Energy Transitions

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, former CEO of Volkswagen and current Board Chair of The Mobility House, Herbert Diess, explains why people can't underestimate the role of cars in the energy transition. In this episode you will learn more about: Why decentralised solutions hold so much promise when it comes to solving energy transition challenges; Investing in solutions that are practical and make good business sense; Why Herbert Diess believes it's time to go all in on e-mobility; How to overcome the barriers to e-mobility, including antiquated mindsets; The Mobility House and some of the exciting projects the team is working on; Why innovation and agile start ups will drive sustainable energy transformation.

To unpack how CBAM works and explore whether its design is truly fit for purpose, Pamela Largue spoke with Jostein Røynesdal, Vice President and Head of EU Affairs at Hydro, and Hélène Lavray, Government Affairs Leader Europe for Climate & Energy at Dow. Both highlighted the complexity of the mechanism and warned of potentially serious trade implications. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: Shortcomings of the current CBAM system and what can be done to fix it; What will change this year with the implementation of CBAM, what it means for importers and the resource shuffling that could arise; The potential impacts of applying CBAM on electricity; How CBAM could impact emissions allowances within the EU ETS and impact European producers; The potential pitfalls of administering and reporting; The impact of CBAM on developing nations and diplomatic relations; Potential impacts on global trade. Jostein Røynesdal and Hélène Lavray will be speaking at European Industrial Energy Days in a panel discussion entitled, Carbon Costs and Competitiveness: What EU ETS and CBAM means for Industrial Energy Users. Register to meet them in person and join the conversation. 

In this Energy Transitions podcast episode, Nils Beenen of Uniper explains the critical role of well-designed, long-term gas PPAs in Europe’s path to decarbonisation. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: Uniper’s current position in the market and strategic focus; Why Europe needs price-secured long-term contracts; The difference between Asia and Europe in terms of securing long-term gas contracts and what Asia is getting right; The regulatory or market changes that would lower the risk of gas procurement; How higher gas prices have impacted Europe in terms of competitiveness and energy security; How long-term PPAs facilitate Uniper’s decarbonisation agenda; The benefits and risks of prioritising and implementing long-term PPAs; The risks related to energy transition and decarbonisation, electrification and renewables (upstream and downstream); How to mitigate these risks. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Uniper.

To find out more about how gas is playing an instrumental role in Europe’s decarbonisation journey, Pamela Largue spoke to Fabrice Vigneron, Chief Technical Officer at GRDF, and Chair of the Distribution Committee of the International Gas Union (IGU). In this episode, you will learn more about: How the role of gas DSOs is changing as fossil fuels are phased out around the world; Whether gas will remain as an important source of flexibility or whether it fulfill its role as a transition fuel; How DSOs need to modernise and repurpose networks and the planning and investment required to do so efficiently; The role of greener gases in residential and industrial use cases; The main challenges when it comes to distributing green gas; Efficiency measures that are being implemented such as AI, digitalisation; Why cooperation between DSOs is critical for a successful energy transition. This episode is brought to you in partnership with GRDF, France's leading natural gas distribution operator.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Pamela Largue speaks to Sébastien Ruiz, CEO of EDF International Networks, to gain unique insights into how his team is dealing with the challenges of an increasingly digital world, and why data is indispensable in meeting these challenges. In this episode, you will learn more about: The challenges French DSOs are experiencing and how they are coping with these challenges; The types of innovation having the biggest impact on the distribution landscape; EDF's smart metering programmes and the importance of the data collected from these programmes; How data is used to improve maintenance programmes; Overcoming challenges in digital transformation from a technical and people perspective.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions Podcast, recorded at Enlit Europe in Bilbao, Milena Roveda, CEO at Gauss Fusion tells Kelvin Ross why her ambition to build the first of several commercial fusion plants by 2040 is grounded in realism and methodically-planned process. In this episode, you will learn more about: Why fusion is becoming increasingly attractive to investors; What the ‘known unknowns’ are for the technology; How collaboration is underpinning the success of fusion? Why Europe’s fusion race “will be won not by the size of a single fund-raise, but by the depth of industrial know-how”; And why she is driven by hope: “we’re not talking about taking out jobs and reducing costs: we’re working to make the future brighter.”

Javier Vaquerizo, Chief Commercial Officer at ContourGlobal, shares insights on the independent power producer (IPP) landscape. He discusses the complexities and pressures IPPs face today, including regulatory challenges and financing access. Javier highlights the company's strategic rebrand aimed at embracing renewable energy and flexibility, revealing how it represented a cultural shift. He also identifies the top risks for IPPs, such as talent retention and grid congestion, while celebrating the dynamic culture at ContourGlobal that fuels innovation.

The Bełchatów coal power plant in Poland is the largest lignite-fired power station in Europe and one of the biggest single sources of carbon emissions on the continent. For decades, it has powered Polish industry, heated homes, and supported thousands of jobs. But it has also embodied the difficult trade-offs at the heart of the energy transition. To unpack the details of the Bełchatów energy transition, Pamela Largue is joined by Monika Manowska, Investment Advisor at Energy Investment Management.

Pilar Rodríguez López, Head of Energy and Utilities for Europe at Ericsson, dives into Europe's energy resilience challenges. She discusses the recent Iberian blackout, highlighting visibility gaps and the necessity of rapid restoration. Pilar emphasizes the critical role of telecom networks in supporting digitalization and proposes three urgent actions for resilience, including harmonizing spectrum and modernizing digital systems. With a focus on collaboration and rapid decision-making, she urges the need to transform ideas into actionable results for a more resilient energy future.

In this Energy Transitions podcast, Jeremy Hetzel of Kraken explores how distribution networks are transforming into digital ecosystems and what DSOs must do to stay ahead. In this episode, you will learn more about: 1.The strategic shift distribution companies must make to move from managing assets to optimising systems;2.How Distribution System Operators can maintain reliability and security while enabling broad market participation;3.Where the most significant areas of technology debt exist within distribution today and the impact thereof on grid resilience;4.How DSOs evaluate the performance of digital and optimisation tools in real time;5.The strategic priorities DSOs need to remain relevant in the future;6.Kraken’s most distinctive advantage in a market still dominated by legacy systems. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Kraken - an Operating System for utilities, powered by Utility-Grade AI.