Smart Society Show Episode 7: Clean Energy, Carbon Markets and COP29 with Ann Mettler of Breakthrough Energy, and Wolfgang Gründinger of Enpal, Germany’s First GreenTech Unicorn

In Episode 7 of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore are joined by Ann Mettler, Vice President for Europe at Breakthrough Energy, and Wolfgang Gründinger, Chief Evangelist of Enpal, Germany’s first GreenTech unicorn. Together, they explore the pressing challenges and promising innovations driving the clean energy transition.

What’s News: Energy Markets and Global Updates

In this episode’s What’s News segment, Brynne and Chris discuss the latest developments from COP29, including updates on Article 6.4 and commitments for climate finance. They also reflect on U.S. energy policy shifts with the nomination of a new energy secretary and dive into China’s rapid adoption of electric vehicles, where one-third of new vehicles sold are now EVs.

Chasing Net-Zero: Ann Mettler on Scaling Clean Technologies

Ann Mettler highlights Breakthrough Energy’s mission to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies by addressing key barriers such as regulatory complexity. She discusses initiatives like the CleanTech Reality Check, which provides real-time data to policymakers, and the Catalyst Program, designed to de-risk emerging technologies and support their scaling.

Ann emphasizes the need for clear, effective policies to unlock innovation and bring transformative solutions to market more quickly, especially in Europe.

Chasing Unicorns: Wolfgang Gründinger on Enpal’s Energy Revolution

Wolfgang Gründinger shares how Enpal is transforming residential solar systems into intelligent, grid-connected virtual power plants. By integrating solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers, Enpal empowers homeowners to save on energy costs and even sell surplus energy back to the grid.

He also highlights the role of Enpal Academy in addressing skilled labor shortages by training installers for solar and heat pump systems, a crucial step in supporting the renewable energy transition.

Final Thoughts

Episode 7 brings to light the innovative efforts of two organizations working to transform how clean energy technologies are deployed and scaled. From tackling regulatory hurdles to creating intelligent energy systems, this episode provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the global clean energy landscape.

🎧 Listen now to learn more about the critical work of Breakthrough Energy and Enpal!

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