Energy Unplugged by Aurora

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Gunter Erfurt, CEO, Meyer Burger engages in a discussion with Hanns Koenig, our Managing Director for Central Europe, with focus on the European solar industry. Before becoming the CEO of Meyer Burger, Gunter held the position of both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, as well as managerial positions in other companies in the solar industry. He holds a Diploma in Engineering Physics from the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, and Degree in Physics and a PhD in Physics, both from the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg. Main topics include the following: • Dependence of Europe’s solar industry on imports, and how is China dominating • Subsidies for solar in China • Renewables manufacturing reshoring in Europe, compared to other countries such as China, India, or the US Support the show

In this Energy Unplugged episode, Dalia Majumder-Russell, Partner at CMS, engages in a discussion with Emma Woodward, our European Hydrogen Market Lead, focusing on key announcements made recently, that will drive forward the development of a hydrogen economy. Particularly, focusing on the recent announcements made by the Department of Net Zero & Energy Security (DESNZ). Dalia is a partner in CMS’s Energy team in London, with over 10 years’ experience advising a wide range investors, developers, utilities, lenders and governments on energy projects and infrastructure, including negotiating gas and hydrogen offtake agreements and advising on carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) projects in the UK and internationally. Dalia is also a member of a number of expert groups focused on developing hydrogen policies. Main topics include the following: • Recent hydrogen auctions in GB & Denmark • European policy support for hydrogen investment • Hydrogen transport & storage business models in GB and in comparison to other countries Support the show

This week on Energy Unplugged, Igor Fonseca, Head of Power, Santander Brazil Project Finance, discusses project finance in Brazil's power sector. Topics include the impact of the shift to the free market and the green transition plan on project financing and investment in Brazil, key risks for Brazilian power projects, and the role of state-funded institutions in project support and financial discipline.

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss the current status and future of the Energy Transition in Australia, with a specific focus on its regulatory landscape. We are pleased to be joined by Clare Savage, Chair, Australian Energy Regulator (AER), and James Ha, our Research Lead for Australia, in conversation with our Managing Director for APAC and California, Hugo Batten. Clare has worked with some of Australia's largest businesses, including electricity and gas producers, as well as consumers, to develop a suite of integrated energy and climate change policies. Before joining the AER, she served as Deputy Chair of the Energy Security Board and, prior to that, as the Executive Director, Policy, Energy & Climate Change at the Business Council of Australia. Clare has also held executive positions within EnergyAustralia and the Energy Supply Association of Australia. Main topics include the following: • The current challenges facing the Energy Transition in Australia • Regulatory considerations throughout the Energy Transition in Australia • The importance of supporting innovation through the Energy Transition Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Alexander Voigt, Co-Founder & Board Member of HH2E, engages in a discussion with Hanns Koenig, our Managing Director for Central Europe. Together, they explore the resilience of Europe's clean energy supply chains and delve into the extent to which Europe should try to build or rebuild its own clean energy manufacturing space. Alexander has spent his career creating several CO2-free businesses, some of which have achieved billion-euro valuations. Today, he is one of Germany's most successful green energy entrepreneurs. His latest initiative, HH2E AG, is a new green energy company in Germany, co-founded with other like-minded pioneers. Main topics include the following: • Competition between Europe, China, and the US: What factors are boosting the weight of the latter two at the expense of Europe? • What players should be strengthening Europe’s role in the renewables manufacturing industry and how? • What can Europe learn from China and the US and what should Europe push for? Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Catherine Raw, Managing Director of SSE Thermal, engages in a discussion with Anise Ganbold, our Head of Research for Global Markets & Hydrogen, exploring the role of hydrogen in the journey towards a Net-Zero power sector and economy in the UK and Ireland. Prior to joining SSE Thermal in April 2022, Catherine served as both Chief Operating Officer for North America and Chief Financial Officer for the international metals and mining firm, Barrick Gold. Before this, she held positions as managing director and fund manager at BlackRock. Transitioning into the energy sector, Catherine brought her expertise in operational and financial performance, as well as her specialised knowledge of natural resources, commodity markets and investment management.  Main topics include the following: • “Hydrogen clusters” and the business case including cost of hydrogen, profitability of new projects, and hydrogen-to-power opportunities • Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen projects in the UK • Using biofuels in Irish open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) and why this is not the right choice for the UK Support the show

Delve into the intricacies of revenue strategy with Pierre Bartholin from Glennmont Partners. Topics include the significance of PPAs for renewables, revenue strategy for portfolio managers, and perspectives from developers, utilities, traders, and corporate offtakers. Explore the transition to PPAs, energy risk management strategies, evolution of lenders' attitudes, banks reshaping PPA structures, and the role of strategic partnerships in the renewable energy sector.

In this Energy Unplugged episode Camilla Nilsson, CEO of Kyoto Group and Alejandro Zerain, Project Leader at Aurora, discuss long duration energy storage with Ana Barillas, our Head of Iberia and LATAM. Dedicated to sustainability and clean technologies, especially in energy and agriculture, Camilla has extensive international industrial experience from her leadership roles in large international companies. Her background includes experience in multinational joint ventures, aggressive turn-arounds, and building ambitious start-ups. Prior to joining Kyoto Group, Camilla worked with Yara International and held leadership positions at Norsk Hydro ASA, Umoe BioEnergy ASA, and Agrinos AS.  Main topics include the following: • What is digital farming? • Long-duration energy storage, including both power and heat solutions • The potential competition that thermal storage might face in the future Support the show

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we discuss the context and challenges of the Brazilian power sector. We are pleased to be joined by Rogério Jorge, CEO of AES Brasil, in conversation with our Founder & CEO, John Feddersen. Backed by 24 years of experience in the energy sector, Rogério has led different areas in the energy distribution, generation and commercialisation sectors, including the development of new businesses, the origination and structuring of greenfield projects, and the participation in mergers and acquisitions. He holds a degree in Law from Mackenzie and an International MBA from FIA/USP, among other specializations in Brazil and the USA. Main topics include the following: •Policy in the Brazilian power sector •The importance of developing gas infrastructure in Brazil •Brazil’s network capacity and reliability Support the show

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we discuss the transition to a future in which the role of electricity is scaled up in the global energy mix, powered by low-emission solutions. We’re pleased to be joined by Alan Finkel, Chair of the Low Emissions Technology Investment Advisory Council and James Ha, our Research Lead for Australia, in conversation with Hugo Batten, our Managing Director for APAC & California. Alan is, among many things, a neuroscientist, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020, during which time he led the National Electricity Market Review and developed Australia’s first National Hydrogen Strategy. The ideas presented in his latest book, titled “Powering Up: Unleashing the Clean Energy Supply Chain”, are the focus of today’s discussion.  Main topics include the following: • Supply chain bottlenecks, and what the government can do to mitigate this and other risks • Australia’s opportunities to become an export superpower for electrostates • Industrial policy and appropriate basket of policies to help countries transition towards electrostates Support the show