Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

28 - Businesses' Duty in Ramping Up Energy Literacy - Michael Pinto, Cleanwatts

35min | 03/09/2023

Description

In this episode of Energ'Ethic, we talk to Michael Pinto, CEO and co-founder of Cleanwatts, a cleantech company that provides intelligent digital tools to monitor, manage, and optimize energy generation, storage, trading, and consumption.

Michael shares his journey from the corporate world to launching Cleanwatts with a deep commitment to sustainability. Cleanwatts has pioneered many energy communities in Portugal and beyond, with a unique model that involves installing solar panels on commercial and office buildings and inviting local stakeholders to join. Through its platform, Cleanwatts can connect virtually all the smart meters of community members and provide access to excess capacity, resulting in a backlog of approximately 40 megawatts of aggregated capacity at the end of 2022. By consuming locally produced electricity in real time, transport and transmission costs are reduced, resulting in lower energy bills.

Michael clarifies that building energy communities is a complex landscape that involves aggregating loads, flexibility services, and the allocation of funds. Cleanwatts works with reputable local companies that already have knowledge of the landscape. Cleanwatts is addressing the urgent trilemma of decarbonizing the grid, bolstering energy security, and reducing the high cost of energy.

By making it easier for local communities to transition to renewable energy, Cleanwatts is contributing to a sustainable future. Michael discusses Cleanwatts' innovative business model, his engagement with local realities and entrepreneurs, and the importance of technical and social innovation in the energy transition. He highlights the role businesses play in increasing energy literacy among citizens.

Join us in this conversation as we explore the crucial role of businesses in ramping up energy literacy and accelerating the energy transition towards a sustainable future. Don't miss this inspiring episode of Energ'Ethic!

Michael Pinto is the co-founder of Cleanwatts, a company that aims to reframe society's relationship with energy by unlocking the benefits of the global transition where it matters most: locally. With over two decades of international experience in industrial settings and financial services, Michael remains driven by curiosity and values of inclusion, integrity, and resilience. He is committed to building a world in which access to affordable clean energy is decentralized, digitalized, and democratized.

Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn

Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius

Edition: Podcast Media Factory

Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

Energ’Ethic is a podcast exploring the human, institutional, and ethical dimensions of the energy transition.

Hosted by Marine Cornelis, Energ’Ethic brings together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, city practitioners, researchers, and civil society voices to examine what makes energy transitions succeed—or fail—in the real world.

Beyond technology and targets, the podcast focuses on trust, power, consumer rights, digitalisation, and energy justice. Each conversation connects policy and market design with lived experience, unpacking how decisions taken in boardrooms and institutions translate into everyday realities for people and communities.

Energ’Ethic is not about slogans or quick fixes. It is a space for rigorous, grounded conversations about resilience, legitimacy, and the social conditions required for lasting climate and energy strategies.

Listen to Energ’Ethic to:

Hear first-hand perspectives from those shaping energy and climate policy from the inside
Understand how governance, regulation, and technology affect consumers and communities
Explore energy and climate justice through practical, experience-based insights

Energ’Ethic speaks to an engaged audience of decision-makers and practitioners working at the intersection of policy, markets, cities, and society.

Organisations can partner with Energ’Ethic to support high-quality dialogue and reach a thoughtful, policy-literate audience committed to a fair and resilient energy transition.

Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

Energ’Ethic is a podcast exploring the human, institutional, and ethical dimensions of the energy transition.

Hosted by Marine Cornelis, Energ’Ethic brings together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, city practitioners, researchers, and civil society voices to examine what makes energy transitions succeed—or fail—in the real world.

Beyond technology and targets, the podcast focuses on trust, power, consumer rights, digitalisation, and energy justice. Each conversation connects policy and market design with lived experience, unpacking how decisions taken in boardrooms and institutions translate into everyday realities for people and communities.

Energ’Ethic is not about slogans or quick fixes. It is a space for rigorous, grounded conversations about resilience, legitimacy, and the social conditions required for lasting climate and energy strategies.

Listen to Energ’Ethic to:

Hear first-hand perspectives from those shaping energy and climate policy from the inside
Understand how governance, regulation, and technology affect consumers and communities
Explore energy and climate justice through practical, experience-based insights

Energ’Ethic speaks to an engaged audience of decision-makers and practitioners working at the intersection of policy, markets, cities, and society.

Organisations can partner with Energ’Ethic to support high-quality dialogue and reach a thoughtful, policy-literate audience committed to a fair and resilient energy transition.

Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

In this episode of Energ'Ethic, we talk to Michael Pinto, CEO and co-founder of Cleanwatts, a cleantech company that provides intelligent digital tools to monitor, manage, and optimize energy generation, storage, trading, and consumption.

Michael shares his journey from the corporate world to launching Cleanwatts with a deep commitment to sustainability. Cleanwatts has pioneered many energy communities in Portugal and beyond, with a unique model that involves installing solar panels on commercial and office buildings and inviting local stakeholders to join. Through its platform, Cleanwatts can connect virtually all the smart meters of community members and provide access to excess capacity, resulting in a backlog of approximately 40 megawatts of aggregated capacity at the end of 2022. By consuming locally produced electricity in real time, transport and transmission costs are reduced, resulting in lower energy bills.

Michael clarifies that building energy communities is a complex landscape that involves aggregating loads, flexibility services, and the allocation of funds. Cleanwatts works with reputable local companies that already have knowledge of the landscape. Cleanwatts is addressing the urgent trilemma of decarbonizing the grid, bolstering energy security, and reducing the high cost of energy.

By making it easier for local communities to transition to renewable energy, Cleanwatts is contributing to a sustainable future. Michael discusses Cleanwatts' innovative business model, his engagement with local realities and entrepreneurs, and the importance of technical and social innovation in the energy transition. He highlights the role businesses play in increasing energy literacy among citizens.

Join us in this conversation as we explore the crucial role of businesses in ramping up energy literacy and accelerating the energy transition towards a sustainable future. Don't miss this inspiring episode of Energ'Ethic!

Michael Pinto is the co-founder of Cleanwatts, a company that aims to reframe society's relationship with energy by unlocking the benefits of the global transition where it matters most: locally. With over two decades of international experience in industrial settings and financial services, Michael remains driven by curiosity and values of inclusion, integrity, and resilience. He is committed to building a world in which access to affordable clean energy is decentralized, digitalized, and democratized.

Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn

Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius

Edition: Podcast Media Factory

Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

Energ’Ethic is a podcast exploring the human, institutional, and ethical dimensions of the energy transition.

Hosted by Marine Cornelis, Energ’Ethic brings together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, city practitioners, researchers, and civil society voices to examine what makes energy transitions succeed—or fail—in the real world.

Beyond technology and targets, the podcast focuses on trust, power, consumer rights, digitalisation, and energy justice. Each conversation connects policy and market design with lived experience, unpacking how decisions taken in boardrooms and institutions translate into everyday realities for people and communities.

Energ’Ethic is not about slogans or quick fixes. It is a space for rigorous, grounded conversations about resilience, legitimacy, and the social conditions required for lasting climate and energy strategies.

Listen to Energ’Ethic to:

Hear first-hand perspectives from those shaping energy and climate policy from the inside
Understand how governance, regulation, and technology affect consumers and communities
Explore energy and climate justice through practical, experience-based insights

Energ’Ethic speaks to an engaged audience of decision-makers and practitioners working at the intersection of policy, markets, cities, and society.

Organisations can partner with Energ’Ethic to support high-quality dialogue and reach a thoughtful, policy-literate audience committed to a fair and resilient energy transition.

Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

Energ’Ethic is a podcast exploring the human, institutional, and ethical dimensions of the energy transition.

Hosted by Marine Cornelis, Energ’Ethic brings together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, city practitioners, researchers, and civil society voices to examine what makes energy transitions succeed—or fail—in the real world.

Beyond technology and targets, the podcast focuses on trust, power, consumer rights, digitalisation, and energy justice. Each conversation connects policy and market design with lived experience, unpacking how decisions taken in boardrooms and institutions translate into everyday realities for people and communities.

Energ’Ethic is not about slogans or quick fixes. It is a space for rigorous, grounded conversations about resilience, legitimacy, and the social conditions required for lasting climate and energy strategies.

Listen to Energ’Ethic to:

Hear first-hand perspectives from those shaping energy and climate policy from the inside
Understand how governance, regulation, and technology affect consumers and communities
Explore energy and climate justice through practical, experience-based insights

Energ’Ethic speaks to an engaged audience of decision-makers and practitioners working at the intersection of policy, markets, cities, and society.

Organisations can partner with Energ’Ethic to support high-quality dialogue and reach a thoughtful, policy-literate audience committed to a fair and resilient energy transition.

Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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