Batteries Are The Killer Tech Of The Energy Transition | Ep266: Alex Shoer

China transformed solar from one of the world's most expensive energy technologies into the cheapest source of electricity in just a couple of decades. And now it’s doing the same with batteries, with prices plummeting around the world. This week on Cleaning Up, Bryony Worthington is joined by Alex Shoer, Managing Director of GridVest, who spent almost a decade building renewable energy businesses in China before bringing those lessons back to the United States. They discuss the lessons behind China's clean energy success, the evolution of solar subsidies, and why battery storage is becoming essential for everything from renewable energy to AI data centres. They explore whether collaboration rather than competition will shape the next phase of the global energy transition, and in which technologies the U.S. still holds a competitive advantage. Topics covered: • China's blueprint for scaling clean energy • The impact of ending solar subsidies • Why batteries are becoming more valuable than solar alone • Can AI and data centres accelerate the battery boom? • Ford, CATL and the future of global partnerships • Competing vs partnering with China • Financing the next generation of energy infrastructure • The future of battery tech and U.S. innovation Leadership Circle Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, Ecopragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information about the Leadership Circle, visit cleaningup.live Links • Alex Shoer’s bio: Alex Shoer • Sign up to our newsletter: cleaninguppod.substack.com • GridVest: https://gridvest.com/ • Seeder Clean Energy: https://seederenergy.com/ Acronyms • RE100: Renewable Energy 100% Commitment • PPA: Power Purchase Agreement • S-REC: Solar Renewable Energy Credits • I-REC: International Renewable Energy Certificate • IRR: Internal Rate of Return • ITC: Investment Tax Credit • FEOC: Foreign Entity Of Concern • CPUC: California Public Utility Commission • NMC: Nickel Metal Cobalt • LFP: Lithium Iron Phosphate • AHJ: Authorities Having Jurisdiction Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:25 Alex's Journey to China 08:48 China’s Subsidy Model 15:48 The Battery Opportunity 24:26 Ford & CATL Partnership 32:58 Powering AI Data Centres 39:37 Inside GridVest 43:28 Barriers To Deployment 45:34 The U.S. & Battery Uptake 53:55 The Future of Batteries 59:42 Outro