinkedIn strategist, author, and founder of LinkAbility. Lynnaire shares practical and powerful insights on how professionals—especially in the sustainability and clean energy sectors—can elevate their personal and company brands using LinkedIn. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 15 Feb 2021 | E054: A Super Optimist’s View of Technology Led End to Climate Change Concerns | 00:51:55 | |
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| 04 Dec 2023 | E134: Conversation with a PCMag journalist on EVs and Battery Tech | 00:50:18 | |
PCMag journalist Emily Dreibelbis and I explore the complex development of EVs and batteries and the current trend in EV adoption. We had a candid discussion and explored the challenges of EV ownership in the USA, the impact of COVID-19 on battery prices, and the potential of solid-state batteries. Emily emphasises consumer incentives, societal benefits, the difficulty in charging, and reduced maintenance costs. The conversation also explores the global outlook for EV adoption in Australia, the Philippines, and the super cold weather in Chicago. Connect with Emily at https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 06 May 2020 | E005: Battery Industry Global and Trends with Andrew Kwon | 00:39:59 | |
Batteries are changing the world. And today our guest is battery guru from South Korea, who has been in the industry for about 20 years. Andrew discussed the 5 key suppliers that produce 90% of today’s Lithium-Ion battery and how battery prices changed over the years and continuing. We explored his views on the shortage of raw materials, the future of pricing, and second-life batteries.
Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 28 Apr 2022 | E104: Nuts and Bolts of Green House Gas Accounting | 00:41:15 | |
Today, we tap into the experiences of Darshak Mehta, a technical guru of climate change accounting and an energy efficiency veteran of the 90s. Our conversation tried to decipher the ecosystem of technical terms: Green House Gas Accounting, Clean Development Mechanism, and reference to many guidelines and International Protocols that created this ecosystem. We tried to explain these items in terms of simple numbers and examples. What is the voluntary mechanism, why does it get complicated, and how does it link back to the Paris Agreement and the countries that have made it. Please listen in to find out more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 09 Dec 2024 | E207: Reducing Emissions with Coal Mine Methane Solutions | 00:38:54 | |
In this episode, our guest is James Tauchnitz, Managing Director of Novus Fuels. James shares how his company is helping coal mining companies transform methane emissions into valuable energy sources. He discusses the importance of reducing methane's environmental impact, innovative solutions for coal mine methane capture, and how these projects support sustainability in the steelmaking and mining industries. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 18 Feb 2024 | E157: Strategies to Expand EV Adoption Beyond Early Adopters | 00:48:30 | |
Mike Costello, Corporate Affairs Manager for Cox Automotive Australia and former automotive journalist, discusses the need for a balanced view on EV adoption and explains ways EV adoption can be expanded beyond the early adopters. We delve into topics like second-hand EVs, the impending rollout of more options and lower prices, wireless charging, battery sizes, and the future of EV technology. Emphasizing rationalizing battery sizes and the role of solar panels, he also expresses skepticism about fully autonomous driving. Mike sees Australia's potential in EV development but remains cautious about becoming a manufacturing hub. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 20 May 2020 | E009: The Future of Zero Waste in the Philippines with Francesca Ramirez | 00:37:11 | |
Anna Francesca Ramirez or Chesca is my guest for today. She will help you track the path of your household waste to its final resting place and this is a profitable business.
Connect with Francesca: Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 29 Nov 2023 | E132: Green Ammonia from Solar (CSP and PV) | 00:41:22 | |
Xavier Lara, an expert on CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) and green ammonia, explains a groundbreaking $200 million solar project, which is part of a $1.6 billion mega-scale ammonia plant. Our conversation navigates the intricate world of ammonia, dissecting industry complexities, import-export dynamics, and the evolving green hydrogen landscape. We explore the role of legislation and market dynamics and shed light on green energy, focusing on how ammonia may reshape industries and global markets. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 20 Nov 2022 | E114: The Future of Philippine Renewable Energy from a Green Entrepreneur | 00:43:01 | |
Vincent Perez, Chairman of Alternergy, was a different kind of energy minister (0:51 min) with an entrepreneurial heart (3:00 min), which brought him to be the main torch bearer of renewable energy in the Philippines (14:00). In today's episode explained his journey, the competition within renewables (22:00 min) and his plans to bring Alternergy to IPO through democratic capitalism (30:00 min). Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 08 Dec 2020 | E037: Off-grid Solar is our New Frontier | 00:38:37 | |
Victor, the co-founder of the GenixGreen, a battery design and manufacturing company, talks about his 12.5 kg. 1 kWh battery pack with BMS, which is about $250-$300. Victor believes, this plug and play system, that can directly connect DC and AC products, the future of off-grid solar. His company moved out of E-bike Batteries, as competition is huge but sees huge potential in-home storage segment. He explains why his company left the e-bike market and shares his insight on quality aspects of e-bikes. Please join us in this inspiring chat. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 10 Dec 2023 | E137: Electric Vehicles in the Philippines — if Not Now When? | 00:44:13 | |
Mark Tieng, President and CEO of Solar Transport and Automotive Resources, Authorized Dealer of BYD Philippines, and the first EV owner in the country, shares the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines. Mark shares his passion for EVs after driving for almost a decade, the practical needs for daily commuting and the “range anxiety”. We explore charging infrastructure, government policies, the BYD models, and the faster depreciation of ICE cars. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 19 Mar 2020 | E001: Introduction to energypreneurs | 00:25:05 | |
The electricity sector has not changed that much since Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb. But it's changing now, thanks to our ability to generate electricity with solar power and store it in affordable batteries for use at night. Electric cars are taking the auto market by storm. Solar panels are mushrooming on rooftops and lakes. And solar is just the tip of the iceberg; we are increasingly converting saltwater to freshwater, and aeroponics will help grow food everywhere. We will discuss all of these ideas and technologies with business leaders and experts. Our aim is to excite the younger generations about the electricity, in a way that was unimaginable only a few years back. Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs can dream up flying taxis, an electric boat that runs on solar power or a vertical farm in the middle of nowhere that supplies food to local communities using solar power, battery storage, and the best available proven technology. In our first episode, we analyze how our today’s thinking is different from our previous generation, how technology and innovation are shaping us every day and turning yesterday’s unimaginable today’s reality and soon-to-be-obsolete tomorrow with even brighter and bolder innovation. Are you ready for this new world of possibilities, where some of today’s large power and car companies might crumble under the innovation of the next generation? Free electricity may create many more new companies. Please join us if you don’t want to be the Kodak of tomorrow. Be Tesla in the new electricity industry. This is Energypreneurs. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 11 Mar 2021 | E060: Learning from Tomorrow using Strategic Foresight | 00:52:00 | |
Bart Édes, the author of Learning from Tomorrow to prepare for the Next Big Disruption, shares his thoughts on how organizations and entrepreneurs can prepare for the future. How to guard ourselves against obsolescence of our skills and investments. We both shared optimism about climate change and discussed the lessons from the Covid-19 experience—how that has fundamentally changed many businesses and why companies must avoid their "Kodak moment" of ignoring early warning signs and many more. Please join in. Connect with Bert Édes: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 29 Jan 2024 | E151: AI in 2024: Critical for Progress, Challenging to Avoid | 00:36:35 | |
Siri to Pi: AI is transforming our lives quicker than expected. In this episode, I “discuss” with Pi, the Inflection AI’s language model. My “conversation” with Pi touches on a range of subjects. We explored a thought experiment of “free” electricity; Pi was able to portray the potential effects on society, boosting electric vehicles, and transforming agriculture and transport, especially with drones in reforestation. Can we continue living without Pi, or her friends; please tune in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 15 Jan 2021 | E051: The Shining Star of the Electric 3-wheeler Industry | 00:51:16 | |
Gayam Raja, the founder and CEO of Gayam Motor Works (GMW), from India, traces back his successful transition from manufacturing gasoline power 3-wheeler to manufacturing the complete ecosystem of electric 3-wheelers or e-trikes. We explore his inspiration and vision to reach a 1500 unit per unit production capacity exporting to about countries. He believes in a future where most of the last-mile delivery all over the world will do by e-trikes —the GMW version can carry 400 kgs and price below $5,000. Please join me to explore more. Connect with Gayam Raja: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 13 May 2021 | E072: Building Your Personal Brand and How Social Media Helps | 00:55:23 | |
Doreen Cooper is an award-winning speaker, international trainer, book author, and content creator. In this episode, we explore more about personal branding and leveraging social media. According to Doreen, personal branding is the identity that you highlight base on your personality, experiences, skills, and values. She also shared some steps on how to start building your personal brand and understanding the gap between "where you are now" and "what you want to be". We also talked about the importance of social media presence especially during this pandemic, being mindful of what you post, and why you should find the right platform for you, not just for the sake of using it. Please join in to explore more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | E042: The Disruptive Power of Unstoppable Large Solar | 00:49:30 | |
Agostinho Miguel Garcia from SunBD - Sun Business Development, analyzes the disruptions that low priced #solarpower is causing as the perception and attitude about solar power has changed over the years—30+ cents per kWh feed-in tariff in 2006 to 1.1 cents per kWh in the Portuguese auction of August 2020. Today, even the underlying math for rehabilitation of old hydropower is challenging as building a new ground-mount or floating solar power may be quicker and cheaper. Hear about CSP plants and hydrogen as seasonal storage and many more Today to get a glimpse of this exciting future, please join in. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 23 Mar 2025 | E224: Innovating Renewable Energy in South Asia | 00:44:58 | |
In this episode of Energypreneurs, our guest is Jaimes Kolantharaj, Principal Energy Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Jaimes shares insights on renewable energy projects in South Asia, highlighting ADB’s role in shifting investments from government funding to private sector-driven initiatives. He discusses solar and battery storage deployment in the Maldives, electric ferries for sustainable transport, and policy trends in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. The conversation also explores the impact of AI, digitalisation, and energy-efficient solutions, particularly in agriculture and electric mobility. Jaimes offers valuable advice to young entrepreneurs entering the renewable energy, emphasising the need for innovation and digital solutions in an evolving energy landscape.
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| 30 Jun 2023 | E123: Exploring the Potential of AI with Nia and Amie | 00:56:15 | |
In this episode, Amy, Nia, and I, three AI enthusiasts, and IT, system, and energy experts ponder on our future with the presence of AI everywhere. Amy brings her perspectives from her computer vision and identity verification work, and Nia brings her expertise in digital transformation and customer experience. We discussed the practical applications of AI, the potential impact of AI on jobs, education, and its integration with IoT and virtual reality. We discussed the need to balance human and digital interactions and the importance of maintaining creativity, personality, and context in everyday tasks. While AI tools like GPT can assist with mundane tasks, human input, and storytelling remain essential. We shared the efficiency benefits of AI, the personalized experiences it can create, the potential impact on jobs, and the importance of reskilling. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 25 May 2020 | E012: Energy Opportunities in the Mysterious Central Asia with Ashok Bhargava | 00:39:27 | |
Ashok Bhargava, Director, Energy Division, Central and West Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank discusses the significant changes in the mindset in the central Asian countries. Ashok explains why the next decade belongs to the Central Asian region as the countries transition and open up the energy sector for new investments. From a distance the countries appear part of a scattered region with the smaller population but collectively bring tremendous opportunities when they are looked as a block. Ashok is bullish on the opportunities in this mysterious region. His advice to all “stay tuned to the region and you will find significant opportunities”, to find out more about the region and the countries in the region listen to today’s episode. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 07 Dec 2021 | E092: Thinking Behind ADB’s New Energy Policy | 00:45:08 | |
Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga, Chief of the Energy Sector Group, of the Asian Development Bank and I discuss the behind the scenes activities and thinking, which became the recently approved Energy Policy of ADB. We analyze the impact of this new energy policy on the generation, transmission, distribution segments of the power sector and the importance of climate change. Please listen in to find out more.
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| 18 Dec 2023 | E140: Optimize the Value of Renewable Assets with AI | 00:49:52 | |
In this conversation, Canadian entrepreneur Kitty Chachra delves into the role of AI in optimizing clean energy assets. She emphasizes the need for training in the evolving field, discusses her company's focus on streamlining renewable energy operations, and explores potential expansions into electric vehicles and drones. The conversation also touches on opportunities in the booming Asian markets, highlighting the dynamic and impactful nature of the work in this field. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 07 Jun 2021 | E076: Will ADB Stay Relevant if it Fully Stops Financing Fossil Fuel? How will ADB Balance Popular vs. Practical Policy | 00:55:29 | |
ADB is revising its energy policy and Dr. Yongping Zhai, Chief of Energy, is leading the Energy Policy update for ADB. No new coal. Yes. But what is the best option for all ADB members? What about gas? Stranded asset risks? Please join in to explore more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie:
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| 10 Jun 2022 | E108: How to Engage Communities in Climate Actions | 00:41:50 | |
Aliman Temirbek is high energy and engaging communication professional. She heads Asian Development Bank’s communication in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Today she tells a story (0:33 min) about her not keeping a secret to herself (09:00). We discussed electric cars (22:00 min), charging business opportunities (26:00 min), and electric vehicle retrofit (30:22 min) opportunities in the Kyrgyz Republic. While we all ponder what we can do at an individual level to take action and save our energy costs, here, in this episode, Aliman explains what she did. I was amazed by her extraordinary efforts in her neighborhood to engage everyone in climate actions. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 05 Sep 2024 | E191: Financing Electric Mobility with Carbon Credits | 00:42:38 | |
In this episode, our guest is Guillaume Rémy, co-founder of Zeroca, a company focused on carbon credit programs for electric mobility in emerging markets. Guillaume discusses the opportunities that carbon credits provide for financing electric vehicle (EV) transitions, especially in the context of the Paris Agreement. He explains how governments and private entities can leverage carbon credits to bridge the cost gap between traditional internal combustion vehicles and EVs. The conversation highlights the future of carbon credit markets and their potential to accelerate the adoption of sustainable transport solutions worldwide. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 20 Dec 2020 | E044: Technology, Development and Future—Perspectives of Werner Liepach, Director-General, ADB | 00:45:27 | |
Werner Liepach, Director-General, Asian Development Bank, discusses his fascinating, 28 year-long journey through different levels of ADB, and how the roles for a development bank have changed in the face of technological changes, the threat of climate change, and finally, Covid-19. With a Ph.D. in financial engineering and a love for seeing places around the world, Werner shares the ideas and changes that he introduced as a senior development professional. Why just an idea for innovation is not enough - innovation needs communication, alliances, and long-lasting stamina. We hear the mindset changes in the fossil fuel rich Central Asia because of cheap renewable energy, the opportunities for electrification of transport and some of the big ideas he was able to implement, especially in Pakistan. To find more, please listen in. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 16 Oct 2020 | E029: Everty, The Intelligence behind Smart Charging | 00:45:58 | |
Everty enables a charging station to talk to its client, an electric vehicle. Carola Jonas, the young CEO joins me to explain her startup company, its strategies, and how smart charging infrastructure will impact the energy sector. We discuss pricing options and trends leading us towards 2030. We try to imagine the future where millions of autonomous EVs with large batteries connect to the grid and is able to send electricity to the grid (v2G) or another vehicle (v2V). As you know, the future is electric, and charging infrastructure will be an essential element in that transformation Please listen in Connect with Sohail Hasnie:
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| 09 Aug 2023 | E126: Promoting Sustainability in Fashion and Agriculture: A Conversation with Afrina Samain | 00:36:59 | |
In this podcast, Afrina Samain, the Head of Decarbonisation and Circularity at ERI, shares her expertise in promoting sustainability in the fashion and agriculture industries. With a background in chemical engineering, she works with international fashion brands and textile manufacturers in Bangladesh to implement cleaner production and sustainability programs. She assisted agricultural farms in Australia with energy efficiency initiatives and accessing government funding for eco-friendly technologies. Afrina emphasises the importance of policy support and passion in driving sustainable practices and discusses the potential of hydroponics in energy and water-efficient farming. The conversation also covers her personal interests outside of work, including pursuing an MBA focused on the circular economy. Please join us to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 09 May 2021 | E071: Battery Performance — What You Need to Know | 00:43:29 | |
Varun Kumar Duggal is working on performance modeling and the techno-economic assessment of lithium-ion battery systems. In this episode, we discuss the importance of stationary energy storage systems in the grid and the complexity of battery degradation. We explore the impact of electric vehicles on the grid, the vehicle-to-grid opportunities, options to maximize battery lives, and the timing for solid-state batteries. Please join in to explore more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 12 Oct 2021 | E087: Leading the Energy Transformation in Taiwan | 00:42:36 | |
Elaine Chen co-founded BillionWatts Technologies, a subsidiary under Billion Electric Corp, with a focus on solar PV and energy storage-related products and solutions. Today, we discussed with this high-energy young entrepreneur the details of today’s energy transformation in Taiwan and its key drivers. Elaine shared the future of Taiwan’s energy sector and their capacity expansion plans—a huge target of 20,000 MW of solar and 7,000MW of wind by 2025. We learned how the sector is moving from its imported coal and oil-based energy sector to indigenous renewable energy. We also talked about how the transformation will affect the demand for rooftop solar and on-grid battery storage. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 22 Dec 2024 | E211: Exploring EV Adoption in Australia with Tom Gan from Ludicrous Feed | 00:44:27 | |
In this episode, our guest is Tom Gan, an EV enthusiast and content creator from Australia. Tom shares his journey from being an early adopter of electric vehicles to becoming a prominent voice in the EV community. We discuss key challenges in EV adoption, such as range anxiety and affordability, and the role of incentives in shaping consumer behavior. Tom also highlights exciting trends, from vehicle-to-grid technology to the evolution of charging infrastructure, offering valuable insights for anyone passionate about EVs. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | E170: Renewable Energy Law and the Future of Energy | 00:46:11 | |
In this podcast episode, Mona Katigbak, General Counsel at GE Renewable Energy's Hydro and Hybrids division, shares her insights on the renewable energy landscape. She discusses hydropower's evolving role, investment challenges, and the importance of community engagement. The conversation also delves into electric vehicle technology, its impact on the energy sector, and the global shift towards sustainable transportation. Mona's optimistic outlook highlights the significance of innovation, sustainability, and corporate responsibility in transforming the energy industry. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 26 Sep 2020 | E027: Why COVID-19 is Reinforcing the Need for Climate Actions | 00:47:13 | |
How urgent is Climate Change in the post COVID world? How our climate discussion has changed over the years even within the Asian Development Bank. Let’s find out from Preety Bhandari, the Chief of ADB’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
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| 15 Feb 2024 | E156: Financing Private Sector Sustainable Projects | 00:46:04 | |
Samia Tariq, an expert in project financing, shares her insights on the importance of scaling up investment in technology and discusses the role of blended finance and grant financing in supporting projects in areas such as Agri-tech, energy, environment, electric vehicles, and hydrogen. Samia emphasizes the financial viability of projects and highlights the need for a strong track record, ring-fenced projects, and due diligence on contracts and technology. Samia provides tips on preparing a project proposal and discusses the role of lenders in arranging financing. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 23 Jun 2024 | E175: The Future of Sustainable Logistics | 00:58:28 | |
In this episode, our guest is Penny Estrada, Chief Commercial Officer, Catalyst Logistics (an ICTSI company). Our conversation touches upon the evolving logistics industry, focusing on sustainability and the integration of green practices. Penny highlights the increasing importance of carbon footprint considerations, driven by European regulations, and shares insights on managing logistics for large-scale energy projects. The conversation also explores the impact of digitalization and AI on logistics, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary skills, empathy, and cultural awareness in the industry. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 22 Sep 2021 | E082: Changing Landscape for Green Energy in Kazakhstan | 00:50:56 | |
Giovanni Capannelli, a long-term development professional and the true face of today's multiculturalism shares his exciting professional journey of about two decades across many countries--from islands in the Pacific to landlocked Central Asia-- at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Today he also shared his insight from the mysterious countries along the Great Silk Road, especially Kazakhstan, where he was the Country Director for ADB. In this episode of Energypreneurs, we talked about Giovanni's journey, his life after ADB, and his current ventures- building his own consulting company. Originally from Italy, moving to Japan, and now working in Kazakhstan, Giovanni shared the cultural difference in working in Central Asia. With the help of the United Nations, they were able to introduce 2018 a new framework for Kazakhstan’s sustainable development goals and introducing clean energy resource technology. We also talked about how the government and people changed their attitudes toward climate change and how private sectors privilege change due to recent events, especially the COVID-19 pandemic. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 26 Apr 2021 | E068: ADB Ventures — What You Need to Know | 00:39:57 | |
ADB Ventures is investing in bold technology startups solving today’s biggest unsolved problems. Sherwin Pu, the head of ADB’s new impact-technology investment platform, talks about its business model to deploy venture capital investments and technical assistance to support early-stage technology businesses.
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| 21 Mar 2021 | E062: Ocean — The Ultimate Source of Energy for the Coastal Areas | 00:42:02 | |
Jonathan Fievez, the CEO of Carnegie Clean Energy, explains why we may have waves all around us but it is hard to commercially extract energy from them. Sitting by the Indian Ocean in Perth, Australia, Jonathan explained how Carnegie as a technology developer in partnership with the project developers finding niche opportunities between the expensive remote gensets and solar and wind inland constrained island situation. He argues unlike other renewable energy, wave energy is consistent and predictable. He shares a fascinating insight into how these structures can attract a full spectrum of new fish populations and can help develop new tourism opportunities. How ocean energy can use desalination operation as a battery and many more. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 13 Dec 2021 | E095: Solar Power in the Philippines | 00:39:34 | |
Leandro Leviste, the CEO of Solar Philippines, started his solar venture in 2013 when the Philippines had less than 10 MW of installed solar power. Today his ambitions are big: he wants to build solar plants on his 10,000-hectare land through partnerships and enable the transition from coal and gas. Although Leandro started from a mindset of distributed generation, today he believes in large centralized battery and solar installation because of economies of scale and other factors. From the proceeds of his early investments in Solar City and Tesla, Leandro went to big plants —not rooftop solar but large centralized systems, and he explains why in our discussion. We touched on the prospects of electric vehicles and batteries in the Philippines and the 10,000 MW of solar that the country’s system will need by 2025, which will be only 100 Watt per capita solar installation. Please join in to find more from this interesting insightful conversation with Leandro. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 29 Mar 2021 | E064: A New Electric Vehicle for Asia | 00:48:00 | |
Freddie Tinga, President at Global Electric Transportation, is building new electric vehicles for Asia and Europe. Freddie’s team brings technical design from California and manufacturing in Spain. Freddie’s vision is to create an entire ecosystem with his 54 kWh 6.5meter four-wheeler electric vehicles. He wants to import fully made electric cars in the Philippines and then eventually establish electric vehicle industry units. Please join in this exciting discussion. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 08 Feb 2024 | E153: Climate Finance, AI Tools, and Startup Insights | 00:47:59 | |
Melissa Benn, a climate finance specialist, discusses her role in helping climate tech companies secure funding. She highlights the importance of external reviewers, challenges in document limitations, and nuances in domestic versus international projects. Melissa also shares insights into her startup's business model, emphasizing the role of AI tools like OpenAI, perplexity.ai, and Zapier. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 23 Dec 2020 | E045: Thinking of Tomorrow’s Big Opportunities | 01:01:57 | |
Dan Milison, takes us through the journey of his professional life —innovative projects, the climate leadership he has seen in three countries, and the BIG ideas he has. We get into the hot topic of today —Hydrogen; although I may not agree with some of the positive lights he sees in the hydrogen way, he does have a clear vision. Please join in to explore more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 01 Jul 2024 | E177: Solar Power and Agrivoltaics in Uzbekistan | 00:39:04 | |
In this episode, Uzbek entrepreneur Ilkhom Sadikov shares his experiences in promoting solar energy, highlighting challenges in investment due to low auction prices, potential for energy storage, agrivoltaics, and electric vehicles. He showcases his innovative solutions, including solar thermal solutions for agriculture, connecting LED street lights to solar power, and invites listeners to contact him for business opportunities. Please join in to find more.
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| 16 Dec 2020 | E041: The Joy of Development Work | 00:40:56 | |
Sunniya Durrani-Jamal, Country Direction, Cambodia of ADB, shares her passion for development work in this inspiring discussion today. We hear journey at the Asian Development from Afghanistan to Indonesia to Cambodia. We discuss our passion for development work and what keeps us motivated despite the hoops and red tapes that we face in our client countries and in our own organisation. Please join us in this inspiring chat. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 08 Dec 2020 | E038: Green Gas -- Wishful Thinking or Clean Energy Champion? | 00:45:36 | |
Sarin Abado, Energy Specialist of Asian Development Bank shares her thoughts on the transition from fossil gas to green and renewable gas; why we need to discuss a scenario where gas may no longer be the gas as we know today. Sarin argues, if electricity can be renewable, why can't we look at renewable or green gas today technology allows to cross the strong barrier between a renewable energy asset and a fossil fuel asset. We discuss contracts for difference and other instruments to augment today’s approach to carbon pricing, and the benefits of renewable gas a seasonal energy storage, and many more. Please join us in this exciting conversation. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 04 Mar 2021 | E058: Uber of Electricity Supply | 00:46:50 | |
Yvonne Power is one of three Co-Founders and the COO at Village Energy, and an advocate for microgrids and renewables, moved from a large state-government-owned power utility in Western Australia to a start to change people’s lives. Village Energy operates in developing Asia —Indonesia and India. Yvonne shares her technology passion and her entrepreneurial journey, which is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Village Energy with its IoT-enabled devices and smart app work with utilities and consumers to make electricity cheaper and efficient for all without any additional resources. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 10 Dec 2023 | E138: Waste-to-Hydrogen — a Game Changer? | 00:54:20 | |
Stephen Voller, the visionary Executive Chairman and Founder of Hydrogen Refinery delves into their ground-breaking waste-to-hydrogen technology, originating from the UK military. This adaptable process mitigates methane emissions, converting various wastes into hydrogen and customized fertilizers. Voller underscores the importance of hydrogen solutions being both green and cheaper, questioning the feasibility of large-scale projects we see everywhere using water electrolysis.
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| 16 Feb 2025 | E216: Lessons from a Hydrogen and EV Pioneer | 00:45:47 | |
In this episode, our guest is David Wenger, a hydrogen and energy transition expert with over 20 years of experience. David shares his unique perspective as both a developer and customer of hydrogen and electric vehicles, offering insights into their real-world performance, infrastructure challenges, and future potential. He also discusses the evolving energy landscape, the role of hydrogen in heavy industries, and why battery-electric vehicles may be the more practical solution for personal transport. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 06 Mar 2024 | E161: Path to Net Zero — perspectives from an Island Resort | 00:55:22 | |
Mitch Tan brings energy into every conversation, from electric vehicles to sustainability into hotel management. In this episode, Mitch Tan, representing the owner of a large tourist resort in Boracay, Philippines, explains the importance of sustainability in today’s hospitality industry. We understand her views on the intersection of technology and sustainability--the potential impact of AI on mental health, the integration of robotics in daily life, and the role of AI in decision-making. She explains the operational issues in adopting solar power and electric vehicles in the hotel industry, and highlights the hotel's efforts in reducing waste through recycling, upcycling, and composting. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 04 Dec 2024 | E206: Scaling Efficiency in Bangladesh’s Grocery Market | 00:43:33 | |
In this episode, our guest is Waseem Alim, founder of Chaldal, a leading grocery delivery platform in Dhaka. Waseem shares his journey of creating one of Bangladesh's top e-commerce platforms, overcoming logistical challenges in a densely populated city, and driving efficiency in the grocery supply chain. He also discusses the role of technology, potential for energy-efficient solutions, and how e-commerce can impact sustainability and community development. Please join in to find out more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | E110: Let’s Understand Hydrogen | 00:59:55 | |
Hydrogen is not only highly flammable; it’s a hot topic in the energy world today. In this episode, Xavier Lara, James Hamilton, David Wenger, John Poljak, and I introduced (01:00 min) and engaged in a conversation with Project Examples (06:30 min), Gray, Green, Blue, and Numbers (11:30 min), the Hydrogen and Ammonia (27:45 min), the Kilos and Gigajoules (33:25 min) and new Market Opportunities (40:50) We touched upon the need for new players (48:50) and high-level project numbers (53:40) Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 03 Nov 2020 | E033: Insights on Sustainability: From Asian Megacity to a Rural Australian Town | 00:45:00 | |
Nigel Savidge, and international development professional, now living sustainability in their 5000 m² property in rural Victoria, Australia, growing vegetables and everything else. He shares his view about sustainability and climate change—we talk about working from home, growing green tomatoes and gardening but at the same time the realities of climate he can now see. Please join us in this inspiring chat. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 29 Oct 2024 | E202: Turning Waste into Energy with Anaerobic Digestion | 00:43:04 | |
In this episode, our guest is David Ellis, Founder of Azura Associates and an expert in anaerobic digestion and waste-to-energy solutions. David discusses how anaerobic digestion transforms food waste and other organic material into energy, reducing landfill waste and creating valuable by-products. He shares insights on bioenergy projects for communities and businesses, the technology’s role in carbon reduction, and the economic opportunities for sustainable waste management. Please join us to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 28 Feb 2025 | E219: The Future Is Electric: Batteries Leading the Way | 00:17:22 | |
In this episode, our host, Sohail Hasnie, delivers an interesting insight on the transformative power of batteries in reshaping the energy landscape. He explores how advancements in battery technology are revolutionising everything from solar power storage to electric vehicles, making renewable energy more reliable and accessible. Sohail breaks down why batteries are the key to energy independence and climate action, highlighting the latest trends that will shape the future of sustainable power. Please join to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 13 Dec 2020 | E039: Millions of EVs Everywhere with Vehicle-to-Grid Technology: Who Should be Worried? | 00:49:46 | |
Today, I talked with Monroe Zhang, a fan of Tesla and an EV enthusiast, who is also building batteries. I learned many of her ideas in her easy to understand language. Monroe brought a supplier's perspective to the EV industry, vehicle to grid technology, consumer choices, and consumer security. Today she works and spends most of her time on all aspects of battery manufacturing from cell design, to BMS and battery packs. She shares the smart choices made by the car manufacturers by vertically integrating from sourcing minerals to building cars. We explore various ideas behind battery safety and related issues. Please join us in this inspiring chat. Connect with Monroe Zhang: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 30 Aug 2021 | E078: Unprecedented: The Remarkable Decade of Success of Solar Power | 00:50:18 | |
Michael Taylor, a senior energy analyst is pushing today’s evidence-based good news about the energy transition. As a data analyst, he likes to dig deep into the numbers and try to understand the impact of cost and performance improvements for renewables will have on the energy transition. Today, this International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) veteran talks about IRENA’s analysis of renewable technologies' cost and performance. In this episode, Michael shared about his journey which started in 1993 where he started as an energy modeler and economist in New Zealand. We talked about the transition of solar PVs and how “today’s record price for solar PV will be tomorrow’s average price” In this episode, we also touched on hydrogen, solar power, batteries, and how the electricity industry of the future can be the vehicle delivering economy-wide decarbonizing tomorrow. Please join, to find more. onnect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 30 Dec 2020 | E048: The Two Beacons of My Social Media Strategy | 00:42:43 | |
Carlos Santamaria and Reah Sy are good friends and social media gurus. They both managed multiple facets of the Asian Development Bank’s social media content and the strategy behind the activities. Together, they are not only fun to be with — they bring an infectious enthusiasm to the table. Since I met them in 2015, my perspectives about social media have changed dramatically, and a lot of my ideas have been shaped by these two friends. In this episode, we look at where to go from here and the global context. Get many insights into this fun conversation. Please join. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 25 May 2020 | E011: Electric Vehicle Startup in Australia with Greg McGarvie | 00:27:39 | |
Greg is the Elon Musk of Australia? In today’s episode we explore his passion for electric vehicles (EV) and the entire ecosystem around them. His mid-size Australian startup, with $1 million of his own money, and the readiness to expand in other countries. His company, ACE EV Group, has the technology and systems in place to Jumpstart electric vehicle manufacturing anywhere in a very short period. In this episode, Greg openly discuses the initial set up costs and production volumes for a minimum viable product for the new EV industry. The solution of separating out the cost of battery with his “iPhone Plan” for the electric vehicles. If you are keen on EVs and want to learn some more about Australian manufacturing and simple plug and play assembly, listen on… you will find many answers in today’s episode. You may connect directly with Greg on:
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| 17 Jun 2022 | E109: Visualizing Climate Crisis | 00:41:45 | |
Keisuke Taketani is a graphic facilitator or designer who does something magical; he turns long reports into a single page of graphics that are easy to understand. Today we discuss visualization and communication on climate Issues (01:20 min) and how to turn long boring presentations into exciting insights (06:09 min). Keisuke insists that we have to communicate better as we don’t have time (14:22 min) and why we are unable to about obvious things (24:00 min). He also explains the resources are available (32:00) in to cope with the challenges of translating long English texts to friendly Visuals (40:00 min) Please join us in this conversation to find more.
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| 12 Dec 2021 | E094: Peer-to-peer Networks - The Uber of the Energy Sector in Bangladesh | 00:45:23 | |
Sebastian Groh, the Managing Director at SOLshare, shares his journey from an investment banker in Europe to the CEO of an off-grid solar company in Bangladesh and its evolution over the past years. His interests are in distributed energy, e-mobility and energy storage. Connect with Sebastian Groh on LinkedIn Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 03 Feb 2025 | E212: The Future of Solar: 2025 and Beyond | 00:31:35 | |
In this episode, our host, Sohail Hasnie, sets the scene for 2025 by exploring the latest trends, breakthroughs, and challenges in solar power. He discusses solar energy's evolving role in the global energy transition, the impact of policy shifts, and emerging technologies that will define the sector’s future. Please join us to find out more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 13 May 2020 | E007: India--Solar Power, Electric Vehicles and Batteries | 00:46:46 | |
Solar power in India developed fast and current capacity is about 37,000 MW – a staggering 230 times growth in the last 10 years. In this episode, Dr. Pradeep Perera Energy Head (India) / Principal Energy Specialist ADB and Jiwan Acharya, Principal Energy Specialist of the Asian Development Bank share their insight into the Indian energy sector. We get their insight, why rooftop solar took longer to develop, and how India invested in billions of LEDs by aggregating demand and reduced prices dramatically. The expert duo also explains the Indian government’s mega plan to establish an EV and battery industry in India. Our speakers Dr. Pradeep Perera Energy Head (India) / Principal Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Jiwan Acharya, Principal Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank
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| 22 Jul 2024 | E182: Climate Change and Longevity: Sustainable Health Choices | 00:53:42 | |
Climate change and our food choices are closely linked. In this episode, my guest, Zabin Mehmood, a seasoned health food entrepreneur from Sydney, shares her journey in the health food ecosystem for over 22 years, emphasising the importance of sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly products. She explains the evolution in the health food industry with the rising consumer awareness of sustainable choices, especially among the younger generation. Zabin also highlights the impact of social media and the internet in spreading awareness and educating consumers about healthy eating habits and sustainable choices. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 15 Feb 2021 | E055: Energy Transformation in South Asia | 00:42:06 | |
In this episode, we get a chance to the world through the eyes of Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga, Director, South Asia Energy of the Asian Development Bank. We get to hear about his own transformation from the Director-General of a multi-sector regulator, to an academic to today, managing a multi-billion dollar energy portfolio covering all of South Asia. We talk about the challenges the South Asia region facing with its rooftop solar, off-grid solar, and energy efficiency. The ambitious program of the Indian government to convert all public vehicles, Bangladesh’s floating solar project, and the potential of on-grid batteries in the future. And many more, please join in: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 12 Feb 2024 | E154: From Energy Efficiency to Innovative Solutions – Addressing Asia’s Clean Energy Transition | 00:53:43 | |
David Morgado, a Senior Energy Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, discusses clean energy initiatives across Asia and the Pacific. David highlights the drivers, challenges, and opportunities for investment in energy efficiency and clean energy solutions. He emphasizes the urgent need for regional collaboration and invites all listeners to participate in ADB’s Asia Clean Energy Forum from June 3-7, 2024. Connect with Sohail Hasnie:
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| 01 Nov 2021 | E090: Today’s Megatrends and Benefits of Innovation | 00:52:35 | |
What a high-energy discussion on innovation? How to choreograph elephants to dance and create a trend. How to amplify the benefit of innovation by aligning them with megatrends. In this episode, Dan brought his perspectives from his 40+ years of system automation and transformational change in different industries. Jen brought her perspectives from the humanitarian sector, working globally. We slowly converged into electric vehicles—the battery on wheels—and their contribution to tackling climate change, and global transformation. Dan discussed how the rules of the game changed over the years. We collectively touched upon the technical innovation and the permanent changes brought about by the pandemic. Please listen in to find out more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||
| 30 Dec 2023 | E147: Opportunities in Solar Waste and Carbon Capture | 00:45:53 | |
Ankit Patel, an innovator and entrepreneur, shares many of his innovative innovations today. He explains new thinking in carbon capture with rock weathering in existing Indian quarries. We discuss the potential impact, innovative approaches like burying fast-growing plants, and challenges in implementing renewables in the Pacific. Emphasizing simple designs and local involvement, we conclude with an invitation for future discussions on enhanced rock weathering. Please join in to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: | |||