Award-Winning Solutions Powering A Cleaner Future with Vaitea Cowan | Conversations in Cleantech | Season four, Episode one
In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are joined by Vaitea Cowan, Co-founder of Enapter. After meeting co-founders Sebastian-Justus Schmidt and Jan-Justus Schmidt in Chang Mai, Thailand and inspired by technology in the Phi Suea - the world's first self-sustaining house, the idea for Enapter was born. With the values of urgency, simplicity and transparency underpinning all of the company’s decisions, Enapter is striving for a world where hydrogen is a commodity. After winning, the inaugural Earthshot Prize in 2021, Enapter was thrust onto the world stage and has since gone from strength to strength. The future looks bright, with plans to open their first campus to mass produce their electrolysers and add to their 250-strong headcount. Hosted by Brightsmith’s Jenny Gladman, in this conversation Vaitea gives an insight into what it is like founding a pioneering company at the age of 23 with the hope of inspiring the next generation of budding cleantech entrepreneurs to find their voice. This discussion is a deep dive into the fuel of the future and how green hydrogen pioneers such as Vaitea and the Enapter team have the power to revolutionise energy systems to create a greener, cleaner future for us all. Timestamped guide: 00:55 - Introduction to Vaitea 02:00 - Introduction to Enapter 03:48 - Tell us about the origins of Enapter in Thailand 09:00 - How do you find the dynamic of having three co-founders? 11:06 - How did your childhood growing up on an island influence your passion for clean energy? 14:47 - Can you explain the Enapter electrolyser and how it works? 17:55 - What is the difference between green, blue and grey hydrogen? 21:05 - How are Enapter looking to scale up? 23:26 - What are some of the use cases for green hydrogen? 28:57 - Tell us about winning The Earthshot Prize 36:06 - How do you ensure the Enapter values remain strong as you grow? 39:44 - What pushes you through tough times? 42:41 - How nurturing is the hydrogen community? 47:04 - What advice would you give to your teenage self? 48:53 - What does the near future look like for Enapter? Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Vaitea Cowan, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.