Energy Unplugged by Aurora

Aurora’s Careers Series: Oxford Graduate Analyst Programme Explained

Support the show

EP.214 Louise Oriol on Negative Price Hours in the French Market

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 prices be a possible solution for France?Support the show

EP.213 Brett Perlman on the US Hydrogen Industry

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

EP.212 Tim Jarratt on the State of the Energy Transition in Australia

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

EP.211 Kevin O’Donovan on the Renewables Landscape in GB

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

EP.210 Aurora Team on Korea’s Energy System

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

EP.209 Francisco Muñoz on the Chilean Energy Sector

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 challenges for battery storage in ChileSupport the show

EP.208 Allan Marks on the US’ role in the Global Energy Transition

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 its potential influence of its outcome on the US energy transitionSupport the show

EP.207 Steffen Schülzchen, Founder & CEO, Entrix

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

EP.206 Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

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