Energy Superheroes

Our latest Energy Superhero, Hans Royal, has answered one of the most critical (and most overlooked) questions in the energy industry: what are AI data centers actually willing to pay for electricity? His models reveal a staggering figure that renders forward power curves wrong and project finance models dangerously outdated. Creator of the “Compute Heat Rate" metric, Royal is now bridging the gap between hyperscale AI economics and physical power markets. The CHR helps evaluate data center energy efficiency relative to computational output. His analysis shows that AI workloads can profitably pay over $6,200 per megawatt-hour (127 times the average wholesale price), fundamentally changing how we understand grid reliability, load growth, and the value of new generation.
 
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Imagine AI running not on silicone, but on biology. Our latest Energy Superhero, neuroscientist Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, is helping build a biocomputer using living neurons, the same building blocks as the human brain. The goal? Energy efficiency. Working at startup FinalSpark, Dr. Kurtys and her team are solving one of the greatest challenges of our day: the massive energy consumption of artificial intelligence. Dr. Kurtys and the Final Spark team’s biologically-based systems could completely revolutionize how we think about computing, considering neurons are up to one million times more energy efficient than current digital hardware. 

Our latest Energy Superhero is Denis Krysanov, Founder of Heologic and a leader in digital exploration technologies for oil, gas, and critical minerals. With years of experience in geoscience innovation, Denis has revolutionized resource discovery through his company’s AI-powered helium surveying technology. His work is transforming how the energy industry identifies and extracts resources, making exploration faster, cheaper, and more precise. In this episode, Denis shares his journey from repairing offshore oil rigs to founding Heologic, along with his vision for the future of energy exploration.

Our latest Energy Superhero is Cyrus Brooks, a dynamic energy industry figure with a unique background that spans engineering, human rights advocacy, and global economic development. Cyrus currently works at RBAC, which specializes in energy market modeling and predictive analysis. He brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of energy, economics, and social responsibility, showing how informed energy decisions can create a better life for all. In this episode, Cyrus talks about his mission to bridge the gap between energy and economic opportunity.

Our latest Energy Superhero is Nada Ahmed, Founding Partner at Energy Tech Nexus, a Houston-based startup hub focused on the energy transition and decarbonization. Nada and her team support over 120 startups working on cutting-edge technologies like carbon capture, hydrogen production, lithium extraction, and more. By leveraging the city’s status as an energy capital, Nada is bridging the gap between innovation and industry, ensuring that the city becomes a global leader in clean energy solutions.

Our latest Energy Superhero is Nick Rohleder, co-founder of Climate Commodities. His company focuses on project development related to the clean energy transition, artificial intelligence infrastructure, national defense, and other energy-related sectors. With the recent surge in power demand driven by data centers and reindustrialization, we need accelerated solutions now more than ever. In this episode, Nick talks about the trends reshaping the energy landscape and the creative strategies required to bridge the gap between immediate demand and long-term solutions.

Our latest Energy Superhero is Margarita Patria, a PhD economist, energy strategist, and Principal at Charles River Associates. With over 15 years of experience in the energy industry, Margarita specializes in energy economics, market design, and data analytics. She also teaches on energy markets as an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University, ensuring that the next generation of energy professionals is prepared for the industry’s evolving challenges. In this episode, Margarita dives into the explosive growth of data centers, their impact on the power grid, and the strategies utilities are adopting to keep up with demand.

Our latest Energy Superhero is Marina Hritsyshyna, a Ukrainian born policy expert specializing in hydrogen regulation. Now based in Germany and pursuing a PhD in Finland, Marina brings a unique perspective on the evolving hydrogen sector, combining her background in law, energy regulation, and technical expertise. With over 12 years of experience in the energy sector and her own podcast called Clean Energy Talks, Marina is helping shape the hydrogen policies of tomorrow. In this episode, Marina shares her insights on EU versus US policy, aviation fuels and what inspires her in this fast moving industry.

As electricity demand continues to soar, what will it take to power the future? Energy Superhero Mike Caravaggio dives deep into the numbers. Working as the Vice President of Energy Supply at EPRI, Mike shares data-driven truths about where we have been and where we’re going when it comes to energy and peak demand. With 25 years of industry experience, Mike helps transform raw data into actionable insights that could dictate how we keep the lights on. In this episode, Mike talks about California’s solar and battery boom, the hidden strengths of nuclear, and why AI data centers are rewriting the rules of electricity demand.

Our latest Energy Superhero is Ralph Rodriguez from Legend Energy Advisors. With a unique background that spans real estate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and energy sales, Ralph has mastered the art of navigating tough challenges. Today, he helps data center customers secure the power they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. In this episode, Ralph shares insights into the evolving energy needs of data centers, the challenges of power shortages, and the role of natural gas in the energy transition.