Energy Engineering podcasts

Jonathan Webb discusses lithium-ion battery chemistry with Neeraj Sharma of UNSW, explaining why prolonged full charging or deep discharge can shorten battery life and what the underlying processes mean for phone and electric-vehicle battery engineering.

Hosted by Jonathan Webb

Lin Ma discusses the development of batteries for electricity grids, including the promise and limitations of sodium-ion systems. The conversation considers safety, materials choices and the role of storage in electricity systems that depend increasingly on renewable generation.

Hosted by Hamish Johnston

University of Arizona research leader Tomas Diaz de la Rubia talks with Tim Swindle about advances toward fusion energy and how the technology could differ from conventional power generation. This Arizona Science conversation explores the research behind fusion’s potential contribution to future energy systems. The publisher’s page is dated 3 September 2026; its programme label identifies the 4 September broadcast. Listen through Arizona Public Media.

Hosted by Tim Swindle

Ellen Zapata-Webborn discusses how mathematical research can help predict household energy use. The episode connects patterns in smart-meter data, human behaviour and the demands of electricity systems, illustrating how quantitative models can inform practical energy questions.

Melissa and Jam explain how evaporating water can cool a building and why the same approach works much better in dry climates than humid ones. They connect swamp coolers to older cooling techniques and examine newer ideas, including ice-based systems intended to reduce pressure on electricity grids.

Hosted by Melissa, Jam

Melissa and Jam unpack the chemistry inside an air conditioner. They explain how refrigerants, pressure changes and transitions between liquid and gas move heat out of a room, why the outdoor unit releases warmth, and what frozen coils reveal about the cooling process.

Hosted by Melissa, Jam

Mariana Kneppers, Patrick Walter and Neil Withers compare competing cathode materials for electric-vehicle batteries and the tradeoffs among cost, safety and performance. They also discuss a photocatalyst that uses spent car-battery acid to help convert plastic waste into useful chemicals.

Hosted by Mariana Kneppers

David Hsu examines community electricity systems built around solar generation, batteries and microgrids. The conversation considers the policies and technologies challenging centralised utilities, including in places with unreliable electricity access. It compares what local and large-scale systems can offer as communities seek cleaner, affordable and dependable energy.

Hosted by Madison Goldberg

Jacopo Buongiorno examines why construction of nuclear power plants has become expensive in the United States despite the technology’s ability to supply low-carbon electricity continuously. The discussion compares countries with different recent building experience and asks what their industries can teach about controlling costs and delivering projects on schedule.

Hosted by Madison Goldberg

Åshild Grøtan discusses electricity markets, rapidly changing prices and the need to balance generation with demand. Conversation in Norwegian.

Odd Erik Garcia discusses fusion research and the challenges of producing useful energy by combining light atomic nuclei. Conversation in Norwegian.

Sunniva Rose discusses nuclear power, reactor safety and the challenges of explaining nuclear science to the public. Conversation in Norwegian.