Antora Energy CEO Andrew Ponec

Watt It Takes

Heavy industries like manufacturing, food processing, mining, and construction require a staggering amount of energy, often in the form of heat.

But until recently, there hasn’t been a good way to generate that amount of heat using electricity. As a result, we burn fossil fuels to make these essential materials and products. About a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from these industrial processes.

Learning how to generate these high temperatures without burning fossil fuels is a really difficult problem, but it’s a necessary step in cleaning up some of the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors of our economy.

That’s the challenge our guest, Antora Energy CEO and Co-founder Andrew Ponec, is tackling.

Antora's thermal energy storage solution takes the electricity generated from renewables and stores it in the form of heat using carbon blocks – at a cost and efficiency comparable to traditional battery technology. The radiating light emitted by the carbon can also be captured by the company's modified photovoltaic cells and converted back into electricity.

Emily sat down with Andrew to talk about what it takes to roll out an entirely new kind of thermal energy storage technology. They talked about lessons that Andrew learned from his first climate tech startup, and discussed the role Antora’s technology will play in cleaning up heavy industry.

Powerhouse is an innovation firm that works with leading global corporations to help them find, partner with, invest in, and acquire the most innovative startups in clean energy, mobility, and climate. Powerhouse Ventures backs seed-stage startups building innovative software to rapidly decarbonize our global energy and mobility systems. You can learn more at powerhouse.fund, and you can subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.powerhouse.fund/subscribe.

We’re finally bringing back Powerhouse's annual summer party, New Dawn, happening on Thursday, September 15th from 5-10pm at the Double Standard (which is mostly outdoors) in Oakland. We're bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and investors for the best climate tech party in the country. Check out the 2-minute video from our last New Dawn in 2019 to see what the event is all about. Unlike other work events, at New Dawn, there's no agenda, no pitches, no drawn out speeches; just good drinks, good food, and an excellent night with those who have built this industry, and those that are taking it to the next level. Tickets are $10 off, and with prices going up on July 15th, get yours today.

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