Plugged In: the energy news podcast

Italy plans to exit coal-fired power generation by 2025, but what can replace the fossil fuel? Listen to a discussion on the outlook for green hydrogen as well natural gas in a country that is often beset by red tape and lengthy permitting processes. Guest: Matteo Mazzoni, Head of Market Strategy, Snam

The European Commission is preparing new energy and climate legislation – possibly running into thousands of pages – which it will propose in July.Listen to a discussion on the new rules for the carbon market, the CO2 border tax as well as for renewables and energy efficiency.  What kind of changes will lobbyists manage to impose on the final laws over the coming months?Guest: Siobhan Hall, Brussels Correspondent, Montel.

Nordic wholesale electricity prices have soared compared to last year amid cold weather and exports to Germany, despite high hydropower stocks.Listen to a discussion on the huge internal price differences in the region's 12 price zones, and the reasons for the spread with Germany in forward prices. Is carbon the key driver, and why are Norwegian hydropower producers saving water for use later in the year?Guest:Eylert Ellefsen, Senior Analyst, EQTor Reier Lilleholt, Head of Analysis, VolueSigbjorn Seland, Chief Analyst, Storm Geo 

As economies jolt back from pandemic-led destruction, there are growing concerns about inflation. An influx of speculative activity in the EU carbon market – which has whipsawed CO2 prices to record highs above EUR 56/t and then below 50/t in a matter of days – suggests investors may be using the ETS as a hedge against inflation.Listen in to this week’s debate. Guests: Ingvild Sorhus, Lead EU Carbon Analyst, RefinitivTrevor Sikorski, Head of Natural Gas, Oil and Carbon Research, Energy AspectsBjarne Schieldrop, Chief Analyst Commodities, SEB

The EU’s countdown to net-zero emissions by 2050 will demand significant changes to many industrial sectors and will herald a host of new policy frameworks and tools to spur low-carbon technology across the bloc of 27 nations.Tune in this week to hear about the EU executive’s industrial strategy as well as the ideological divide that pits dirigiste countries against those who favour a market-based approach.Guest: Giorgio Corbetta, Senior Associate Energy Practice, Global Counsel.

What a difference a year makes. In 2020 gas prices plunged to record lows, but this year they have rebounded dramatically, surging to multi-year highs on cooler weather, supply concerns and low storage. Listen to a discussion on whether Gazprom’s recent use of Ukrainian spare transit capacity was driven by geopolitics or economics, as well as other market developments, outages at LNG facilities and the short-term outlook.Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, MontelGuests: Wayne Bryan, Director, European Gas Research, Refinitiv.Iryna Sereda, Gas Analyst at Refinitiv.

Europe's CO2 market continues to break new records, almost daily. Ahead of a flurry of new legislative proposals from Brussels starting in June, key MEP Jytte Guteland highlights what lies ahead for ETS reform and why MEPs seek to end free allocation to industry as part of the carbon border tax proposals.Listen to a behind the scenes look at EU negotiations, which can often be marathons where only chocolate gets you to the end. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, MontelGuest: Jytte Guteland, MEP for the Social Democrats

Connecting 300 GW of offshore wind by 2050 will require a fresh configuration of bidding zones, and multilateral cooperation between countries, TSOs and utilities. Onshore, politics often trumps economics or physics, but will this be the case offshore? Listen to a discussion on bidding zones, green hydrogen and a look back at key decisions made in Brussels in recent years. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, MontelGuest: Bente Hagem, former Director Statnett, ex Chair of Entsoe board

The Nordic region has huge potential for the further expansion of renewable energy as more and more companies seek to procure new or “additional” green energy.Listen to a discussion on the current trends in PPAs and the risks of “cannibalisation”.Host:  Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, MontelGuests: Mia Bodin, Head of Analysis, Bodecker PartnersPaul Orstavik, Lead Originator, Renewable Energy Solutions, Kinect Energy

Germany faces an electricity capacity gap of up to 4 GW in 2023 and 2024 due to the country’s exit from both coal-fired and nuclear power generation. Listen to a discussion on how supply could be critically endangered and what direction energy policy could take should the Green party join the government following elections later this year.Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief Europe, MontelGuest: Konstantin Lenz, Professor for Energy Economics, University of applied sciences Erfurt and Business Development Manager, Volue