Brandt Vermillion, ERCOT Market Lead at Modo Energy, shares vital insights into Texas's energy landscape. He discusses the staggering drop in battery revenues from 2023 to 2024, influenced by increased competition and a boom in solar energy. The conversation highlights the significance of summer months historically, the innovative DART trading strategy for enhanced revenue, and the complexities of revenue volatility amidst changing market dynamics. Brandt sheds light on the evolving relationship between energy storage and ancillary services, making for a compelling listen.

Rens Savenije, Business Lead System Integration at Ventolines, dives into the evolving Dutch energy market. He discusses the rapid growth of solar energy and the challenges of grid congestion and high grid fees. Rens highlights the importance of co-locating battery storage with renewable projects to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. He also shares insights on the investment landscape for battery solutions, noting the need for innovative tariff structures and better policy alignment to foster a sustainable energy transition in the Netherlands.

Geoff Ferrell, Senior Vice President at sonnen, Inc., discusses the transformative potential of virtual power plants (VPPs) in stabilizing the grid. He explains how interconnected home batteries can work collectively to support energy demands while providing homeowners with new revenue opportunities. The conversation highlights the importance of metering, the rise of lithium iron phosphate batteries, and the company's innovative journey from startup to industry leader. Farrel sheds light on the essential role of quality battery systems in optimizing energy management.

Lars Stephan, Senior Manager of Policy and Market Development at Fluence, shares valuable insights into Germany's energy landscape. He discusses the pivotal role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) amid ambitious net-zero targets. The conversation covers Germany's robust residential storage network, the importance of market interconnections in Europe, and future reforms such as the introduction of a Capacity Market. Lars also highlights innovative challenges faced by new players and the transformative impact of data on energy management.

Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at the ADE, shares her insights on the future of energy pricing in the UK. She highlights the debate on zonal vs. national pricing and its implications for consumers and investments. The conversation emphasizes the need for demand flexibility to support a decentralized energy model. Honan discusses the role of the National Energy System Operator in implementing strategic changes and the importance of integrating decentralized energy assets. Their recent report advocates for an inclusive approach to meet future energy demands.

As the energy industry evolves, the skills required and the approaches to overcoming emerging challenges must adapt as well. With the sector exploring new frontiers, the opportunity to become a leader in the field has never been more accessible.Success requires a diverse set of skills, many of which can be transferred from different roles or industries. Achieving net-zero will require more than just traditional industry experience. So, what specific skills are companies seeking as they navigate uncharted territory? And how do we engage a broader range of talent to ensure a sustainable future?In today’s episode David Hunt, CEO at Hyperion Executive Search joins Quentin to discuss the talent gap in the renewable energy industry. Over the conversation, they discuss: Addressing the diversity gap in the energy industry: strategies for building a more inclusive workforce.Salary hotspots: where they are, emerging trends, and what the future holds.The critical role of communication skills in effective renewable energy leadership.Emerging roles in the energy sector as the transition to renewables accelerates.Key focus areas for the energy industry over the next decade.About our guestHyperion Executive Search finds leaders, and builds teams for the most innovative cleantech companies, enabling them to find extraordinary people. Operating across multiple cleantech sectors including energy storage, solar, future mobility, hydrogen and more, Hyperion support the growth of these emerging market opportunities. For more information on Hyperion Seach, check out their website. David is the host of the Leaders In Cleantech podcast, a weekly podcast with interviews from leading CEOs and Founders from some of the world’s most innovative start-ups and scale-ups. Check it out here.About Modo EnergyModo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place.Built for analysts, Modo 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 podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on Linkedin or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work. For more information on the capacity market and government policy and regulations, check out our written research.

From a once nearly worthless by-product to a critical energy resource, natural gas forms a vital pillar in global energy production. With advancements in storing and transporting gas as liquified natural gas (LNG), its potential continues to expand. However, this fossil fuel's role in the energy landscape remains necessary. The relationship between power and gas prices is tightly interlinked, with gas often setting the marginal price in wholesale markets. But what factors contribute to the volatility of gas prices? How do geopolitical events shape the market? How does speculation influence gas prices— and have we passed the point of useful speculation?In this episode, Seb Kennedy, Founding Editor of Energy Flux, joins Quentin to unpack the complexities of natural gas, the global gas markets, and gas's evolving role as we work towards decarbonizing our energy supply. Throughout their discussion, they explore:An overview of natural gas, from extraction and transportation to pricing.Gas demand trends in Europe and the rise of LNG.Impact of decarbonization on gas demand in EuropeThe drivers of price volatility and the role of speculation in the market.The extent speculation influences gas prices - how much is too much? About our guestEnergy Flux is a 100% editorially independent newsletter that analyses global natural gas markets, energy economics and geopolitics through the lens of Europe’s net-zero journey. Founded by Seb Kennedy, a freelance energy journalist and market analyst who is using data to carve out engaging narratives about the economics of decarbonisation. For more information on Energy Flux - head over to the website or check Seb out on LinkedIn or X.About Modo EnergyModo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place.Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets. Modo’s paid plans serve more than 80% of battery storage owners and operators in Great Britain and ERCOT.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on Linkedin or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work. For more information on how gas prices affect power price, check out our written research.

The energy landscape in Great Britain is undergoing constant transformation, driven by emerging technologies, new markets, and evolving regulations and policies. In this episode, we explore the challenges and opportunities within the sector, from navigating the Capacity Market to understanding the future role of battery storage and demand-side response in shaping the energy market today.Lisa Waters, Founding Director of Waters Wye Associates, joins Ed Porter to discuss how batteries can be leveraged for greater impact, the regulatory changes needed for better market integration, and the intricate process of implementing regulatory updates in the UK. Key topics covered include:The evolution of the UK’s electricity markets over the years.Regulatory inefficiencies and the need for more strategic leadership from regulators.The Capacity Market’s purpose and how energy storage fits within this framework.How energy storage could be better integrated into the market and its future role in the GB power system.An overview of the Balancing Settlement Code (BSC) and its role in energy settlements.About our guestLisa Waters is a founding Director of Waters Wye Associates (WWA). She is an economist with over twenty five years’ experience in the energy sector, working for a wide variety of energy companies and customers.Waters Wye Associates has been providing bespoke support to organisations operating in UK and European energy markets since 2002. With extensive expertise in commercial power, gas and gas storage; experience in due diligence work in a variety of markets; analytical skills and experience developing targeted solutions for the energy markets as well as understanding of regulation and policy, capacity market and more. For more information, head to their website.About Modo EnergyModo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place.Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets. Modo’s paid plans serve more than 80% of battery storage owners and operators in Great Britain and ERCOT.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on Linkedin or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work. For more information on the capacity market and government policy and regulations, check out our written research.

Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive at Energy UK, discusses the urgent push for the UK's clean energy transition ahead of the 2030 target. She emphasizes the necessity for faster generation capacity and streamlined grid connections. The conversation dives into the role of the 'Mission Possible' report, outlining five crucial government recommendations. Pinchbeck also highlights the importance of Contracts for Difference auctions and strategic planning for infrastructure expansion. With the political landscape shifting, clear communication is vital for investor confidence in the clean energy sector.

Ed Birkett, Director of New Project Development at Low Carbon, shares insights into the renewable energy landscape in Great Britain. He discusses the challenges posed by 'zombie' projects cluttering the grid connection queue and the urgent need for system reform. Birkett explores how changes in Contracts for Difference could bolster net-zero goals, while also addressing the long lead times for essential equipment. The conversation highlights the delicate balance between strategic planning and market-driven approaches to enhance solar project development.