We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
About the Episode:
From thermonuclear weapons that helped stop the Cold War, to a Le Mans 24 Hour Eco Car, and now pioneering a revolutionary battery, today’s guest has a truly remarkable career path.
We're revisiting one of our top episodes from 2022 featuring a real, actual rocket scientist - Michael Burz, the CEO and Co-Founder of Enzinc. His startup is is commercializing a truly innovative zinc-based battery that promises the power density and re-chargeability of lithium at lead-acid prices. Michael's journey from designing cruise missiles to creating eco-cars at Nissan's Design Studio showcases his exceptional ability to innovate across industries.
In this Flashback Friday clip, you’ll discover:
How Burz's upbringing and his mother’s aviation background influenced his career.
Michael’s work designing Cruise Missiles at General Dynamics and engineering thermonuclear weapons during the Cold War.
Michael's leadership in designing and building an all-carbon composite race car for Le Mans in record time and under budget.
The collaboration with the US Naval Research Laboratory that led to defining and designing their zinc battery technology.
If you’d like to hear more than just this snippet, then I’d encourage you to queue up episode 448 and learn more about how one engineer's relentless pursuit of innovation is shaping the future of battery storage.
Helpful RESOURCES:
Listen to the full episode with Michael Burz:
Connect with Michael Burz:
Check out EnZinc Inc.:
NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:
“If you take a look at the energy storage, not only could it be used for cars, but it could be used for a whole bunch of other applications, particularly, in the renewable energy space, and that kind of led us in the path of defining and designing the battery.”
“We wanted to design electric cars and so I felt that I could combine my aerospace, automotive and computer skills and integrate all those together into a really cool electric vehicle. Because we felt that electric vehicles needed elements of each one of those disciplines.”
Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!
Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is Chint Power Systems America!
CPS America is the #1 supplier of 3-phase string inverters for Commercial & Industrial and Utility-Scale projects with more than 8 gigawatts of inverters installed on 20,000+ sites around the nation!
We are grateful for our GOLD sponsor:
Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina
ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:
Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.
If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 15 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.