Plugged In: the energy news podcast

This is the fourth episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. In this episode, Richard sits down with Jarand Rystad, CEO and Founder of energy research and intelligence company, Rystad Energy.They talk about the changes in China’s oil demand, the production - or lack - of hydrogen, and the challenges with battery and solar power in Europe.Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuest: Jarand Rystad - CEO and Founder, Rystad EnergyEditors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah KnowlesProducer: Sarah Knowles

This is the third episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. In this episode, Richard speaks to Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, CEO of Finnish TSO, Fingrid. They discuss the ongoing issues with balancing Finland’s power market, the oversupply of renewable energy in the Nordics, and the future of Finland’s nuclear energy programme. Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuest: Asta Sihvonen-Punkka - CEO, FingridEditors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah KnowlesProducer: Sarah Knowles

This is the second episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. In this episode, Richard interviews Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of Eon, about Europe’s power market. They discuss the boom in renewable energy, the issues surrounding security of supply, and the importance of investing in Europe’s grid infrastructure. Presenter: Richard Sverisson - Editor-in-Chief Guest: Leonhard Birnbaum - CEO of EonEditors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah KnowlesProducer: Sarah Knowles

This is the first episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. In this episode, Richard speaks to Dhara Vyas, CEO of Energy UK about the state of the UK’s energy sector one year on from the Labour government coming into power. They discuss the UK’s renewable energy targets, the UK government’s green energy policies, and the problem of rising energy prices. Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief Guest: Dhara Vyas - CEO of Energy UKEditors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah KnowlesProducer: Sarah Knowles

The US, China, and now Europe are seeing a surge in data centres as big tech firms and other businesses develop their AI models. But, will these data centres cause the dramatic rise in power consumption that many are predicting? In this episode, Richard goes deep into the subject with data centre experts from RISE and Greenscale to understand who the tenants of these data centres are, what challenges the tech and energy industries need to overcome together, and how data centres will continue to evolve with the exponential growth in AI. Presenter: Richard SverrissonContributor: Alina Trabattoni - Italy Correspondent, Montel NewsGuests:Tor Björn Minde - Head of ICE Datacenter Unit at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)Liam Newcombe - Senior Vice President of Product, Energy Strategy and Innovation, GreenscaleEditors: Bled MaliqiProducer: Sarah Knowles

This week, LNG prices rose to a 10-week high in Europe in response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.  With the shadow of a threat from Iran to close its vital waterway for global LNG shipments, in this episode, we discuss the likelihood of this happening, the political power dynamics at play and the implications for global energy markets.Richard speaks to Eurasia Group’s Head of Energy and Kpler’s Principal LNG Analyst about the changes in shipping movements that we have seen around the strait in response to Israel and Iran’s attacks, and what this tells us about how the energy markets have so far reacted.Host: Richard SverrissonContributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuests:Laura Page - Principal LNG Analyst, KplerHenning Gloystein - Practice Head of Energy, Climate & Resources, Eurasia GroupEditor: Bled MaliqiProducer: Sarah Knowles

Joining the discussion are Priyanka Shinde, a Nordic market expert from Montel Analytics; Vesa Ahoniemi, Chief Commercial Officer at Winda Energy; Riku Merikoski, Senior Power Analyst at Axpo Solutions AG; and Suvi Paaso, Managing Director of Power Deriva. They dive into the phenomenon of negative power prices in the Nordics, detailing the effects on renewable energy investments and wind power production. The guests also unpack the evolving role of nuclear energy, market flexibility, and potential future trends in energy pricing.

In May, Danish energy producer, Orsted, pulled out of the UK’s Hornsea 4 project, citing "economic reasons", and earlier this week, industry leaders in The Netherlands have expressed their serious concerns about the high costs and potential delays which threaten the delivery of key offshore wind projects.In this episode, Richard speaks to the CEO of WindEurope about the state of Europe’s renewable energy sector. He also speaks to a panel of experts from the UK and The Netherlands - including a former Dutch MP - about how delays and rules set by governments are causing serious issues for the industry. Presenter: Richard SverrissonContributor: Karolin Schaps - Dutch Reporter, Montel NewsGuests: Giles Dickson - CEO, WindEuropeFintan Devenney - Senior Energy Analyst, MontelJan Vos - Chairman, NedZeroBas Sudmeijer - MD, Boston Consulting GroupEditor: Bled MaliqiProducer: Sarah Knowles

Emeric de Vigan, Managing Director at 42 Advisors, and Ana Barillas, Managing Director of Iberia and LATAM at Aurora Energy Research, dive into the tension between Spain and France over energy interconnections. They dissect the recent blackout in the Iberian Peninsula and the challenges of local resistance and high costs. The conversation also touches on Spain's renewable energy potential and France's reliance on nuclear power, exploring the political dynamics that complicate energy collaboration between the two nations.

As Europe eyes an end to Russian gas imports by 2027, fresh geopolitical tensions are reshaping energy markets once again. Could Trump’s mediation efforts result in a ceasefire in the Ukraine and could Russian gas re-enter Europe—directly or via shadow routes?In this week’s episode, Richard speaks to two policy experts about what peace versus a ceasefire could really mean for gas prices, energy security, and the green transition. How do emerging interdependencies with the US, Qatar, and Africa shift Europe’s leverage—and what happens when offshore wind, solar, and LNG become pawns in great power rivalries?Presenter: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsContributor: Andrés Cala – LNG Correspondent, Montel NewsGuests: Francesco Sassi – Postdoctoral Fellow, University of OsloTobias Federico – Chief Product Officer, MontelEditor: Bled MaliqiProducer: Sarah Knowles