Energy Unplugged by Aurora

EP.175 Pascale Courcelle on the new French PPA guarantee scheme

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Pascale Courcelle, Director of Real Estate and Energy Environment Financing at Bpifrance, engages in a discussion with our Head of France, Pierre Denery, and our Co-Head of Advisory for Central Europe, Thekla von Bülow. The conversation focuses on the Renewable Electricity Guarantee Fund (GER), a guarantee fund for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) launched in France in September 2023.Pascale began her career as a business manager in Brittany and later joined the credit committee of the bank’s head office, specialising in property financing for companies in the Ile de France region. When Bpi was established in 2012, she had already joined the renewable energy project financing team, eventually being appointed Director of Real Estate and Energy Environment Financing in 2017. Additionally, she serves as the Vice-president of the Financial Lease Commission (ASF) and is behind the creation of the GER.Main topics include the following:• Which parties can benefit from the GER and what criteria are used to assess which producers and projects should receive funding?• How is the PPA price calculated, and what proportion of it is covered by the GER?• How does the GER compare with other PPA funds already established in European countries like Spain and Norway?Support the show

EP.174 Gunter Erfurt, CEO, Meyer Burger

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Gunter Erfurt, CEO, Meyer Burger engages in a discussion with Hanns Koenig, our Managing Director for Central Europe, with focus on the European solar industry.Before becoming the CEO of Meyer Burger, Gunter held the position of both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, as well as managerial positions in other companies in the solar industry. He holds a Diploma in Engineering Physics from the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, and Degree in Physics and a PhD in Physics, both from the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg.Main topics include the following:• Dependence of Europe’s solar industry on imports, and how is China dominating• Subsidies for solar in China• Renewables manufacturing reshoring in Europe, compared to other countries such as China, India, or the USSupport the show

EP.173 Dalia Majumder-Russell, Partner, CMS on the Latest Hydrogen Auctions

In this Energy Unplugged episode, Dalia Majumder-Russell, Partner at CMS, engages in a discussion with Emma Woodward, our European Hydrogen Market Lead, focusing on key announcements made recently, that will drive forward the development of a hydrogen economy. Particularly, focusing on the recent announcements made by the Department of Net Zero & Energy Security (DESNZ).Dalia is a partner in CMS’s Energy team in London, with over 10 years’ experience advising a wide range investors, developers, utilities, lenders and governments on energy projects and infrastructure, including negotiating gas and hydrogen offtake agreements and advising on carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) projects in the UK and internationally. Dalia is also a member of a number of expert groups focused on developing hydrogen policies.Main topics include the following:• Recent hydrogen auctions in GB & Denmark• European policy support for hydrogen investment• Hydrogen transport & storage business models in GB and in comparison to other countriesSupport the show

EP.172 Igor Fonseca, Head of Power, Project Finance, Santander

This week on Energy Unplugged, Igor Fonseca, Head of Power, Santander Brazil Project Finance discusses project finance in Brazil’s power sector with our Founder & CEO, John Feddersen.Over the past 11 years, Igor has worked within Santander’s Project Finance team following his positions at HSBC and Credit Agricole. At Santander, Igor has been covering the Power sector, executing and arranging several financial advisory mandates. This has amounted to investments over USD 10 billion and a total installed capacity over 20 GW, including large hydros, gas-fired thermal power plants, wind farms, small hydros, photovoltaic and concentrated solar power plants in Brazil.Main topics include the following:• Project finance in Brazil• The impact of the shift to the free market and the green transition plan on project financing and investment in Brazil• Key risks for Brazilian power projectsSupport the show

EP.170 Clare Savage, Chair, Australian Energy Regulator

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we discuss the current status and future of the Energy Transition in Australia, with a specific focus on its regulatory landscape. We are pleased to be joined by Clare Savage, Chair, Australian Energy Regulator (AER), and James Ha, our Research Lead for Australia, in conversation with our Managing Director for APAC and California, Hugo Batten.Clare has worked with some of Australia's largest businesses, including electricity and gas producers, as well as consumers, to develop a suite of integrated energy and climate change policies. Before joining the AER, she served as Deputy Chair of the Energy Security Board and, prior to that, as the Executive Director, Policy, Energy & Climate Change at the Business Council of Australia. Clare has also held executive positions within EnergyAustralia and the Energy Supply Association of Australia.Main topics include the following:• The current challenges facing the Energy Transition in Australia• Regulatory considerations throughout the Energy Transition in Australia• The importance of supporting innovation through the Energy TransitionSupport the show

EP.171 Alexander Voigt, Co-Founder & Board Member, HH2E

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Alexander Voigt, Co-Founder & Board Member of HH2E, engages in a discussion with Hanns Koenig, our Managing Director for Central Europe. Together, they explore the resilience of Europe's clean energy supply chains and delve into the extent to which Europe should try to build or rebuild its own clean energy manufacturing space.Alexander has spent his career creating several CO2-free businesses, some of which have achieved billion-euro valuations. Today, he is one of Germany's most successful green energy entrepreneurs. His latest initiative, HH2E AG, is a new green energy company in Germany, co-founded with other like-minded pioneers.Main topics include the following:• Competition between Europe, China, and the US: What factors are boosting the weight of the latter two at the expense of Europe?• What players should be strengthening Europe’s role in the renewables manufacturing industry and how?• What can Europe learn from China and the US and what should Europe push for?Support the show

EP.169 Catherine Raw, Managing Director, SSE Thermal

In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Catherine Raw, Managing Director of SSE Thermal, engages in a discussion with Anise Ganbold, our Head of Research for Global Markets & Hydrogen, exploring the role of hydrogen in the journey towards a Net-Zero power sector and economy in the UK and Ireland.Prior to joining SSE Thermal in April 2022, Catherine served as both Chief Operating Officer for North America and Chief Financial Officer for the international metals and mining firm, Barrick Gold. Before this, she held positions as managing director and fund manager at BlackRock. Transitioning into the energy sector, Catherine brought her expertise in operational and financial performance, as well as her specialised knowledge of natural resources, commodity markets and investment management. Main topics include the following:• “Hydrogen clusters” and the business case including cost of hydrogen, profitability of new projects, and hydrogen-to-power opportunities• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen projects in the UK• Using biofuels in Irish open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) and why this is not the right choice for the UKSupport the show

EP.168 Pierre Bartholin, Senior Director, Glennmont Partners

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we delve into the intricacies of revenue strategy for renewable portfolio managers, focusing specifically on the topic of power purchase agreements (PPAs). We are pleased to be joined by Pierre Bartholin, Senior Director, Glennmont Partners in conversation with our Co-Head of Advisory in Central Europe, Thekla von Bülow.With more than 12 years of experience in the carbon and power markets and having contributed to pioneering business models within SG CIB, Solvay, Lightsource BP and GE, Pierre joined Glennmont Partners in 2021 as Head of Revenue. In the past years he has been developing power-market-revenue solutions to secure revenue generation from renewable assets, such as PPA structures with corporate offtakers and utilities. Main topics include the following:• Understanding the significance of PPAs and their growing importance for funds and renewable developers across Europe• Revenue strategy for renewables portfolio managers• Perspectives on PPAs from the different market sides, including developers, utilities, traders and corporate offtakersSupport the show

EP.167 Camilla Nilsson, CEO, Kyoto Group

In this Energy Unplugged episode Camilla Nilsson, CEO of Kyoto Group and Alejandro Zerain, Project Leader at Aurora, discuss long duration energy storage with Ana Barillas, our Head of Iberia and LATAM.Dedicated to sustainability and clean technologies, especially in energy and agriculture, Camilla has extensive international industrial experience from her leadership roles in large international companies. Her background includes experience in multinational joint ventures, aggressive turn-arounds, and building ambitious start-ups. Prior to joining Kyoto Group, Camilla worked with Yara International and held leadership positions at Norsk Hydro ASA, Umoe BioEnergy ASA, and Agrinos AS. Main topics include the following:• What is digital farming?• Long-duration energy storage, including both power and heat solutions• The potential competition that thermal storage might face in the futureSupport the show

EP.166 Rogério Jorge, CEO, AES Brasil

In this Energy Unplugged episode, we discuss the context and challenges of the Brazilian power sector. We are pleased to be joined by Rogério Jorge, CEO of AES Brasil, in conversation with our Founder & CEO, John Feddersen.Backed by 24 years of experience in the energy sector, Rogério has led different areas in the energy distribution, generation and commercialisation sectors, including the development of new businesses, the origination and structuring of greenfield projects, and the participation in mergers and acquisitions. He holds a degree in Law from Mackenzie and an International MBA from FIA/USP, among other specializations in Brazil and the USA.Main topics include the following:•Policy in the Brazilian power sector•The importance of developing gas infrastructure in Brazil•Brazil’s network capacity and reliabilitySupport the show