
Spark Club Podcast
Spark Club brings entrepreneurs in the energy field together with a common objective, to build energy businesses. We draw on each others experience to support, learn and grow energy businesses. The podcasts are hosted by Grant McDowell and are recordings of our Fireside chat with leaders in the energy transition.
Latest episodes

Jan 29, 2025 • 44min
Solar S-Curve - Birchy - Ep44
Welcome to episode 44 of the Spark Club podcast. A large part of our conversation on this podcast is about solar PV as the engine behind the global energy transition. Traditional media still maintains solar as a rounding error, a technology in its infancy. Well the stats tell a different story, which is why I'm delighted to have Andrew Birch 'Birchy', onto the podcast. Birchy shares his start in the solar industry, way back when, and how his career has informed the work he's doing on the S-Curve. Birchy has distilled the noise down to one key idea, and a number of important stats, for our community in the energy transition to know deeply and share with anyone who'll listen. The best way to learn more is on ebirchy.com This YouTube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9VvXzvffq8&t=1s And Birchy mentions the Global Solar Council. https://www.globalsolarcouncil.org/ Enjoy the podcast.

Dec 31, 2024 • 48min
Accelerating the Energy Transition - Tim Buckley - Ep43
Welcome to episode 43 of the Spark Club podcast, and the 10th in our new Regular Podcast series. Tim Buckley, our regular guest is back for the final episode for 2024. In this episode we discuss the highlights and the lowlights for the week and then go onto discuss the recent Climate Energy Finance report - Australia is seeing an Acceleration in our Electricity Sector Transition, putting our 82% Renewables by 2030 Target in reach. See link to report below; https://climateenergyfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CEF_82-Renewables-by-2030_17Dec2024-1.docx.pdf We will also discuss what stood our in energy in 2024 and what 2025 holds for Australia and ambitions for China in the coming year. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Dec 26, 2024 • 40min
Solar PV in Australia - Renate Egan - Ep42
Welcome to episode 42 of the Spark Club podcast. This the 9th episode in our Regular Podcast series. This time we welcome Professor Renate Egan, Executive Director at the Australia Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW to Spark Club. In this episode we discuss the discuss the opportunity for solar pv manufacturing in Australia and how UNSW remains at the leading edge of global solar innovation. Renate shares updates on early signs of progress and how Australia holds a global advantage for high volume, low cost solar PV manufacturing. We discuss the delicate balance for solar in Australia at this moment of complicated geopolitics, in the battle between molecules and electrons. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Dec 1, 2024 • 38min
The Nuclear Debate - Tim Buckley - Ep41
Welcome to episode 41 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 8th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley. In this episode we discuss the highlights and the lowlights for the week and then go onto the main story. Tim was invited by Rob Stokes and Matt Kean to a debate on nuclear at Maquarie Uni. Rob, Matt and Tim were able to shift audience opinion. Great record to point to for anyone who has a nuclear supporter in their friends or family during the holiday season. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Nov 17, 2024 • 57min
Green Iron Report - Tim Buckley - Ep40
This is episode 40 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 7th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley. In this episode we discuss Tim's Climate Energy Finance (CEF) report co-authored by Matt Pollard, Net Zero Transformation Analyst at CEF and Tim. Forging Australia’s Green Iron Industry Letting you know we're opening the conversation to broader voices to compliment Tim. New guests will share their views on the rise and rise of China in the global energy transition, especially over the next four years as the US returns to short term profits from molecules and China unlocks new opportunities for clean electrons in global markets. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Nov 3, 2024 • 44min
Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep39
This is episode 39 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 6th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley. In this episode we discuss Tim's recent trip to Japan and set the stage for Climate Energy Finance next report on Green Metal. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Oct 14, 2024 • 43min
Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep38
This is episode 38 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 5th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley In this episode we discuss Tim's recent report The Green Capital Tsunami. You'll hear the genesis for the idea and how a new theme is emerging in China's approach to the global energy transition. The report is available for free at Climate Energy Finance. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Oct 2, 2024 • 47min
Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep37
This is episode 36 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 4th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley The global dynamic in the energy transition focuses on Australia, Europe or the US, with occasional reference to China. The capacity and deployment stats coming out of China are staggering, and not well reported. This Spark Club Regular podcast aims to bring balance to the conversation and be a clear and consistent voice on global structural change in energy and the role China is playing. Tim Buckley from Climate Energy Finance is a banking analyst with deep experience on the rise and rise of China in solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Tim and I believe there is value in coming together each fortnight and sharing a view of the energy transition from a fresh perspective. The format is simple. We’ll start with recent highlights, then dig into the Big Story and end with a prediction or two. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.

Sep 15, 2024 • 44min
Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep36
Tim Buckley is a financial expert focused on climate energy finance and a banking analyst with insights into China's booming solar and EV sectors. He discusses the ongoing energy transition and highlights China's remarkable growth in new energy vehicle sales, which captured 54% of the market recently. Buckley also explores the declining iron ore prices and their implications for global emissions. The conversation dives into community coalitions for equitable energy access and innovations in battery technology to revolutionize the energy sector.

Sep 1, 2024 • 46min
Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep35
Exciting news, we are embarking on a new chapter for Spark Club. We are adding a regular podcast into this feed. This is episode 2. The global dynamic in the energy transition focuses on Australia, Europe or the US, with occasional reference to China. The capacity and deployment stats coming out of China are staggering, and not well reported. The Spark Club Regular podcast aims to bring balance to the conversation and be a clear and consistent voice on global structural change in energy and the role China is playing. Tim Buckley from Climate Energy Finance is a banking analyst with deep experience on the rise and rise of China in solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Tim and I believe there is value in coming together each fortnight and sharing a view of the energy transition from a fresh perspective. The format is simple. We’ll start with recent highlights, then dig into the Big Story and end with a prediction or two. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast.