Claim OwnershipThe Power Current with Chris Berry
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Find the Latest News and Information into the Development of the World’s Electric Energy Renaissance
29 Episodes
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In today's pod we take a closer look at the boron market with Paul Weibel, CEO of 5E Advanced Materials. In recent weeks we’ve looked at ferrosilicon, advanced anode materials, and so I wanted to examine a market like boron which is underfollowed relative to some of the more familiar materials like lithium or cobalt. I was surprised to learn just how ubiquitous boron is in multiple sectors of the economy and clearly governments agree with both the US and UK classifying Boron as a critical metal. We discuss these dynamics as well as 5E's place in the boron ecosystem, major players, and supply and demand trajectories moving forward.As an aside, 5E Advanced Materials is a publicly traded company and so please be aware that nothing that is said during the course of this discussion should be considered investment advice and please as always do your own due diligence.If you enjoyed this discussion of the state of play in boron, please share it far and wide and don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
My guest today is Vikram Handa, Managing Director at Epsilon Advanced Materials. Epsilon Advanced Materials is a global manufacturer of high performance and high-quality anode and cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The company has ambitious plans to build much needed anode capacity in the US, Finland, and India and in today's discussion, we cover all of this and other topics including the background of the company, the need for vertical integration, anode technology, and the increased importance of LFP in building an ex-China supply chain.If you enjoyed this discussion of the anode world and Epsilon's place in it, don't forget to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks again for listening and we'll see you next time.
In this episode of The Power Current, host Chris Berry interviews economist Adrián Godás at the Fast Markets Conference in Las Vegas. They discuss the current state of the lithium and cobalt markets, the challenges of supply and demand, and the role of recycling in the battery supply chain. Godas shares insights on market dynamics, pricing expectations, and the importance of government policy in supporting the industry. The conversation concludes with a light-hearted discussion about vacation spots in Spain.
In this episode of The Power Current podcast, host Chris Berry interviews Dr. Cormac O'Laoire, Managing Director at Electrios Energy, discussing the evolution of the battery industry, particularly focusing on lithium-ion and LFP technologies. They explore the current trends in the battery supply chain, the shift in battery chemistry narratives, and the overlooked areas within the industry. The conversation also delves into the comparative dynamics of North American and European supply chains, the balance between innovation and scale, and the future of battery technologies, including recycling challenges and the potential for battery swapping.This interview was done in collaboration with Fastmarkets and the Live Lounge set at their Lithium Conference in Las Vegas last month.
In this episode, Trevor Hall takes the host seat to interview Paul Lusty, Head of Battery Raw Materials at Fastmarkets. This conversation delves into the future projections of the lithium market, exploring the dynamics of supply and demand, the role of renewable energy, and the importance of other battery raw materials like cobalt and manganese. The discussion highlights the challenges and opportunities within the industry, emphasizing the need for supply discipline and the impact of external factors on market trends.
In this episode of The Power Current, host Chris Barry interviews Ken Brinsden, CEO of Patriot Battery Metals, discussing the current state of the lithium market, the evolution of off-take agreements, and the importance of vertical integration in lithium mining. Brinsden shares insights on the demand dynamics, processing challenges, and unconventional takes on the future of the lithium supply chain.
This week we continue with a deep dive into how tariffs and regulatory policy are impacting the ways in which the critical material supply chain is being built. In the wake of the podcast with Tantalus Systems where we looked deeper into the challenges and opportunities of the electricity grid, today’s podcast centers on material science with a deep dive into Ferroglobe. Ferroglobe is a global leader in advanced metallurgical products critical for hundreds of consumers and industrial applications and is the largest merchant producer of silicon metal in the Western World. Regular listeners of the podcast will know just how critical silicon metal is for both the battery and semiconductor businesses.Our guest today is Bill Hightower, VP of Corporate Affairs for Ferroglobe. Bill has an enormous amount of experience both in the public and private sector and helps walk us through both the opportunities and challenges this market faces as the criticality of silicon has dawned on policymakers. We discuss the background of the company, the silicon metal and alloy markets, partnerships, tariff issues, and what the future of the silicon supply chain looks like in batteries with a deep dive on silicon anodes. As an aside, Ferroglobe is a publicly traded company and so please be aware that nothing that is said during the course of this discussion should be considered investment advice and please as always do your own due diligence.If you enjoyed this discussion, please share it far and wide and don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
Chokepoints - American Power in an Age of Economic Warfare with Eddie FishmanAs China and the US jockey for geopolitical pre-eminence, the war to decide the victor will not necessarily be fought with missiles and drones. In fact, the economy has become the true weapon of choice with tariffs, export controls, currencies, and clearing networks serving as ammunition. Evidence of this economic warfare is obvious with China, Russia, and Iran specifically.My guest today has written a terrific book on these topics. Eddie Fishman is a scholar of international relations and former diplomat in the State Department who is currently a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy and an Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.In this episode we discuss how economies have become weaponized and specifically what those weapons are. We dig into the use of tariffs, export controls and the power of the US Dollar and discuss whether or not the course we are on in dealing with Russia, Iran and China isn’t ultimately self-defeating or if there is light at the end of the tunnel in the new “America First” geopolitical environment.If you enjoyed this discussion on export controls, tariffs, USD hegemony and their impacts, please share it far and wide and don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.Thanks again and we’ll see you next time.
The recent blackout in Spain and Portugal was a wake-up call. Why did it happen? What can prevent something like this from happening again? While there were multiple factors that led to the collapse of the grid, there are solutions, and here to talk about one such pathway forward is Peter Londa, CEO of Tantalus Systems Holdings. Tantalus is a tech company that helps utilities modernize their distribution grids by leveraging data across systems deployed along the grid to make for a smarter, more efficient delivery and use of electricity. As an aside, Tantalus is a publicly traded company and so please be aware that nothing that is said during the course of this discussion should be considered investment advice and please as always do your own due diligence.If you enjoyed this discussion of the threats and opportunities along the electricity grid, please share it far and wide and don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.Thanks again and we’ll see you next time.
One of the major changes we have seen globally in recent years along the clean energy supply chain is the willingness of governments in countries like China, the US, and the EU to jumpstart funding for projects through investment or production tax credits or grants and loans. The Trump Administration has thrown some of this into doubt with a reshuffling of priorities and threats to somehow cancel or rewrite legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act.My guest today provides a clear-headed view on the need for funding and how to navigate the increasingly rocky seas as the race for green energy dominance accelerates. Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes has a varied and deep history in both the public and private sectors and most recently worked in the Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains Office (MESC) in the Department of Energy where she served as the Deputy Director for Batteries and Critical Materials. While there, she oversaw the deployment of ~$6B in non-dilutive equity and ~$10B in tax credits into the US battery supply chain during the Biden Administration. She is currently Principal at Smoketree Advisors.If you liked today’s pod on policy, please let me know. I’m on Twitter/X @cberry1 and also find me on Linked In. Further to that, if you’ve got a topic you’d like to see us go deeper on or a good guest, please let me know. Also don’t forget to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks so much for listening and we’ll see you next time.
This episode of Power Current delves into the intricacies of black mass production with Lee Allen of Fastmarkets, exploring its definition, importance, and the current landscape of the recycling market. Lee Allen shares insights on the geographical distribution of black mass production, challenges in scrap battery supply, and the competitive dynamics affecting pricing. The discussion also highlights China's regulatory changes, the trading ecosystem, and the role of OEMs in the recycling process. Looking ahead, the future of battery recycling is examined, with forecasts indicating significant growth in the sector.
Our guest today is Mr Erik Olson. Erik is President of Venn Strategies and Spokesperson for the North American Graphite Alliance. He has a wealth of experience in Washington DC serving for 14 years on the staff of Congressman Ron Kind (D- Wisconsin).The North American Graphite Alliance (NAGA) represents producers of battery-grade natural and synthetic graphite, both of which are used to create anode material for lithium-ion batteries. NAGA’s members are American producers Anovion Technologies, Epsilon Advanced Materials, and NOVONIX, as well as Canadian producers Northern Graphite and Nouveau Monde Graphite.On the pod today we discuss the state of the graphite market, the origins and goals of NAGA, the efficacy of targeted tariffs, the future of green growth and the IRA given the Trump Administration's priorities, competition with China and specific policy proposals for building a strong and resilient graphite supply chain in North America. Venn Strategies website: https://vennstrategies.com/NAGA website: https://graphitealliance.org/BMTC website: https://batterymaterials.orgOxford Economics Paper on the Graphite Market: https://graphitealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Enabling-North-American-Graphite-Growth.pdfThanks for listening and if you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
My guest today is Mr. Tem Tumurbat. Tem is co-founder and managing partner at Nomadic Venture Partners. Nomadic is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in digital and light hardware technologies focused on decarbonizing the metals, manufacturing, and transport sectors.Tem co-founded Nomadic in 2021 and focuses on fund strategy, fundraising, portfolio construction, valuation, and financial analysis.Prior to co-founding NVP, Tem was an investment professional at Resource Capital Funds, managing early to late-stage investments.Prior to RCF, Tem worked for Newmont Mining Corporation as a mining engineer and then project engineer. In this episode, we discuss Tem’s background and what led him to co-found NVP, his screening process, the state of the investment landscape, what it takes to successfully grow and scale digital technology companies, and hat Tem calls "the 5 T's". Nomadic VP website: https://nomadicvp.com/Nomadic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nomadicvp/Thanks for listening and if you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
William Bergh and Eden Yates - Cling Systems ClingSystems is a company dedicated to true battery circularity through wringing out friction and costs associated with battery procurement to create a true battery second life ecosystem.Cling is unique in many ways not the least of which is the fact that this is the company’s second time on the podcast. In this episode, we cover how the battery supply chain has evolved, how they think about battery pricing, the use of AI in reducing market friction, recycling versus repurposing, and we finish with advice for entrepreneurs starting out in the battery business.If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
In today's episode, we welcome Andy Home, Senior Metals Correspondent at Thompson Reuters. Andy has been covering the metals markets since 1987 and joins us today to travel through time and talk about the past and future for metals including aluminum, nickel, lithium, cobalt, and uranium. We also discuss the importance of narrative in determining price and how the metals markets need to evolve for better transparency. We conclude with Andy's views on AI in journalism.
Power Current Host Chris Berry and Joe Lowry of Global Lithium™ discuss the current state and future of the lithium market, emphasizing the need for increased supply to meet growing demand, particularly in the electric vehicle sector. They explore the implications of political policies on the lithium supply chain, the importance of focusing on upstream production, and the role of China in the global lithium landscape. The discussion also covers the potential of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, the challenges of incentive pricing, and the presence of Chinese companies in North America.
In this conversation, Chris Berry and Joe Lowry delve into the complexities of China's economic trajectory compared to Japan's past, the evolution of lithium project development strategies, and personal reflections on writing a book about the lithium industry. They discuss the future of lithium markets, the importance of deep pockets in project development, and share insights on the industry's volatility and potential growth.
In this conversation, we interview Michael Dunne about the current state of the electric vehicle industry, with a focus on the state of play for Western OEMs and their Chinese competitors.
We discuss the shift of automotive production to Asia, the challenges faced by Western OEMs in catching up to Chinese competitors, and whether or not western OEMs have any hope of matching Chinese scale and technological acumen.
We also explore the barriers to widespread EV adoption, including cost and infrastructure, and if the current debate around Chinese "overcapacity" has any validity to it.
We finish with a discussion of lesser-known players in the EV and autonomy space, such as Baidu, Xiaomi, and Vinfast, as well as Michael's favorite poem and how many languages he actually can speak and understand.
Michael is CEO at Dunne Insights LLC, an automotive consultancy with a global client base. He is an entrepreneur with special expertise in China and its complex and dynamic automotive market. He has an incredibly varied background across Asia and the automotive business in particular.
He is the author of the forthcoming book titled 'Humiliation No More - China’s Master Plan to Dominate EV Markets and Destroy western Automakers out in Summer 2025.
Today we welcome Ernest Scheyder to discuss his recently published book, "The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives."
Ernest is the first author I have hosted on the podcast and given our mutual interest in the metals business, we cover a lot of ground here. Ernest does a terrific job of putting a human face on some complex issues as well as sharing some great stories from his time on the road researching this book (ask him about the Norseman Burger).
Ernest Scheyder is a senior correspondent for Reuters, covering the green energy transition and the minerals that undergird it. He previously covered the US shale oil revolution, politics, and the environment, and held roles at the Associated Press and the Bangor Daily News. A native of Maine, Scheyder is a graduate of the University of Maine and Columbia Journalism School.
Link to the book and other information about Ernest can be found at https://www.ernestscheyder.com/
In this episode of The Power Current, Chris welcomes to the podcast Frank Wunderlich-Pfeifer, a Germany-based journalist who has been a vocal proponent of sodium-ion battery technology, to discuss the evolving developments of and technologies around sodium-ion batteries.
During the podcast, we discuss the controversy around sodium-ion tech including pros and cons of sodium-ion versus lithium-ion, the pace of market penetration for sodium ion (it's faster than you think), and optimal end uses in transport and ESS.
Frank is active on Twitter/X (@FrankWunderli13) and will be publishing his own Substack called Superlithic.
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In this latest installment of The Power Current, we welcome Dr Srini Godavarthy, CEO of Li-Metal.
Li-Metal is a materials company focused on creating affordable and high purity lithium metal and lithium anode foil technologies. In this episode, we discuss Srini's unique background in oil and gas, his time at Albemarle, his views on direct lithium extraction, the founding of Li-Metal and its business model of lithium metal and lithium anode foil production, and Srini's views on the future of lithium-ion battery development and how Li-Metal intends to capitalize on the opportunities.
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