Prof. Dr. Robert Holzmann, former governor of the Austrian National Bank and former World Bank director, explains why, after decades spent at international institutions, he has joined a Styrian energy technology company. He is particularly impressed by Emerald Horizon’s physical, technological, and economic innovations—and by the opportunity to provide an industrial boost for Austria and Europe through new energy solutions.
The focus is on the planned ADES technology: Thorium is to be fissioned using a particle accelerator—without a conventional, self-sustaining chain reaction. Robert Holzmann explains the safety advantages this subcritical system is expected to offer and why the generators could provide continuous energy regardless of sunlight, wind, or the time of day. The discussion also covers the two storage solutions—BESS for electricity and TESS for heat—Emerald Horizon’s pay-per-use business model, and why Holzmann sees parallels with Red Bull. The company’s initial public offering on the Vienna Stock Exchange, its international expansion, and potential applications—ranging from data centers to energy utilities to industry—are also discussed.
This episode covers, among other things:
• the rising demand for electricity in Europe and the additional energy needs driven by artificial intelligence
• Robert Holzmann’s Journey from the World Bank and the National Bank to Emerald Horizon
• the differences between thorium technology and conventional nuclear reactors
• a potential round-the-clock energy supply—regardless of wind and sun
• Electricity storage using BESS and heat storage using TESS
• the “Energy and Storage as a Service” business model
• Austria’s Path Toward a Significantly Higher Share of Electricity in Total Energy Consumption
• Emerald Horizon’s initial public offering and the company’s valuation
• Potential applications in data centers, the steel industry, the chemical industry, and cement production
• the next milestones leading up to the technologies’ planned market readiness
About the Guest: Prof. Dr. Robert Holzmann is Vice President of International Relations and Finance at Emerald Horizon AG. Previously, he served as Governor of the Austrian National Bank, a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, and held a senior position at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., among other roles. Subscribe to the podcast and join Emerald Horizon on its journey to rethink energy.