We’re wrapping up the Smart Grid Series with a rocket scientist who thinks the next big thing in batteries might actually be … zinc.
My guest is Mike Burz, co-founder and CEO of Enzinc, which is commercializing a zinc “sponge” anode developed with the U.S. Navy. The breakthrough: solving the dendrite problem that has historically killed rechargeable zinc batteries. The result? A safe, recyclable, low-cost chemistry that could power everything from scooters to data centers — and replace lead-acid or nickel-cadmium in millions of applications.
We cover:
- Why storage is the foundation of a renewable grid
- The Navy’s quest for a battery as safe as lead acid, but with the energy of lithium
- How a metal sponge structure prevents dendrites and enables true rechargeability
- Why zinc is abundant, cheap, and fully recyclable — unlike lithium
- The “Intel Inside” business model: supplying drop-in anodes to existing manufacturers
- First demos: e-bikes, golf carts, and telecom backup
- Longer-term possibilities: zinc-air chemistries for aviation and long-duration storage
- Why this is not about killing lithium but about giving the grid (and vehicles) safer, more appropriate options
Links & resources:
- Enzinc — https://enzinc.com/
- All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/
- Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/
- Become a member for ad-free episodes: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/
What you can do & what’s next:
- Please subscribe and share Everybody in the Pool!
- Send your feedback or ideas for future episodes: in@everybodyinthepool.com
Smart Grid Series recap:
- E101: Flow batteries with XL Batteries
- E102: Synthetic inertia & reliability with Wärtsilä
- E103 (this episode): Rechargeable zinc with Enzinc
Next week, we shift gears — from storage to deployment — with printed solar that could go just about anywhere. 🌞
Together, we can get this done.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage
Rewarded for bravery that goes above and beyond the call of duty, the Medal of Honor is the United States’ top military decoration. The stories we tell are about the heroes who have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism and courage that have saved lives. From Judith Resnik, the second woman in space, to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice, these are stories about those who have done the improbable and unexpected, who have sacrificed something in the name of something much bigger than themselves. Every Wednesday on Medal of Honor, uncover what their experiences tell us about the nature of sacrifice, why people put their lives in danger for others, and what happens after you’ve become a hero. Special thanks to series creator Dan McGinn, to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Adam Plumpton. Medal of Honor begins on May 28. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear ad-free episodes one week early. Find Pushkin+ on the Medal of Honor show page in Apple or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com