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This episode of The Green Insider featured an interview with Rod Baltzer, President and CEO of Deep Isolation, who discussed the company’s innovative approach to nuclear waste disposal using horizontal drilling techniques. Rod explained Deep Isolation’s solution for spent nuclear fuel disposal and their global consultancy work in nuclear decommissioning and waste management, highlighting projects in various countries and their collaboration with national radioactive waste management organizations

Deep Isolation’s Solution

Proposes a less expensive, faster alternative using small, modular, and transportable disposal systems.

Utilizes directional drilling to bury canisters with spent fuel up to 2 miles underground.

Each borehole can be drilled in under 2 months, holds about 200 canisters, and 20 boreholes can accommodate 60 years of fuel from a large reactor.

Global Consultancy Projects

Deep Isolation consults internationally, including with the UK Decommissioning Authority, Estonia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria.

Recent work includes a U.S. grant to help Bulgaria align its regulations with International Atomic Energy Agency standards.

Nuclear Waste Management Focus

Consultancy covers regulatory gap analysis, geology, waste form safety, and economics.

Collaborate’s with national waste management organizations and advanced reactor companies like Kairos and Curio.

Nuclear Energy’s Role in Sustainability

Nuclear energy is seen as essential for meeting future energy demands, especially for AI and data centers.

Acceptance of nuclear energy depends on effective waste disposal solutions and public perception.

European regulations penalize new nuclear projects without operational disposal facilities by 2050.

Universal Canister System

Deep Isolation’s universal canister allows storage, transport, and disposal without repackaging, reducing costs and worker risk.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

SMRs offer market expansion potential due to their transportability and efficient construction.

Deep Isolation can design disposal solutions for various SMR waste types, supporting both co-located and centralized repositories.

The discussion concluded with insights on the future of nuclear energy, including its role in meeting growing energy demands and the importance of developing disposal solutions to increase its acceptance, with plans for a full-scale demonstration project in 2026.

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In the fifth installment of our six-part series with UTSI International, we joined Robert Hilliker and Frank Stepic on The Green Insider Podcast to explore Edge Realm’s innovative approach to artificial intelligence and data management. Robert Hilliker, serving as Chief Strategy Officer, shared insights into his technology background and highlighted how EdgeRealm is committed to developing controlled, on-premises AI solutions that help organizations lower their carbon footprint and enhance operational efficiency.

Here’s a concise breakdown of the main points:

Mike hosted Robert Hilliker (Chief Strategy Officer) and Frank Stepic (CEO) on the Green Insider Podcast to discuss Edge Realm’s approach to AI and data management.

Robert Hilliker emphasized:

His background in technology and strategic leadership.

Edge Realm’s focus on controlled, on-premises AI environments to reduce carbon footprints and boost business efficiency.

Frank Stepic highlighted:

Efforts to refine EdgeRealm’s operational model.

The environmental impact of data centers and the need for sustainable practices in tech.

Both speakers discussed:

The limitations and environmental drawbacks of cloud computing.

The importance of sovereign, flexible edge solutions for deploying critical algorithms.

The lack of transparency and efficiency in large-scale cloud data centers.

Frank Stepic described Edge Realm’s mission to provide trusted, customizable edge computing options, leveraging his experience in data and compliance.

The conversation covered immersion technology:

Enables higher computing density in smaller spaces.

Reduces power and cooling needs compared to traditional data centers.

It is a proven, ready technology, but only the beginning of more efficient resource use.

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This podcast is sponsored by UTSI International. To learn more about our sponsor or ask about being a sponsor, contact ERENEWABLE and the Green Insider Podcast.

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David Tyler, co-founder of Artemis Technologies, described the company’s mission to decarbonize high-speed maritime transport, leveraging expertise from the Artemis Racing America’s Cup team. On episode 312 of The Green Insider, we discuss detailing their innovative e-foiler technology that significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions in passenger ferries.

On today’s episode, David Tyler details Artemis Technologies’ efforts to decarbonize high-speed maritime transport. Here’s a summary of today’s show:

Artemis Technologies focuses on using hydrofoil technology to reduce fuel consumption in high-speed passenger ferries, making electric propulsion viable for short-haul routes.

The company’s e-foiler technology reduces battery usage by 80%, allowing ferries to travel 4–5 times further with the same energy.

The technology is cost-effective for high-mileage operations, with a projected 3-year payback period for busy routes such as Manhattan–Rockaway in New York.

Artemis Technologies plans to scale up the technology for larger ferries and aims to reduce local emissions of pollutants like NOx and particulate matter.

Their foil-assisted boats offer a smooth, quiet ride and are easier to operate than traditional vessels.

For 2026, the company plans to deliver pilot vessels to ports in Antwerp, Abu Dhabi, and Sweden, and launch the first EF24 passenger ferry in Belfast.

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This podcast is sponsored by UTSI International. To learn more about our sponsor or ask about being a sponsor, contact ERENEWABLE and the Green Insider Podcast.

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Dean Akey, Executive Vice President/Partner from Clone Capital highlights a market transformation in energy demand, driven by rapid load growth from AI and data centers, which have different power needs compared to traditional industries.

On episode 311 of The Green Insider, Dean covers:

AI facilities require flexible power solutions due to fluctuating demands, similar to steel mills, while data centers have more stable energy needs.

Innovative approaches, such as using garbage data to maintain high processing levels during low-demand periods, are being explored to manage AI facility energy needs.

Data centers (e.g., for stock trading) need high-speed processing and real-time responses, whereas AI projects (e.g., in pharmaceuticals) process complex computations but do not require real-time results.

Strategic location of data centers, and AI projects can enable energy arbitrage; Bitcoin miners are an example of mobile operations that relocate to areas with lower energy costs.

Connecting power projects to the transmission grid is increasingly expensive and not always necessary, especially for projects serving local loads; developers should carefully weigh the pros and cons of grid connection.

The energy interconnection process is lengthy and costly, which can deter undercapitalized developers.

An “all-of-the-above” approach to energy generation is recommended, combining traditional gas plants with renewables (wind, solar) and storage to meet growing power demand, especially in the context of the AI race against China.

Creativity and innovation are emerging in the industry, including smaller-scale and mobile generation solutions, with collaboration across sectors being crucial for energy security and competitiveness

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This podcast is sponsored by UTSI International. To learn more about our sponsor or ask about being a sponsor, contact ERENEWABLE and the Green Insider Podcast.

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Mike Nemer interviewed Kevin Carriere, the CEO of Powertron Global, who explained that he entered the HVAC industry after meeting engineers developing solutions for heat exchanger efficiency restoration. On episode 310 of The Green Insider podcast, Kevin described how Powertron Global was founded to address HVAC efficiency issues, expanding beyond initial heat exchanger solutions to tackle other efficiency-robbing factors in climate control systems.

Todays podcast includes:

Sustainable HVAC Efficiency Restoration

Sustainable HVAC practices can lead to cost savings, not just environmental benefits.

HVAC systems lose efficiency over time, mainly due to heat exchanger capacity loss, which increases energy use and maintenance.

Powertron engineers developed a heat exchanger restoration technology to restore lost efficiency, filling a gap in the industry.

Craftsmanship and education on efficiency restoration are crucial, especially for city and government agencies.

HVAC Efficiency Diagnostics Platform

Most HVAC systems, especially in taxpayer-funded facilities, operate 30–40% below their intended design capacity.

Powertron created a proprietary forensic measurement and verification platform, collecting data from over 400 studies in 38 countries.

The company focuses on restoring system capacity and providing diagnostic data to manufacturers and researchers, serving clients like cell tower huts, convenience stores, and government facilities.

HVAC Efficiency Loss Over Time

New HVAC systems lose 5–7% efficiency in the first year (with proper maintenance), then 3–4% annually, reaching a 25–30% reduction over time.

Systems in regions with long cooling seasons (eastern/western US) can lose significant efficiency in 3.5–5 years; in the Midwest, it takes about twice as long.

Rooftop units expected to last 15 years are often replaced in 10 due to efficiency loss and increased runtime.

Type System ROI and Sustainability

The ROI for Powertron’s type system is typically 12–18 months, but as short as 3 months for mission-critical sites (e.g., data centers, hospitals).

The goal is to restore systems to their design capacity, improving efficiency and generating further savings.

Certified reports are provided to quantify emissions reductions and energy savings, which can be used in customers’ sustainability reports.

To be an Insider

Please subscribe to The Green Insider powered by ERENEWABLE wherever you get your podcast from and remember to leave us a five-star rating.

This podcast is sponsored by UTSI International. To learn more about our sponsor or ask about being a sponsor, contact ERENEWABLE and the Green Insider Podcast.

The post Maximizing HVAC Efficiency: Sustainable Restoration, Diagnostics, and ROI appeared first on eRENEWABLE.