Energy Unplugged by Aurora

EP.217 Ethan Zindler, Climate Counselor, U.S. Department of the Treasury

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 upcoming elections in the United States impact its future?Could the costs of the IRA overshoot, given higher power demand growth driven by generative AI?How is the United States supporting Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) and what is the outlook for delivery of their objectives?Support the show

EP.216 Power Deliverability Solutions for Data Centers

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

EP.215 John Pettigrew, Chief Executive, National Grid

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 perspectivesSupport the show

Aurora’s Careers Series: Oxford Graduate Modelling Programme Explained

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Aurora’s Careers Series: Oxford Graduate Analyst Programme Explained

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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