Energy Transition Today

In this episode, we are joined by Chris Claydon, the CEO of JTL, a leader in skills training within the engineering and construction sectors. Chris provides an insightful perspective on the green skills gap that hampers the UK's energy transition efforts. The interview delves into the challenges and solutions in skilling up the existing workforce, the role of apprenticeships in training a new generation of professionals, and the necessity for government intervention to avert a looming 'skills crisis'.In this week's news, we cover the UK National Grid's upgrade plans in Suffolk and Kent, part of their Sea Link project aiming to add 2GW of transmission capacity. We also explore RES's 400MW Steeple Renewables Project in Nottinghamshire, and then turn to the Nordics, where Norway's first public procurement exercise for offshore wind tenders has experienced delays yet again in 2023.In technology investment, we examine the UK Government's Joule Challenge, a project focused on developing next-generation floating wind turbines. And we cover the joint venture between Norsk Hydro and Macquarie Asset Management, where Macquarie is investing $332 million.We also bring you the headline results of inspiratia's league tables. The full list can be found here. Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystAishwarya Harsure - Reporter Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In this week's news, we examine Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners' two new funds and bring you updates from their Jeonnam I offshore wind project in Korea.In the M&A space, we discuss I Squared Capital's announcements of its major investment into Absolute Energy and Axpo's acquisition of a Finnish onshore wind farm. In the geothermal sector, we discuss the significant development of the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project in the UK, the country's first-ever geothermal plant to be awarded a CfD.Our reporter, Aishwarya, makes her debut on the podcast by bringing us coverage of Statkraft and Aker Horizons' green ammonia and hydrogen project in Norway, and Engie's recently completed purchase of two onshore wind farms in Poland.Also in this episode, we bring you highlights from the team after inspiratia's latest event. The Energy Storage Summit 2023. We review some of the most important takeaways from the event, including priorities for developers in the UK market, the constraints of limited grid connections, and the growing case for co-location.  Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystZachary Skidmore - Senior Reporter Aishwarya Harsure - Reporter Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In this week's episode, we bring you a special preview of inspiraita's upcoming Europe Energy Transition Awards.We are joined by special guest Genna Boyle, last year's recipient of inspiratia's 'Remember the Name' award and current director at Gridcog for the UK and Europe.Genna tells us about her transformative year and shares valuable insights into a wide range of the complex issues that affect the financing and operations of energy storage and renewables. We discuss how grid constraints, colocation, and changing regulatory and market conditions are pushing operators towards software-led solutions for energy assets.Find full details about the award ceremony and all our upcoming events Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystViola Caon - Head of Content Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In this episode, we explore why DIF Capital Partners is divesting its significant renewable assets in Australia. Meanwhile, Community Windpower halts its 308MW onshore wind farm project in Scotland, citing increased construction costs and the UK's windfall tax as pivotal factors making the project commercially unviable.In the policy arena, we examine the UK Crown Estate's expansion of its Celtic Sea floating wind auction to 4.5GW and discuss its broader implications for the development of new floating offshore wind technologies. Additionally, we delve into the German Federal Ministry of Transport's recent electric vehicle charging network tender, highlighting its impact on the European EV market.We also attempt to decipher the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, examining its objectives, potential challenges, and what it will mean for those who have to do business across the EU border.  Finally, we turn our attention to the UK's declining profits in the Battery Energy Storage System sector despite its critical role in supporting the country's growing reliance on renewable energy. Amidst market saturation and plummeting prices, we explore how operators are shifting strategies to adapt to the new market dynamics.Learn more about our upcoming events here.Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystDila Cebeci - Senior AnalystAshkenaz Al - Reporter Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In this episode, we delve into some of the challenges facing Europe's solar sector. Despite optimism with installations exceeding expectations, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of this growth. A warning letter from SolarPower Europe to the European Commission has raised alarm bells, cautioning against the threat posed by inexpensive Chinese imports. These imports risk undermining European solar manufacturers and could lead to insolvency within the sector. We will explore the pressing need for policy intervention to balance the competitive landscape and safeguard Europe's energy transition.Also in the news, we discuss the Baltic Power offshore wind farm in Poland, which recently reached financial close with €3.6 billion (£3.11bn $3.81bn) in commitments. This marks a historic move, setting the stage for Poland's first financed and constructed offshore wind farm. We unpack the financial arrangements and the implications for the Polish renewable energy landscape. Additionally, we look at more news from Poland, where Equinor and Polenergia are making strides with their MFW Baltyk 1 offshore wind farm. We discuss the project's environmental consent status and what it suggests about the future of Poland's offshore wind sector.We also turn our focus to the UK, where Orsted is entering the solar market with a 750MW solar farm in Lincolnshire, and then to Sweden, where energy company Ellevio has acquired an onshore wind transmission network, connecting one of Europe's largest wind farm clusters to the national grid. We'll discuss recent policy changes in the UK that have raised concerns about the country's climate priorities. We'll explore Rishi Sunak's new net zero policy direction and its impact on the UK's position as a climate leader. Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystDila Cebeci - Senior AnalystAshkenaz Al - Reporter Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In the run-up to inspiratia's Energy Storage Summit, the Joint Venture podcast is bringing you a taste of the key discussion points that will shape the agenda. Viola Caon, inspiratia's head of content, sits down with some of the market's top energy storage experts to discuss recent successes and how very far this sector can still go. Moderator: Viola Caon, head of content, inspiratia  Panellists: Ben Francis, greenfield director at InfraCapital and non-executive director at ZenobeDavid Menendez, MD for UK & BESS at FRVGareth Baker, partner at Gowling WLGReach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

The team looks over the past week of news in the energy industry and gives its views on some big market trends - joined by special guest Jake Tudge corporate affairs director at National GasIn this episode, we delve into the startling outcome of the UK government's fifth CfD allocation round (AR5), which garnered zero bids for large-scale offshore wind projects, jeopardising the country's 2030 targets for renewable energy. We discuss the industry's concerns and the implications for future auctions.National Grid's new approach to grid capacity allocation aims to speed up the connection of shovel-ready projects. Taken along with Government promises to relax planning laws for wind farms, is this the impetus that the industry needs? We also cover significant deals in the sector, including KKR and Infracapital's combined investment in Zenobe, news of DIF Capital Partners exceeding its fundraising target, and Shell securing a large PPA in Germany, extending its reach into the European renewable market.Also on this episode, we have an exclusive interview with Jake Tudge about what's  changed and what has stayed the same since the formation of National Gas, delving into the future of the UK's hydrogen infrastructure. Tudge is the corporate affairs director at National Gas, responsible for the organisation's external engagement, brand, and reputation. National Gas formed in February 2023 following the majority sale of National Grid Gas Transmission & Metering by National Grid Group to a consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management with the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead analystDila Cebeci - Senior analystAshkenaz Al - Reporter Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratiaListen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In this episode, we delve into the recent acquisition of DIF Capital Partners by CVC, a European private equity group. Will the deal strengthen DIF's growth prospects and global reach? We also explore Qualitas Energy's refinancing of the Mula photovoltaic solar plant in Spain, the restructuring of the Tees Renewable Energy Plant, and many more key market moves that are shaping the industry.We cover the latest market moves from players such as Harmony Energy Income Trust, Commerz Real, Macquarie Group, and more. Along with highlights from our Q&A with Mark Henderson, CEO of GRIDSERVE, discussing the challenges and successes in upscaling the UK's EV charging infrastructure. We also bring you the latest on the events we have planned for the remainder of 2023, which are set to probe further into pressing themes like regulation, evolving financing structures, and emerging technologies in the energy transition space. We will be venturing beyond London to get closer to local markets.Battery Storage Summit 2023 New Tech, Hydrogen & CCUS Summit 2023 Join us for an in-depth look at the events, transactions, and trends that are shaping the future of energy and infrastructure.Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystZachary Skidmore - Senior Reporter Charles Osborne - Commercial Director  Elsa Fucile - Head of Production Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

In this week's episode, we explore key developments in the European renewable energy sector. We delve into European Energy's ambitious 115MW solar project in Latvia, Northvolt's recent fundraising success, and examine The Renewables Infrastructure Group's strategic sale of its ageing Irish wind farms to Statkraft.We also cover updates to EDF Energy's seven-year PPA with Brockwell Energy, Deutsche Bahn's PPA with EnBW, and Atea's PPA with Better Energy, showcasing the increasing diversity and complexity of PPAs in the current market.We also take a dive into the EU's Green Deal, as it faces uncertainty amid economic recovery and global challenges, including the impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act. Will political tensions and leadership changes slow the pace of the EU's green initiatives, with notable calls for regulatory breaks?We also bring you an update on the UK's TEC Amenesty, which promises to free up billions worth of investment stuck in planning queues. Will this solve the problem, or will it just kick the can down the road? Don't miss our exclusive Q&A with Olivier Mussat, CEO of ATOME Energy, on the global market for green hydrogen and ammonia. Available to read on the inspiraita website. Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystZachary Skidmore - Senior Reporter Dila Cebeci - Senior AnalystReach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

The Joint Venture: inspiratia insightsThe team look over the past week of news and give their views on market trends in the energy sectorIn this week's episode, we explore several pivotal developments in the energy sector. We delve into the European Investment Bank's financing of PGE Group's Baltica offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. We discuss BP Ventures' lead in funding Advanced Ionics, a US-based start-up seeking to use industrial vapour to reduce green hydrogen production costs. Additionally, we cover the UK government's shortlist of hydrogen projects for further funding assessment and negotiations, which includes 17 projects with a combined capacity of 262MW across England, Scotland, and Wales. In our PPA round-up, we outline significant agreements such as Ingevity Corporation's contract with NextEra Energy Resources, TagEnergy's deal with Snowy Hydro, and EDF Energy's seven-year PPA with Brockwell Energy. We turn our attention to the UK's accelerating shift towards electric vehicles and the parallel challenges facing charging infrastructure. As the country embarks on its ambitious mission to phase out internal combustion vehicles by 2030, the spotlight is on the substantial hurdles in the path towards EV adoption. Finally, we delve into the pressing issue of the green skills shortage and its potential impact on the global energy transition. With a sustainable future depending on a vast array of technical proficiencies, including renewable energy technologies, the current shortage in green skills presents an urgent and widespread challenge.  Hosted by:Oliver Carr - Lead AnalystDila Cebeci - Senior AnalystAshkenaz Al - Reporter Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia Interested in tickets for one of our events? Email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website.Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.