The Industrial System of the 21st Century
How technological revolutions create entirely new industrial ecosystems. The more I think about it, the more I believe we’ve been asking the wrong question. The challenge facing much of the West isn’t simply that China makes cheaper cars. Nor is … Continued
Beyond Baseload: The Evolution of Energy Grids
The term “baseload power” gets thrown around a lot in debates over the future of energy. But where did this concept come from, and does it still matter in an age defined by solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, artificial intelligence … Continued
KISS and the Energy Transition: The Hidden Driver of Exponential Disruption
Engineers have long followed one principle: KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Simpler systems are usually more reliable, cheaper to manufacture, easier to maintain and faster to improve. I think that same principle also explains why some technologies scale exponentially while … Continued
The Fossil Fuel Welfare State
Why the world’s oldest energy industry still receives more support than its replacement This article began with a comment beneath a post I wrote about IKEA’s renewable energy investments. The post highlighted how IKEA has installed more than a million … Continued
Fear & Greed: The Lithium Cycle
Why lithium investors keep getting psychologically destroyed at both the top and the bottom of the cycle For those newer to the lithium space, the past few years probably looked completely insane. One minute lithium was being called the most … Continued
Primary Energy Fallacy: Why Demand Is Overstated
Updated May 2026 with refined visuals, clearer examples, and expanded analysis. The energy transition is easier than it looks Caption: Electrification reduces total energy demand by cutting systemic inefficiencies, not by replacing energy 1:1. We keep hearing the same argument. … Continued
China’s Robotaxi Surge Is Unstoppable Now
The Shift Tesla’s robotaxi push is now live in Austin. It matters. But the metric has shifted. This is no longer about proving autonomy works. It is about proving it works at scale, at low cost, with short wait times. … Continued
1974 vs 2026: When Energy Systems Break
Looking back at history, 1974 comes closest to today’s oil shock. It was the last time energy supply was suddenly constrained at a global level and economies felt it immediately. But even that falls short of the scale we are … Continued
Electric Trucks Unleashed. Freight Enters New Age
The conversation around electric trucks used to be simple. Those arguments are now over. The data has moved on. Today, multiple electric semi-trucks are pushing past 600 km of range, with some already approaching or exceeding 800 km. Not prototypes. … Continued
Same Solar. Different Price. The System Is the Product
When I first created this infographic and shared it across X and Bluesky, I wanted to highlight a simple but striking reality. The cost of installing rooftop solar varies wildly between countries, even though the underlying technology is identical. I … Continued