Plugged In: the energy news podcast

This week, US President Donald Trump confirmed his plans to annex Greenland, threatening European members of NATO with higher tariffs if they try to stand in his way. Despite European leaders expressing messages of defiance and retaliation to these threats from the US, does Europe's reliance on the US for its LNG - and the tariffs negotiated as part of the 2025 EU-US deal - leave the continent in a weak position to oppose Trump? In this episode, Richard speaks to geopolitical and gas experts about how the markets have responded to this week's events, and the impact that global geopolitical tensions are having on LNG and oil trade. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuests: Anne-Sophie Corbeau - Global Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy PolicyClaudio Galimberti - Chief Economist, Rystad EnergyContributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsEditor: Oscar BirkProducer: Sarah Knowles

In this week's episode, we take a trip to the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland to visit the Svartsengi power Station. Located only several hundred metres from several active volcanoes, the 85 MW geothermal plant has withstood 12 eruptions over the past few years - only shutting down once when power lines actually melted.  Richard sits down with HS Orka's CEO to find out exactly how this resilient power station kept running when lava was flowing down the mountainside and the local residents were being evacuated. Not least how the company upgraded the plant on time and under budget. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuest: Tómas Már Sigurðsson - CEO, HS OrkaEditor: Oscar BirkProducer: Sarah KnowlesSubscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Tobias Federico, Chief Analyst at Montel News, dives into the shifting geopolitical landscape affecting energy markets. He analyzes President Trump’s maneuvers in Venezuela and their implications for oil dynamics. The conversation reveals the underlying motives of U.S. actions linked to oil interests. Tobias also discusses NATO's challenges with Greenland's strategic significance and evaluates the fragile ceasefire in Ukraine. Finally, he sheds light on recent sabotage in Berlin, underscoring vulnerabilities in Germany's energy infrastructure.

Enza Tedesco, Italy editor at Montel News, on battery auctions, LNG growth and talks of nuclear. Laurence Walker, UK deputy editor, on renewables rise, grid expansion and data‑centre demand. Olav Vilnes, Nordics editor, on market‑design reforms and hydropower/nuclear shifts. Andreas Lochner, Germany editor, on batteries, gas tenders and industry price schemes. Pablo Bronte, Iberian editor, on the 2025 blackout and low/negative prices. Christopher Eales, France editor, on nuclear rebound and policy debates.

How could our Christmas leftovers, such as rejected potatoes and 'pottail' from whisky distilleries, fuel the energy transition? In our final episode for 2025, Richard sits down with a company in Scotland to discuss how they produce bio-based green chemicals from food and drink byproducts, and how these greener alternatives are already helping pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries wean off fossil fuel chemicals. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Gabriel Power - UK Reporter, Montel NewsGuest: Mark Simmers - CEO, Celtic RenewablesEditor: Oscar BirkProducer: Sarah KnowlesSubscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

It's been a busy first year for the EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. The Iberian blackout, grid congestion, curtailment of renewable energy and a record number of negative prices. How does he plan to tackle some of these issues in 2026?In this episode, Richard sits down with the EU´s top energy official in the heart of the European Commission to discuss the details of his grids package released earlier this week, his stance on the future of Russian gas supplies, and how he is trying to work with member states who oppose the ban.  Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Fatima Sadouki - Brussel's Reporter, Montel NewsGuest: Dan Jorgensen - European Commissioner for EnergyEditor: Oscar BirkProducer: Sarah Knowles

The global LNG market has been tight since 2022, with prices remaining around USD 10/MMbtu (about EUR 30/MWh).  However, with the one-year countdown to the complete phase-out of Russian gas starting next month, and a new wave of LNG capacity from the US and Qatar expected to come online from next year - could prices drop as low as USD 7/MMbtu?  In this episode, Richard sits down with LNG analysts and geopolitical experts to discuss how Asia could see a strong demand rebound in the next few years, why Germany's declining industrial gas consumption puts downward pressure on long-term demand into Europe. But there is a note of caution as structural challenges in the US LNG construction industry are likely to  cause supply delays.  Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuests: Henning Gloystein - Managing Director of Energy and Resources, Eurasia Group. Saul Kavonic - Head of Energy Research, MST Financial.Editor: Oscar BirkProducer: Sarah Knowles

Has the flagship climate conference of the parties (COP) lost its touch? One week after the closing of the annual COP conference,  we  examine the deals - or non-deals - that  came out of the two weeks of negotiations, and why the EU failed in its negotiations to deliver a  plan for the global transitioning away from fossil-fuels. Richard speaks to Lord Adair Turner about the pressure from petro-states on negotiations, the unusual alliances with developed countries, and why expectations surrounding COP's effectiveness as a mechanism for change are dwindling. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Cem Bektas - Carbon Reporter, Montel NewsGuest: Lord Adair Turner - Chairman, Energy Transitions CommissionEditor: Oscar BirkProducer: Sarah Knowles

Germany boasts the biggest economy in Europe. Yet energy-intensive industries in the country are struggling with high energy costs versus their global competitors. The German government has said it will aim to lower the cost of power to EUR 50/MWh - far below current wholesale prices - from 1 January 2026 with the launch of its new industry power price.What are the implications for German companies, larger firms as well as the smaller and medium sized companies that are the engines of the country’s economy?In this episode, Richard speaks to Dr. Claudia Kemfert about the current sentiment towards the  coalition government. In  addition, what doed its plans to tender 10GW of predominantly gas-fired power plants says about Germany's commitment to the green energy transition?Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Christian Driessen - Germany Editor, Montel NewsGuest: Dr. Claudia Kemfert - Professor of Energy Economics and Energy Policy at Leuphana University Lüneburg, and Head of the Energy, Transportation and Environment Department at the German Institute for Economic ResearchEditor: Oscar Birk HellenesProducer: Sarah Knowles

In recent months, political opposition towards renewable energy policies in the UK has been on a steady rise, as commitment to deliver "cheaper power" starts to overtake the ambition to have "clean power". Energy affordability is firmly back on the agenda.In the drive to deliver green targets have politicians overhyped the implications of a move to a decarbonized power system? Is free power for all a realistic or even feasible concept? If not, how can consumers be incentivised to use electricity when it’s cheap and not when it’s expensive? What are the real consequences?In this episode, Richard sits down with Afry Director, Stephen Woodhouse, at Montel's Energy Day in London to talk about whether the push for “clean power by 2030” can deliver cheap power, what changes are needed to deliver more private investment and how political and geopolitical shifts have reshaped costs and policy objectives.Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuest: Stephen Woodhouse - Director, AfryEditor: Bled MaliqiProducer: Sarah Knowles