Aurora Energy Research Podcast

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss renewables and storage development in the US and Australian markets. We are delighted to welcome Declan Flanagan, Founder & CEO of Bluestar Energy Capital, in conversation with our Managing Director for APAC & California, Hugo Batten, and our Research Lead for US West, Kimberly Liu.Prior to founding and directing Bluestar Energy Capital, Declan served as EVP at Ørsted and CEO of Ørsted’s onshore renewables business. He was also the Founder & CEO of Lincoln Clean Energy (acquired by Ørsted in 2018). Declan has led over $10 billion in capital investment in global clean energy and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BSc from the University of Galway.Main topics include the following:• Consequences of rising financing costs and supply chain issues for renewables and storage• Structural opportunities in the WECC region• Grid issues in Australia and potential solutionsSupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and explore how this space is gathering momentum as its pivotal role in supporting the Energy Transition becomes increasingly recognised. We are pleased to have Robert Todd, Managing Director at CIBC Capital Markets, join us in conversation with our Head of Research for the UK & Ireland, Marc Hedin.Robert joined CIBC three years ago to help expand their advisory platform activities globally, with recent experiences across offshore wind (floating & fixed), onshore wind, solar, energy storage (LDES and battery), hydrogen, and synfuels (e-methanol). Prior to CIBC, he held positions at HSBC and Barclays Capital.Main topics include the following:• LDES technologies and their new applications• The best markets to develop LDES• Financing and bankability of LDES projectsSupport the show

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Andy Bowman, Founder & CEO of Jupiter Power, discussing renewables in the US with our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr.Over his 25-year career in renewables, Andy has had executive responsibility for more than 3,600 MW of wind and solar projects and 1,400 MWh of energy storage projects which are currently operational or under construction. Prior to founding and managing Jupiter Power, he was CEO and founder of Pioneer Green Energy, Chief Development Officer at E.On Climate & Renewables, SVP Development at Airtricity, and CEO and founder of Renewable Generation Inc. Notably, he is also the author of “The West Texas Power Plant That Saved the World.”Main topics include the following:The role of capital and infrastructure in both creating and combating climate changeThe role of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and industrial policy in supporting domestic labour and manufacturingThe US battery storage marketSupport the show

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Craig Francis, CEO of Genex Power, discussing renewables and storage development in the Australian market with our Managing Director for APAC and California, Hugo Batten, and our Research Lead for Australia, James Ha. Craig is an experienced leader with a career spanning over 15 years in financial markets as well as a deep knowledge of the energy sector. He joined Genex in 2017 to lead the commercial development of the Company’s portfolio, being appointed CFO in 2021, and CEO in 2023. Prior to Genex, Craig was part of the corporate finance team at Cantor Fitzgerald Europe in the UK, where he focused on advising clients in the energy and natural resources sectors. He also worked at RFC Ambrian and Helmsec Global Capital. Main topics include the following:• Pumped hydro in Australia and its economics• The renewable and storage development landscape in the National Electricity Market (NEM)• Policy and market frameworks in AustraliaSupport the show

On this week’s Energy Unplugged episode, Ryan Alexander, our Research Lead for European Power Markets, welcomes our colleagues Eva Zimmermann, Associate and Lead for Flexible Energy and Guillermo Ríos, Research Analytics Associate, to disclose the main insights from our European Battery Markets Attractiveness Report.Europe is an immensely promising region for investment in batteries, driven by ambitious decarbonisation targets and projected exponential growth in renewables. Make the most of this booming market with the 3rd edition of the European Battery Markets Attractiveness Report releasing next week! This highly anticipated report provides insights on investment trends, policy environments, value drivers, and project economics, helping you conduct initial market scanning to identify the most attractive European markets for investment in batteries.Key topics include the following:Identifying the top three markets in Europe, the reasons behind their prominence, and Germany's standing in comparison.What

This week on Energy Unplugged, Ralph Johnson, Head of UK Business Development, Habitat Energy discusses battery storage optimisation in GB and globally with our Global Software Solutions Director, Mateusz Wronski.Ralph is responsible for originating and managing Habitat Energy’s strategic partnerships in the UK. He is an expert in battery storage and brings over 15 years of experience working in the energy sector. Previously, Ralph held senior positions at Reactive Technologies and EDF, where he worked across supply-side, renewables, pricing, risk and financial modelling.Main topics include the following:• What is a good battery optimiser?• Strategies of battery asset owners• The future of the battery market: optimisers, asset owners, and market saturation & reformsSupport the show

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Michael Terrell, Senior Director for Energy and Climate, Google, for a discussion with Oliver Kerr, our Head of North America, focusing on “the 24/7 goal”.Michael leads Google’s efforts to decarbonise its global operations and value chain. In his previous role as Global Director of Energy, he spearheaded the company’s commitment to operate on 24/7 carbon free energy by 2030. Additionally, Michael serves as Board Chair of the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance (CEBA), which he co-founded in 2018. Prior to joining Google, he served in the US government, including at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Main topics include the following:• Power consumption of data centres and the role of machine learning and flexibility• What does the 24/7 goal mean and what are the pros and cons associated with making it achievable?• Insights into upcoming developments on the policy side of the energy landscapeSupport the show

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 cruc

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

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 USSupport 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 compari

This week on Energy Unplugged, Igor Fonseca, Head of Power, Santander Brazil Project Finance discusses project finance in Brazil’s power sector with our Founder & CEO, John Feddersen.Over the past 11 years, Igor has worked within Santander’s Project Finance team following his positions at HSBC and Credit Agricole. At Santander, Igor has been covering the Power sector, executing and arranging several financial advisory mandates. This has amounted to investments over USD 10 billion and a total installed capacity over 20 GW, including large hydros, gas-fired thermal power plants, wind farms, small hydros, photovoltaic and concentrated solar power plants in Brazil.Main topics include the following:• Project finance in Brazil• 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 projectsSupport the show

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 thro

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 Europ

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 project

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we delve into the intricacies of revenue strategy for renewable portfolio managers, focusing specifically on the topic of power purchase agreements (PPAs). We are pleased to be joined by Pierre Bartholin, Senior Director, Glennmont Partners in conversation with our Co-Head of Advisory in Central Europe, Thekla von Bülow.With more than 12 years of experience in the carbon and power markets and having contributed to pioneering business models within SG CIB, Solvay, Lightsource BP and GE, Pierre joined Glennmont Partners in 2021 as Head of Revenue. In the past years he has been developing power-market-revenue solutions to secure revenue generation from renewable assets, such as PPA structures with corporate offtakers and utilities. Main topics include the following:• Understanding the significance of PPAs and their growing importance for funds and renewable developers across Europe• Revenue strategy for renewables portfolio managers• Perspectives on PPAs from the different marke

In this Energy Unplugged episode Camilla Nilsson, CEO of Kyoto Group and Alejandro Zerain, Project Leader at Aurora, discuss long duration energy storage with Ana Barillas, our Head of Iberia and LATAM.Dedicated to sustainability and clean technologies, especially in energy and agriculture, Camilla has extensive international industrial experience from her leadership roles in large international companies. Her background includes experience in multinational joint ventures, aggressive turn-arounds, and building ambitious start-ups. Prior to joining Kyoto Group, Camilla worked with Yara International and held leadership positions at Norsk Hydro ASA, Umoe BioEnergy ASA, and Agrinos AS. Main topics include the following:• What is digital farming?• Long-duration energy storage, including both power and heat solutions• The potential competition that thermal storage might face in the futureSupport the show

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we discuss the context and challenges of the Brazilian power sector. We are pleased to be joined by Rogério Jorge, CEO of AES Brasil, in conversation with our Founder & CEO, John Feddersen.Backed by 24 years of experience in the energy sector, Rogério has led different areas in the energy distribution, generation and commercialisation sectors, including the development of new businesses, the origination and structuring of greenfield projects, and the participation in mergers and acquisitions. He holds a degree in Law from Mackenzie and an International MBA from FIA/USP, among other specializations in Brazil and the USA.Main topics include the following:•Policy in the Brazilian power sector•The importance of developing gas infrastructure in Brazil•Brazil’s network capacity and reliabilitySupport the show

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we discuss the transition to a future in which the role of electricity is scaled up in the global energy mix, powered by low-emission solutions. We’re pleased to be joined by Alan Finkel, Chair of the Low Emissions Technology Investment Advisory Council and James Ha, our Research Lead for Australia, in conversation with Hugo Batten, our Managing Director for APAC & California.Alan is, among many things, a neuroscientist, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020, during which time he led the National Electricity Market Review and developed Australia’s first National Hydrogen Strategy. The ideas presented in his latest book, titled “Powering Up: Unleashing the Clean Energy Supply Chain”, are the focus of today’s discussion. Main topics include the following:• Supply chain bottlenecks, and what the government can do to mitigate this and other risks• Australia’s opportunities to become an export superpower for electrostat

In this Energy Unplugged episode, Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy and Caroline Still, Senior Associate in our Advisory team, discuss the decarbonisation of homes and buildings with Richard Howard, our Global Research Director.Emma started her career in the real-estate industry and, over time, became the manager of a major house-building and development company. Alongside this, she is part of a community land trust which implements low-carbon solutions at the domestic and settlement scale. Presently, at Octopus, she is at the forefront of developing customer propositions aimed to decarbonise homes and buildings.Main topics include the following:• Barriers at the individual household scale that curb the progress towards the decarbonisation of homes and buildings• The various technologies that have the potential to replace traditional oil and gas boilers• The role of policy both in GB and other European countries in enabling the decarbonisation of homes and buildingsSupport the show