Aurora Energy Research Podcast

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Toby Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Offshore Renewables at Northland Power. Toby joins Marc Hedin, our Head of Research for the UK & Ireland,  for an in-depth discussion on the topic of offshore wind.Toby oversees global operations, delivery, and growth initiatives for offshore renewables at Northland Power. With over 25 years in the energy industry, he previously served as COO at Maple Power and held senior roles at RWE, including Project Director for the Gwynt y Môr and Galloper wind farms, and Director of Asset Management and Operations.Main topics include the following:The most time-consuming stages of offshore wind projects: engineering, planning, permitting, and grid connectionInvesting in offshore wind in a higher rates world: subsidy schemes and PPAsFloating offshore windSupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Akshay Kaul, Director General for Infrastructure at Ofgem. Akshay joins Tom Smout, Senior Associate in our GB Research team, for an in-depth discussion on building a grid ready to support the energy transition in Great Britain.Akshay has been with Ofgem since 2017. Before his current role, he served as Director of Networks, overseeing the economic regulation of Great Britain’s energy networks. His responsibilities included developing the next generation of onshore network price controls (known as RIIO2), regulating offshore transmission infrastructure, and advancing an ambitious cross-border interconnection programme through the cap and floor regime.Main topics include the following:What is the current state of the GB grid connection queue, and what led to the queue being so congested?What are the main proposals under consideration for improving the grid connection process, and why?How have things changed with a new UK government? How is Ofgem w

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Ethan Zindler, Climate Counselor at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he leads the Treasury’s Climate Hub. Ethan joins our Head of Advisory for the UK & Ireland, Brian Potskowski, and Lizzie Bonahoom, Associate in our U.S. Research team, to discuss the current landscape and future of the U.S. energy transition, especially in light of the upcoming November 5th election.Before joining the Treasury, Ethan served as Head of Americas at BloombergNEF (BNEF). He played a pivotal role in the creation of Climatescope, an annual public resource detailing clean energy investment conditions in emerging market economies since 2012. Ethan has also authored reports on climate and clean energy for organisations such as the Climate Investment Funds at the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations, among others.Main topics include the following:What is the progress to date for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and how could the upc

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome John Mushriqui, co-founder & CEO of InRange Energy, and Chris Pennington, Global Director of Energy and Sustainability at Iron Mountain Data Centers. They join our Market Lead for New York ISO & ISO New England, Anne Bettiol, to discuss power deliverability solutions for data centers.John, a lifelong entrepreneur, founded InRange based on his firsthand experience with the challenges of energy procurement processes. Meanwhile, Chris, in his role at Iron Mountain, defines what it means for a data center to be truly sustainable—addressing issues from water use to biodiversity, with clean power as the foundation.Key topics of discussion include:The opportunities and challenges data centers face todayHow can Behind the Meter (BTM) generation be used strategically to meet data center demand with clean electricityNuclear vs renewables regarding BTM generation to meet data center demand Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome John Pettigrew, Chief Executive, National Grid. He joins our Global Research Director, Richard Howard, to discuss the outlook for power systems in both the UK and the US, with a particular focus on the investment required in grid infrastructure in these markets.John has extensive experience in the utility sector. He joined National Grid as a graduate in 1991 and has progressed through many senior management roles. As Chief Executive, he has delivered transformational organisational and portfolio change, positioning National Grid to play a pivotal role in the energy transition and helping shape energy policy. John is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.Key topics include the following:The Great Grid UpgradeThe potential impact of the upcoming US election result on network investmentsRisks facing interconnection projects from technical, economic, regulatory, security, and market perspectivesSuppo

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In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Louise Oriol, Advisor, RTE (France's Transmission System Operator). She joins our Head of France, Pierre Dennery, and Jonathan Hoare, Senior Analyst in our French Research team, to discuss negative price hours in the French market.Louise is an expert on electricity regulatory issues and electricity markets with over 10 years of experience, that include having worked for the French Ministry of Energy in the Electricity Markets Office and then in the Renewable Energy Office. She became advisor to RTE’s Director of New Flexibilities for the Power System in 2022, dealing with flexibilities for balance of demand and supply, but also for solving congestions.Main topics include the following:What is driving negative price hours growth in France during 2024?How will actions by regulators, policymakers and private players affect negative price hours in the future?Would renewable energy participation in the balancing market during hours of negative p

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Brett Perlman, President and CEO of the Center for Houston’s Future. He joins our Head of US Central, Olivier Beaufils, to discuss the current state of the US hydrogen Industry.For the past seven years, Brett has been running the Center for Houston’s Future, particularly being involved in the development of Houston’s hydrogen hub. With a distinguished career in the US energy sector, Brett’s experience spans from consulting at McKinsey & Company to serving as a Commissioner on the Public Utility Commission of Texas, where he led the restructuring of the state’s electric utility industry.Key topics of discussion include:What is a hydrogen hub, and what kind of supply is Houston focusing on—blue, green, or a mix of both?Hydrogen exportsThe impact of emerging hydrogen markets on the power systemSupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Tim Jarratt, Group Executive of Market Development and Strategy at Ausgrid. He joins our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, and Head of Research for APAC, James Ha, to discuss the current state of the energy transition in Australia.Tim has a long and distinguished career in the energy sector. Before joining Ausgrid, he worked at National Grid, where he led the strategy team and served as Chief of Staff to the CEO. He has also held roles at Bain & Company, among other prestigious positions, and completed both his undergraduate and engineering PhD studies at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.Key topics include the following:A comparison of the energy transition in the UK, rest of Europe, and AustraliaAusgrid's vision for EV charging infrastructure, community batteries, and consumer tariffsInvestment and costs in Australian distribution networks Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Kevin O'Donovan, Vice President and Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Statkraft. He joins Robert Pearce, Senior Associate in our UK & Ireland Advisory team, to discuss the renewables landscape in Great Britain (GB).As part of Statkraft’s Europe business area, Kevin oversees wind, solar, battery, and grid services across the UK and Ireland. He holds an engineering degree from University College Cork and a master’s in renewable energy.Main topics include the following:How have recent political changes affected the sector in GB, and what is the likely impact on renewables deployment?GB’s position in the broader European energy transitionThe potential influence of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in supporting renewablesSupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, is joined by members of the Aurora team responsible for developing the analysis underpinning our market and grid forecasts for Korea.Just last month, the team celebrated the launch of Aurora's Korean Power & Renewables Market service at a live event in Seoul, attended by numerous market experts. As Korea goes through a period of immense transformation, our team will take you through the intricacies of energy in the country and what makes it unique.Key topics of discussion include the following:An overview of Korea's market, policy, and grid, along with the role of KEPCO and other key strategic considerations as the country navigates the challenges of achieving a Net Zero power systemThe long-term drivers and market outcomes in KoreaInsights from our long-term electricity market and grid forecasts for the regionFeedback from our Korean network on key challenges and strategic opportunitiesSupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Francisco Muñoz, Director of Research at Generadoras de Chile discussing Chile’s energy sector and its journey toward renewable energy integration with our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas.Generadoras de Chile is the trade association representing Chile’s power generation companies. In his role, Francisco leads a team that supports some of the world’s largest power generation companies as they navigate the evolving energy transition. With a career that includes consulting for various international organisations and private firms on market design, regulation, strategy, and planning, Francisco brings a wealth of expertise to the conversation. He also holds a Ph.D. in Energy Economics and Operations Research from Johns Hopkins University.Main topics include the following:An introduction to the Chilean power sector and the factors behind its high renewable energy integrationChallenges in regulation and market designThe future c

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance Partner at Milbank, to discuss the United States' role in the global energy transition. Joining him are our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr, and our USA West Market Lead, George Prassas.Allan is one of the world's leading project finance lawyers, with over 30 years of expertise across various sectors, including power and renewable energy, water, fuels, and digital infrastructure. He is a Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and has previously taught at the Haas School of Business. Additionally, he is a regular contributor to Forbes, where he covers topics related to energy, infrastructure, and climate.Key topics include:The shift towards domestic manufacturing and labour in the US and its impact on the cost and speed of the energy transitionThe regulatory environment in the US and its regional diversityThe upcoming election and

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Steffen Schülzchen, Founder & CEO, Entrix, discussing the current state and outlook of batteries in the German electricity market. Joining him are Thaddäus Kreisig, Project Leader from our Berlin Advisory team, and Eva Zimmermann, Associate in our European Research team.Entrix offers an AI-based trading and optimisation solution that helps owners of flexible energy assets to maximise the value of their investments. Before founding Entrix, Steffen was a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company's energy practice.Key topics covered in this episode include:Why are batteries important for the energy transition in Germany and how does battery trading work in the country?How will the various battery revenue streams develop in the future?How is revenue stacking and continuous intraday trading in Germany different from other EU markets, and what are the most interesting future markets?Support the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, discussing the Alberta energy and power landscape with our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr.Danielle Smith, who was sworn in as the 19th Premier of Alberta in 2022, previously served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Highwood and the leader of the Official Opposition. Before returning to politics, she built a successful career in media and business, most recently as President of the Alberta Enterprise Group. Danielle holds degrees in both Economics and English from the University of Calgary.Main topics include the following:Finding the right balance between decarbonisation, consumer affordability, and system reliabilityThe roles of markets and government in addressing system reliability challengesThe future of renewables in Alberta, with a focus on solar and wind energySupport the show

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Katan Hirachand, Chief Executive & Chief Country Officer of Société Générale India. Katan will be discussing project finance in India with our Managing Director responsible for our activities in the region, Dan Monzani.Katan oversees Société Générale’s Global Banking and Investor Solutions activities in India. With over two decades of global experience, he has held positions such as Co-head of Advisory and Project Finance for EMEA, and was responsible for the largest-ever project financing in Africa at USD 15.5 billion. Before joining Société Générale, Katan worked in commercial roles with BG Group in Brazil, Tunisia, Iran, and the UK.Main topics include the following:Why do state lenders have a prominent role in India, and what opportunities exist for private lenders?How are projects being influenced by the emergence of commercial and industrial PPAs and the design of round-the-clock renewable electricity auctions?What is the potential of t

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we're delighted to welcome Mateo Jaramillo, co-founder and CEO of Form Energy. Mateo joins our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr, and Zachary Edelen, a Senior Associate from our Austin office, to discuss long-duration battery storage.Before co-founding and directing Form Energy, Mateo served as the Vice President of Products and Programs for Tesla's stationary energy storage program. In this role, he was responsible for defining Tesla Energy's product line and business model definition, as well as overseeing global policy and business development. Prior to working at Tesla, Mateo was the Chief Operating Officer and a founding member of Gaia Power Technologies, a pioneering distributed energy storage company. Currently, he also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Clean Power Association.Main topics include the following:What are iron-air batteries and how do they work?The cost, duration, and efficiency of long-duration storageAre

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Andrew Waranch, President & CEO of Spearmint Energy, discussing the battery storage market with our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr.Andrew brings over 25 years of experience in research, trading, and portfolio management across the electricity power markets. Before founding and leading Spearmint Energy, he worked at several energy trading firms, including Elustria, Elliott Associates, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, and Constellation Energy. He holds a B.S. in Applied Economics and Business Management from the Dyson School of Business at Cornell University.The main topics include the following:US battery market landscape, including its attractiveness and its designRisk management and offtake structuresThe role of batteries in the energy transitionSupport the show

Thinking of applying to our Australian Graduate Program? Listen in! In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Mechtersheimer and Michael Veld, Graduate Analysts in the 2024 cohort, to hear about their first-hand experience at Aurora. You'll hear about everything from the application process to the day-to-day responsibilities and projects.To learn more visit auroraer.com/grads! Support the show