Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change Uniper Rising: Can Germany's Gas Giant Go Green? Ep206: Michael Lewis
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Apr 30, 2025 Michael Lewis, CEO of Uniper, leads one of Germany's largest energy companies through a remarkable transformation after the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He shares insights on Uniper's shift from heavy reliance on Russian gas to innovative renewable projects. The conversation touches on Germany's ambitious net-zero goals and the vital role of technology in overcoming energy supply challenges. Lewis also highlights exciting initiatives like using renewable energy for neonatal care in Sierra Leone, blending sustainability with impactful healthcare.
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Leadership Call in the Garden
- Michael Lewis was at home in his garden when he received the call to lead Uniper through crisis.
- He accepted quickly, confident in Uniper's assets and people despite the unprecedented challenge.
Need for Flexible Generation
- Flexible generation is crucial for periods with no wind or sun like the dunkelflaute.
- Germany faces a growing capacity gap due to coal phase-out and rising peak demand.
Advocate Capacity Markets for Reliability
- Implement a capacity market to ensure standby power plants for peak demand and resilience.
- Such markets stabilize prices by compensating plants for readiness, even when idle most hours.