The shift to clean energy isn’t just a climate issue—it’s about national security, global supply chains, and how we ensure reliable power 24/7. In this episode, I spoke with Steve Anglin, founder of Utopia, about what it takes to make real progress in harder-to-abate sectors, why concentrated solar power could be a game-changer, and how global politics and material sourcing shape the path to net zero.

This conversation is useful for anyone in energy who wants a deeper grasp of the challenges around industrial heat, battery materials, and the practicalities of powering economies without fossil fuels. We also unpack how tariffs, hydrogen, and microgrids fit into the wider picture.

🎧 Three Key Takeaways:

⚡ Look beyond solar panels:

Concentrated solar power (CSP) and thermal storage offer ways to decarbonize industrial heat and provide energy at night—an important piece of the 24/7 power puzzle.

📦 Understand supply chain risk:

If you're involved in project delivery or sourcing, take note: refining of critical minerals like lithium and cobalt is heavily concentrated in specific countries. This has knock-on effects for security, cost, and access.

🌍 Microgrids could lead the way:

Instead of aiming for one-size-fits-all, localized microgrids using a mix of technologies may offer the most realistic path to reliable, clean energy in remote or underserved areas.