Energy Unplugged by Aurora

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Louise Oriol, Advisor, RTE (France's Transmission System Operator). She joins our Head of France, Pierre Dennery, and Jonathan Hoare, Senior Analyst in our French Research team, to discuss negative price hours in the French market. Louise is an expert on electricity regulatory issues and electricity markets with over 10 years of experience, that include having worked for the French Ministry of Energy in the Electricity Markets Office and then in the Renewable Energy Office. She became advisor to RTE’s Director of New Flexibilities for the Power System in 2022, dealing with flexibilities for balance of demand and supply, but also for solving congestions. Main topics include the following: What is driving negative price hours growth in France during 2024? How will actions by regulators, policymakers and private players affect negative price hours in the future? Would renewable energy participation in the balancing market during hours of negative prices be a possible solution for France? Support the show

Brett Perlman, President and CEO of the Center for Houston’s Future, brings a wealth of experience from McKinsey and Texas's Public Utility Commission. He dives into the dynamics of the US hydrogen industry, explaining Houston's role in developing a clean hydrogen market. Discussions include the balance between blue and green hydrogen, the potential for hydrogen exports similar to natural gas, and the complexities surrounding hydrogen tax credits. Perlman also highlights the critical connection between hydrogen production and renewable energy for a sustainable future.

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Tim Jarratt, Group Executive of Market Development and Strategy at Ausgrid. He joins our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, and Head of Research for APAC, James Ha, to discuss the current state of the energy transition in Australia. Tim has a long and distinguished career in the energy sector. Before joining Ausgrid, he worked at National Grid, where he led the strategy team and served as Chief of Staff to the CEO. He has also held roles at Bain & Company, among other prestigious positions, and completed both his undergraduate and engineering PhD studies at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Key topics include the following: A comparison of the energy transition in the UK, rest of Europe, and Australia Ausgrid's vision for EV charging infrastructure, community batteries, and consumer tariffs Investment and costs in Australian distribution networks  Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Kevin O'Donovan, Vice President and Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Statkraft. He joins Robert Pearce, Senior Associate in our UK & Ireland Advisory team, to discuss the renewables landscape in Great Britain (GB). As part of Statkraft’s Europe business area, Kevin oversees wind, solar, battery, and grid services across the UK and Ireland. He holds an engineering degree from University College Cork and a master’s in renewable energy. Main topics include the following: How have recent political changes affected the sector in GB, and what is the likely impact on renewables deployment? GB’s position in the broader European energy transition The potential influence of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in supporting renewables Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, is joined by members of the Aurora team responsible for developing the analysis underpinning our market and grid forecasts for Korea. Just last month, the team celebrated the launch of Aurora's Korean Power & Renewables Market service at a live event in Seoul, attended by numerous market experts. As Korea goes through a period of immense transformation, our team will take you through the intricacies of energy in the country and what makes it unique. Key topics of discussion include the following: An overview of Korea's market, policy, and grid, along with the role of KEPCO and other key strategic considerations as the country navigates the challenges of achieving a Net Zero power system The long-term drivers and market outcomes in Korea Insights from our long-term electricity market and grid forecasts for the region Feedback from our Korean network on key challenges and strategic opportunities Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Francisco Muñoz, Director of Research at Generadoras de Chile discussing Chile’s energy sector and its journey toward renewable energy integration with our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas. Generadoras de Chile is the trade association representing Chile’s power generation companies. In his role, Francisco leads a team that supports some of the world’s largest power generation companies as they navigate the evolving energy transition. With a career that includes consulting for various international organisations and private firms on market design, regulation, strategy, and planning, Francisco brings a wealth of expertise to the conversation. He also holds a Ph.D. in Energy Economics and Operations Research from Johns Hopkins University. Main topics include the following: An introduction to the Chilean power sector and the factors behind its high renewable energy integration Challenges in regulation and market design The future challenges for battery storage in Chile Support the show

Allan Marks, a leading project finance lawyer with over 30 years in the energy sector and a lecturer at UC Berkeley, joins the discussion alongside Oliver Kerr and George Prassas. They delve into the U.S.'s essential shift towards domestic manufacturing for energy production and its effects on the transition from fossil fuels. The conversation covers the regulatory landscape's complexities, the implications of the upcoming election on energy policy, and the crucial role of tax incentives in boosting renewable investments. They even touch on how AI is reshaping the legal industry.

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Steffen Schülzchen, Founder & CEO, Entrix, discussing the current state and outlook of batteries in the German electricity market. Joining him are Thaddäus Kreisig, Project Leader from our Berlin Advisory team, and Eva Zimmermann, Associate in our European Research team. Entrix offers an AI-based trading and optimisation solution that helps owners of flexible energy assets to maximise the value of their investments. Before founding Entrix, Steffen was a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company's energy practice. Key topics covered in this episode include: Why are batteries important for the energy transition in Germany and how does battery trading work in the country? How will the various battery revenue streams develop in the future? How is revenue stacking and continuous intraday trading in Germany different from other EU markets, and what are the most interesting future markets? Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, discussing the Alberta energy and power landscape with our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr. Danielle Smith, who was sworn in as the 19th Premier of Alberta in 2022, previously served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Highwood and the leader of the Official Opposition. Before returning to politics, she built a successful career in media and business, most recently as President of the Alberta Enterprise Group. Danielle holds degrees in both Economics and English from the University of Calgary. Main topics include the following: Finding the right balance between decarbonisation, consumer affordability, and system reliability The roles of markets and government in addressing system reliability challenges The future of renewables in Alberta, with a focus on solar and wind energy Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Katan Hirachand, Chief Executive & Chief Country Officer of Société Générale India. Katan will be discussing project finance in India with our Managing Director responsible for our activities in the region, Dan Monzani. Katan oversees Société Générale’s Global Banking and Investor Solutions activities in India. With over two decades of global experience, he has held positions such as Co-head of Advisory and Project Finance for EMEA, and was responsible for the largest-ever project financing in Africa at USD 15.5 billion. Before joining Société Générale, Katan worked in commercial roles with BG Group in Brazil, Tunisia, Iran, and the UK. Main topics include the following: Why do state lenders have a prominent role in India, and what opportunities exist for private lenders? How are projects being influenced by the emergence of commercial and industrial PPAs and the design of round-the-clock renewable electricity auctions? What is the potential of the green hydrogen market in India? Support the show