In this episode, we discuss the energy transition as an investment climate for low-carbon infrastructure in Europe and the US. Our Research Director, Richard Howard is joined by Aurora experts: Ryan Alexander, Research Lead for European Power Markets and Julia Hoos, Head of USA East. Main topics include:•The impact of the REPowerEU plan and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the US on the energy transition•The status of renewables deployment in Europe vs the US •Green hydrogen as a direct replacement for natural gasSupport the show

In this episode, we welcome Jack Curtis, Chief Commercial Officer at Neara, in a talk with our Managing Director in APAC and California, Hugo Batten, and our Head of Research in APAC, James Ha. Today’s discussion is focused on the challenges the power grid faces through the energy transition.Neara is a physics-enabled platform that builds 3D interactive models of networks and assets, providing the ability to run real-world scenarios, assess current and future risks, and prioritize maintenance and disaster response. In the past, Jack was also Head of APAC for First Solar, and before he was both an investment banker and a lawyer.Main topics include:•The development of renewables over the past 10 years in Australia•The government and the private sector’s roles in achieving the 1.5 degrees goal in Australia’s electricity system •Neara’s platform, its fit with other models, and the challenges of the gridSupport the show

In this episode we welcome Jan Pepper, CEO, Peninsula Clean Energy in a conversation with our Head of Advisory – US West, Felix Chow-Kambitsch and our Head of Research – US West, Kim Liu. The discussion focusses on clean energy in California, as the state transitions towards its commitment of 100% clean electricity by 2045. Jan has been working on renewable energy in California for the last 30 years. She is now CEO of Peninsula Clean Energy, a Community Choice Aggregation agency for San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos. Under Jan’s leadership since its inception in 2016, Peninsula Clean Energy has been leading the industry with its unprecedented goal for a California load-serving entity to procure 100% renewable energy 24/7 by 2025.Main topics include:•The role of CCAs in the energy transition•PCE’s goal to deliver 24/7 renewable power by 2025•Opportunities and challenges as California moves to 100% zero-carbonSupport the show

This week we have a special episode on Energy Unplugged in which we welcome Daniel Breuer, Partner at Osborne Clarke in a conversation with our Co-Head of Advisory Central Europe, Thekla von Bülow. The episode is preparing for our Renewables Summit Berlin 2023 taking place tomorrow, Thursday 11th of May in Berlin, Germany. The topic of the event is ‘Coordinating the German State and Market: Policies and Strategies to Reach 80% Renewables by 2030’ and Daniel is one of our speakers at the event. Daniel will be participating in one of the panel discussions entitled ‘Uncovering Optimal Pricing Mechanisms and Navigating Impacts of Regulatory Interventions on the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Markets’. Daniel heads Osborne Clarke Germany’s Energy & Utility practice. He advises clients on all energy and regulatory matters with a particular emphasis on renewable energy projects (from greenfield development to repowering), direct marketing and PPA structures (corporate, utility and financial), energy trading compliance, battery storage and (green) hydrogen and the digital transformation of the energy industry.The podcast episode is a pre-discussion of the topics we will touch upon on at our Renewables Summit Berlin 2023. We hope to see you there!Main topics include:•The PPAs market in the last 2-3 years starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and going through the energy crisis•The impact of price caps on the recent PPAs transactions in Germany •Regulatory interventions and their impact on the PPA marketsSupport the show

Melissa Gander, COO of Kaluza, discusses OVO Energy's growth, Kaluza's real-time SaaS platform, scaling the platform internationally, and the role of EV manufacturers in domestic flexibility.

In this episode we’re delighted to welcome Chris Hansen, State Senator for Colorado in a conversation with our Head of USA, Oliver Kerr.Chris entered politics in 2016, he had a long career in the energy sector, both in academia and industry, he’s an energy expert by training, with a master degree from MIT, and a PhD from Oxford University.Oliver and Chris discuss:* The energy transition in Colorado and the role government has to play* The role for markets in the energy transition* The progress of decarbonisation wider in the USSupport the show

Join Hugo Batten, Managing Director in Australia at Aurora, in an exciting episode of the podcast dedicated to the Australian Energy Market. With special guests Skipp Williamson, Managing Director at Partners in Performance, and Brian Innes, Global Technical Director specializing in energy transformation practice, this episode delves into the challenges and opportunities for large energy users in Australia to decarbonize their electricity supply.Skipp Williamson, named by the Australian Financial Review as the 2019 most influential consultant, shares her insights on how she sees decarbonization as an opportunity rather than a challenge for large energy users, which derives significant cost reduction and increased productivity. The discussion also touches upon the importance of hybrid solutions and supply chain optimizations for big industrial users in the global market, including South Africa and Europe.The episode also explores the complex coal closure process in Australia over the last decade and the role of technology and service in driving energy transition. The podcast highlights Australia's strong policy thinking and appetite for change, while acknowledging that implementation may lag behind other countries like the UK and New Zealand.The role of governance and the need for the right mechanisms and incentives for investment reliability are also discussed, with a focus on the quality of carbon offsets in Australia, praised globally due to policies like The Safeguard Mechanism, implemented by the Australian government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial facilities in the energy sector.Don't miss this informative and thought-provoking episode on the Australian Energy Market, packed with insights from industry experts and leaders in the field. Tune in now to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and policy landscape in Australia's energy transition journey.Support the show

In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Jeanne Soh - Head of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Structured Finance Department Asia Pacific, SMBC, Jason Humphreys - Partner Singapore, Allen Overy and Rowan von Spreckelsen - Principal at Research Analytics, Aurora in a discussion with our Managing Director for Australia Hugo Batten on some of the major challenges and opportunities in Asia Pacific Region for energy project finance. This episode is the third in a series on global project finance, organised in partnership with SMBC Group. With a number of 4 episodes covering Europe, Australia, Asia and the US, this series is hosted by Aurora, with guests from SMBC Group, various law firms and Aurora.The APAC region has varying levels of development when it comes to financing alternative energy solutions, with different markets exhibiting different levels of activity in energy and project finance based on technologies and geographies. Taiwan has shown increased interest in offshore wind, and its regulatory environment is favourable. Corporate PPAs are expected to be crucial in Taiwan, which has a clear regulatory framework for offshore wind. However, implementation may take some time.India has high investment and growth in alternative energy solutions, driven by demand from C&I customers, with a focus on hybrid-type solutions. Vietnam has many investors interested in its energy solutions, and has already been a leader in the region due to its solar capacity additions as part of its coal phase-out.Indonesia has room to grow in terms of renewable energy deployment, but has faced challenges with the tendering process and achieving grid-connected PPAs. There is also little visibility on how the carbon trading mechanism for coal plants will be implemented.Japan's corporate PPA market has seen a lot of interest, with batteries also becoming a major focus. However, there are concerns regarding the deliverability of some of the government targets, particularly given policy uncertainty and commodity price fluctuations.Support the show

In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Julian Nebreda, CEO & President of Fluence, in a conversation with our Head of USA, Oliver Kerr and our Head of Advisory, US West, Felix Chow-Kambitsch. Julian leads the Fluence team and its efforts to accelerate energy storage adoption globally. Prior to joining Fluence, he had a distinguished career at the AES Corporation serving as President of the South America Strategic Business Unit and other multiple positions. Julian has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry as well as a remarkable expertise as a Fluence board member since September 2021.Main topics include:•The outlook for battery storage globally going forward •The evolution of battery business model and to what extent business ownership models need to change •The impact of the Inflation Reduction Act •How easy it is to scale battery optimisation in-houseSupport the show

This week on Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Daisuke Tsujimoto, co-founder of Renova Inc – a Japanese renewable and storage developer. Joined by our Managing Director of APAC & California, Hugo Batten, and Rowan von Spreckelsen, our Head of New Markets in APAC, this discussion focuses on the trajectory and strategy of Renova, the evolution of Japan’s power markets, and the politics and policies of energy security in Japan.Main topics include:•Market reforms in Japan including switching from Feed-in-Tariffs to Feed-in-Premiums and introduction of 20 yr capacity market•The future of Japan’s nuclear fleet•Network access reform and the challenge of connecting renewables and batteries in parts of Japan•Future demand for hydrogen and ammonia in JapanSupport the show