
Energy Unplugged by Aurora
Welcome to ‘Energy Unplugged by Aurora’, a mix of in-depth conversations with key international industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, sharing their unique perspectives on the global energy transition.
Hosted by various Aurora experts, we explore the hottest topics and trends across the energy landscape. From renewables, battery storage, and grid integration, to hydrogen, commodity markets, and technology innovation, our high-profile guests weigh in with their valuable insights.
Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the energy industry, with a new episode released every week!
Latest episodes

Jun 16, 2020 • 32min
EP.2 Chris Hunt, Partner at Riverstone
Welcome to this week's episode of our new podcast series ‘Energy Unplugged’. Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen explores the energy transition globally in a great discussion with Riverstone’s Partner Chris Hunt.
Riverstone is one of the world’s largest energy-focussed private equity fund and Chris has been in the renewables business well before the industry really began, as he first started working on wind energy projects back in the late 1980s.
John and Chris discuss:
•The biggest impacts of COVID-19 on the power sector and Green Stimulus plans in Europe
•UK’s role in the development of global biomass business and competition between biomass, hydrogen and CCS
•ESG current status and future steps: Implementation and Measurement
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Jun 9, 2020 • 50min
EP.1 Alistair Phillips-Davies, CEO of SSE
Welcome to our new podcast series ‘Energy Unplugged’, a mix of in-depth conversations with key international industry leaders, policymakers and academics, exploring the hottest topics across the energy market.
Hosted by various Aurora experts, we invite high profile guests to share their unique perspectives on major energy issues.
Our intention is to share with you a new episode every week, so stay tuned and enjoy the podcast!
In this week’s episode, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen talks with Alistair Phillips-Davies, CEO of SSE plc, one of UK’s largest utilities, about SSE’s recent Greenprint for a cleaner and more resilient economy.
Listen to the podcast to find out:
•why is now an important time to act
•why is offshore wind so central to the plan
•whether access to charging infrastructure is a key barrier to electric vehicles uptake at present…
•… and about Alistair’s darts abilities 🎯😊
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May 27, 2020 • 33min
EP.21 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part VIII - Interview with Richard Howard, Aurora
In this final podcast episode of the COVID-19 series we are focussing on power market economics, prices and policy. Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen is joined by Richard Howard, Aurora’s Research Director who coordinated the recent work on the impact of COVID-19 for the power sector. The main topics tackled in this interview include: •The major recent impacts on gas, carbon and power markets in Europe•Key policy implications for the decarbonisation challenge and Green Stimulus measures •Behavioural change and related impacts on the economy and energy marketSupport the show

May 20, 2020 • 39min
EP.20 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Ben Guest, Gresham House & Brian Lonn, Statkraft
In this episode, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen focusses on battery storage assets, and is joined by two distinguished guests: Ben Guest, Head of New Energy & Investment Area, Gresham House and Brian Lonn, Head of UK Flexibility, Statkraft. This is a great discussion that hits on a wide range of topics, not limited to COVID-19: •The current status of the battery storage landscape in the UK and predictions for the next 5 years•Impact of COVID-19 on the storage business in terms of investment and optimisation•Opportunities for suppliers and retailers to start playing a predominant role in optimising storage assetsSupport the show

May 13, 2020 • 48min
EP.19 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part VI- Interview with Chris Stark CCC
Our previous podcasts in this COVID-19 series covered a wide variety of perspectives from industry leaders. In this episode, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen welcomes his special guest Chris Stark, Chief Executive for The Committee on Climate Change to discuss the implications of COVID-19 on the power sector from a climate and policy perspective. Some of the key topics discussed in this episode include: • Implications of short-term reduction in carbon emissions and broader pollutants • COVID-19 impact on Government actions for decarbonisation• Parallels between the challenges posed by COVID-19 and climate changeSupport the show

May 6, 2020 • 52min
EP.18 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part V - Interview with Tom Glover, RWE
In our 1-1 interviews, we hear different senior perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on power markets. This week, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen investigates the situation from the utility perspective in an interview with Tom Glover, CFO of RWE Renewables GmbH and RWE UK Country Chair. Some of the key topics discussed in this session include:•COVID-19 impact on how the business is running in terms of operations, market, constructions and development•Impact on the decarbonisation imperative and role of Government in the power sector •The requirement for CfDs for large deployment of renewables and CfD auctionsSupport the show

Apr 29, 2020 • 39min
EP.17 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part IV - Interview with Dan Wells, Foresight Group
Our previous podcasts in this series covered the renewables investment, project finance and legal perspective on the impact of COVID-19 for the energy sector. In this episode we focus on the infrastructure investor perspective, welcoming Dan Wells, Partner at Foresight Group in an informative discussion with Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen.Some of the main topics discussed include:•COVID-19 impact on developing, financing and investing in assets, capital raising and running transactions•Different direct impacts across Europe, US and Australia •Long term resilience across supply chain, capital structure, scale and geographySupport the show

Apr 22, 2020 • 33min
EP.16 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part III - Interview with Antony Skinner, Ashurst
In our first two COVID-19 podcasts, our interviewees specialised in investment and project finance. In this podcast, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen looks at the legal perspective, interviewing Antony Skinner, Partner in the Project Practice at Ashurst. Key topics tackled in this 1-1 interview include: •COVID-19 impact on processes, around equity and debt raising •Policy uncertainty for investors and the role of corporate PPAs in developing power assets•Impact on the long-run decarbonisation of the economy and on Ashurst’s investment in its low carbon capabilitiesSupport the show

Apr 15, 2020 • 32min
EP.15 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part II - Interview with Alejandro Ciruelos, Santander
In this podcast, we are excited to welcome Alejandro Ciruelos, Managing Director, Project & Acquisition Finance for Santander Corporate and Investment Banking, in a great discussion with Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen, about the impact of COVID-19 on energy project finance market in the short and longer term. Some of the key topics tackled in this interview include: •Impact from a project finance perspective and more specifically on Santander’s strategy•Government’s role and support offered to businesses in UK•Impact on commitments related to decarbonisation and renewables investmentSupport the show

Apr 8, 2020 • 42min
EP.14 Aurora on COVID-19 implications - Part I - Interview with Richard Nourse, Greencoat Capital
Welcome to the first podcast in our ‘Aurora on COVID-19’ series.In these unprecedented times, our goal is to help you understand the implications of COVID-19 for both your business and the energy sector more broadly. Each week we’ll be sharing a a 1-1 podcast interview with key industry leaders.In this podcast, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen is joined by his special guest Richard Nourse, Founder of Greencoat Capital, to talk about the impact of COVID-19 for renewables investment in UK and Europe.This is a great discussion that hits on a wide range of topics, not limited to coronavirus:• COVID-19 from a renewables policy perspective• Impact of the new onshore and solar CfD auctions for the sector• Role of capital structure in renewables and the role of markets in the power sectorSupport the show
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