Next In Time
Episode 186: Turning AI’s Energy Challenge into an Opportunity | Brendan van der Es, Founder of Synterran Systems
What if the enormous energy demands of artificial intelligence could become part of a cleaner, more efficient power system? In this episode of Next In Time, we sit down with Brendan van der Es, founder of Synterran Systems, to explore his ambitious vision for the future of AI infrastructure. Synterran is developing an integrated system that combines high-performance computing, on-site power generation, waste-heat recovery, and carbon capture—turning processes normally treated as separate problems into parts of one thermodynamic cycle. Brendan shares how his background spanning physics, refinery automation, fraud modeling, and enterprise technology shaped Synterran’s systems-level approach. We discuss the growing energy demands of AI factories, the potential to reuse stranded turbine infrastructure, and a long-term pathway in which hydrocarbons could produce both power and durable carbon materials. It’s a fascinating conversation about energy, computation, industrial symbiosis, and what it takes to move a bold technical idea from theory toward real-world deployment. You can connect with Brendan through these platforms: Website: https://synterran.systems/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-van-der-es-34714059/
