Aurora Energy Research Podcast

In this episode, Aurora’s Head of Iberia Ana Barillas is joined by her special guest - Roger Font Garcia, Global Head of Project Finance, Asset and Specialized Lending at Sabadell. Roger was appointed to the current role in January 2019 after several senior roles within the bank, and under his leadership, Sabadell had embraced the Spanish renewables market with a much higher degree of merchant exposure. Ana and Roger discuss: •Sabadell’s approach on project financing and the bank’s views of the merchant risk •Renewable auctions in Spain and Portugal•COVID-19 implications on the Iberian power marketSupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Research Director Richard Howard discusses hydrogen’s potential in Europe with two of Aurora’s leading hydrogen experts - Alexander Esser, Senior Commercial Manager and Anise Ganbold, Project Leader. Alexander has recently led a major hydrogen multiclient study on assessing its role in the energy systems of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands and Anise leads our work on global commodities. Listen in to find out: •Hydrogen’s real potential and demand•Europe’s hottest markets and their policy support•The investment propositions for industrySupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen speaks with Laurie Fitch, Partner in the Strategic Advisory Group at PJT Partners. Laurie is also a Non-Executive Director of EDP (Energias de Portugal, SA) and prior to joining PJT Partners, she was Co-Head of Morgan Stanley’s Global Industrials Group in Europe. John and Laurie discuss: •Laurie’s journey and her roles at PJT Partners and EDP•Investment banking for women at present •Net Zero, and big oil’s ability to pivot towards big renewablesSupport the show

In this week’s episode, Aurora’s Principal Ben Collie talks with David Connolly, CEO of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA). IWEA is Ireland's largest renewable energy association and a leader in Ireland’s fight against climate change. Prior to this role, David was an Associate Professor in Energy Planning at Aalborg University in Copenhagen, where his research focussed on the design and assessment of 100% renewable energy systems for electricity, heat and transport. Ben and David discuss: •David’s career path and his focus on smart energy systems •IWEA’s role and the Irish wind sector potential for the future •Decarbonising the Irish energy system, and what a Net Zero 2050 system might look likeSupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Managing Director in Australia, Hugo Batten is joined by Ivan Varughese, Head of Green Investment Group for Asia-Pacific at Macquarie Group. Ivan has been with Macquarie for more than 14 years as Executive Director and Head of Infrastructure, Utilities and Renewables in Australia & New Zealand, before being appointed to the new role in 2020. Hugo and Ivan discuss: •Green Investment Group’s mission and Ivan’s career •Australia’s energy market and its evolution•Green energy investment and energy storage opportunity in Australia and AsiaSupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Project Leader Thekla von Bülow discusses artificial intelligence in energy with her special guest Tejpreet Chopra, Founder & CEO of Bharat Light & Power (BLP). Tejpreet is the former president and CEO of GE India, and has vast global management and finance experience in France, UK, Hong Kong, India and the US.Listen to the episode to find more about: •BLP and its role in the energy transition•Renewables markets and opportunities for offshore wind in India•Artificial intelligence in energy generation and consumptionSupport the show

A new podcast episode is ready for you! Aurora’s Project Leader Thekla von Bülow is joined by our first Spanish guest on ‘Energy Unplugged’ - Rafael Mateo, Energy CEO of ACCIONA. ACCIONA is the largest independent renewable developer and operator in the world, and Rafael is a true pioneer of renewable energy, having been in the energy industry for over 35 years. Thekla and Rafael discuss: •ACCIONA’s plans for renewables and the business’ wide geographic coverage •PPAs as a tool for risk mitigation or an enabler of business growth •The big disrupters in terms of innovation for the energy industrySupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen discusses the energy transition in the US with his special guest Nora Mead Brownell, Co-Founder of ESPY Energy Solutions. Nora is a former commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) where she was nominated by President George W. Bush, and among many other previous roles she has also served as the Chair of the Board of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Topics covered include: •Women in the energy sector, and ESPY Energy Solutions as a women-owned business •The balance between state and federal responsibility in the US power sector•Upcoming US elections, and how the energy sector will lookSupport the show

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen speaks with Simone Rossi, CEO of EDF Energy, Britain’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity. Appointed as CEO in November 2017, Simone joined EDF in 2004 and had been head of EDF Group's international division since 2015. Listen to the episode to find out more about: •Simone’s professional journey and his clarinet playing skills•The Hinkley Point C project and its implications for the energy transition•EDF’s plan for a green recovery helping Britain achieve Net ZeroSupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Research Director Richard Howard is joined by Thomas Fureder, Managing Director at Barclays Investment Bank, in an interesting discussion about the market potential of hydrogen and its role in meeting Net Zero targets. Richard and Thomas discuss: •Hydrogen’s value proposition and investment opportunities •The need for a clear policy framework •Replacing grey hydrogen with blue and green hydrogenSupport the show

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen speaks with Audrey Zibelman, currently CEO and Managing Director of the Australian Energy Market Operator - AEMO. This is Audrey’s first public interview since she announced this week that she will leave AEMO to take up a newly-created leadership role at X - the research and development facility for "moonshot" technologies, a subsidiary of Google’s parent entity, Alphabet Inc. Audrey has led AEMO for nearly four years and has more than 30 years’ international experience in the public, private and not-for-profit energy sectors.Listen to the episode to find out more about:•Audrey’s professional journey and the new role at X •AEMO’s role in helping Australians to have access to affordable, secure and reliable energy•Gender balance in the energy sectorSupport the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Research Director Richard Howard spoke with Dieter Helm CBE, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, about Dieter's recent book 'Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change'. Dieter is also Chair of the Natural Capital Committee and has provided extensive advice to the UK and European governments on many issues, including 'The Cost of Energy Review' for the UK’s government in 2017 and for the European Commission in developing 'The Energy Roadmap 2030'.Dieter and Richard discuss:•Dieter’s motivation for writing his new book •Carbon pricing as a necessary condition for decarbonisation•EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme and Germany’s National Plan for DecarbonisationSupport the show

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, Aurora’s Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe Hanns Koenig is joined by Joanna Maćkowiak-Pandera, President of Forum Energii, in a great discussion about the power market and energy transition in Poland. Joanna is one of the most knowledgeable and influential people in the Polish energy sector, with a distinguished career for almost 20 years across academia, and both the public and private sectors. Joanna now leads Forum Energii, a think tank focussed on forging the foundation for a clean, innovative, safe and efficient energy sector based on data and analysis.Hanns and Joanna discuss:•The status and future of the Polish power market•Forum Energii’s role in the energy transition •Opportunities for investors in the energy market in PolandSupport the show

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen spoke with Juliet Davenport, CEO & Founder of Good Energy, one of the UK’s leading renewable energy suppliers. For over two decades, Good Energy’s mission has been to power a cleaner, greener world by helping homes and businesses to be part of a sustainable solution to climate change. Discussion topics include:•Juliet’s professional journey and Good Energy as a green energy supplier •Electric vehicles and Zap-Map charge point app•COVID-19 economic impact on energy suppliers, consumers’ protection and future of the industrySupport the show

On this week’s podcast, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen is joined by Tokamak Energy’s CEO Jonathan Carling. Tokamak Energy develops fusion technology and aims to generate clean and abundant fusion power by 2030. Jonathan joined Tokamak Energy in 2017 as Chief Executive Officer and he is also a member of the board of directors. Jonathan is an experienced international business leader, bringing a unique blend of strategic, financial, technical, operational and brand know-how to Tokamak Energy. John and Jonathan discuss:•Tokamak’s technology and Jonathan’s professional journey•Fusion power as a flexible energy source, and the market size of opportunities for Tokamak•The process of engaging Government and bringing them along on the journeySupport the show

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, we share the second part of John Feddersen’s discussion with Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem. If you missed Part 1 of this episode, you can find it in our podcast feed. In Part 2, John and Jonathan discuss:•Ofgem’s major long-term focus areas and its environmental perspective•Networks regulations and the UK’s different approach for offshore and onshore •Electricity markets and locational marginal pricingSupport the show

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen is delighted to be joined by Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem. Jonathan has wide-ranging energy sector experience, having led Electricity Market Reform as the Director for Energy Markets and Networks at the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC). Prior to this, he was Director of the Office of Climate Change, where he led the development of the Climate Change Act, and earlier in his career, Jonathan was a senior adviser in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit.This episode consists of two parts, the first part of which we share with you this week, and the second part the week after. In Part 1 of this episode, John and Jonathan discuss:•Ofgem’s key role and Jonathan’s vast expertise in the energy sector •Jonathan’s contribution to the development of the Climate Change Act•Impact of COVID-19 on Ofgem’s work, and more broadly on retailers and suppliersLook out for Part 2 on our podcast feed next week! John and Jonathan will be talking about Ofge

This week on ‘Energy Unplugged’, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen is joined by Bernhard Günther, CFO Innogy and Director Uniper and ThyssenKrupp. Bernhard has played a central role in the energy transition in Germany and Europe over the last two decades, and created a successful renewables business within a traditional utility over the last five years. John and Bernhard discuss:•Bernhard’s current role within Innogy as CFO, and also as CHRO/Labour Director •The idea of a carbon border tax in Europe•Whether Germany is a success story in the energy transitionSupport the show

In this week’s episode, Aurora’s Research Director Richard Howard is joined by Danielle Lane, Vattenfall’s UK Country Manager and Director of Portfolio and Transactions Offshore, in a discussion about the Net Zero challenge. Involved in many aspects of the energy transition, Vattenfall has the ambition to make fossil-free living possible within one generation. Richard and Danielle discuss:•The role Vattenfall can play in reaching Net Zero and what the UK Government needs to do•The technologies we need to take us there•The challenge to pair low carbon opportunities with consumer demandSupport the show

In this week’s episode, Aurora’s CEO John Feddersen is joined by his compatriot Paul Simshauser, Chief Executive of Powerlink Queensland, a major electricity transmission operator in Australia. Paul is also a Professor of Economics at Griffith University and was formerly the head of a major Government energy department. John and Paul discuss:•The global history of power markets' privatisation•Centralised and dispatchable generation in the future energy system•Negative emissions technologies, hydrogen, and batteries owned and operated by networksSupport the show