Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

Jenny Chase on Solar, Scifi, Geese, and Michael Liebreich

May 31, 2024

Solar analyst Jenny Chase from Bloomberg NEF discusses solar finance and potential in Africa. Topics include geese, sci-fi influences on climate change views, challenges in renewable energy, and impacts of Russian invasion on energy prices.

01:18:49

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Episode guests

Jenny Chase

Michael Liebreich

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Virtual power plants face challenges in aggregating assets from individual consumers.

Grid connectivity is crucial for scaling solar energy, efforts are underway to address challenges.

Solar energy market experiences cycles of hype and instability, stabilization efforts are ongoing.

Deep dives

Virtual Power Plants and Solar Energy

Virtual power plants have been a recurring topic of hype and discussion in the renewable energy sector. While the concept of aggregating small units like individual solar or battery installations holds promise in theory, the practical challenges lie in getting individual consumers to participate without complexity. The friction of aggregating these assets, each requiring payment and often not willing to engage with utilities, has hindered mass deployment of virtual power plants.

Intro

2min

Ireland's Renewable Energy Challenges and European Elections

17min

Challenges and Innovations in Offshore Wind Energy

13min

Challenges with Renewable Energy and Introducing Jenny Chase from Bloomberg NEF

2min

Journey to Solar Finance Expertise and Raising West of England Geese

5min

Reflections on Finance, Battery Growth, and Hydrogen Investment

3min

Impacts of Russian Invasion, Renewable Energy Shift, and Challenges in Solar Energy

18min

Exploring the Influence of Science Fiction on Climate Change Views and the Growth Challenges of Climate Tech in Ireland

19min

A Wrap-Up and Thank You to Guests with a Music Feature

3min

In our 49th episode, Richard Delevan is back with a stellar lineup featuring our long-awaited interview with solar analyst Jenny Chase from Bloomberg NEF, about the second edition of Solar Power Finance without the Jargon, as well as her views on geese, grids, and scifi.

And with European Parliament elections just days away, we speak to two climate tech journalists in Ireland for insights about how events might play out for industries seeking some policy certainty. John Reynolds, a freelance journalist whose work you can find in The Currency, and Paul O'Donoghue, the Ireland reporter for Renews.biz. We discuss the current state of climate issues, renewable energy developments, and the challenges and opportunities in the climate tech sector. Jenny Chase shares her journey in solar finance, her views on virtual power plants, and the potential of solar energy in Africa. John and Paul provide updates on Ireland's renewable energy landscape and the impact of European elections on climate policies.

Jenny Chase's Book:

* Solar Power Finance without the Jargon: The Second Edition by Jenny Chase Amazon

Jenny Chase's Catalysts:

* China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh Amazon

* The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson Amazon

* The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey Amazon

* For All Mankind on Apple TV+ Apple TV+

Publications Mentioned:

* The Currency

* The Irish Independent

* Renews.biz

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