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Decouple

Decouple

By Dr. Chris Keefer

There are technologies that decouple human well-being from its ecological impacts. There are politics that enable these technologies. Join me as I interview world experts to uncover hope in this time of planetary crisis.
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The EU Green Taxonomy Soap Opera feat. Myrto Tripathi

DecoupleSep 27, 2021

00:00
01:17:37
Deep Sea Mining

Deep Sea Mining

Seaver Wang, oceanographer and co-director of climate and energy at the Breakthrough Institute joins me to unravel controversies surrounding deep sea mining for the polymetallic nodules of the abyssal plains.
Mar 26, 202450:01
Will Nuclear power AI?

Will Nuclear power AI?

James Krellenstein joins me to explore the extraordinary power requirements of the AI revolution and how this demand for vast amounts of baseload generation will impact the nuclear sector.
Mar 18, 202401:20:41
The Fragilization of the Grid

The Fragilization of the Grid

David March CEO of Exergy/Energy joins me to discuss the sharp decline in power quality from increasing penetration of intermittent generation and the impact its having on mission critical industries and manufacturing.
Mar 08, 202401:07:14
Peak Cheap Oil?

Peak Cheap Oil?

Art Berman joins me to discuss the likelihood and implications of cheap peak oil.
Mar 06, 202401:11:58
LNG the Champagne of Energy

LNG the Champagne of Energy

Stephen Stapczynski, Bloomberg Business senior reporter, joins me to discuss everything you always wanted to know about LNG but were afraid to ask.
Feb 27, 202401:12:43
Ontario’s Nuclear Revival: Minister Todd Smith

Ontario’s Nuclear Revival: Minister Todd Smith

Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith joins me to discuss the phenomenon of Ontario’s centrality to the West’s nuclear energy aspirations.
Feb 23, 202443:49
Vogtle Part 3: Was the NRC to blame?

Vogtle Part 3: Was the NRC to blame?

James Krellenstein returns to deeper dive the lessons of Vogtle and VC Summer
Feb 20, 202401:17:26
The Energy Returns of Unconventional Oil

The Energy Returns of Unconventional Oil

Chris Popoff returns to talk unconventional oil with a focus on oil sands. What is it? What are its energy economics? How is it like a battery? What does it have to do with peak cheap oil and how does nuclear fit into the picture?
Feb 16, 202401:09:49
Vogtle Part 2: Murphy’s Law

Vogtle Part 2: Murphy’s Law

James Krellenstein and I continue our deep dive analysis of what went wrong at Vogtle.
Feb 12, 202452:38
The Politics of a Canadian Nuclear Revival

The Politics of a Canadian Nuclear Revival

As Canada embarks on a new nuclear build out of SMRs and large Reactors, Professor Duane Bratt joins me to provide a political scientists perspective on the history and future of the Canadian nuclear sector.

Feb 09, 202401:18:44
Prospects for Process Heat & “Advanced” Nuclear

Prospects for Process Heat & “Advanced” Nuclear

Noah Rettberg walks us through an in depth exploration on the challenges of decarbonizing process heat.
Feb 07, 202457:13
It's a Material World

It's a Material World

Ed Conway author of “Material World” joins me to explore the material world underpinning the ethereal world of our perceived reality. He explains how sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium are transformed with technology and energy into the building blocks of our built world and how fragile, vulnerable and complex these processes have become.
Jan 31, 202401:19:20
Vogtle Part 1: the Nuclear Renaissance That Wasn't

Vogtle Part 1: the Nuclear Renaissance That Wasn't

James Krellenstein returns to dig into what went wrong at Vogtle and why the nuclear “Renaissance” of the early 2000’s ended up a flop.
Jan 25, 202401:16:22
Extreme Weather and Alberta’s AWOL Renewable Energy

Extreme Weather and Alberta’s AWOL Renewable Energy

Alberta, sitting on massive reserves of oil and gas, found itself teetering on the edge of blackout this week as temperatures in the negative 40 degree ranges led to multiple grid alerts. As a new record for peak demand was set at 12,384 MW, Alberta's 4481MW wind fleet went AWOL. This raises major concerns regarding electricity planning with a country wide federal mandate for Net Zero electricity by 2035 having already generated significant political controversy in Alberta which has imposed a moratorium on new wind and solar over affordability and reliability concerns. Its is therefore a timely occurrence that this same week Alberta's Capital Power and Ontario Power Generation announced a feasibility study looking at near-term deployment of a fleet of nuclear reactors in the province . Chris Popoff joins me to explain.

Jan 17, 202401:03:02
From Microchips to Atom Splits

From Microchips to Atom Splits

Nathan Myhrvold, former CTO at Microsoft and vice chairman of TerraPower joins me to discuss his experience bridging the world of software and nuclear power.
Jan 08, 202437:43
A Fireside chat with Sec. Ernie Moniz

A Fireside chat with Sec. Ernie Moniz

Sec Ernie Moniz and I chat about best practices for “embarking” and “re-embarking” nations as 24 countries pledge to triple nuclear energy by 2050.
Dec 28, 202323:30
Cracking the Nuclear Innovation Nut

Cracking the Nuclear Innovation Nut

Humanity went from inducing the first fissions of heavy elements in 1938 to a nuclear powered submarine in just 16 years. Why has that tremendous pace of nuclear innovation seemingly slowed down to a crawl? Nuclear historian Nick Touran joins me for an in depth analysis of the historic preconditions of nuclear innovation and its opportunities and limits going into the future.
Dec 22, 202301:06:34
COP28 & The Inconvenient Truth about Coal

COP28 & The Inconvenient Truth about Coal

Robert Bryce joins me for a COP28 “reactions” episode and drops some hard truths on the world’s ever increasing appetite for coal.
Dec 17, 202359:36
How to Fuel a Tripling of Nuclear Energy

How to Fuel a Tripling of Nuclear Energy

Dr. Keefer sat down with some of the Titans of the nuclear fuel cycle at the “Net Zero Nuclear Summit” on the sidelines of COP28 in the UAE where 24 countries have pledged to triple nuclear energy by 2050. The topic: How to scale up Uranium mining, enrichment and advanced fuel manufacturing in the context of our emerging multipolar world and the West’s dependence on Russia for almost 1/4 of its enrichment needs. Enjoy! Feat. Tim Gitzel CEO Cameco, Dan Poneman CEO Centrus, Boris Schucht CEO Urenco and Clay Sell CEO X-Energy
Dec 12, 202347:32
NuScale, New Problems

NuScale, New Problems

The cancellation of the Carbon Free Power Project was a massive blow to US SMR front runner NuScale. James Krellenstein joins me for a deep dive.
Dec 02, 202301:23:05
Ontario’s Green Energy Act

Ontario’s Green Energy Act

Chris Adlam joins me to discuss Ontario’s attempt to imitate Germany’s Energiewende. It began as an attempt to kickstart a green energy industry by retooling struggling automotive plants in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The lucrative 20 year feed in tariff contracts for wind and solar will end up costing Ontario more than 62 billion dollars.
Nov 28, 202343:24
Enriching Uranium Understanding

Enriching Uranium Understanding

One in 20 American homes are powered by Russian enriched uranium because the USA lacks sufficient enrichment capacity to meet its own needs. Energy and fuel security are supposed to be a strong point of the technology but the US nuclear industry faces further reputational risk because no-one is taking responsibility and adequately planning adequate solutions despite NRC licenses being in place. James Krellenstein returns to take our proverbial hands and walk us through the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Enjoy!
Nov 13, 202301:20:57
US Offshore Wind Dead in the Water?

US Offshore Wind Dead in the Water?

The recent cancellation of two large wind projects in New Jersey are the latest in a series of setbacks for the nascent US offshore wind industry. Mark Nelson joins me to analyze whether the nuclear industry is vulnerable to the same cost drivers plaguing this sector.

Nov 06, 202338:59
Small Misunderstood Reactors

Small Misunderstood Reactors

James Krellenstein joins me to discuss the rationale underlying small modular reactors and in particular the challenges of getting novel reactor concepts from the experimental stage to reliable commercial operation.
Oct 18, 202301:33:56
Why is Western nuclear so expensive?

Why is Western nuclear so expensive?

Jacopo Buongiorno joins me to discuss the cost drivers of nuclear and how we can drive them down. For a deeper dive check out this MIT study that Jacopo led. studyhttps://energy.mit.edu/research/future-nuclear-energy-carbon-constrained-world/
Oct 11, 202345:35
Are renewables jobs the “fast food” employment of the energy transition?

Are renewables jobs the “fast food” employment of the energy transition?

Dr Keefer’s Testimony at the House of Commons Natural Resources Committee on what Canada can learn from the Inflation Reduction Act’s “good union jobs” provisions. In the words of NYT labour reporter Noam Scheiber
“The green economy is shaping up to look less like the industrial workplace that lifted workers into the middle class in the 20th century and more like an Amazon warehouse with grueling work schedules, few unions, middling wages and limited benefits.” Dr. Keefer outlines the problem and prescribes a solution: Nuclear Energy
Oct 07, 202305:51
Just How Cheap are Wind & Solar?
Sep 29, 202301:21:11
How Ontario Decarbonized

How Ontario Decarbonized

Dr. Keefer’s speech at Minerals Week in Australia sharing the story of Ontario’s coal phaseout & the decarbonization of its electricity grid.


Sep 15, 202341:03
The Geothermal Masterclass

The Geothermal Masterclass

Enhanced geothermal has been a scientific white whale since the 1970’s but a recent breakthrough announcement is causing waves. Is Baseload cool again? Will enhanced geothermal eat nuclear’s lunch or for that matter renewable’s lunch?
The potential to unlock the energy potential of hot dry rocks by leveraging hydraulic fracturing opens up a vast geography for exploitation as 98% of worlds geothermal resources are made up of these geologic formations.
Sep 06, 202349:48
Quebec reconsiders Nuclear. Waters up with that?

Quebec reconsiders Nuclear. Waters up with that?

As electricity demands increase Quebec is looking into refurbishing its lone mothballed CANDU reactor Gentilly-2. Mark Nelson joins us to discuss.
Aug 25, 202309:47
Jigar Shah: Breaking the Nuclear Stalemate

Jigar Shah: Breaking the Nuclear Stalemate

Today I am joined by Jigar Shah, the director of the US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office to discuss the future of nuclear, and nuclear finance in the USA.
Aug 18, 202356:01
An Oppenheimer on Oppenheimer

An Oppenheimer on Oppenheimer

Charles Oppenheimer, a serial entrepreneur in the software business and the grandson of J Robert Oppenheimer joins me to discuss the Christopher Nolan film, his Grandfather’s legacy and the organization he recently co-founded, the Oppenheimer project.
Aug 11, 202359:26
American Nuclear: The Next Chapter

American Nuclear: The Next Chapter

Physicist James Krellenstein returns for a part two to talk about America’s nuclear future.
Aug 05, 202351:22
American Nuclear: Failure to Learn, Destined to Repeat?

American Nuclear: Failure to Learn, Destined to Repeat?

“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Physicist James Krellenstein joins me to deep dive the history of America’s great nuclear build out, its stalling and the age of the operator which saw capacity factors at US plants leap from 60% to 90%. How should this history inform future policy? What's the bull’s case for US nuclear going forward?
Jul 31, 202301:07:07
Gone With the Wind: Denmark’s Stalled Energy Transition
Jul 17, 202301:02:43
Embrace the Waste

Embrace the Waste

In this “Decouple Short” Madi Hilly shares the experience of her maternity photo shoot at Idaho National Laboratories and the responses so far.
Jul 10, 202313:53
The Case for CANDU
Jul 04, 202301:23:10
Bridging the Metabolic Rift

Bridging the Metabolic Rift

Inspired by the recent Breakthrough Dialogues theme of the “Metabolic Rift,”Leigh Phillips joins me for a far ranging discussion about the challenges and consequences of humanity’s decoupling from natural ecological flows. We navigate perspectives from deep geologic time on mass extinction or so called “biological revolutions,” the likelihood of modern humanity’s disentanglement from fossil fuels and the optimal mix of markets and planning required to best navigate emerging ecological threats.
Jun 29, 202301:06:08
Stormy Waters Ahead for Offshore Wind

Stormy Waters Ahead for Offshore Wind

Decouple correspondent Angelica Oung joins me to discuss the challenges facing the offshore wind industry as commodity prices rise, turbines scale ever larger and countries struggle with supply chain localization.
Jun 19, 202301:00:22
Can the Left be Saved From Itself?

Can the Left be Saved From Itself?

Ruy Texeira, an American political scientist and commentator, joins me to discuss the “5 deadly sins” of the modern left and its growing self imposed exile from the working class and production itself. These “sins” coupled with an increasing intolerance for open debate and a reflex towards de-platforming and cancel culture are crippling the Left’s ability to self analyze and correct course. What is to be done?
Jun 12, 202301:02:57
Peak Oil and the End of Globalization

Peak Oil and the End of Globalization

Systems engineer, James Fleay, joins me to discuss the unique relationship between liquid hydrocarbons and our six continent supply chains. Oil is the enabler of low cost transportation of people and goods. What does an inevitable decline in oil production, whenever it comes, mean for globalization and our future economies. What forms of economical and industrial complexity should be prioritized? All this and more in this thought provoking episode.


Jun 06, 202354:23
What About the Waste?

What About the Waste?

Madi Hilly, author of nuclear advocacy’s most viral tweet, joins me to discuss the ultimate bogeyman and best practices when it comes to talking about nuclear waste.

https://twitter.com/madihilly/status/1550148385931513856?s=46&t=N4_61zANEvl1W3Q_ehy1nw


May 28, 202301:19:34
Non-Proliferation & the Antinuclear Mind
May 22, 202301:03:56
The Uranium Masterclass

The Uranium Masterclass

Mark Nelson returns for an “Insanium Uranium Explanium!”
May 16, 202301:00:26
What’s Nu-clear in Japan

What’s Nu-clear in Japan

Robert Bryce joins me to discuss his recent trip to Japan where climate concern is at the bottom of the list of grid planning priorities in favour of energy security imperatives. We discuss the Japanese U-turn on nuclear and the prospects of nuclear restarts and new build.
May 08, 202345:18
How to Blow Up a Pipeline

How to Blow Up a Pipeline

Emmet Penney returns to offer a review of the film “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” which is based on the work of radical Swedish geographer Andreas Malm. Read About the Movie here: https://compactmag.com/article/a-hollywood-ode-to-eco-terrorism


May 01, 202355:23
The Great Canadian Nuclear Debate

The Great Canadian Nuclear Debate

Decouple host Dr. Keefer faces off against Canada’s most prolific antinuclear activist Dr. Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, in a cordial but passionate debate on the question “Do We Need to Scale Up Nuclear Power to Combat Climate Change?”


This public debate took place at the University of Ottawa on April 25th and was hosted by Canada’s former ambassador of Climate Change and former ambassador to Chile Patricia Fuller.

Apr 27, 202301:47:59
A Eulogy for the German Atom

A Eulogy for the German Atom

Decouple’s Germany correspondent Noah Rettberg returns for a sombre discussion about the conclusion of Germany’s “Atom Exit” and its consequences.
Apr 24, 202357:54
Peak Shale: Not so fast!

Peak Shale: Not so fast!

Mark Hinaman, Director of Engineering and Innovation at Franklin Mountain Energy, joins me to give us a pad side view on Fracking and a response to claims of “Peak Shale” Mark is also the Principal and Founder of the nuclear energy think-tank, Fire2Fission and although he believes that there’s oil everywhere and natural gas is even more abundant, he explains why he thinks that nuclear is the ultimate energy source.
Apr 17, 202358:13
Barakah - A Nuclear Success Story

Barakah - A Nuclear Success Story

In an era in which the nuclear industry has struggled to deliver new nuclear power plants on time and on budget, the example of Barakah, a four APR-1400 reactor nuclear station located in the United Arab Emirates is an important success story and case study.

His Excellency Mohammed Al Hammadi, the CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, has been front and center throughout the planning, construction and operation of Barakah. In this podcast he shares the vital lessons, careful planning and culture of excellence that has led to the swift and successful deployment of the Arab world's largest clean energy project.

Al Hammadi also discusses COP 28 which the UAE will host in Dubai later this year and where nuclear energy is likely to have a prominent role.
Apr 10, 202356:45