Carlos from ETAJOULE joins host Mark Smith for a conversation on how the future of data centers may be smaller, smarter, and powered by waste. Instead of relying on massive centralized facilities and strained grid connections, Carlos shares how modular microgrid-powered “Olive” data center nodes can run on solar energy, batteries, and methane captured from agricultural waste like poultry farms.

The discussion explores how distributed infrastructure can create multiple revenue streams at once—energy production, data services, fertilizer, carbon credits, and even waste heat reuse for agriculture. Carlos also breaks down why edge computing demand is accelerating, how combined-cycle systems improve efficiency, and why this model could be a practical answer to both energy transition and AI infrastructure growth.

From refrigeration optimization with AI to renewable-powered data center ecosystems, this episode looks at a new blueprint for sustainable digital infrastructure.

⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Cold Open 00:45 Meet Mark and Carlos 01:12 ETAJOULE Origin Story 02:57 Why Modular Data Centers 04:19 Solar Plus Biowaste Power 08:36 Circular Plant Schematic 10:08 Solar Heat Innovation 13:22 Scaling the Olive Nodes 14:22 Project Status and Roadmap 15:54 How to Get Involved 17:00 Do Credits Matter 18:23 Wrap Up and Outro

About Carlos Fernandez-Aballi Altamirano:

Carlos has more than 15 years of experience designing and directing solar energy and sustainability solutions across industry, academia, and entrepreneurship. His expertise spans artificial intelligence process optimization, renewable energy integration, industrial energy efficiency, solar thermal systems, sustainability, and thermodynamic cycles.

He holds a Doctorate in Engineering with a specialization in Thermodynamics from the Technological University of Habana José Antonio Echeverría (UTH), with studies at Ghent University in Belgium, where he defended the basic thermodynamic principles of the Thermal Lag Engine. He also earned both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering Design from University of Bristol, focusing on absorption refrigeration systems and solar-powered thermal technologies.

Over the last five years in the U.S. solar industry, Carlos has designed and directed commercial-scale solar thermal projects across St. Croix, Dominica, and Hawaii, serving multifamily housing, luxury hotels, and military facilities. His work also includes solar thermal system recovery projects in Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Florida.

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#DataCenters #SolarEnergy #Microgrids #RenewableEnergy #ArtificialIntelligence #Sustainability #EdgeComputing #CarbonCredits #EnergyTransition #EmpiricalEnergyPodcast

From Mars Missions to Manhattan’s Boilers: Natan Shahar’s Energy Odyssey

Some of the most practical energy solutions don’t come from inside the industry—they come from rethinking the problem entirely.

In this conversation, Natan Shahar shares how a challenge facing New York City buildings led him down an unexpected path—from energy audits and Local Law 97 compliance… to inspiration from Mars missions.

As the founder of Standard Carbon, Natan is developing what he calls “electric natural gas”—a closed-loop system that captures CO₂, combines it with hydrogen, and produces synthetic methane that can be reused within existing gas infrastructure.

Instead of forcing costly and disruptive electrification, this approach allows buildings and industrial operators to reduce emissions while continuing to use the systems they already have.

The result? A fundamentally different path to decarbonization—one that works with reality, not against it.

00:00 Silent Revolution Intro 00:45 Meet Mark and Natan 01:21 NYC Buildings and LL97 05:04 Mars Book to Methane 07:10 Cheap Power Hydrogen Idea 08:26 Building the Carbon Bridge 10:00 Pilots and Use Cases 11:00 Synthetic vs RNG 12:36 Avoiding LL97 Penalties 14:29 Approvals and Coalition 17:37 Where Projects Scale 22:59 Energy Security and Storage 25:37 Ideal Markets and Economics 31:08 Carbon Intensity Explained 33:45 Contact and Wrap Up 34:29 Podcast Outro Call to Action

Natan Shahar is the founder of Standard Carbon. He began his career as a mechanical engineer in New York City, supporting the energy needs of over 2,000 buildings.

When Local Law 97 introduced aggressive emissions caps and significant carbon penalties, many building owners were left with limited and often impractical options. Rather than forcing existing solutions, Natan took a first-principles approach to the problem.

Inspired by concepts from space exploration—specifically methane production using CO₂—he developed a system that converts captured carbon into reusable synthetic fuel. Today, Standard Carbon is deploying pilot systems in the U.S. and internationally, working to scale a new category of clean, infrastructure-compatible energy solutions.

#EnergyTransition #Decarbonization #CarbonCapture #SyntheticFuel #Hydrogen #ClimateTech #EnergyInfrastructure #LNG #CarbonMarkets

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What if getting across a city took minutes instead of hours?

This conversation with Billy Nolen explores how advanced air mobility is moving from concept to reality—faster than most people think. From his decades in aviation leadership to shaping policy at the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy brings a rare, inside-out perspective on what it actually takes to bring eVTOL aircraft into everyday use.

At the center of it all: Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft—and a vision that could redefine how we move through cities by the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics arrive.

This isn’t future talk. It’s already happening.

• How eVTOL aircraft are designed and why they’re different • The real bottlenecks: certification, infrastructure, and regulation • Why the LA 2028 Olympics could be a turning point for air mobility • How charging networks and vertiports will shape adoption • The global race (including China) to dominate next-gen aviation • Where defense, commercial, and emerging markets intersect

00:00 Silent Revolution Intro 00:45 Meet Billy Nolen 00:55 Aviation Career Journey 02:20 Leading the FAA 03:42 Innovate 2028 Vision 05:56 Why Archer Won Him Over 07:18 Midnight Aircraft Exterior 09:55 Cabin Design and Partners 12:02 Olympics Use Case in LA 16:06 Charging and Daily Ops 17:29 Defense and Global Markets 19:58 Infrastructure and Standards 21:10 US Policy Tailwinds 23:35 Race With China and Safety 26:35 Wrap Up and Outro

Billy Nolen is Chief Safety Officer at Archer Aviation and a veteran aviation leader with over four decades of experience.

He began his career as a U.S. Army pilot before spending more than 26 years at American Airlines in operational and safety leadership roles. He later held executive positions at Airlines for America, Qantas, and WestJet.

In 2022, he was appointed Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, where he helped guide U.S. aviation through a critical period of innovation, including early frameworks for drones and advanced air mobility.

Today, he’s helping bring eVTOL technology to market—bridging regulation, safety, and real-world deployment.

The Empirical Energy Podcast explores the shift toward measurable, verified, and transparent energy systems. Through conversations with operators, innovators, and industry leaders, we break down how technology, data, and infrastructure are reshaping global markets.

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#EmpiricalEnergy #ArcherAviation #eVTOL #AdvancedAirMobility #FutureOfTransport #EnergyInnovation #Aviation #CleanTech #UrbanMobility