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Freeing Energy: How Innovators Are Using Local-scale Solar and Batteries to Disrupt the Global Energy Industry from the Outside In Paperback – December 5, 2021

by Bill Nussey (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 126 ratings
See all formats and editions
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The transition to clean energy is moving far too slowly. Trapped by a century of fossil fuel investments and politicians that struggle to plan beyond the next election, the “Big Grid” that powers our modern world is outdated and in dire need of an upgrade. Freeing Energy offers a new and faster path towards a clean energy future—one that is more reliable, more equitable, and cheaper. Just like personal computers eclipsed mainframes, millions of solar rooftops and small battery systems are challenging every assumption about our century-old, centralized electric grid. These small-scale “local energy” systems are deeply disruptive because they are based on fast-moving technologies, not fuels. Driven by a new generation of innovators and genuinely competitive markets, smaller systems are faster to build, easier to finance, cleaner to operate, and they create far more jobs than large-scale projects.

Bill Nussey takes readers to mud huts in Africa, an off-grid farm in California, and a rural school in the mountains of Puerto Rico to uncover the underlying patterns of technology and the business model innovations of the local energy revolution. He shares stories and insights from some of the industry’s brightest visionaries and from leaders of the most cutting-edge startups, bringing it all together into an actionable framework to help accelerate this transition.

Freeing Energy is a deeply researched, actionable guide for anyone that cares about the future of energy—from startups, policymakers, investors, and utility leaders to the families and communities that want cleaner, cheaper energy today.

Praise for Freeing Energy -

The clean energy transition is the single biggest economic opportunity in history—bigger than the industrial revolution and bigger than the computing revolution. Nussey’s broad coverage of systems large and small, as well as different geographies around the world, brings the whole situation into perfect perspective to drive both optimism and action.
--- Bill Gross, founder of Idealab and cleantech companies Heliogen, Energy Vault, and Carbon Capture

Nussey is spot on about the economic opportunity that comes with the shift to renewable energy, with a compelling angle about the role of local energy and action each of us can take. The clean energy transition is accelerating faster and further than most models predicted, and this book is a useful and timely read for anyone who wants to be part of it.
--- Jules Kortenhorst, CEO, RMI

Nussey has grasped a fundamental truth about the transition to a zero-carbon economy: energy is no longer about capturing and exploiting resources, it’s about technology, speed, innovation, and agility.
--- Michael Liebreich, CEO of Liebreich Associations, and Founder and former CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Freeing Energy is one of the most encouraging and inspiring books I’ve read in years. Nussey is comprehensive and convincing in his portrayal of the relentless technological innovation driving down costs for small-scale solar and battery solutions, and the ability of these systems to improve energy and social equity in the US and around the world.
--- Scott Murphy, Chief Investment Officer at Advantage Capital, and former US Congressman

“Freeing Energy, an inspiring and practical guide for enacting an energy revolution is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone that wants to understand how technologies and innovators are upending systems to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”
--- Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO and Founder of Acumen, and author of Manifesto for a Moral Revolution
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  1. Print length
    434 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 5, 2021
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 1.09 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1732544646
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1732544642
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A passionate, valuable, and detailed blueprint for remaking the shape of everyday energy production... The author is passionate in advocating for change, but he's also unfailingly realistic. Skeptics ... will find Nussey a doggedly clear-eyed guide to what he rightly calls "the treacherous divide between wild-goose-chases and billion-dollar opportunities." He tackles the implementation of these alternatives on every level of manufacture and production, and his emphasis on individual options will deeply engage readers who feel trapped on the treadmill of big energy.

- Kirkus Reviews


Freeing Energy is one of the most encouraging and inspiring books I've read in years. Nussey is comprehensive and convincing in his portrayal of the relentless technological innovation driving down costs for small-scale solar and battery solutions, and the ability of these systems to improve energy and social equity in the US and around the world.

--- Scott Murphy, Chief Investment Officer at Advantage Capital, and former US Congressman

About the Author

BILL NUSSEY is a career tech CEO with three successful exits, including an IPO. He has also been an investor with venture capital firm, Greylock. After IBM acquired his company, he became IBM's VP Corporate Strategy, helping lead the company's overall strategy. As a CEO, his companies have raised more than $400 million, created thousands of jobs and billions in shareholder value. The journey to write this book began with his 2017 TED talk, which grew into 100+ articles and, most recently, the popular Freeing Energy podcast. He received a degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mountain Ambler Publishing (December 5, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1732544646
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1732544642
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.39 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.09 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

About the author

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Bill Nussey

Bill Nussey

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Bill Nussey is a career tech CEO with three successful exits, including an IPO. He has also been an Investor with venture capital firm, Greylock. After IBM acquired his company, he became IBM’s VP Corporate Strategy, helping lead the company’s overall strategy. As a CEO, his companies have raised more than $400 million, created thousands of jobs and billions in shareholder value.

In Bill’s groundbreaking 2004 book, The Quiet Revolution, he was one of the first authors to reveal the underlying trends and predict the roadmap that ultimately led to the revolution in digital marketing. In his latest work, Freeing Energy, he explores the much larger shift as the world transitions to clean energy as well as the opportunities and obstacles associated with it.

The journey to write his newest book began with his 2017 TED Talk, which grew into 100+ articles and, most recently, the popular Feeing Energy Podcast. He received a degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Bill is an avid reader, an avowed nerd, and he loves movies. He and his wife, Melinda, live in Atlanta, Georgia. They are both involved with several local energy projects serving disadvantaged communities in Africa and the US.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
126 global ratings
Must Have Rare Insightful Read into an Agile, Scalable, and Clean Energy Future.
5 Stars
Must Have Rare Insightful Read into an Agile, Scalable, and Clean Energy Future.
Having once invested and spent time in the industry for over a decade in policy, technology, financial, and security, I applaud the work in this book.Freeing Energy is one of those rare books fully covering the current state of energy challenges and opportunities. Local energy, the main theme, presents one of the most plausible and logical solutions. towards more reliable, clean, cost-effective, and sustainable options.The author, Bill Nussey, not only travels the world but converses with a diverse number of people affected, innovators and experts alike. Each rich conversation, research together with deep analysis provides thoughtful inspiration and options.Freeing Energy is an easy and wonderful read. You will gain a solid understanding of how agile and scalable energy options will meet the exponential global hunger for energy.
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Top reviews from the United States

Dave Pietruszynski
5.0 out of 5 stars Need optimism on the transition to renewables? Find a comfy chair, and learn about local energy...
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Bill Nussey crafted a book that is accessible and well-written - his optimism is contagious. In the energy utility industry, more and more people are waking up to market forces that are about to upend a system that has existed in a cocoon for over a century. Bill expertly analyzes these forces from the perspective of a high-tech CEO and venture capitalist, weaving in personal stories, and introducing characters who have visions of transforming a moribund industry through massive innovation and creating opportunities for energy consumers, entrepreneurs, and other companies. There is just the right amount of historical background and context to set the reader up for understanding Bill's vision for local energy, and encouragement to the reader to set up their own vision. Highly recommend for anyone that is concerned about the transition to renewables, entrepreneurs that need a high level view, and those in the energy industry who will be experiencing this rapid tectonic shift.
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Smitty
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Anyone Interested in the Future of Our Energy System
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
As Bill Nussey demonstrates in this fascinating and deeply researched book, we are in the midst of an unprecedented transformation of our energy system, one that will ultimately touch the lives of nearly every person on the planet. The replacement of fossil fuels by clean generation technologies--especially solar--will affect not only how we create electricity, it will open up new opportunities in the way power is sold and distributed. The grid model we have depended on for almost 150 years will become less centralized, as more and more of the power we use comes from community-scale systems and our own rooftops. In the coming years, investors, entrepreneurs, engineers, lawyers, lenders, politicians, activists, coders, manufacturers, car-makers, chemists, inventors, and countless others will each have a role in shaping this new system.

It is impossible to overstate the importance to humanity of getting this right. We need a more efficient and resilient energy system. Those who truly understand how these technologies work and what they are capable of doing, will have the best chance to make a difference and to profit from backing the right vision.

If you want to better understand these changes, or become a part of the energy revolution that is already underway, I can’t think of a better place to start than "Freeing Energy." Nussey has clearly studied the history of the grid system and its technologies and he writes about it with clarity and verve. But readers who are interested in the economic opportunities presented by the clean-energy revolution will definitely want to read Nussey’s brilliant analysis of the emerging trends and business models—such as the huge potential of small-scale solar systems in rural communities around the world; peer-to-peer electricity trading; the key differences between fuel-based energy and technology-based energy; the “Hidden Patterns of Innovation,” and much more.

There are also engaging descriptions, based on Nussey's own travels around the world, of how local solar plus battery systems are already bringing about transformative changes in people’s lives--an important reminder of how important good energy policy is.

This is a must-read for those who want to play a part in—or profit from—what Nussey calls “the biggest business opportunity in history.”
2 people found this helpful
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Wanda Segars
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about how to achieve the clean energy economy.
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great book that describes how we can move to lower carbon and clean energy. Well written and easy to understand by the common layman. Nussey approaches the topic not from a wonky, energy nerd perspective, but from applying his experience in the tech and VC industries to how we can transition to a clean energy economy. The future will require a serious shift to renewable energy and storage. Also, this will include sustainable transportation. This book describes how we can make the transition if we have the political will. The good news is that he discovered there is support from the left and right. Great book. I recommend it as a must read. Good insight.
One person found this helpful
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anne tyler
5.0 out of 5 stars If you use electricity (and of course you do!), this book is good news for you.
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
Remember when you first heard about something called the World Wide Web and the Internet decades ago, and people who understood the implications of the technological revolution coming said: "This will change everything!" and you said: "No it won't!" but, it absolutely did change everything? This book will help you understand that an even bigger source of technology innovation, economic growth, and social benefit is happening now.

This time, the seismic shift is coming from the transformation to solar energy being produced, stored, and purchased at the "local" level. In this context, local means competition for all consumers to buy reliable electricity at the lowest cost . You'll soon understand that this transformation is possible because solar energy is a technology, not a fuel. And innovators are great at developing new technology-based solutions, building new business models, and offering new services. A key insight gained, that seems obvious now but I honestly never thought of before, is this: No one can embargo the sun.

This book was written for anyone who buys and uses electricity in the US today - - for your home or business or school or while you're on the move. Nussey's appealing style, which includes inspiring story-telling of the impact of local solar energy projects around the world, means you don't have to be an engineer, climate advocate, solar specialist, or even vaguely understand the utility industry to follow his analyses and grasp his insights. Nussey makes it easy for every reader to see how this transformation will change how we will buy electricity in altogether new ways, beyond our imagination. In short, in a world where we hear bad news weekly coming from almost every direction, this book will fill you with hope... because it is simply great news for all consumers, for business profits, and for the planet.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Tomasz
5.0 out of 5 stars This a must-read book for everyone
Reviewed in Mexico on September 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
A book that will dispel all doubts of opponents of clean energy and give a handful of arguments to those who stand up for freeing energy.
This is a book that should be used for teaching in schools!
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tyler beaulieu
5.0 out of 5 stars In depth knowledge sharing of a stagnant industry and how it can be free to innovate
Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
The title of the book really nails it all. But don’t be scared away if your a first time learner or industry entry level person. You get a great breakdown on todays world and where we are at now. Highlights of what’s worked and what hasn’t but most importantly you genuinely feel like you understand the todays grid, why it exists, and what it can become if we support innovation.
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AD
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Must Read - As relevant to industry participants as it is to general readers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best books I have read in the last few years. It is highly relevant to people who work in the industry (such as myself) but equally (and perhaps even more) relevant to those who do not. I have recommended this book to several friends and family who have all loved it.

Mr Nussey highlights the problems with the grid today and offers various solutions. He examines the problems and solutions in an objective and data driven manner. He maintains a high level such that he can cover a large amount of conent but zooms in on specific points/areas where the reader has questions - it is the perfect balance of generalist/specialist.

I cannot reccomend this book highly enough.
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Aiman Suhailah
5.0 out of 5 stars Great contents, it won’t disappoint!
Reviewed in Singapore on January 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
The book has great contents for everyone to read.
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Gabriela Herculano
5.0 out of 5 stars Freeing Energy explains the story of one of the most important disruptions ahead of us!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
Bill Nussey did incredible research, explaining how solar became such a powerful technology. Looking ahead and explaining how local solar will disrupt energy, transportation and the grid is not only provocative but incredibly pertinent as distributed renewable energy is an impactful decarbonization solution. A must read!
One person found this helpful
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