Could we save billions by simply reducing energy waste? How can we power the vast, energy-hungry growth of AI without sacrificing climate goals? And is Europe doomed to high energy costs and deindustrialisation?
This week on Cleaning Up, Michael Liebreich sits down with Jonathan Maxwell, CEO and founder of Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL), for the third time on Cleaning Up. Jonathan shares his perspective on the urgent need to address energy efficiency and waste, drawing from the themes explored in his book "The Edge."
Jonathan and Michael delve into SDCL's innovative approach to providing on-site energy solutions that deliver cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable power to businesses, industries, and public institutions. Jonathan explains how their focus on distributed generation and decentralised energy systems is transforming the way organisations think about and manage their energy needs.
Finally, policy. Jonathan and Michael discuss the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act in the US (and the potential turmoil from recent election results), the European Union's Green Deal, how these initiatives can be further strengthened by a greater emphasis on energy efficiency and productivity, and what the West needs to catch China.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqrtr2lePM8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OTbyOxYUpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6giWzTxAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwJjU9eXbRk
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:35 - The Edge
04:45 - Energy Security Post 2022
10:40 - China's Green Transformation
16:30 - Primary Energy Fallacy
20:30 - Wasted Energy & Inefficiency
26:20 - No Waste Heat?
29:40 - What SDCL Does
35:00 - Locational Pricing
38:50 - Give Scotland Cheap Energy
43:20 - ESG Downfall?
45:15 - Decarbonising London by 2030
49:45 - Data Centres
54:30 - Growth of AI
58:25 - Power Usage Effectiveness
01:04:20 - EU's Expensive Energy
01:08:12 - US Climate Spending
01:10:50 - China & Electricity
01:13:20 - Outro