31 | FBNA, Macro Shifts in Market/Policy/45X, Season 2 kickoff — with Russ Weed, President of CleanTech Strategies

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential of flow batteries in North America, the impact of AI and data centers on energy storage, and highlights the upcoming FBNA conference.

📈 Are Flow Batteries poised to break out in North America? How do AI and data centers compare to electric utilities in their priorities? What is FBNA and how can I attend? Kicking off Season 2 of Beyond Lithium , returning guest Russ Weed (President, CleanTech Strategies) sits down with Nate Kirchhofer (CEO, BioZen Batteries) to unpack how the policy winds have shifted, why private demand from data & AI centers is reshaping storage, and what that means for commercialization. They spotlight the inaugural Flow Batteries North America (FBNA) conference 27-29 October in Chicago : what it is, who it’s for, and why it’s arriving at exactly the right moment. Russ previews the FBNA program: keynote from the Illinois Commerce Commission chair, three real-world case studies , sessions on use cases, controls/software, bankability, supply chain , an address from Flow Batteries Europe , and a finale on data/AI center applications . Expect a practical, commercialization-first vibe—not just lab talk—including a special video from Dr. Maria Skyllas-Kazacos on the history of the vanadium flow battery, plus an in-person tour of a nearby flow battery facility. The conversation zooms out to the…

People in this episode

Host: Nate Kirchhofer

Guest: Russ Weed

Topics covered

• Flow Batteries
• Market Shifts
• AI and Data Centers
• Energy Storage
• Commercialization
• Policy Changes

Keywords

• Flow Batteries
• North America
• AI
• Data Centers
• Energy Storage
• Commercialization
• FBNA
• Policy
• Tax Credit
• Vanadium

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CleanTech Strategies, BioZen Batteries, Illinois Commerce Commission, Flow Batteries North America, Flow Batteries Europe, IRA

Products: vanadium flow battery

Places: Chicago

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