Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
Covering breaking news in clean tech, going deep on global energy policy, and debating the levers that need to move to accelerate the energy transition. Energy Gang is the podcast covering clean energy technology, renewable energy, and the environment. The world of clean energy moves fast, and you need a reliable source to stay on top of the news that matters. You’ll find it on Wood Mackenzie’s Energy Gang.How will changes to the US government affect decarbonisation and energy security? When will hydrogen, nuclear and carbon capture deploy at scale? Where’s the money for the energy transition green finance coming from and how much more is needed? What’s the outlook for EVs? What are the energy predictions for solar energy? What's the latest on climate change?Get answers to questions like these, bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7am ET. Plus, get special live episodes recorded at the biggest climate and energy events throughout the year, like COP30 and Climate Week NYC. Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person, Energy Gang brings you all the updates on energy policy, energy finance and energy innovation you need to hear.Energy Gang is presented by Wood Mackenzie and hosted by Ed Crooks, Vice-Chairman of Energy at Wood Mackenzie and a former Financial Times and BBC News journalist. Regular guests are Amy Myers-Jaffe (Director of NYU’s Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab), and Dr Melissa Lott (Partner at Microsoft) – plus a roster of industry leaders and policy influencers, like Jigar Shah (Industry figurehead and former director of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy), Caroline Golin (Head of North America, Global Energy Market Development and Policy at Google) and Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt (Former Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources).If you like The Energy Transition Show, Catalyst with Shayle Kann, The Big Switch from Columbia University, Open Circuit with Stephen Lacey or The Green Blueprint, you’ll enjoy Energy Gang.Want to get involved with the show? Reach out to podcasts@woodmac.com to:Bring Energy Gang to your eventBe a guest on the showSponsor an episodeAsk a question to Ed Crooks or one of our guestsCheck out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Interchange Recharged: https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/the-interchange-recharged/Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 9, 2016 • 51min
Getting Subsidies Right for Renewable Energy
Renewables are getting really cheap. But does that mean we need to get rid of all subsidies to support them? Many experts argue that we just need to retarget government support in a smarter way.
In this week's show, we’ll explain how that might be done for both renewables and nuclear.
Then, in a related conversation, we’ll ask whether nuclear needs to be included in state-level renewable energy mandates.
We'll end with a look at a landmark agreement between the U.S. and India that could leverage $1 billion for off-grid solar and microgrid projects.
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Jun 3, 2016 • 47min
How One of the Most Successful Wind Tycoons Stayed Ahead of the Energy Markets
Two years after Michael Polsky moved from Soviet Ukraine to the U.S. in 1976, America passed a law allowing independent developers to own power plants. He knew he needed to get in on the action.
Polsky eventually became one of the most successful energy developers of all time -- building multiple successful businesses around cogeneration, natural gas and wind.
Polsky is now the president and CEO of Invenergy, a company with nearly 14,000 megawatts of wind, solar, natural gas and energy storage projects operating or under construction in the U.S., Canada and Europe. He joins us this week to talk about what he foresaw before most others -- and what he sees as the future of energy.
In the second half of the show, we'll discuss Donald Trump's energy speech in North Dakota last week. And we'll end with a quick look at the latest global investment figures for renewable energy.
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May 26, 2016 • 46min
A Sign of the Utility Death Spiral?
Nevada Power is likely doing a lot of soul searching.
Last week, two of the biggest Las Vegas casino companies -- MGM Resorts and Wynn – filed to leave Nevada Power and set off to buy wholesale electricity on their own. MGM has particularly strong renewable energy goals, and this move signals that the company thinks it can procure clean electrons cheaper than the utility.
As more large corporations make similar moves, will it lead to a financial disaster for utilities? This week, we'll discuss the implications with Cory Honeyman, the associate director of GTM’s US solar research practice, who has been following the commercial customer class closely.
Then, Exxon rejects shareholder demands on climate. We’ll look at the latest salvo over the oil giant’s carbon accounting. And we will end on a low note. Lake Mead, America’s biggest reservoir serving over 20 million people in the West, hit its lowest level ever. Are water wars on the horizon?
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May 19, 2016 • 53min
The Solar Coaster: Troubles at Yingli Solar and the Flatlining Global PV Market
This year, GTM Research is forecasting that 66 gigawatts of PV capacity will be installed around the world -- a 21 percent increase over last year. But next year, capacity will only expand by 4 percent. In fact, without some of the top markets like India, America and China, the global solar market would likely retract next year.
Meanwhile, Yingli Solar -- once the world's top producer of solar modules -- is having trouble paying back its loans and may be approaching bankruptcy. Why is the company doing so poorly while most other leading manufacturers are healthy?
In this week's show, we'll talk with Mohit Anand, GTM Research's senior global solar analyst, about the ups and downs for PV around the globe.
In the second half of the show, we'll talk about the controversy over shoddy labor practices at a Tesla contractor. And we'll finish by discussing the latest in the political war over solar in Nevada.
Don't forget to check out our live show at the Grid Edge World Forum. Any new registrants get a 10 percent discount through the podcast. Just use the promo code ENERGYGANG while checking out to get your listener discount.
Find the Grid Edge World Forum here: https://www.greentechmedia.com/events/live/grid-edge-world-forum-2016
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May 11, 2016 • 1h 17min
Live From New York: Making America Great Again
In this live episode from New York City, the Energy Gang is joined by two prominent energy journalists — Yuliya Chernova of the Wall Street Journal and Chris Martin of Bloomberg — to talk about the hottest stories in energy and cleantech.
We’ll talk about bankruptcies, politics and the latest from New York’s bold plan to reform its energy market.
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Apr 21, 2016 • 52min
From Shell to SolarWorld: The Technology Stages of Solar
Terry Jester started her solar career in 1979 as the VP of engineering at ARCO Solar, one of the early oil companies investing in photovoltaics. Over the years, the company was sold to Siemens, Shell and SolarWorld -- and Jester stayed through it all.
Jester, who has also worked for SoloPower and SunPower, is now CEO of a solar-grade silicon manufacturer Silicor. We'll talk with her about the early days of solar, how the upstream business has changed, and discuss the future of solar production.
In the second half of the show, we'll discuss a comprehensive bipartisan energy bill passed by the Senate this week. We'll end with the legacy of Rhone Resch, who is retiring as president of the solar industry’s national trade group after 12 years.
Make sure to buy tickets for our upcoming live event on May 4: http://www.cleanecnyc.org/next-event/
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Apr 14, 2016 • 51min
Beyond Bitcoin: How Blockchain Could Transform the Energy Sector
The cryptocurrency Bitcoin is changing the way people think about operating financial markets and banking systems. Meanwhile, distributed energy is changing the way people think about running grids. Can the two influence one another?
Many experts believe that the blockchain -- the public database that tracks Bitcoin -- will be the catalyst for the distributed, transactive grid.
This week, we'll talk with Paul Brody of Ernst & Young about how the blockchain can be applied to energy and the internet of things. We'll describe how blockchains work, why they're useful, and when they'll start influencing the energy business.
In the second half of the show, we'll discuss concerns about rolling blackouts and too much renewable energy in California. We'll end the show by talking about a controversial proposal to give away millions of free solar kits in Kenya.
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Apr 7, 2016 • 50min
Tesla's Model 3: The iPhone or Blackberry of the Auto Sector?
Many are billing Tesla's Model 3 launch as an iPhone moment. If the hype and pre-orders are any indication, the boutique electric vehicle manufacturer has indeed taken another step toward transforming the auto industry.
But could the Model 3 also be a Blackberry moment? If sales don't live up to expectations and Tesla faces any sort of quality control issue, it could take a big hit. And there are plenty of incumbents looking to fill Tesla's role.
In this week's show, we'll talk about the meaning of the Model 3 with Dana Hull, a Bloomberg business reporter covering Tesla and SpaceX.
In the second segment, we'll ask how consumers can better protect themselves from fraud or poor investments in home solar systems. And we'll finish with a conversation about James Hansen's latest dire (and controversial) warning on climate change.
Make sure to come to our live show in New York City on May 4. We'll be joined by Yuliya Chernova of the Wall Street Journal and Chris Martin of Bloomberg for a discussion of the hottest topics in energy and cleantech. Our last show sold out, so make sure to get your tickets today! Get tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-energy-gang-live-a-candid-take-on-the-clean-energy-transition-tickets-24231943395
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussions between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 1, 2016 • 20min
Inside Amazon's Drone-Based Solar Installation Service
Amazon upended book publishers and brick-and-mortar retailers. Is it about to upend solar installers too?
Two months ago, GTM researchers stumbled upon a patent filed by Amazon for a drone-based solar installation system. After an extended investigation, we've confirmed that the company is working on the technology as part of its broader drone-based package delivery service. Amazon already has FAA approval to pilot the drones, and plans to roll out the service within two years.
If Amazon is successful, drone-based solar installation could completely change the way consumers buy solar. In this episode, we'll outline how the service will work and what impact it may have on the installation business.
This podcast is part of GTM's premium service, Squared. Enjoy this week's episode for free. Sign up for Squared to hear more in-depth analysis every week.
(If you're still reading this, please note the publish date: April 1.)
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Mar 31, 2016 • 41min
The Utility Industry Is Rebranding Itself
Utilities are often criticized for not connecting deeply enough with their customers. In a world where choice is becoming more important -- turning ratepayers into dynamic consumers -- power companies need to offer a wider range of services and communications outlets.
One way to better connect: use more consumer-friendly language.
According to a report in the Huffington Post this week, the Edison Electric Institute recently hired a marketing expert to help member companies better message themselves.
“They view us a monopoly, no incentives to serve the customers. They view us as stuck in the past in terms of technology," said PR guru Michael Maslansky in a presentation to the EEI board this January on consumer focus groups. "We need to be able to think about something sustained, something repetitious, something ongoing.”
Is this just a public relations ploy to improve the image of utilities? Or is it a serious attempt to engage with customers? We'll discuss in this week's show.
In our second segment, we'll talk about the Energy Information Administration's new report defending its forecasting and data gathering. Finally, we'll discuss a new analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory showing that America can technically get 39 percent of its electricity from rooftop solar.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussions between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
