Redefining Energy 209. Deals, Scandals and other memorable moments of 2025
Dec 22, 2025
In a thrilling discussion, guest Alex Wolfe, host of the Wolfe Power podcast, teams up with Laurent Segalen to dissect the tumultuous energy landscape of 2025. They delve into the shocking offshore wind failures faced by Orsted and celebrate the explosive 50% growth in battery deployment. The conversation highlights the unpredictable AI and data center boom, unveiling a blend of excitement and caution. Scandals like the SMR pump-and-dump circus and critiques of the Tony Blair report add drama, while innovations like the Vehicle-to-Grid initiative hint at a brighter future.
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Offshore Wind's Year Of Reckoning
- Offshore wind faced a major setback in 2025 highlighted by Ørsted's heavy impairments and asset sell-downs.
- The sector remains alive with new projects (eg. Poland) but growth slowed versus expectations.
Batteries Unleashed In 2025
- 2025 was the year batteries scaled dramatically with global deployment up ~50% and prices down sharply.
- Falling costs and larger projects unlocked new use cases from grid-scale reliability to industrial and vehicle electrification.
Large Battery Projects Around The World
- Alex recounts major battery projects worldwide including Australia's 850MW Waratah and large Middle East deployments.
- He uses these examples to show batteries now reach sizes once unimaginable a decade ago.