Advertise on podcast: Energy Transitions

Floating offshore wind may still be on the path to full commercialisation, but its strategic importance for Europe’s energy security is already undeniable. This emerging technology will be a critical tool to unlocking vast renewable resources in deeper waters, a tool that France, and especially the Occitanie region, is looking to harness through a series of technologically-advanced pilot projects. However, technology alone won’t determine success. Building a resilient local value chain, one that delivers economic benefits, creates jobs, and fosters innovation, is equally critical. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Pamela Largue speaks with Marie-Laure Barois, Co-Founder and Spokesperson of Wind’Occ, and Senior Advisor in Marine Renewable Energies and the Blue Economy. Together, they explore what it takes to turn early-stage momentum into long-term industrial strength, from nurturing talent and advancing innovation to ensuring inclusivity and maintaining Europe’s competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global market.

In this Energy Transitions podcast, Lobna El Gammal and David Cashman of EY talk about how utilities can maximise preparedness for major events, the role digital technologies can play, and why there is no time to waste in doing so. In this episode you will learn more about: What resilience means and why utilities must prepare now; Where the greatest resilience risks are within the system; What constitutes a major event and how utilities need to prepare for these; Case studies demonstrating where utilities got it right or didn’t; The role of digitalisation in maximising preparedness; How utilities get started on building resilience effectively and strategically; How and why to ensure people are as prepared as the systems.

In this Energy Transitions podcast, Azmi Yusof of TNB explains the how the utility as the 'custodian' of the Malaysian grid is digitalising its services. In this episode, you'll learn more about: TNB as the custodian of the Malaysian grid; How TGBS's ongoing transition ensures the company is future-proof in a disruptive energy landscape; The utility's focus on digital integration to boost the efficiency of shared services; Challenges around digital integration; How TNB is managing all the data generated; How TNB is managing the people factor; The ASEAN landscape and the plans for the ASEAN Power Grid.

In this Energy Transitions podcast, Ann Mettler, Co-Founder of Catalyse Europe, calls for localisation, diversification and decentralisation in the face of global energy shocks. In this episode you will learn more about: The short- and long-term energy and industrial threats to Europe amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East; Key structural weaknesses in Europe’s energy supply chain; Whether lessons were truly learned and implemented after the Ukraine war; The role of innovation and clean technologies in strengthening Europe’s competitive advantage; The importance of defence spending in driving new technological development; How Europe can protect its innovation assets and maintain a competitive edge over other countries pursuing similar goals.

In the Energy Transitions podcast, Patrizio Donati, Co-Founder and Director at Terrawatt, explores the restraints hampering Italy's renewables market. In this episode you will learn more about: Why Italy’s renewable market is driven by strong fundamentals but constrained by regulatory inefficiencies; How permitting delays and bureaucratic complexity impact project timelines and investor confidence; The trade-off between higher power prices, stronger returns and increased development risk; Why grid infrastructure remains a key bottleneck for scaling renewables; How the battery storage market is evolving as a core enabler of system balance; Why renewables deployment is now primarily a regulatory, not technical, challenge.

In this Energy Transitions Podcast episode, experts from both countries swop renewable energy success stories and reveal they also face similar significant challenges. Sarah Merrick and Daniel Serrano both work for consultancy Ricardo – Merrick in the UK and Serrano in Spain. In this podcast episode, you will hear: What needs to happen to make energy storage thrive; How the UK has the right mechanisms to develop fledging technologies; Why Spain has been so successful at deploying solar PV and network planning; What the “dream scenario” is for a flexible energy system; A reality check for national and EU energy targets; How to reform the electricity market while not deterring investment; Lessons learned from the Iberia blackout;

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Yusuf Latief speaks with Michael Villa, Executive Director at SmartEn, and Jochem van Hove, Managing Director for Energy and Resources EMEA at Microsoft, about how data platforms, AI and digital tools can help coordinate these resources in real time. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: Why flexibility is becoming critical in a decentralised energy system; The role of AI and data in managing distributed energy resources; How EVs, buildings, industries and data centres can provide flexibility; The importance of real-time data and digital platforms; Cyber-security considerations in digitalised energy systems; Policy and market frameworks needed to unlock demand-side flexibility.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Pamela Largue speaks with Sandro Baldi, Commercial Director at NUWARD SMR, EDF, about why SMRs are a viable technology in terms of meeting rising data centre demand and decarbonising industries where direct electrification is challenging. In this episode you will learn more about: The importance of SMRs in the future energy landscape of Europe; The role of SMRs in providing energy security, reducing emissions and meeting increasing demand; Key barriers to deployment; Policy and economic enablers for SMR projects; Whether Europe’s supply chain is sufficiently robust to support advancement; When we can expect projects to reach commercial operations; The projects NUWARD SMR is working on and plans for the future.

In this Energy Transitions podcast, Michael Hierholzer and Armin Fürderer of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, highlight the technical, operational and human aspects of this pioneering BESS project. In this episode you will learn more about: The pace of energy transition in the Baltic region, as well as current energy mix and market dynamics; The BRELL disconnect and the impact it had on Latvia’s grid; The opportunities that made Latvia’s first grid-scale BESS project possible and the challenges associated with the project; How the system has been performing thus far; How to mitigate cybersecurity risks for critical infrastructure like BESS; Key learnings from the project that could be employed in projects throughout the region; What’s next for Rolls-Royce Power systems in this region and in terms of BESS. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Christiane Mann, Chair of the T&D Europe working group on grid digitalisation and Vice President, Head of Industry Affairs at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, helps unpack what true grid digitalisation really means. In this episode you will learn more about: What grid digitalisation actually means in technical and operational terms; How advanced digital functionalities help operators manage renewables, decentralised energy resources and rising electrification in transport and heating; Why flexibility and “flexumers” are central to the future system; The growing importance of data governance, harmonisation and digital skills in Europe’s energy transition; The impact of “capex bias” and how current regulatory models can disadvantage software and digital investments; How grid digitalisation represents a system-wide change management challenge

In this episode of the Energy Transition podcast, two members from the EU DSO Entity, Oliver Franz of E.ON and Alco de Lange of Stedin, discuss and compare the power grid crunches that have been unravelling in the Netherlands and Germany. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: The three key issues where the resilience of the grid needs to be strengthened: cybersecurity, physical resilience, and climate change; How battery storage and data centres in Germany were the “two new kids on the block”, requiring new approaches to consumption management; What led to the power congestion crunch in the Netherlands and how the country is re-approaching connection queues; The role of digitalisation and data in making effective grid investment decisions; A comparison of new congestion management methods between the Netherlands and Germany; The role of flexibility in solving grid issues? Or will we see a future with a resilient grid that can cope with all stresses?

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, former CEO of Volkswagen and current Board Chair of The Mobility House, Herbert Diess, explains why people can't underestimate the role of cars in the energy transition. In this episode you will learn more about: Why decentralised solutions hold so much promise when it comes to solving energy transition challenges; Investing in solutions that are practical and make good business sense; Why Herbert Diess believes it's time to go all in on e-mobility; How to overcome the barriers to e-mobility, including antiquated mindsets; The Mobility House and some of the exciting projects the team is working on; Why innovation and agile start ups will drive sustainable energy transformation.

To unpack how CBAM works and explore whether its design is truly fit for purpose, Pamela Largue spoke with Jostein Røynesdal, Vice President and Head of EU Affairs at Hydro, and Hélène Lavray, Government Affairs Leader Europe for Climate & Energy at Dow. Both highlighted the complexity of the mechanism and warned of potentially serious trade implications. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: Shortcomings of the current CBAM system and what can be done to fix it; What will change this year with the implementation of CBAM, what it means for importers and the resource shuffling that could arise; The potential impacts of applying CBAM on electricity; How CBAM could impact emissions allowances within the EU ETS and impact European producers; The potential pitfalls of administering and reporting; The impact of CBAM on developing nations and diplomatic relations; Potential impacts on global trade. Jostein Røynesdal and Hélène Lavray will be speaking at European Industrial Energy Days in a panel discussion entitled, Carbon Costs and Competitiveness: What EU ETS and CBAM means for Industrial Energy Users. Register to meet them in person and join the conversation. 

In this Energy Transitions podcast episode, Nils Beenen of Uniper explains the critical role of well-designed, long-term gas PPAs in Europe’s path to decarbonisation. In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: Uniper’s current position in the market and strategic focus; Why Europe needs price-secured long-term contracts; The difference between Asia and Europe in terms of securing long-term gas contracts and what Asia is getting right; The regulatory or market changes that would lower the risk of gas procurement; How higher gas prices have impacted Europe in terms of competitiveness and energy security; How long-term PPAs facilitate Uniper’s decarbonisation agenda; The benefits and risks of prioritising and implementing long-term PPAs; The risks related to energy transition and decarbonisation, electrification and renewables (upstream and downstream); How to mitigate these risks. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Uniper.

To find out more about how gas is playing an instrumental role in Europe’s decarbonisation journey, Pamela Largue spoke to Fabrice Vigneron, Chief Technical Officer at GRDF, and Chair of the Distribution Committee of the International Gas Union (IGU). In this episode, you will learn more about: How the role of gas DSOs is changing as fossil fuels are phased out around the world; Whether gas will remain as an important source of flexibility or whether it fulfill its role as a transition fuel; How DSOs need to modernise and repurpose networks and the planning and investment required to do so efficiently; The role of greener gases in residential and industrial use cases; The main challenges when it comes to distributing green gas; Efficiency measures that are being implemented such as AI, digitalisation; Why cooperation between DSOs is critical for a successful energy transition. This episode is brought to you in partnership with GRDF, France's leading natural gas distribution operator.