Energy Unplugged by Aurora

EP.187 Ruth Herbert on Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we welcome Ruth Herbert, CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), discussing Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) with Caroline Still, Project Leader at our Advisory team in Oxford.Ruth has served as the CEO of the CCSA since 2021, following a two-decade career in the public sector. Notably, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Low Carbon Contracts Company, where she served as Director of Strategy & Development, overseeing the implementation of Contracts for Difference (CfD) and Capacity Market initiatives. Additionally, from 2008 to 2010, Ruth led the UK's negotiations of the EU Directive on CO2 storage and its international Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) policy.Main topics include the following:The role of CCUS in various key sectors, including power and hydrogen CCS-related policy gaps and funding in the power and industrial sectors in the UKGlobally, what are the hot spots for CCUS development and why?Support the show

EP.186 Jeremy Bentham on the role of forecasts in the energy transition

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we welcome Jeremy Bentham, Former Head of Shell Scenarios and Co-Chair at the World Energy Council, discussing the role of forecasts in the energy transition with our Head of Research for European Hydrogen and Global Energy Markets, Anise Ganbold.With over 40 years of profound experience in the energy industry, Jeremy Bentham holds notable positions including senior advisory roles in various international organisations and serves as a non-executive company director. He has also been a commissioner on the Energy Transitions Commission and the inaugural Chair of the European Commission’s Advisory Council on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. Currently, Jeremy is a Senior Fellow with the Mission Possible Partnership and has recently launched his free fortnightly "Dodo Club Newsletter".Main topics include the following:• The combination of forecasting, with educational and influencing activities• The Two Degrees view• Tips to set successful strategiesSupport the show

EP.185 Andrew Doyle on Hydrogen Project Financing

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Andrew Doyle, Executive Director, MUFG, discussing hydrogen project financing with our European Hydrogen Market Lead, Emma Woodward.Andrew brings with him over 20 years of project finance experience, having joined MUFG in 2011. His expertise spans a wide range of projects, from large thermal power and renewables ventures across the UK and Europe, and Middle East as well as offshore transmission projects. Additionally, Andrew serves as a member of the Hydrogen Advisory Council and was seconded to the former UK Department of Energy and Climate Change in 2009.Main topics include the following:• Financing for both hydrogen production projects and transport & storage projects• The impact of supply chain constraints and higher cost environments on hydrogen projects• What are the countries at the forefront of hydrogen policy and why?Support the show

EP.184 Dr Sopna Sury provides an outlook of the hydrogen landscape

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss the changes, challenges, and future outlook of the hydrogen landscape. We are pleased to have Dr Sopna Sury, Chief Operating Officer Hydrogen, RWE Generation SE, join us in conversation with our Lead Expert for Hydrogen, Dilara Caglayan.Sopna is responsible for the group-wide coordination and expansion of RWE's hydrogen activities and, under her leadership, RWE has set a growth target of 2 GW electrolyser capacity by 2030, supported by a 10 GW project pipeline. Prior to RWE, she held positions at McKinsey & Company, E.ON and Uniper. Sopna holds a degree in Business Economics and a Doctorate from the University of Witten/Herdecke.Main topics include the following:• An outlook of the hydrogen space’s situation over recent years• The biggest challenges hindering hydrogen market rollout, from policy, regulation, and public support perspectives• Regional competitiveness within Europe, and the EU's Response to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Support SchemesSupport the show

EP.183 Declan Flanagan on Renewables & Storage Development in the US & Australia

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss renewables and storage development in the US and Australian markets. We are delighted to welcome Declan Flanagan, Founder & CEO of Bluestar Energy Capital, in conversation with our Managing Director for APAC & California, Hugo Batten, and our Research Lead for US West, Kimberly Liu.Prior to founding and directing Bluestar Energy Capital, Declan served as EVP at Ørsted and CEO of Ørsted’s onshore renewables business. He was also the Founder & CEO of Lincoln Clean Energy (acquired by Ørsted in 2018). Declan has led over $10 billion in capital investment in global clean energy and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BSc from the University of Galway.Main topics include the following:• Consequences of rising financing costs and supply chain issues for renewables and storage• Structural opportunities in the WECC region• Grid issues in Australia and potential solutionsSupport the show

EP.182 Robert Todd on Long Duration Energy Storage

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and explore how this space is gathering momentum as its pivotal role in supporting the Energy Transition becomes increasingly recognised. We are pleased to have Robert Todd, Managing Director at CIBC Capital Markets, join us in conversation with our Head of Research for the UK & Ireland, Marc Hedin.Robert joined CIBC three years ago to help expand their advisory platform activities globally, with recent experiences across offshore wind (floating & fixed), onshore wind, solar, energy storage (LDES and battery), hydrogen, and synfuels (e-methanol). Prior to CIBC, he held positions at HSBC and Barclays Capital.Main topics include the following:• LDES technologies and their new applications• The best markets to develop LDES• Financing and bankability of LDES projectsSupport the show

EP.181 Andy Bowman on Renewables in the US

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Andy Bowman, Founder & CEO of Jupiter Power, discussing renewables in the US with our Managing Director for North America, Oliver Kerr.Over his 25-year career in renewables, Andy has had executive responsibility for more than 3,600 MW of wind and solar projects and 1,400 MWh of energy storage projects which are currently operational or under construction. Prior to founding and managing Jupiter Power, he was CEO and founder of Pioneer Green Energy, Chief Development Officer at E.On Climate & Renewables, SVP Development at Airtricity, and CEO and founder of Renewable Generation Inc. Notably, he is also the author of “The West Texas Power Plant That Saved the World.”Main topics include the following:The role of capital and infrastructure in both creating and combating climate changeThe role of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and industrial policy in supporting domestic labour and manufacturingThe US battery storage marketSupport the show

EP.180 Craig Francis on Renewables & Storage Development in Australia

On this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Craig Francis, CEO of Genex Power, discussing renewables and storage development in the Australian market with our Managing Director for APAC and California, Hugo Batten, and our Research Lead for Australia, James Ha. Craig is an experienced leader with a career spanning over 15 years in financial markets as well as a deep knowledge of the energy sector. He joined Genex in 2017 to lead the commercial development of the Company’s portfolio, being appointed CFO in 2021, and CEO in 2023. Prior to Genex, Craig was part of the corporate finance team at Cantor Fitzgerald Europe in the UK, where he focused on advising clients in the energy and natural resources sectors. He also worked at RFC Ambrian and Helmsec Global Capital. Main topics include the following:• Pumped hydro in Australia and its economics• The renewable and storage development landscape in the National Electricity Market (NEM)• Policy and market frameworks in AustraliaSupport the show

EP.179 Aurora Experts on our European Battery Markets Attractiveness Report

On this week’s Energy Unplugged episode, Ryan Alexander, our Research Lead for European Power Markets, welcomes our colleagues Eva Zimmermann, Associate and Lead for Flexible Energy and Guillermo Ríos, Research Analytics Associate, to disclose the main insights from our European Battery Markets Attractiveness Report.Europe is an immensely promising region for investment in batteries, driven by ambitious decarbonisation targets and projected exponential growth in renewables. Make the most of this booming market with the 3rd edition of the European Battery Markets Attractiveness Report releasing next week! This highly anticipated report provides insights on investment trends, policy environments, value drivers, and project economics, helping you conduct initial market scanning to identify the most attractive European markets for investment in batteries.Key topics include the following:Identifying the top three markets in Europe, the reasons behind their prominence, and Germany's standing in comparison.What were the main regulatory changes in Europe over the last year, and what do they mean for developers and investors?Battery economics, including the consequences of participating in auctions and the costs of supply chains issues.Support the show

EP.178 Ralph Johnson on Battery Storage Optimisation

This week on Energy Unplugged, Ralph Johnson, Head of UK Business Development, Habitat Energy discusses battery storage optimisation in GB and globally with our Global Software Solutions Director, Mateusz Wronski.Ralph is responsible for originating and managing Habitat Energy’s strategic partnerships in the UK. He is an expert in battery storage and brings over 15 years of experience working in the energy sector. Previously, Ralph held senior positions at Reactive Technologies and EDF, where he worked across supply-side, renewables, pricing, risk and financial modelling.Main topics include the following:• What is a good battery optimiser?• Strategies of battery asset owners• The future of the battery market: optimisers, asset owners, and market saturation & reformsSupport the show