Transmission

As Great Britain connects its largest battery to the grid, the spotlight isn’t just on the technology - it’s also on the execution. Delivering storage at this scale requires coordination across engineering, operations, and markets. From grid connection challenges to day-to-day performance, success depends on much more than megawatts and megawatt-hours — it’s about precision, planning, and people.In this episode of Transmission, Lisa MacKay, Chief Operations Officer at Fidra Energy, shares what it takes to bring the UK’s biggest battery project from construction to operation. We explore the real challenges behind delivering large-scale storage - from managing contractors and timelines to optimising assets once they’re online, and what lessons this project offers for the future of flexibility and reliability in the power system.What it takes to build and operate Great Britain’s largest battery.The biggest challenges of scaling storage - from grid connection to commissioning.How operational decisions impact commercial performance.Lessons learned from running large-scale flexibility assets.What GB’s biggest battery means for the wider energy transition.About our guestLisa MacKay is the Chief Operations Officer at Fidra Energy, where she leads operations and organisational strategy across a growing renewable portfolio. With experience spanning development, trading, and leadership, she focuses on building resilient teams and scalable processes that support growth in a dynamic energy market. For more information on Fidra Energy, head to their website. https://fidraenergy.com/About Modo Energy:Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

As Great Britain connects its largest battery to the grid, the spotlight isn’t just on the technology - it’s also on the execution. Delivering storage at this scale requires coordination across engineering, operations, and markets. From grid connection challenges to day-to-day performance, success depends on much more than megawatts and megawatt-hours — it’s about precision, planning, and people.In this episode of Transmission, Lisa MacKay, Chief Operations Officer at Fidra Energy, shares what it takes to bring the UK’s biggest battery project from construction to operation. We explore the real challenges behind delivering large-scale storage - from managing contractors and timelines to optimising assets once they’re online, and what lessons this project offers for the future of flexibility and reliability in the power system.What it takes to build and operate Great Britain’s largest battery.The biggest challenges of scaling storage - from grid connection to commissioning.How operational decisions impact commercial performance.Lessons learned from running large-scale flexibility assets.What GB’s biggest battery means for the wider energy transition.About our guestLisa MacKay is the Chief Operations Officer at Fidra Energy, where she leads operations and organisational strategy across a growing renewable portfolio. With experience spanning development, trading, and leadership, she focuses on building resilient teams and scalable processes that support growth in a dynamic energy market. For more information on Fidra Energy, head to their website. https://fidraenergy.com/About Modo Energy:Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

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 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) changed everything for clean energy in the US. It unlocked hundreds of billions in incentives for renewables, storage, and manufacturing, sparking a wave of investment and development. Now with the introduction of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA) new parameters are setting the stage for further shifts across the energy landscape. But while this new legislation has turbocharged existing projects, it’s also added complexity. Developers and investors are navigating evolving tax guidance, new compliance requirements, and ongoing uncertainty about how quickly capital can move into clean energy. So, what’s really changed and what does it mean for the future of project finance in the US?In this episode of Transmission, Alejandro de Diego speaks with Keith Martin, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, about how US policy is reshaping energy markets from the ground up. Together, they unpack how tax credits are structured and traded, what’s slowing the flow of capital into clean energy, and why long-term success will depend on clarity, consistency, and political follow-through.Key topics covered: • How US clean energy policy changed under the IRA and continues to develop under the OBBBA.• How transferability is changing the way tax credits are financed.• The role of tax equity in bringing large-scale renewable projects to life.• What developers and investors need to know about new guidance and compliance.• The risks and opportunities shaping the next phase of the US energy transition.About our guest:Keith Martin is a transactional lawyer and energy policy expert and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, advising many of the world’s largest renewable energy investors and developers. With decades of experience at the intersection of law, finance, and policy, he offers deep insight into how landmark legislation is shaping the future of the US energy transition.About Modo Energy:Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

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 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) changed everything for clean energy in the US. It unlocked hundreds of billions in incentives for renewables, storage, and manufacturing, sparking a wave of investment and development. Now with the introduction of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA) new parameters are setting the stage for further shifts across the energy landscape. But while this new legislation has turbocharged existing projects, it’s also added complexity. Developers and investors are navigating evolving tax guidance, new compliance requirements, and ongoing uncertainty about how quickly capital can move into clean energy. So, what’s really changed and what does it mean for the future of project finance in the US?In this episode of Transmission, Alejandro de Diego speaks with Keith Martin, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, about how US policy is reshaping energy markets from the ground up. Together, they unpack how tax credits are structured and traded, what’s slowing the flow of capital into clean energy, and why long-term success will depend on clarity, consistency, and political follow-through.Key topics covered: • How US clean energy policy changed under the IRA and continues to develop under the OBBBA.• How transferability is changing the way tax credits are financed.• The role of tax equity in bringing large-scale renewable projects to life.• What developers and investors need to know about new guidance and compliance.• The risks and opportunities shaping the next phase of the US energy transition.About our guest:Keith Martin is a transactional lawyer and energy policy expert and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, advising many of the world’s largest renewable energy investors and developers. With decades of experience at the intersection of law, finance, and policy, he offers deep insight into how landmark legislation is shaping the future of the US energy transition.About Modo Energy:Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Helena Anderson and Roberto Castiglioni, co-founders of Ikigai Capital, dive into the complexities of financing flexible energy assets. They discuss the challenges investors face in valuing hybrid projects despite their critical role in a decarbonized grid. The duo highlights the importance of evolving financing models to accommodate system value, not just generation. Both emphasize collaboration between developers, investors, and regulators as key to unlocking the potential of large-scale battery projects and achieving Italy's renewable goals.

Roberto Castiglioni and Helena Anderson, co-founders of Ikigai Group, dive into the complexities of financing flexible and hybrid energy projects. They discuss the shortcomings of traditional finance models that overlook the value of flexibility in energy systems. The duo highlights the potential of Italy's MaxxA auction as a solution for securing grid services, while exploring innovative non-lithium storage options. Their insights reveal the importance of collaboration among developers, investors, and regulators to unlock funding for crucial energy infrastructure.

In this discussion with Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, listeners dive into the complexities of the fragmented American energy market. Nick shares how Octopus adapts its successful UK model for U.S. consumers, emphasizing technology's role in creating customer-centric, flexible energy solutions. He discusses the challenges of legacy systems, the potential of flexible tariffs, and the innovative Kraken platform that enhances customer service. The conversation highlights opportunities for decarbonization and the need for a faster, smarter approach to electrification.

Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, discusses the intricacies of the US energy market and how Octopus is adapting its UK model for American consumers. He highlights the challenges posed by legacy systems that inhibit innovation. Chaset shares insights on harnessing technology for customer-centric energy solutions, the importance of flexible tariffs, and how digital platforms can enhance energy efficiency. He also emphasizes the need for accelerated electrification to achieve decarbonization and calls for faster infrastructure development.

The grid was never designed for millions of distributed energy assets. Yet today, batteries, EVs, solar, and heat pumps are connecting faster than the network can reinforce - pushing grid capacity to its limits. The result? Growing connection queues, rising curtailment, and a system struggling to keep pace with electrification. So how do we move from a grid that reacts to constraints to one that actively manages them? DSOs are evolving and distribution-level flexibility matters now more than ever. What does it take to build market infrastructure that actually works for both system operators and flexibility providers?In this episode of Transmission, James Johnston - CEO of Piclo, returns to the show to discuss explore how local flexibility markets are being used to manage congestion today and what digitalisation really means for networks.Key topics covered: • Why grid constraints are the biggest threat to the energy transition.• How local flexibility markets are solving real congestion problems today.• The evolving role of DSOs and how they coordinate with TSOs.• What digitalisation means for system planning and grid visibility.• Lessons from live flexibility markets in the UK, Europe, and the US.About our guestJames Johnston is CEO and co-founder of Piclo, a flexibility marketplace used by network and system operators to procure flexibility from distributed energy resources. Through his work at Piclo, he is helping system operators manage congestion, reduce reinforcement costs, and accelerate the transition to a smarter, more flexible electricity system.For more information, head to the Piclo website. https://www.piclo.com/About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

James Johnston, CEO and co-founder of Piclo, shares insights on local flexibility markets and their potential to address grid congestion. He discusses the pressing threat of grid constraints and how they hinder the energy transition. Johnston highlights innovative projects like ACE, where data centers fund virtual power plants, unlocking significant flexibility revenue. He emphasizes the importance of modular marketplace design and collaboration with distribution and transmission operators to enhance grid efficiency and visibility.