Aurora Energy Research Podcast

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Buddy Rizer, Executive Director for the Department of Economic Development in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. He discusses data centre demand and its impact on power systems with our Head of USA East, Julia Hoos, and Zachary Edelen, Senior Associate in our Research team.Buddy is largely credited as the architect of "Data Center Alley"—the world’s largest concentration of data centre load. He leads the agency responsible for encouraging growth and developing relationships with Loudoun’s business community. During his tenure, Buddy and his team have attracted more than $60 billion in new commercial investment and over 50,000 new jobs.The main topics include the following:The future of data centre demand in terms of growth and its absorption by the systemIncreases in power prices and their impact on local data centresThe feasibility of serving data centre demand with 100% green power, and the extent to which this is already happeningSuppor

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Agnes Maria da Costa, Director at the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL). She joins our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas, to discuss policies for the Brazilian electricity market, including capacity reserve auctions. Agnes has been a Director at ANEEL since December 2022. Before this role, she spent almost eighteen years at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, where she held positions such as advisor, special advisor, program director, deputy head, and head of the Special Advisory Board on Economic Affairs. Throughout her career, Agnes has played a significant role in shaping energy policy in Brazil. In this episode, we cover the following main topics:What are the electricity market policies where Brazil has been a global leader?What is the future of electricity sector regulation in Brazil?How do capacity auctions work in Brazil, and why is more flexible and adaptable regulation needed?Support the show

On our 200th episode of Energy Unplugged, which also marks our first India-focused episode, we are delighted to welcome a very special guest: Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. He takes a deep dive into the Indian market with Dan Monzani, Managing Director at Aurora, who oversees our activities in India.Mr. Bery is an eminent economist, academic, writer, and policy leader who has spent the better part of the last three decades at the World Bank, eventually becoming their Lead Economist. Between 2012 and 2016, he served as Shell’s Chief Economist. In India, he has been a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and the Reserve Bank of India’s Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy.NITI Aayog is both India’s Ministry of Planning and its apex public policy think tank, bringing together senior Union Ministers and all the Chief Ministers of the states. Mr. Bery currently serves as NITI Aayog’s Vice Chairman, reporting directly to the Prime Minister, who acts ex officio as its Chair.M

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Flemming Sørensen, Vice President for Europe, LevelTen Energy, and Ángel Sanz, Head of Energy Markets Iberia, ENGIE, analysing the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market in Europe with our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas.This episode was recorded at the LevelTen Energy European Forum, a key event in the PPA industry that brought together leaders and innovators from across the renewable energy sector. This forum has become the ideal environment for sellers, buyers, financiers, and advisors to debate, exchange ideas, and collaborate on building a sustainable future.Main topics include the following:The likelihood of seeing price reopeners or renegotiation of PPAs in the current environment in EuropeGrid curtailment in Europe and its consequences for PPAsThe impact of inflation on PPA negotiationsSupport the show

On this week’s Energy Unplugged episode, the Aurora team analyses the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in Northern Ireland. Salman Khan, Principal in our Oxford Advisory team, welcomes for the discussion our colleagues Steph Unsworth, Senior Associate and Product Manager for I-SEM, and Michael Joos, also Senior Associate manager of the project Aurora is delivering to the Northern Irish Government to support the design of this new scheme.Main topics include the following:Why is a support scheme needed in Northern Ireland?What is the design of the new scheme, and what are its key features?How is the new scheme expected to impact the I-SEM market?Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, discussing the UK’s climate targets with our Managing Director for the UK & Ireland and European Hydrogen, Dan Monzani.A world-renowned climate policy expert, Chris is the Chief Executive of The Carbon Trust, a global climate consultancy dedicated to accelerating the transition to a decarbonised future. In his previous role as Chief Executive of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, Chris led the independent advice to put the UK’s Net Zero target into law. He frequently speaks on the urgent need to confront climate change and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow.Main topics include the following:The ambitions of the UK’s Carbon Budgets and their achievability Whether climate targets are being scaled back because they are impossible to achieve or because of a lack of political will to deliver themThe mission and role of the Carbon Tr

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Alice Delahunty, President of National Grid Electricity Transmission, in conversation with Rebecca McManus, Senior Associate and our Renewables Lead for the European Power Markets Research team. The discussion focuses on the importance of energy networks in the transition to Net-Zero in the UK and other European power markets.Alice is responsible for developing, building, maintaining, and operating the electricity transmission network in England and Wales, playing a critical role in enabling and delivering against the UK government’s Net-Zero commitments. Prior to this, she held a number of senior roles at E.ON, including Head of Operations for the offshore wind business.Main topics include the following:What are the challenges and opportunities for the UK and wider European energy networks as part of the energy transition?What is The Great Grid Upgrade and, specifically, what is its impact on offshore wind networks connection?How do we address

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Nicole Yazon, AVP for Strategy and deputy lead for the Corporate Strategy team at Aboitiz Power, analysing the Philippine power market with our Managing Director for APAC & California, Hugo Batten, and our Market Lead for Wider Asia, Patrick Tan.At Aboitiz Power, Nicole works with the C-suite to shape portfolio strategy and advises senior leaders of the company’s subsidiaries on their business unit strategies. Previously, she worked in the downstream oil, chemicals, gas, and power sectors across Europe, Africa, and Asia, focusing on energy transition, utilities and energy management, and sustainability.Main topics include the following:Opportunities and challenges in the Philippine power marketThe role of gas and nuclear in the PhilippinesReliability and cost of energy VS prioritising the decarbonisation of the Philippine power systemSupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Vibhu Kaushik, Senior Vice President & Global Head of Energy, and Susan Uthayakumar, Chief Energy & Sustainability Officer, both at Prologis, in conversation with our Global Research Director, Richard Howard. The focus of the discussion is on the sustainability and decarbonisation potential of the logistics real estate sector.Prologis is a global leader in the logistics real estate industry. As the world's largest owner and operator of logistics real estate, with over 1.2 billion square feet of warehouse space under management across 19 countries, it plays a significant role in helping customers decarbonise their operations. Prologis achieves this by providing renewable energy solutions through solar power, energy storage, EV charging infrastructure, and building electrification. In 2022, Prologis ranked #2 in USA for on-site solar power generation.Main topics include the following:What is the sustainability vision for the logistics

On this Energy Unplugged episode, we are pleased to welcome Johanna Schiele, Policy Officer at the EU Commission, DG CLIMA, discussing the results of the European Hydrogen Bank auction with Hanns Koenig, our Managing Director for Central Europe, and Emma Woodward, our European Hydrogen Market Lead.As a Policy Officer at the EU Commission, DG CLIMA, Johanna works on designing and implementing EU-wide auctions and new funding instruments at the EU Innovation Fund. Prior to joining the Commission, Johanna worked in the power sector and as a researcher on auctions and clean tech funding. She holds a BA from Oxford University and an MPA from Harvard University.Main topics include the following:What is the design of the European Hydrogen Bank’s auctions, and how does it compare to other support auctions across Europe?What are the outcomes of the European Hydrogen Bank auction, and how do they compare to other European auctions’ results?What are the main challenges for bidders when placing their bids in various auct

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower, discussing the deployment of renewables in the UK with our Global Research Director, Richard Howard.As the CEO of ScottishPower, Keith oversees all of the company's activities in the UK. Over the past twelve months, he has been a member of the No10 Business Council, the UK Government’s Investment Trade Advisory Group, and has been a COP26 Business Leader. Before joining ScottishPower, Keith held positions at major financial institutions, including The Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Life, and worked as a management consultant with Ernst & Young.Key topics discussed in this episode include:Challenges around grid connections and curtailment in GBLocational pricing: is it helpful to provide this kind of incentive?The UK’s ambitious wind targets: are they deliverable?Support the show

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On this week’s Energy Unplugged episode, the Aurora team analyses grid modelling in APAC, both from a policy and investment perspective.Hugo Batten, our Managing Director for APAC, welcomes our colleagues Kento Yoshimura, Market Lead, Japan; Rowan von Spreckelsen, Head of New Markets, APAC; and James Ha, Research Lead, Australia to discuss the following:• Policy debates around locational price signals• Modelling debates around locational price signals, including its quality and reliability• Market responses to policy changes and grid issuesSupport the show

On this Energy Unplugged episode, we are pleased to welcome David Watson, CEO and Co-Founder of Ohme, discussing the future role of electric vehicles (EVs) and smart charging with Salman Khan, Principal at our Oxford Advisory team.David created Ohme with the aim of making it the world’s most trusted smart charging platform. Today, Ohme is the UK’s fastest growing smart charging company and the official charging provider for the Volkswagen Group in the UK and Ireland, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Polestar in the UK. Prior to co-founding Ohme, David also co-founded Temporis Capital.Main topics include the following: • Market signals required for the successful deployment of smart chargers• Smart charging to serve the grid—GB energy market opportunities• Smart charging to serve the end-user—Retail Electricity MarketsSupport the show

On this Energy Unplugged episode we welcome Charlotte Johnson, Global Director of Markets, Kraken discussing flexible assets, their markets and, more specifically, batteries with Evangelos Gazis, our Head of Southeastern Europe.Being part of the Octopus Energy Group, Kraken is a cloud-based technology platform that uses machine learning and AI to control and optimize distributed energy resources such as batteries, EVs and heat pumps in response to real-time fluctuations in demand and supply from intermittent renewable generation. Charlotte is passionate about accelerating the journey to net zero and regularly publishes engaging thought leadership material to a wide range of industry stakeholders.Main topics include the following:Flexible energy assets: what are they and why do we need them?Market design and regulation for storage and batteries, and examples of successful policy supportThe role of software and AI in achieving an optimal dispatchSupport the show

On this Energy Unplugged episode, we welcome Anna von Bremen, Partner and Head of Energy Innovation at Osborne Clarke, discussing the integration of storage systems with renewable energy sources with Thaddäus Kreisig, Project Leader in our Berlin Advisory team.As the Head of Energy Innovation at Osborne Clarke, Anna advises companies in the energy industry on regulatory and energy law issues and aspects of digitalisation in the energy sector. Additionally, she conducts complex regulatory litigation on behalf of her clients which range from energy producers, energy trading houses, industrial companies, and utilities. In 2023, she was included in the renowned JUVE list of "40 under 40", an accolade reserved for 40 leading lawyers across all sectors.Main topics include the following:Economics and policy of battery co-location for renewables projects in GermanyGreen and grey power, and the impact of their definitions on their respective business modelsRegulatory treatment of grid curtailment for co-loca

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we welcome Ruth Herbert, CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), discussing Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) with Caroline Still, Project Leader at our Advisory team in Oxford.Ruth has served as the CEO of the CCSA since 2021, following a two-decade career in the public sector. Notably, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Low Carbon Contracts Company, where she served as Director of Strategy & Development, overseeing the implementation of Contracts for Difference (CfD) and Capacity Market initiatives. Additionally, from 2008 to 2010, Ruth led the UK's negotiations of the EU Directive on CO2 storage and its international Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) policy.Main topics include the following:The role of CCUS in various key sectors, including power and hydrogen CCS-related policy gaps and funding in the power and industrial sectors in the UKGlobally, what are the hot spots for CCUS development and why?Support the show

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we welcome Jeremy Bentham, Former Head of Shell Scenarios and Co-Chair at the World Energy Council, discussing the role of forecasts in the energy transition with our Head of Research for European Hydrogen and Global Energy Markets, Anise Ganbold.With over 40 years of profound experience in the energy industry, Jeremy Bentham holds notable positions including senior advisory roles in various international organisations and serves as a non-executive company director. He has also been a commissioner on the Energy Transitions Commission and the inaugural Chair of the European Commission’s Advisory Council on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. Currently, Jeremy is a Senior Fellow with the Mission Possible Partnership and has recently launched his free fortnightly "Dodo Club Newsletter".Main topics include the following:• The combination of forecasting, with educational and influencing activities• The Two Degrees view• Tips to set successful strategiesSupport the show

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Andrew Doyle, Executive Director, MUFG, discussing hydrogen project financing with our European Hydrogen Market Lead, Emma Woodward.Andrew brings with him over 20 years of project finance experience, having joined MUFG in 2011. His expertise spans a wide range of projects, from large thermal power and renewables ventures across the UK and Europe, and Middle East as well as offshore transmission projects. Additionally, Andrew serves as a member of the Hydrogen Advisory Council and was seconded to the former UK Department of Energy and Climate Change in 2009.Main topics include the following:• Financing for both hydrogen production projects and transport & storage projects• The impact of supply chain constraints and higher cost environments on hydrogen projects• What are the countries at the forefront of hydrogen policy and why?Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss the changes, challenges, and future outlook of the hydrogen landscape. We are pleased to have Dr Sopna Sury, Chief Operating Officer Hydrogen, RWE Generation SE, join us in conversation with our Lead Expert for Hydrogen, Dilara Caglayan.Sopna is responsible for the group-wide coordination and expansion of RWE's hydrogen activities and, under her leadership, RWE has set a growth target of 2 GW electrolyser capacity by 2030, supported by a 10 GW project pipeline. Prior to RWE, she held positions at McKinsey & Company, E.ON and Uniper. Sopna holds a degree in Business Economics and a Doctorate from the University of Witten/Herdecke.Main topics include the following:• An outlook of the hydrogen space’s situation over recent years• The biggest challenges hindering hydrogen market rollout, from policy, regulation, and public support perspectives• Regional competitiveness within Europe, and the EU's Response to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Suppor