Storing Clean Energy with Air & Water: Hydrostor’s Game-Changing Tech
February 27, 2025
In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor, to discuss how compressed air energy storage can revolutionize renewable energy. Hydrostor's innovative underground caverns store air and water to provide long-duration, cost-effective energy storage—solving the intermittency challenge in renewable grids. The conversation dives into engineering breakthroughs, economic advantages over batteries, and the policy shifts needed to enable 100% renewable energy.
In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor, to discuss how compressed air energy storage can revolutionize renewable energy. Hydrostor's innovative underground caverns store air and water to provide long-duration, cost-effective energy storage—solving the intermittency challenge in renewable grids. The conversation dives into engineering breakthroughs, economic advantages over batteries, and the policy shifts needed to enable 100% renewable energy.
Curtis VanWalleghem is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor, leading the company from technology development to commercial operations with a multi-gigawatt pipeline worldwide. Before Hydrostor, he was a Senior Manager at Deloitte’s Corporate Strategy Consulting Practice, advising top global energy companies. He also held roles at Bruce Power and Environmental Electric Company, working across the nuclear and wind energy sectors. With experience in over 10 countries, including volunteer work in India, Curtis combines technical expertise with strategic leadership.
Episode Resource
- Curtis VanWalleghem on LinkedIn
- Hydrostor Website
- Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
- Synapse Website
- Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
- Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify
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Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Going Big on Clean Energy with Small Fusion Reactors with Robin Langtry, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy
- The Role of Energy Storage Systems in Combating Climate Change with Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS
- Marine Electrification to Reduce Costs and Environmental Damage: A Conversation with Marcelino Alvarez, CEO of Photon Marine
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