

Transmission
Modo Energy
Transmission is the weekly podcast from Modo Energy, the global standard for benchmarking and valuing electrification assets. Each episode, we sit down with the sharpest minds in energy, finance, climate, and technology - to unpack the forces reshaping our power systems. From market design and trading strategies to emerging technologies and investment flows, Transmission explores how innovation and capital are colliding to accelerate the shift toward a net-zero world. Guests range from founders and policymakers to traders, engineers, and investors - the people actually building the future of energy and electrification. If you want to understand how renewables, energy storage, and markets fit together - and what it means for business, climate, and society - Transmission is your guide to the clean energy economy. Want all the latest power market news, analysis, price indices, and video content from your region - delivered to your inbox, every week? Head to modoenergy.com to sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 8, 2026 • 30min
Building biodiversity and solar projects with Fran Button (British Solar Renewables)
Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchSolar projects in Great Britain are often framed as a trade-off: can we combat climate change without compromising the countryside? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Across the country, solar developers are not only installing panels but actively restoring and enhancing the ecosystems around them.Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping what responsible solar development looks like. Many leading projects are far exceeding the statutory 10% requirement, transforming intensively farmed monoculture into thriving habitats. These sites now deliver clean power while providing farmers with stable, long-term income—showing we don’t have to choose between renewable energy and rich, living landscapes.In this conversation, Fran Button - deputy CEO at British Solar Renewables joins Ed to unpack how solar developers are designing projects that benefit both the grid and the natural world.• Why ecologists must establish a biodiversity baseline before construction begins.• How some developments are achieving BNG scores of 200% or more - well beyond what regulations demand.• Whether high-tech energy generation can genuinely coexist with low-tech agriculture.• Dispelling the misconception that solar farms are empty that solar developments lack ecological value.• How solar energy is providing farmers with a stable income stream that allows them to continue farming.About our guestFran Button is Deputy CEO of British Solar Renewables where she is responsible for all aspects of risk management and ESG. With a background as a specialist non-contentious construction lawyer involved in drafting and negotiating complex building contracts. Fran has particular expertise in renewables projects having being involved in large-scale solar development and funding and energy from waste projects.British Solar Renewables are developing, building, and operating renewable energy projects that power homes, businesses, and communities. From green fields to grid connection - creating clean energy that strengthens the UK’s resilience, supports biodiversity, and delivers lasting value for people and the planet. For more information head to their website. https://britishrenewables.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Jan 8, 2026 • 30min
Building biodiversity and solar projects with Fran Button (British Solar Renewables)
Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchSolar projects in Great Britain are often framed as a trade-off: can we combat climate change without compromising the countryside? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Across the country, solar developers are not only installing panels but actively restoring and enhancing the ecosystems around them.Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping what responsible solar development looks like. Many leading projects are far exceeding the statutory 10% requirement, transforming intensively farmed monoculture into thriving habitats. These sites now deliver clean power while providing farmers with stable, long-term income—showing we don’t have to choose between renewable energy and rich, living landscapes.In this conversation, Fran Button - deputy CEO at British Solar Renewables joins Ed to unpack how solar developers are designing projects that benefit both the grid and the natural world.• Why ecologists must establish a biodiversity baseline before construction begins.• How some developments are achieving BNG scores of 200% or more - well beyond what regulations demand.• Whether high-tech energy generation can genuinely coexist with low-tech agriculture.• Dispelling the misconception that solar farms are empty that solar developments lack ecological value.• How solar energy is providing farmers with a stable income stream that allows them to continue farming.About our guestFran Button is Deputy CEO of British Solar Renewables where she is responsible for all aspects of risk management and ESG. With a background as a specialist non-contentious construction lawyer involved in drafting and negotiating complex building contracts. Fran has particular expertise in renewables projects having being involved in large-scale solar development and funding and energy from waste projects.British Solar Renewables are developing, building, and operating renewable energy projects that power homes, businesses, and communities. From green fields to grid connection - creating clean energy that strengthens the UK’s resilience, supports biodiversity, and delivers lasting value for people and the planet. For more information head to their website. https://britishrenewables.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Dec 18, 2025 • 46min
Trading the weather: Inside energy’s new derivatives market with Theresa Kammel & Pierre Buisson (Munich Re)
Theresa Kammel, a Weather Derivative Originator at Munich Re, and Pierre Buisson, a Senior Structurer, dive into the dynamic world of weather derivatives. They reveal how energy markets hedge against unpredictable weather, like a single wind drought costing Germany €1.6 billion. The duo explains bespoke weather-linked products that help traders manage risks and outlines the necessity for battery owners to hedge against low-volatility conditions. They further discuss the emerging need for long-term weather hedges as climate change adds a layer of uncertainty.

Dec 18, 2025 • 46min
Trading the weather: Inside energy’s new derivatives market with Theresa Kammel & Pierre Buisson (Munich Re)
Join Theresa Kammel, a weather derivative originator at Munich Re, and Pierre Buisson, a senior structurer, as they dive into the fascinating world of weather derivatives. They explore how energy companies hedge against unpredictable weather events, like a €1.6 billion loss from a wind drought in Germany. Discover the intricate 'Lego bricks' of customized financial products that protect traders and utilities. Learn why weather insurance is becoming essential for financiers and how renewables are reshaping the risk landscape for energy supply.

Dec 16, 2025 • 43min
How to finance batteries: Debt financing vs joint ventures with Conrad Purcell (Haynes Boone)
In this insightful discussion, Conrad Purcell, a seasoned partner at Haynes Boone with 20 years in renewable project finance, breaks down the complexities of financing battery storage projects. He explores why uncertainty is a major barrier to financing, the shifting lender expectations, and how grid delays affect timelines. Conrad contrasts debt financing with joint ventures, emphasizing the importance of revenue models and contract certainty. His predictions for market evolution and consolidation add an intriguing perspective for developers and investors alike.

Dec 16, 2025 • 43min
How to finance batteries: Debt financing vs joint ventures with Conrad Purcell (Haynes Boone)

Dec 11, 2025 • 42min
Using batteries to support Ukraine’s energy security with Julian Jansen (Fluence)
Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchThe war in Ukraine has caused catastrophic destruction to its energy infrastructure, wiping out assets and rendering the much of the countries dispatchable generation capacity non-operational. This crisis has amplified the need for robust, flexible energy systems, in order to maintain power to the country during such testing times. This episode is about batteries as a necessity. Built as critical infrastructure. Built fast. Built for stability. Built for a grid that has to keep working, no matter what.In this episode, Julian Jansen, Managing Director at Fluence, discusses the deployment of 500 MWh of large-scale battery energy storage systems across seven projects in Ukraine. He outlines the technical, logistical, and operational considerations involved in delivering energy infrastructure in a highly complex environment.• How the destruction of more than 80% of Ukraine’s thermal and hydro power plants has created an urgent need for reliable energy storage.• How battery storage projects in the region provide critical grid support even as the electricity system faces ongoing conflict.• What it took to shorten project delivery timelines from the industry-standard twelve months to just six.• How remote commissioning and training have been used to equip Ukrainian teams with the skills needed to install, operate, and maintain advanced energy systems.• Why cybersecurity has become a core component of national energy security.About our guestJulian Jansen is the Managing Director at Fluence. Having previously been responsible for Fluence’s business in Southern and Eastern Europe, he is currently transitioning to the Managing Director role in Germany.Established in 2018, Fluence is one of the leading providers of battery energy storage solutions, software, and long-term services. Operating in 40 markets globally to transform how the world is powered using energy storage for a more sustainable future. For more information - head to the Fluence website. https://fluenceenergy.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Dec 11, 2025 • 42min
Using batteries to support Ukraine’s energy security with Julian Jansen (Fluence)
Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchThe war in Ukraine has caused catastrophic destruction to its energy infrastructure, wiping out assets and rendering the much of the countries dispatchable generation capacity non-operational. This crisis has amplified the need for robust, flexible energy systems, in order to maintain power to the country during such testing times. This episode is about batteries as a necessity. Built as critical infrastructure. Built fast. Built for stability. Built for a grid that has to keep working, no matter what.In this episode, Julian Jansen, Managing Director at Fluence, discusses the deployment of 500 MWh of large-scale battery energy storage systems across seven projects in Ukraine. He outlines the technical, logistical, and operational considerations involved in delivering energy infrastructure in a highly complex environment.• How the destruction of more than 80% of Ukraine’s thermal and hydro power plants has created an urgent need for reliable energy storage.• How battery storage projects in the region provide critical grid support even as the electricity system faces ongoing conflict.• What it took to shorten project delivery timelines from the industry-standard twelve months to just six.• How remote commissioning and training have been used to equip Ukrainian teams with the skills needed to install, operate, and maintain advanced energy systems.• Why cybersecurity has become a core component of national energy security.About our guestJulian Jansen is the Managing Director at Fluence. Having previously been responsible for Fluence’s business in Southern and Eastern Europe, he is currently transitioning to the Managing Director role in Germany.Established in 2018, Fluence is one of the leading providers of battery energy storage solutions, software, and long-term services. Operating in 40 markets globally to transform how the world is powered using energy storage for a more sustainable future. For more information - head to the Fluence website. https://fluenceenergy.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Dec 8, 2025 • 52min
Redesigning the NEM's wholesale market with Tim Nelson (Australian Government)
Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchAustralia’s largest energy market is undergoing the most significant transformations since its conception. Rapid renewable uptake, growing system volatility, and shifting policy settings are forcing a fundamental rethink of how the National Electricity Market (NEM) operates. But with so many moving parts, one question sits at the centre of the transition: how do we build a market that remains reliable, affordable, and investable while decarbonising at speed?In this episode of Transmission, Tim Nelson joins Wendel to unpack the pressures reshaping Australia’s power system and what must change to keep pace. Over the conversation, they explore the market design challenges emerging across the NEM, from capacity mechanisms and reliability gaps to consumer expectations, policy uncertainty, and the economics of retiring coal. Tim explains why today’s market structures weren’t built for a high-renewables grid, how the investment environment is shifting, and what practical reforms could stabilise the system while enabling large-scale clean energy deployment.Key points covered:• Why the NEM’s current market design is struggling under the pace of the energy transition.• How retirement timelines for coal generation are reshaping reliability and investment signals.• What Australia needs from a capacity mechanism and what risks must be avoided.• How policy uncertainty and consumer expectations are influencing market behaviour.• What reforms could build a more stable, predictable, and investable market for renewables and storage.About our guest:Tim Nelson is a leading energy economist and policy expert with extensive experience across market design, system reform, and the evolution of Australia’s National Electricity Market.With experience at Iberdrola Australia, the AEMC, AGL and Griffith University Tim brings a wealth of knowledge to his current positions including his role as Chair of the independent review of Australia's NEM. Find Tim on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timnelsonaustralia/About Modo Energy:Check out the Energy Academy Australia here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q-kwsfBPyc&list=PL_lhNBgOJnjTuKzdbLzQirHILoHYjaHYNModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Dec 8, 2025 • 52min
Redesigning the NEM's wholesale market with Tim Nelson (Australian Government)
Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchAustralia’s largest energy market is undergoing the most significant transformations since its conception. Rapid renewable uptake, growing system volatility, and shifting policy settings are forcing a fundamental rethink of how the National Electricity Market (NEM) operates. But with so many moving parts, one question sits at the centre of the transition: how do we build a market that remains reliable, affordable, and investable while decarbonising at speed?In this episode of Transmission, Tim Nelson joins Wendel to unpack the pressures reshaping Australia’s power system and what must change to keep pace. Over the conversation, they explore the market design challenges emerging across the NEM, from capacity mechanisms and reliability gaps to consumer expectations, policy uncertainty, and the economics of retiring coal. Tim explains why today’s market structures weren’t built for a high-renewables grid, how the investment environment is shifting, and what practical reforms could stabilise the system while enabling large-scale clean energy deployment.Key points covered:• Why the NEM’s current market design is struggling under the pace of the energy transition.• How retirement timelines for coal generation are reshaping reliability and investment signals.• What Australia needs from a capacity mechanism and what risks must be avoided.• How policy uncertainty and consumer expectations are influencing market behaviour.• What reforms could build a more stable, predictable, and investable market for renewables and storage.About our guest:Tim Nelson is a leading energy economist and policy expert with extensive experience across market design, system reform, and the evolution of Australia’s National Electricity Market.With experience at Iberdrola Australia, the AEMC, AGL and Griffith University Tim brings a wealth of knowledge to his current positions including his role as Chair of the independent review of Australia's NEM. Find Tim on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timnelsonaustralia/About Modo Energy:Check out the Energy Academy Australia here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q-kwsfBPyc&list=PL_lhNBgOJnjTuKzdbLzQirHILoHYjaHYNModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.


