Interchange Recharged
Wood Mackenzie
Clean tech, green finance and energy innovation are the three lanes on the road to a successful global energy transition. At the intersection of these lanes is a place where ideas on finance, technology and policy are shared and debated. That intersection is Interchange Recharged.While Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, is on maternity leave, Bridget van Dorsten, a principal analyst on Wood Mackenzie's hydrogen team, will be hosting this podcast, Interchange Recharged. When Bridget is not researching global market dynamics to craft near and long-term forecasts for low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives she is speaking with visionaries, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and energy analysts to explore the newest developments in renewable technology, explain the ideas on global energy policy that could accelerate the energy transition, and identify new funding and financial models that could solve the biggest challenges we face on the way to net zero.Bridget and her guests bring you data and forecasts on clean technology, climate science, and offer predictions on the build out of utility-scale projects and the future of green finance.What impacts do the annual UN Conference of the Parties have on decarbonisation goals and climate change? What will COP30 bring? What’s happening in global EV adoption and development? What’s the forecast for solar energy, one of the major success stories of renewable energy in the last ten years? What does the data tell us about the future of hydrogen, of nuclear, or of low-carbon power? These are examples of the insights and detailed analyses you can expect bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7am ET.If you like The Energy Transition Show, Catalyst with Shayle Kann, The Big Switch from Columbia University, Open Circuit with Jigar Shah or The Green Blueprint, you’ll enjoy Interchange Recharged. Want to get involved with the show? Reach out to podcasts@woodmac.com to: Bring Bridget and Interchange Recharged to your event Be a guest on the show Sponsor an episode Ask a question to Bridget or one of our guests Check out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Energy Gang, at woodmac.com/podcasts/the-energy-gang Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 56min
The muscle we forgot: SMRs, hyperscalers, and why this nuclear renaissance might actually be different
Jake Jurewicz, Co-founder and CEO of Blue Energy, builds bankable small modular nuclear projects using shipyards and prefabs. He explains why past cost overruns came from construction overhead, not reactor hardware. Hear how barged modules, fixed-price fab contracts, and hyperscaler PPAs could change financeability. Learn about a gas-to-nuclear pilot at Port of Victoria and why data centers matter for nuclear demand.
11 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 5min
The grid nobody planned for: public power, hyperscalers and the race to rewire America for the AI age
Tom Falcone, President and CEO of the Large Public Power Council, leads publicly owned utilities and advises on governance and planning for big data center loads. He discusses how public power’s local, not-for-profit model speeds deals with hyperscalers. They cover interconnection reforms, large-load tariffs that weed out speculative requests, and plans to add massive generation amid permitting and financing hurdles.
13 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 47min
Is hyperscaler demand finally giving CCS its moment?
Tim Vail, CEO of ION Clean Energy, leads a company developing post-combustion carbon capture for natural gas plants. He discusses how hyperscaler AI demand is creating buyer-driven markets for low-carbon gas. They cover measuring carbon intensity across the full value chain, methane monitoring and verification, CCS costs on a $/MWh basis, and the financing and execution hurdles to scale projects.
5 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 44min
Building the plane while it’s flying: data centers, utilities, and the new rules of power
Chris Seiple, Vice Chairman of Power & Renewables at Wood Mackenzie, explains how a 175 GW pipeline of data centers and reshoring is overwhelming traditional utility planning. Rapid-build tech loads clash with long grid timelines. New large-load tariffs, market rule changes, and grid-enhancing innovations are reshaping where investment, risk, and coordination land.
15 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 44min
Fuel cells are powering AI data center demand: they’ve moved from interesting clean tech to major player. How are utilities using them?
Akhil Bateja, Director of Technology Strategy at Bloom Energy with deep experience in fuel cells and hydrogen, joins to explain why fuel cells have leapt into data center power planning. He discusses how solid oxide fuel cells stack like Lego for fast, modular onsite power. They cover handling AI’s spiky loads with supercapacitors, grid resilience, DC power potential, and pathways to cleaner fuels like hydrogen and biogas.
Jan 13, 2026 • 30min
AI, and the battle for energy in 2026. What clean energy sources are going to meet demand?
Ed Crooks, a seasoned energy journalist and host of The Energy Gang, discusses the transformative impact of AI on the energy landscape by 2026. He explores pressing topics like the race for energy affordability and the U.S. energy dominance agenda. Key technologies such as long-duration storage, geothermal, and advanced nuclear are examined as potential solutions. The conversation delves into the role of data centers in driving power demand, the implications for climate policy, and whether AI could expedite decarbonization while balancing costs.
11 snips
Dec 2, 2025 • 37min
How are key renewable energies faring at the end of 2025? Guest host and energy analyst Bridget van Dorsten talks through developments in geothermal, hydrogen and wind.
Bridget Van Dorsten explores the rocky landscape of renewable energies like hydrogen, geothermal, and wind as 2025 wraps up. She discusses oil majors' pullback from renewables and the challenges hydrogen faces with costs and policies. Geothermal shows resilience despite recent shifts, while wind grapples with installation drops and supply chain issues. Amidst these hurdles, some signs of stabilization emerge, alongside strategic updates and investor insights that shape the future of these crucial energy sectors.
Nov 18, 2025 • 38min
Energy policy, technology, and utility challenges: How industry leaders are overcoming barriers
Angela Amos, Director of Commercial Strategy & Innovation at AES Clean Energy, discusses navigating regulatory challenges and integrating technology like battery storage. Inalvis Alvarez Fernandez, Senior energy software professional at Simple Thread, reveals insights on automating grid interconnections and overcoming data challenges. Lindsey Williams, VP at Shoals Technologies, emphasizes the importance of EBOS reliability and domestic manufacturing in solar systems. Together, they explore how collaboration and innovation are critical to advancing the energy transition.
11 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 48min
Will energy storage save the grid? How batteries and the software behind them are reshaping reliability in the age of AI demand
Joanna Martin Ziegenfuss, General Manager for Strategic Market Development at Wärtsilä Energy Storage, and Ruchira Shah, General Manager of Software Product Management, share insights on the role of energy storage in stabilizing the US grid. They discuss how advanced battery technologies and software optimization enhance flexibility for future grid demands. The duo explores the challenges posed by AI data centers and the need for updated market policies that reward rapid responses. Together, they highlight optimistic trends in storage technology and its potential in a decarbonized energy landscape.
11 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 47min
From capture to storage: inside the full CCUS value chain | Recorded live at CCUS in Houston
James Lopez, a CO2 subsurface storage advisor at CEMEX, discusses the complexities of decarbonizing the cement industry, stressing the need for reliable CO2 storage solutions. Glenn Wilson, CFO of Coastal Bend LNG, explains how integrating carbon capture into LNG projects can create a new market for verified carbon value, leveraging tax credits and environmental attributes. Meanwhile, Nick Terrell from Carbon Catalyst shares insights on repurposing UK gas fields for CO2 storage, highlighting the importance of policy alignment for cross-border carbon flows, ultimately shifting CCUS initiatives from theory to practical application.
