Energy Unplugged by Aurora

Michael Terrell, Senior Director for Energy and Climate at Google, discusses power consumption of data centers, achieving Google's 24/7 carbon-free energy goal, upcoming policy developments, and potential carbon reduction solutions.

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, James Johnston, CEO & Co-Founder of Piclo, engages in a discussion with Matteo Coriglioni, our Head of Italy, and Eva Zimmermann, Associate at Aurora. Together, they delve into the roles that flexibility and the deployment of new flexible technologies play as two of the key enabling factors for the energy transition. James, who initiated his career with three years of microgrid research at the University of Strathclyde, co-founded Solar Sketch in 2009—a design company for the solar industry. He also gained experience at the international engineering firm Arup. In 2013, James co-founded Piclo, the leading marketplace for flexibility services. The platform has been steadily expanding its presence across the UK, Europe, and the USA. James is recognised as a sought-after expert and published author, contributing chapters to academic books on peer-to-peer energy and local flexibility trading. Main topics include the following: •Why are flexibility and flexibility analysis crucial right now? •Are grid constraints more of an opportunity or of a bottleneck for flexibility assets development? •How are Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs) coordinating, and how can they improve their level of coordination? Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Pascale Courcelle, Director of Real Estate and Energy Environment Financing at Bpifrance, engages in a discussion with our Head of France, Pierre Denery, and our Co-Head of Advisory for Central Europe, Thekla von Bülow. The conversation focuses on the Renewable Electricity Guarantee Fund (GER), a guarantee fund for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) launched in France in September 2023. Pascale began her career as a business manager in Brittany and later joined the credit committee of the bank’s head office, specialising in property financing for companies in the Ile de France region. When Bpi was established in 2012, she had already joined the renewable energy project financing team, eventually being appointed Director of Real Estate and Energy Environment Financing in 2017. Additionally, she serves as the Vice-president of the Financial Lease Commission (ASF) and is behind the creation of the GER. Main topics include the following: • Which parties can benefit from the GER and what criteria are used to assess which producers and projects should receive funding? • How is the PPA price calculated, and what proportion of it is covered by the GER? • How does the GER compare with other PPA funds already established in European countries like Spain and Norway? Support the show

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.