Transforming Energy Storage: Rob Piconi on Gravity Storage, AI Demand & the Future of Clean Energy

In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Rob Piconi, Chairman and CEO of Energy Vault Holdings, to discuss how gravity-based energy storage, hybrid solutions, and AI-driven power demand are shaping the future of clean energy.

With the global surge in electricity consumption, particularly from AI-driven data centers and industrial decarbonization efforts, energy storage is more critical than ever. Energy Vault is pioneering long-duration, cost-effective, and sustainable storage solutions to ensure renewable energy can reliably power the grid.

Tune in as Rob shares:

✅ His career journey from telecom and healthcare to leading a renewable energy storage company
✅ How gravity storage technology works and why it's a scalable alternative to pumped hydro
✅ The challenges and breakthroughs in deploying large-scale energy storage projects worldwide
✅ How Energy Vault is tackling AI-driven electricity demand and grid reliability
✅ Why long-duration storage is lagging behind expectations—and what needs to happen next
✅ How their partnership with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is integrating storage directly into sustainable architecture
✅ The importance of hybrid energy storage solutions for utilities, industrials, and critical infrastructure

Key Takeaways:

• Gravity Storage vs. Traditional Methods – Why Energy Vault’s gravity-based technology is a sustainable alternative to pumped hydro, with no reliance on concrete or rare earth metals.
• Scaling Clean Energy Storage Globally – From California to China to Australia, Energy Vault is executing large-scale projects that address surging power demand and decarbonization goals.
• Building-Integrated Energy Storage – Their partnership with SOM is developing a new generation of buildings with built-in gravity storage, making structures net energy-positive.
• The Growing Power Demand Crisis – AI, cloud computing, and industrial power needs are putting unprecedented pressure on the grid. Energy storage is the key to balancing supply and demand.
• Flexible Storage Solutions – Why utilities, independent power producers, and industrials require customized energy storage to meet short, long, and ultra-long duration needs.

Episode Links & Resources:
Energy Vault - EVu video
Calistoga Project Video
Energy Vault - EVy Video
Energy Vault's website
The Energy Vault Way
Rob Piconi on LinkedIn

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/

• Email: wes@leegroupsearch.com
• https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/
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