S5E59: Flash of Inspiration: How Digital Electricity Is Changing the Vertical Farming Industry with VoltServer’s Stephen Eaves

Artwork for podcast Vertical Farming Podcast

Episode 59 • 23rd June 2022 • Vertical Farming Podcast • Harry Duran

Episode Summary

CEO and Founder of VoltServer, Stephen Eaves joins the show to share over twenty years of experience in the energy industry and his passion for doing things that have never been done before. Stephen is an expert in battery management, power electronics and energy infrastructure and has fifteen patents issued or pending related to energy storage and power conversion. Today, Harry and Stephen talk about the origin story of VoltServer and the technology behind digital electricity. Stephen shares his thoughts on areas where digital electricity can benefit vertical farming, what the future holds for both industries and what the future holds for high-tech power distribution.

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Key Takeaways

07:14 – Harry welcomes CEO and Founder of VoltServer, Stephen Eaves, to talk about his entrepreneurial background and his passion for doing things that have never been done before

14:40 – Edison, Tesla, and Eaves

19:40 – Mentors who inspired and helped Stephen along his journey

20:48 – Digital electricity and the origin story of VoltServer

25:05 – Consumer and industry response

30:04 – How Stephen got involved in vertical farming

33:58 – Other areas of vertical farming that VoltServer can benefit

38:20 – The reaction of the electricians’ community and what’s on the horizon for VoltServer and digital electricity technology

43:48 – Opportunities Stephen sees in the vertical farming and indoor AgTech space

48:06 – A tough question Stephen has had to ask himself recently and an ask Stephen has for the audience

51:26 – What has Stephen excited about the future of VoltServer

52:23 – Harry thanks Stephen for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can learn more about VoltServer

Tweetable Quotes

“I’ve always had a passion or an obsession to do things that have never been done before - things that are uniquely different.” (12:54) (Stephen)

“For me it’s just a lot of hard work. I wouldn’t say I’m in the category of what they call the flash of genius or flash of inspiration. It’s mainly about looking at problems and finding an un-thought of way to solve a problem that hasn’t been thought of before.” (17:26) (Stephen)

“There’s nothing like digital electricity. There’s nothing out there where you can touch wires and it knows the difference between you and a vacuum cleaner or something like that.” (21:37) (Stephen)

“We see this type of electricity being the next thing in electricity that will displace full AC infrastructure in buildings and probably cities. But it will take a while before it goes to long- distance transmission and things like that.” (29:48) (Stephen)

“The sort of the black eye in vertical farming is the electricity use. And, if electricity is created using carbon-based sources, that’s not good. I think the big movement is going to be as we move towards carbon-free energy sources.” (45:06) (Stephen)