What do electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and satellites all have in common?

They rely on a complex, often invisible web of elements – rare earths and critical minerals – pulled from the ground, refined across borders, and essential to our transition to a net-zero carbon future.

But here’s the catch – the term “critical” isn’t as clear-cut as it sounds. It depends on who you ask, where you’re standing, and what you need.

In this episode, we dig deep into the world of critical minerals:

• What makes a mineral critical?
• Who decides?
• And just how secure are the global supply chains we’re relying on to power a cleaner world?

We’re joined by Gavin Mudd, Director of the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre at the British Geological Survey – a leading voice in the field, and someone who’s been tracking the geology, the politics, and the pressure points for decades.

This is more than a conversation about rocks – it’s about geopolitics, sustainability, and the race for resources in the 21st century.

Things mentioned in the episode:

Gavin’s LinkedIn page: LinkedIn

Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre: CMIC Website

British Geological Survey: BGS Website

Interactive periodic table: Periodic Table - Ptable - Properties - State at - °C

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Brian Eversham, CEO of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire WIldlife Trust and absolute nature guru!

We discuss the critical state of nature in the UK in the context of being one of the most nature depleted places on the planet. We talk about the specific impacts of climate change and how agriculture is a major factor in wildlife decline but could also be a big part of saving it, and Brian tells me about the incredible work the Trust is doing, from the Great Fens project to the reintroduction of beavers.

This episode is packed full of eye-opening information and fascinating insights from a naturalist with more experience than you could shake a native stick at. You don't want to miss it!

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

The rise of Artificial Intelligence is changing our world, but at what cost? AI searches consume significantly more energy than standard online queries, and the data centres powering this revolution are transforming into the heavy industry of our age. But how do these energy-hungry giants impact our planet and communities?

In this episode, we talk to Anna Dowson, Senior Director of Sustainability at Greenscale, to pull back the curtain on data centres. We explore their critical role in our digital lives and the sustainability challenges they face. Discover how AI is reshaping data centre design, the drive for greater energy efficiency, and the potential for these facilities to positively contribute to local communities and energy grids.

We'll also tackle the big questions: Can renewable energy sources and innovations like liquid cooling provide a sustainable path forward? And with the increasing demand for data, can we overcome the power constraints that threaten to slow development? Join us for an enlightening discussion on the surprising intersection of AI, energy, and the future of our digital infrastructure.

Things mentioned in the show:

Jargon: we tried to clarify jargon as we went, but if you want to understand more, there's a great glossary of data centre terms here.

Anna Dowson: Find out more about our guest here.

Greenscale: A new player in the data centre market but one that's looking to do things differently it seems. Check them out here.

Carbon Clarity #10: The conversation with Nigel Banks of Octopus Energy around electricity grid capacity is certainly relevant. Check it out here.

EU Energy Efficiency Directive: The recast of the directive in 2022 put a much sharper focus on data centres - read more at this useful blog.

Corporate PPAs: Find out more about the different types of PPA here - maybe it's something your company should look into?

Scientific study: This study looks at the growing energy demands of AI - find it here.

Liquid cooling: Liquid? Around all that electricity? Madness? It seems not - this useful article explains more about liquid cooling.

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet