The Future of Energy: AI, Solar, Bitcoin, & the New Grid with Ali Chehrehsaz (TerraVerde Energy)
Wed Oct 01 2025
This insightful, wide-ranging conversation with Ali Chehrehsaz (TerraVerde Energy) explores how solar, storage, and new forms of flexible load (AI, data centers, Bitcoin) are reshaping the grid. Ali walks through the economics of distributed generation, why California’s energy costs are so high, and what happens as solar tips into overproduction. Along the way, the discussion dives into the exploding power needs of AI, the rise of off-grid data centers, and Bitcoin mining not just as an energy sink but as a flexible buyer of last resort.
The episode closes with a look toward the Type I Summit, a gathering for ~50 entrepreneurs, investors and solar pirates building the path to terawatt-scale energy and a true Kardashev Type I civilization. Apply below if you’re interested in joining!
📍 San Francisco, CA
📅 November 2025
Apply now: https://tally.so/r/wglrVM
Learn more: https://type1summit.org/
Read more: https://www.hivemind.vc/grid
Hear more:
Timestamps
0:00 Opening
2:30 Ali’s background
9:57 Distributed generation explained
13:47 Solar + storage crossing the tipping point & why it took so long
18:24 Why electricity costs are soaring in California
24:28 Rising transmission & distribution costs
33:36 Overbuilding solar, microgrids, and natural gas backup
41:03 Batteries as the grid’s high-frequency traders
45:35 AI demand shock & the rise of off-grid data centers
58:14 Solar first, but not only: mixing natgas, storage, and geography
01:11:22 Overproduction as opportunity: Bitcoin, AI, and new flexible loads
01:22:12 Why Bitcoin as buyer of last resort hasn’t scaled
01:27:30 Promise of home overbuilds: rooftop solar and small-scale mining
01:31:14 Is Bitcoin energy-backed or belief-backed? “The age of the photon” idea
01:37:09 Practical Bitcoin x Energy applications: waste heat, settlement, stranded energy, mining models
01:46:44 Building the new grid: macrogrids, terawatt data centers, frontier ideas and scaling challenges
2:02:00 Announcing the Type I Summit
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hivemindvc.substack.com
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This insightful, wide-ranging conversation with Ali Chehrehsaz (TerraVerde Energy) explores how solar, storage, and new forms of flexible load (AI, data centers, Bitcoin) are reshaping the grid. Ali walks through the economics of distributed generation, why California’s energy costs are so high, and what happens as solar tips into overproduction. Along the way, the discussion dives into the exploding power needs of AI, the rise of off-grid data centers, and Bitcoin mining not just as an energy sink but as a flexible buyer of last resort. The episode closes with a look toward the Type I Summit, a gathering for ~50 entrepreneurs, investors and solar pirates building the path to terawatt-scale energy and a true Kardashev Type I civilization. Apply below if you’re interested in joining! 📍 San Francisco, CA 📅 November 2025 Apply now: https://tally.so/r/wglrVM Learn more: https://type1summit.org/ Read more: https://www.hivemind.vc/grid Hear more: Timestamps 0:00 Opening 2:30 Ali’s background 9:57 Distributed generation explained 13:47 Solar + storage crossing the tipping point & why it took so long 18:24 Why electricity costs are soaring in California 24:28 Rising transmission & distribution costs 33:36 Overbuilding solar, microgrids, and natural gas backup 41:03 Batteries as the grid’s high-frequency traders 45:35 AI demand shock & the rise of off-grid data centers 58:14 Solar first, but not only: mixing natgas, storage, and geography 01:11:22 Overproduction as opportunity: Bitcoin, AI, and new flexible loads 01:22:12 Why Bitcoin as buyer of last resort hasn’t scaled 01:27:30 Promise of home overbuilds: rooftop solar and small-scale mining 01:31:14 Is Bitcoin energy-backed or belief-backed? “The age of the photon” idea 01:37:09 Practical Bitcoin x Energy applications: waste heat, settlement, stranded energy, mining models 01:46:44 Building the new grid: macrogrids, terawatt data centers, frontier ideas and scaling challenges 2:02:00 Announcing the Type I Summit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hivemindvc.substack.com