Energy Unplugged by Aurora

EP.203 Andrew Waranch, President & CEO, Spearmint Energy

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

Australian Graduate Analyst Programme Explained

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

EP.202 Buddy Rizer on Data Centre Demand and its Impact on Power Systems

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Buddy Rizer, Executive Director for the Department of Economic Development in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. He discusses data centre demand and its impact on power systems with our Head of USA East, Julia Hoos, and Zachary Edelen, Senior Associate in our Research team.Buddy is largely credited as the architect of "Data Center Alley"—the world’s largest concentration of data centre load. He leads the agency responsible for encouraging growth and developing relationships with Loudoun’s business community. During his tenure, Buddy and his team have attracted more than $60 billion in new commercial investment and over 50,000 new jobs.The main topics include the following:The future of data centre demand in terms of growth and its absorption by the systemIncreases in power prices and their impact on local data centresThe feasibility of serving data centre demand with 100% green power, and the extent to which this is already happeningSupport the show

EP.201 Agnes da Costa, Director, Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Agnes Maria da Costa, Director at the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL). She joins our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas, to discuss policies for the Brazilian electricity market, including capacity reserve auctions. Agnes has been a Director at ANEEL since December 2022. Before this role, she spent almost eighteen years at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, where she held positions such as advisor, special advisor, program director, deputy head, and head of the Special Advisory Board on Economic Affairs. Throughout her career, Agnes has played a significant role in shaping energy policy in Brazil. In this episode, we cover the following main topics:What are the electricity market policies where Brazil has been a global leader?What is the future of electricity sector regulation in Brazil?How do capacity auctions work in Brazil, and why is more flexible and adaptable regulation needed?Support the show

EP.200 Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog

On our 200th episode of Energy Unplugged, which also marks our first India-focused episode, we are delighted to welcome a very special guest: Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. He takes a deep dive into the Indian market with Dan Monzani, Managing Director at Aurora, who oversees our activities in India.Mr. Bery is an eminent economist, academic, writer, and policy leader who has spent the better part of the last three decades at the World Bank, eventually becoming their Lead Economist. Between 2012 and 2016, he served as Shell’s Chief Economist. In India, he has been a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and the Reserve Bank of India’s Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy.NITI Aayog is both India’s Ministry of Planning and its apex public policy think tank, bringing together senior Union Ministers and all the Chief Ministers of the states. Mr. Bery currently serves as NITI Aayog’s Vice Chairman, reporting directly to the Prime Minister, who acts ex officio as its Chair.Main topics include the following:The development of India’s energy infrastructure in the context of the country’s economic growth.The Indian Energy Transition and its ambitious target of deploying 50GW of renewables per annum, including the roles of PPAs and green hydrogen.The Government’s vision in promoting liquid, open, competitive markets, and the importance of foreign direct investment.Aurora opened an office in Delhi earlier this year and will be launching its coverage of the Indian power market from July 2024.  If you would like to contact the team and find out more about our work, please email contact.delhi@auroraer.com.Support the show

EP.199 Flemming Sørensen and Ángel Sanz on the PPA Market in Europe

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Flemming Sørensen, Vice President for Europe, LevelTen Energy, and Ángel Sanz, Head of Energy Markets Iberia, ENGIE, analysing the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market in Europe with our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas.This episode was recorded at the LevelTen Energy European Forum, a key event in the PPA industry that brought together leaders and innovators from across the renewable energy sector. This forum has become the ideal environment for sellers, buyers, financiers, and advisors to debate, exchange ideas, and collaborate on building a sustainable future.Main topics include the following:The likelihood of seeing price reopeners or renegotiation of PPAs in the current environment in EuropeGrid curtailment in Europe and its consequences for PPAsThe impact of inflation on PPA negotiationsSupport the show

EP.198 Aurora experts on the New Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in Northern Ireland

On this week’s Energy Unplugged episode, the Aurora team analyses the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in Northern Ireland. Salman Khan, Principal in our Oxford Advisory team, welcomes for the discussion our colleagues Steph Unsworth, Senior Associate and Product Manager for I-SEM, and Michael Joos, also Senior Associate manager of the project Aurora is delivering to the Northern Irish Government to support the design of this new scheme.Main topics include the following:Why is a support scheme needed in Northern Ireland?What is the design of the new scheme, and what are its key features?How is the new scheme expected to impact the I-SEM market?Support the show

EP.197 Chris Stark, Chief Executive, The Carbon Trust

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, discussing the UK’s climate targets with our Managing Director for the UK & Ireland and European Hydrogen, Dan Monzani.A world-renowned climate policy expert, Chris is the Chief Executive of The Carbon Trust, a global climate consultancy dedicated to accelerating the transition to a decarbonised future. In his previous role as Chief Executive of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, Chris led the independent advice to put the UK’s Net Zero target into law. He frequently speaks on the urgent need to confront climate change and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow.Main topics include the following:The ambitions of the UK’s Carbon Budgets and their achievability Whether climate targets are being scaled back because they are impossible to achieve or because of a lack of political will to deliver themThe mission and role of the Carbon TrustSupport the show

EP.196 Alice Delahunty on the Importance of Energy Networks in the Transition to Net-Zero

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Alice Delahunty, President of National Grid Electricity Transmission, in conversation with Rebecca McManus, Senior Associate and our Renewables Lead for the European Power Markets Research team. The discussion focuses on the importance of energy networks in the transition to Net-Zero in the UK and other European power markets.Alice is responsible for developing, building, maintaining, and operating the electricity transmission network in England and Wales, playing a critical role in enabling and delivering against the UK government’s Net-Zero commitments. Prior to this, she held a number of senior roles at E.ON, including Head of Operations for the offshore wind business.Main topics include the following:What are the challenges and opportunities for the UK and wider European energy networks as part of the energy transition?What is The Great Grid Upgrade and, specifically, what is its impact on offshore wind networks connection?How do we address the UK’s green skills gap and develop the future Net-Zero workforce?Support the show

EP.194 Nicole Yazon on the Philippine Power Market

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Nicole Yazon, AVP for Strategy and deputy lead for the Corporate Strategy team at Aboitiz Power, analysing the Philippine power market with our Managing Director for APAC & California, Hugo Batten, and our Market Lead for Wider Asia, Patrick Tan.At Aboitiz Power, Nicole works with the C-suite to shape portfolio strategy and advises senior leaders of the company’s subsidiaries on their business unit strategies. Previously, she worked in the downstream oil, chemicals, gas, and power sectors across Europe, Africa, and Asia, focusing on energy transition, utilities and energy management, and sustainability.Main topics include the following:Opportunities and challenges in the Philippine power marketThe role of gas and nuclear in the PhilippinesReliability and cost of energy VS prioritising the decarbonisation of the Philippine power systemSupport the show