Transmission

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchThe UK energy transition faces a critical bottleneck: a planning system crippled by risk aversion and procedural overload. In this episode, we explore the reality behind infrastructure delivery, from the 47 recommendations of the UK Prime Minister’s nuclear regulatory task force to the exploding demand for data centers. In this episode, Mustafa Latif-Aramesh (Partner and Parliamentary Agent at TLT ) joins Ed to examine how overlapping regulation and institutional duplication push developers toward compliance theatre rather than meaningful environmental protection, epitomised by Hinkley Point C’s infamous £700 million “fish disco.” The conversation explores what it would take to move the UK from a process-obsessed planning regime to one that rewards outcomes, accelerates delivery, and underpins the next wave of digital and energy infrastructure.Key topics covered:Why the UK’s infrastructure planning system prioritises administrative process over real environmental outcomes.How spending £700 million to protect a fraction of a salmon population reveals a breakdown in regulatory proportionality.Whether a single Nuclear Regulatory Commission could cut duplicative red tape and unlock faster decommissioning and new nuclear build.Is the Planning Inspectorate equipped to handle 500 proposed data centres alongside the wider energy transition?Can co-locating Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with data centres address the sector’s “five nines” reliability challenge?About our guestMustafa Latif-Aramesh is a Partner at the law firm TLT, where he specialises in infrastructure planning across the entire energy spectrum from transmission lines and battery storage to wind, solar, and nuclear. He recently served on the Prime Minister’s Nuclear Regulatory Task Force, a specialist group established to diagnose why building nuclear capacity in Britain takes so long and to identify solutions for expediting deliveryWorking alongside industry leaders and economists, Mustafa helped author a report containing 47 recommendations designed to eliminate regulatory duplication and shift the system’s focus from administrative process to tangible outcomes. Beyond nuclear, he advises on the planning challenges facing the UK's rapidly expanding data center pipeline, advocating for a system that balances environmental standards with the need for critical infrastructure. You can follow his analysis on TLT’s infrastructure planning blog. Connect with Mustafa on Linkedin here. About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchThe UK energy transition faces a critical bottleneck: a planning system crippled by risk aversion and procedural overload. In this episode, we explore the reality behind infrastructure delivery, from the 47 recommendations of the UK Prime Minister’s nuclear regulatory task force to the exploding demand for data centers. In this episode, Mustafa Latif-Aramesh (Partner and Parliamentary Agent at TLT ) joins Ed to examine how overlapping regulation and institutional duplication push developers toward compliance theatre rather than meaningful environmental protection, epitomised by Hinkley Point C’s infamous £700 million “fish disco.” The conversation explores what it would take to move the UK from a process-obsessed planning regime to one that rewards outcomes, accelerates delivery, and underpins the next wave of digital and energy infrastructure.Key topics covered:Why the UK’s infrastructure planning system prioritises administrative process over real environmental outcomes.How spending £700 million to protect a fraction of a salmon population reveals a breakdown in regulatory proportionality.Whether a single Nuclear Regulatory Commission could cut duplicative red tape and unlock faster decommissioning and new nuclear build.Is the Planning Inspectorate equipped to handle 500 proposed data centres alongside the wider energy transition?Can co-locating Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with data centres address the sector’s “five nines” reliability challenge?About our guestMustafa Latif-Aramesh is a Partner at the law firm TLT, where he specialises in infrastructure planning across the entire energy spectrum from transmission lines and battery storage to wind, solar, and nuclear. He recently served on the Prime Minister’s Nuclear Regulatory Task Force, a specialist group established to diagnose why building nuclear capacity in Britain takes so long and to identify solutions for expediting deliveryWorking alongside industry leaders and economists, Mustafa helped author a report containing 47 recommendations designed to eliminate regulatory duplication and shift the system’s focus from administrative process to tangible outcomes. Beyond nuclear, he advises on the planning challenges facing the UK's rapidly expanding data center pipeline, advocating for a system that balances environmental standards with the need for critical infrastructure. You can follow his analysis on TLT’s infrastructure planning blog. Connect with Mustafa on Linkedin here. About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchSolar projects in Great Britain are often framed as a trade-off: can we combat climate change without compromising the countryside? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Across the country, solar developers are not only installing panels but actively restoring and enhancing the ecosystems around them.Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping what responsible solar development looks like. Many leading projects are far exceeding the statutory 10% requirement, transforming intensively farmed monoculture into thriving habitats. These sites now deliver clean power while providing farmers with stable, long-term income—showing we don’t have to choose between renewable energy and rich, living landscapes.In this conversation, Fran Button - deputy CEO at British Solar Renewables joins Ed to unpack how solar developers are designing projects that benefit both the grid and the natural world.• Why ecologists must establish a biodiversity baseline before construction begins.• How some developments are achieving BNG scores of 200% or more - well beyond what regulations demand.• Whether high-tech energy generation can genuinely coexist with low-tech agriculture.• Dispelling the misconception that solar farms are empty that solar developments lack ecological value.• How solar energy is providing farmers with a stable income stream that allows them to continue farming.About our guestFran Button is Deputy CEO of British Solar Renewables where she is responsible for all aspects of risk management and ESG. With a background as a specialist non-contentious construction lawyer involved in drafting and negotiating complex building contracts. Fran has particular expertise in renewables projects having being involved in large-scale solar development and funding and energy from waste projects.British Solar Renewables are developing, building, and operating renewable energy projects that power homes, businesses, and communities. From green fields to grid connection - creating clean energy that strengthens the UK’s resilience, supports biodiversity, and delivers lasting value for people and the planet. For more information head to their website. https://britishrenewables.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchSolar projects in Great Britain are often framed as a trade-off: can we combat climate change without compromising the countryside? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Across the country, solar developers are not only installing panels but actively restoring and enhancing the ecosystems around them.Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping what responsible solar development looks like. Many leading projects are far exceeding the statutory 10% requirement, transforming intensively farmed monoculture into thriving habitats. These sites now deliver clean power while providing farmers with stable, long-term income—showing we don’t have to choose between renewable energy and rich, living landscapes.In this conversation, Fran Button - deputy CEO at British Solar Renewables joins Ed to unpack how solar developers are designing projects that benefit both the grid and the natural world.• Why ecologists must establish a biodiversity baseline before construction begins.• How some developments are achieving BNG scores of 200% or more - well beyond what regulations demand.• Whether high-tech energy generation can genuinely coexist with low-tech agriculture.• Dispelling the misconception that solar farms are empty that solar developments lack ecological value.• How solar energy is providing farmers with a stable income stream that allows them to continue farming.About our guestFran Button is Deputy CEO of British Solar Renewables where she is responsible for all aspects of risk management and ESG. With a background as a specialist non-contentious construction lawyer involved in drafting and negotiating complex building contracts. Fran has particular expertise in renewables projects having being involved in large-scale solar development and funding and energy from waste projects.British Solar Renewables are developing, building, and operating renewable energy projects that power homes, businesses, and communities. From green fields to grid connection - creating clean energy that strengthens the UK’s resilience, supports biodiversity, and delivers lasting value for people and the planet. For more information head to their website. https://britishrenewables.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Theresa Kammel, a Weather Derivative Originator at Munich Re, and Pierre Buisson, a Senior Structurer, dive into the dynamic world of weather derivatives. They reveal how energy markets hedge against unpredictable weather, like a single wind drought costing Germany €1.6 billion. The duo explains bespoke weather-linked products that help traders manage risks and outlines the necessity for battery owners to hedge against low-volatility conditions. They further discuss the emerging need for long-term weather hedges as climate change adds a layer of uncertainty.

Join Theresa Kammel, a weather derivative originator at Munich Re, and Pierre Buisson, a senior structurer, as they dive into the fascinating world of weather derivatives. They explore how energy companies hedge against unpredictable weather events, like a €1.6 billion loss from a wind drought in Germany. Discover the intricate 'Lego bricks' of customized financial products that protect traders and utilities. Learn why weather insurance is becoming essential for financiers and how renewables are reshaping the risk landscape for energy supply.

In this insightful discussion, Conrad Purcell, a seasoned partner at Haynes Boone with 20 years in renewable project finance, breaks down the complexities of financing battery storage projects. He explores why uncertainty is a major barrier to financing, the shifting lender expectations, and how grid delays affect timelines. Conrad contrasts debt financing with joint ventures, emphasizing the importance of revenue models and contract certainty. His predictions for market evolution and consolidation add an intriguing perspective for developers and investors alike.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchThe war in Ukraine has caused catastrophic destruction to its energy infrastructure, wiping out assets and rendering the much of the countries dispatchable generation capacity non-operational. This crisis has amplified the need for robust, flexible energy systems, in order to maintain power to the country during such testing times. This episode is about batteries as a necessity. Built as critical infrastructure. Built fast. Built for stability. Built for a grid that has to keep working, no matter what.In this episode, Julian Jansen, Managing Director at Fluence, discusses the deployment of 500 MWh of large-scale battery energy storage systems across seven projects in Ukraine. He outlines the technical, logistical, and operational considerations involved in delivering energy infrastructure in a highly complex environment.• How the destruction of more than 80% of Ukraine’s thermal and hydro power plants has created an urgent need for reliable energy storage.• How battery storage projects in the region provide critical grid support even as the electricity system faces ongoing conflict.• What it took to shorten project delivery timelines from the industry-standard twelve months to just six.• How remote commissioning and training have been used to equip Ukrainian teams with the skills needed to install, operate, and maintain advanced energy systems.• Why cybersecurity has become a core component of national energy security.About our guestJulian Jansen is the Managing Director at Fluence. Having previously been responsible for Fluence’s business in Southern and Eastern Europe, he is currently transitioning to the Managing Director role in Germany.Established in 2018, Fluence is one of the leading providers of battery energy storage solutions, software, and long-term services. Operating in 40 markets globally to transform how the world is powered using energy storage for a more sustainable future. For more information - head to the Fluence website. https://fluenceenergy.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchThe war in Ukraine has caused catastrophic destruction to its energy infrastructure, wiping out assets and rendering the much of the countries dispatchable generation capacity non-operational. This crisis has amplified the need for robust, flexible energy systems, in order to maintain power to the country during such testing times. This episode is about batteries as a necessity. Built as critical infrastructure. Built fast. Built for stability. Built for a grid that has to keep working, no matter what.In this episode, Julian Jansen, Managing Director at Fluence, discusses the deployment of 500 MWh of large-scale battery energy storage systems across seven projects in Ukraine. He outlines the technical, logistical, and operational considerations involved in delivering energy infrastructure in a highly complex environment.• How the destruction of more than 80% of Ukraine’s thermal and hydro power plants has created an urgent need for reliable energy storage.• How battery storage projects in the region provide critical grid support even as the electricity system faces ongoing conflict.• What it took to shorten project delivery timelines from the industry-standard twelve months to just six.• How remote commissioning and training have been used to equip Ukrainian teams with the skills needed to install, operate, and maintain advanced energy systems.• Why cybersecurity has become a core component of national energy security.About our guestJulian Jansen is the Managing Director at Fluence. Having previously been responsible for Fluence’s business in Southern and Eastern Europe, he is currently transitioning to the Managing Director role in Germany.Established in 2018, Fluence is one of the leading providers of battery energy storage solutions, software, and long-term services. Operating in 40 markets globally to transform how the world is powered using energy storage for a more sustainable future. For more information - head to the Fluence website. https://fluenceenergy.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.