Afleveringen
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Early March, Gerard and Laurent were invited by the Cambridge University Energy Technology Society (CUETS) for a live session of Redefining Energy.
In front of hundreds of attentive students, they had a comprehensive debate with Pr. David Cebon about the Electrification of Trucks. What are the issues (technical, economic) and what are the proposed solutions from Electric roads to batteries?
We enjoyed sharing with an enthusiastic crowd at St John's College, Cambridge and give a special thanks to Max Krefting for the flawless organisation.
A memorable evening for all participants. -
The XXIst century economy will be powered by 'critical minerals' such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths. China has spent the past 20 years building a dominant position across the supply chain for these metals.
The rest of the world is finally waking up to the economic and geopolitical challenges that this presents and is actively trying to secure the supplies of critical minerals by creating non-Chinese supply chains.
Gerard and Laurent sat down with Richard Tite, Chief Investment Officer of TechMet, a critical minerals investment company that is partially owned by the U.S. Government through a series of equity investments by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). TechMetâs portfolio currently includes 10 projects across North America, South America, Africa, and Europe, that produce, process, and recycle critical minerals.
How does it work? What are the costs? Can China be countered? Does it succeed?
Are Critical Minerals truly critical? They are certainly polarizing. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Laurent welcomes Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of Eurelectric, to discuss Energy Security, Resilience and Flexibility though the impact of E-Mobility.
Energy Security has become a critical issue, especially with the recent sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea by Russian and Chinese vessels, extreme weather events knocking out a third of the Irish Grid, and Russiaâs ongoing attacks on Ukraineâs energy infrastructure.
Kristian shares the story of his harrowing visit to a power plant in Ukraine, where DTEK engineers are bravely working through air raids every day to keep the lights on. The conversation expands to cover all aspects of Energy Security as we enter the Age of Electricity, exploring both cyber and physical measures that can be taken to protect energy systems.
The discussion also touches on the latest advancements in E-Mobility, including how Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology can provide additional security and offer consumers a chance to earn more revenue.
Eurelectric represents a strong, forward-thinking industry that exemplifies resilience and solidarity in the face of challenges.
Join us at Power Summit Brussels 3 and 4 June to discuss those topics and many others
Home - Eurelectric Power Summit 2025 -
It has become a tradition to welcome Luca Pedretti, Co-Founder of Pexapark, to the show to discuss the evolving PPA market, especially now that Pexapark has released its annual State of the Market report.
Laurent and Gerard are joined by Luca to highlight the key insights from this yearâs findings:
Corporate PPA demand remains stable, but with new entrantsMore deals, but smaller sizes: The number of transactions increased by 16% (+37 deals), even as total volumes declined.Innovative deal structures on the rise: Hybrid models, such as solar-wind PPAs, multi-buyer/portfolio arrangements, and cross-border agreements, are gaining traction, offering enhanced flexibility and risk-sharing.The continuous rise of 24/7 energy with the need to track and trade GoOs
We also delve into the topic of negative prices, capture prices, and their implications. The conversation extends to Pexaparkâs predictions for 2025.
Additionally, we explore the growing role of batteries, new tolling agreements, and their impact, along with how batteries are increasingly incorporated into PPAs.
Finally, we turn our attention to the US market, discussing Pexaparkâs first acquisition of a US company, Renewafi, marking a significant step in Pexaparkâs american expansion.
Link to Report: https://pexapark.com/pexapark-renewables-market-outlook-2025/
Link to Renewafi: https://www.renewafi.com/ -
As urgent calls for climate change action continue, an energy supercycle is underway, driven by the increasing need for electrification and digitalization, particularly in high-growth sectors like AI and data centers. Securing a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply to meet this demand is crucial.
At the 2025 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at Davos, Hitachi, Ltd. Executive Chairman Toshiaki Higashihara and Hitachi Energy CEO Andreas Schierenbeck, with Elisabeth V. Vardheim (Statnett) and Gerard Reid (Alexa Capital), participate in a panel discussion on 22 January 2025 to explore the parallels between todayâs energy landscape and offer insights into how global stakeholders can drive change to address the climate crises.
In summary, how to turn couch potatoes into ironmen. Laurentâs conclusion is that Davos is a perfect microcosm to capture CEOsâ Zeitgeist. And when you hear a global consensus, like 4 years ago on Net Zero and Climate and this year on AI⊠then it is probably time to SELL.
This event is part of the Davos Accredited Programme. Full video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIXafAbc1gc -
2024 has been another exceptional year for the battery industry. We have invited Aaron Wade to discuss the various technological and economic aspects of this rapidly expanding universe. Aaron is a rising star in the battery world. Not only is a key member of the Volta Foundation, but he is also Business Development Lead at Gaussion, a U.K. start up that improves charging capacities in batteries.
The Volta Foundation just released its monumental 516 pages report, covering industry, technology, research, government policy, standards. It is a must read for anybody in the industry.
Link to the Volta Foundation report: https://volta.foundation/battery-report-2024
With Aaron, we talk about the pivotal role of China, the evolution of the supply chain (do we have enough minerals? Spoiler Alert: Yes), the chemistries, the form factors, recycling and second life. We discuss industry consolidation among the leading suppliers. We dive into the rise of LFP, the divergence between EV and ESS industries, and the expected evolutions of technologies (sodium ion, solid state, semi solid state), Finally we debate about the prices of cells, packs and systems.
A great conversation to assess the current state of play in this ultra dynamic sector.
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Beside the Volta Foundation, the 2 must read reports which came out a few weeks ago
Ember when it comes to Electricity European Electricity Review 2025Nat Bullard when it comes to Climate and Decarbonisationhttps://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/european-electricity-review-2025/https://www.nathanielbullard.com/presentations
Aaron Wade is the Business Development Lead for Gaussion, enhancing battery performance through magneto-enhancement, and a project director for the Volta Foundation. He was previously the head of battery costs at CRU, helping clients understand the ever changing world of battery cost and technology. Aaron has a PhD from University College London, researching the degradation of battery chemistries using X-ray imaging. Gaussion develop magnetic-enhancement components as a bolt-on for all batteries, unlocking faster charging and longer lifetimes. The solution is chemistry and form factor agnostic, and can result in up to 6x faster charging and up to 8x longer lifetimes. -
While Gerard Reid was at Davos, schmoozing with world leaders, Laurent Segalen was invited by Luca Pedretti on the Pexapark podcast. They had a conversation around where to invest in the Energy Transition.
Laurent has designed a typology of possible investments from the least desirable to the essential.
1) Aspirational
2) Shoehorn
3) Compliance
4) Profitable
5) Salvation
Laurent describes his numerous investments and how this framework has helped him deliver consequential returns. -
As the price of gas and LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) becomes a key factor for the value of the worldâs energy, we have decided to bring in a top gas expert to explain where the market is and how is it going to evolve.
Seb Kennedy is a leading market analyst and Founding Editor of Energy Flux (www.EnergyFlux.news), an independent newsletter that analyses global gas and LNG markets through the lens of Europe's energy transition.
We review the numerous phases that the market has faced since the beginning of the decade, COVID, post COVID, Russia-Ukraine. We delve into the incredible expansion of US Exports capacity, with 8 terminals now operational and a forecasted growth of another 50% by the end of the decade.
We analyse how the market is inherently volatile, which make long term investment difficult but still inside a band. If the LNG gets too high, then consumers will switch; if it gets too low, then some capacity will be shelved.
We focus on Qatar, the worldâs lowest cost producer, which will continue to grow no matter what. Seb anticipates a surplus in the coming years with massive extra capacities coming on the market from USA and Qatar. But the role of Iran and Russia, which hold the largest reserves, remain a huge uncertainty. Europeâs attitude towards LNG is a complex web of contradictions, between decarbonisation, security and affordability of supply, and global geopolitics.
In conclusion, a strategic source of energy, but difficult to apprehend. -
For the first episode of 2025, Gerard and Laurent have the pleasure of welcoming Shanu Mathew. Shanu is a Senior Vice President at Lazard Asset Management and Portfolio Manager/Analyst on US Sustainable Equity.
We are going to analyse the performance of âCleantechâ Equities throughout 2024 and discuss what to expect for 2025. Letâs be honest: 2024 was an annus horribilis for âCoreâ Cleantech with major indices (S&P Global Clean Energy Index) down 20%. But 2024 was also an exceptional year for âPeripheryâ (or adjacent) Cleantech with companies like Siemens Energy and GE Vernova being star performers.
Why such a divergence between âCoreâ and âPeripheryâ? What fundamentals are sustaining such trends? Beside interest rates, political uncertainties, competition of China, there are some green shoots that certain segments have better captured than others.
And of course, we are talking about load growth and the rise of datacenters. A rising tide lift all boats, and Core Cleantech having been so much slaughtered in recent years due to past excesses, we foresee a positive rebalancing in 2025.
Overall, a very vast panorama of how the market values the future of the Energy Transition. -
Happy new year to all our listeners. It has become a tradition for the first episode of the year: Gerard, Laurent and Michael present their 2025 Predictions in the Energy Transition.
Here are the predictions that were made a year ago.
1) Stellantis will outsource its EV production in China
2) Politics: Elections in 2024 could derail the Energy Transition
3) Oversupply of everything energy related â Prices are going down
4) Stronger top-down governance of Transmission and Interconnection
5) The return of Clean Energy shares
6) China will gain massive international market in Wind and EVs
Winner for best predictions is Michael Barnard, and the loser is Laurent (as usual)
And here are our 6 predictions for 2025
1) Oil production down in the US in 2025
2) Oil prices will hit 40USD/bl in 2025
3) Geopolitics, stressed supply chains and Energy bonanza will bring a more innovative and better world
4) A bloodbath for Hydrogen in the Transportation sector
5) Record installation of Solar (700GW), EVs (20m) and Batteries (200GWh)
6) The end of all financial products labelled ESG, Climate and Carbon
We wish all our listeners an excellent year 2025 and we love you all. -
Merry Christmas. This is our last Episode of the Year where Laurent and Gerard summarise what impressed them, surprised them and shocked them. AI, Hydrogen, Renewables, USA vs Europe vs China, Climate. What worked, what did not work.
2024 is a year that will be remembered at pivotal in so many aspects. We salute our friends, our influencers and unveil our book of the year: âThe coming waveâ by Mustafa Suleyman, not purely about Energy, but about the digital transformation that is revolutionising the world.
Laurent and Gerard wish our listeners wonderful year end celebrations and⊠Buckle up for 2025. -
Gerard delivered a master class at TedXBerlin about the four forces driving the Energy Revolution Solar, Batteries, Electronics and China. It is called âWelcome to the Era of Energy Disruptionâ
An excellent introduction for tomorrowâs world.
You can watch Gerard on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXwGvLj4rak -
Just Climate is a 1.5bnUSD vehicle established by Generation Investment with the mission to invest in the highest impact solutions that can radically reduce or remove emissions. They occupy the âmissing middleâ between VC and PE-Infra allowing growth, FOAK and deployment. Their positioning comes on the heels of VCs such as Prelude Ventures, Energy Impact Partners or Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
Laurent and Gerard invite its co-CIO, Shaun Kingsbury, the âinventorâ of North Sea Offshore Wind when he was at the head of UK Green Investment Bank.
We talk about the investment thesis and its portfolio. Steel? Cement? Electro-mobility? Gerard discusses the general environment when it comes to Climate Tech (not great) and wonders if the third wave of Green Investment is not hitting a wall after years of exuberance.
Shaun concludes that there is no future for climate innovations if they donât deliver attractive risk-adjusted financial returns. There will be short term bumps, but the long term is bright. -
Northvolt, once the poster child of the European battery industry, shocked the world last month by filling for Chapter 11 in the United States.
The Swedish battery start-up burned through billions of euros in capital from investors such as Volkswagen, Goldman Sachs, and others, with little to show for it. Laurent and Gerard conduct a postmortem on this debacle of epic proportions.
With access to confidential sources within the company and its supply chain, they arrived at the same conclusions as Robin Zheng, CEO of CATLâthe worldâs leading battery manufacturerâwho stated: âThey have the wrong design, the wrong process, and the wrong equipment. How can they scale up? So almost all mistakes together.â
The root causes of Northvoltâs failure? Hubris and culture. Whatâs next for the European battery industry? Itâs time to face reality: partner with the best or risk failure.
Northvoltâs collapse is a tragedy for its believers and a costly loss for investors. However, the industry continues to grow at a breakneck pace, and with pragmatism, there is a path forward. -
Deploying solar and heat pumps in the residential sector is all well and good, but many attempts to scale have unfortunately failed.
Beyond the king Octopus, Simon Phelan and his company Hometree have managed to become an unlikely challenger in the deployment of the Energy transition inside home. And Simon has achieved this feat by flipping the system onto his head.
Hometree is a company that offers its customers home emergency breakdown insurance, plus installations and financing for energy efficient hardware. The achievements of Hometree are truly remarkable: 100,000 homes covered, a network 5,000 engineers, 100mEUR VC raised (Legal & General, Blackrock), 400mEUR securitisation of behind the meter asset portfolio (Barclays and CPPIB).
How has the Hometree system cracked the code of home energy decarbonisation?
They donât âpushâ a product or a technology, they âpullâ the client towards the best decarbonised solution. It starts with insurance, making sure that your heating system always work and thus creating long term relationships with clients.
Then comes the financing with fully wrapped solutions that lower the prices; the financing is then securitised to investors. And it is a good risk. Finally, having boots on the ground to serve clients to repair, maintain or build.
The eco-system is so versatile and powerful that all Utilities are looking to partner with Hometree ⊠in the secret hope of staying relevant against the Octopus juggernaut. We call Hometree: âthe Best of the Restâ. -
Laurent goes live to Baku COP29 to discuss with Bruce âAlmightyâ Douglas, CEO Global Renewable Alliance and tireless promoter of Renewable Energy.
He is the one who coins the famous âTriple Renewablesâ rallying cry, and has been rewarded by joining the precious list of TIME 100 Climate leaders.
With Bruce, Laurent dives into COP. Shambolic, Rudderless and Essential nevertheless. The world of renewables is at the centre stage, dealing with diplomats who are doing politics without a calculator while policy makers are busy inventing more alphabet soup concepts while ignoring geopolitics.
COP is the summary of the worldâs contradictions. COPs are useless and irreplaceable at the same time. -
As COP29 begins, the ripple effects of the re-election of Donald Trump are reaching the shores of the Caspian Sea.
COP28 welcomed 85,000 delegates, within which a significant contingent of Oil lobbyists. COP29 is supposed to be the âFinance COPâ, whatever that means, but all major head of states will not participate.
What to expect from COP29? Are COP still useful? Is it the correct format? Who is really committed and who is just paying lip service to fighting Climate Change?
Those questions and more with Lord Turner, chair of the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) a global coalition of companies committed to achieving a net zero global economy by 2050. Lord Turner is a leading British businessman and academic, former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (2008-13). From 2008-2012 Lord Turner was the first chair of the UKâs Climate Change Committee. -
First, Gerard is sorry, he couldnât make it as he was on a ship in the Irish Sea, and his Starlink wouldnât connect. So, it is just Laurent interviewing a young superstar, Peter Paul van Voorst, CEO of the mobile battery management platform Skoon.
Skoon, based in Rotterdam, is now seven years old and manages more than 1,000 mobile batteries in 14 countries. Mobile batteries range from 1kw to 1MW and are either on trailers or inside 10ft containers.
With Peter Paul, Laurent analyses this new segment of the Storage market. How did the technology evolve, what are the established use-cases (Construction, Film sets, Events) but also the new ones (Support to distribution networks).
In recent years, not only has the hardware evolved (widespread use of LFP), but there has been an absolute revolution in the software layers, from BMS (Battery Management System) to EMS (Energy Management System) to now the overall fleet management. Those progresses are not only from a technical perspective but also from an economic and environmental perspectives.
How this whole system works, grows and provide immense services to the Electrification of the Economy by providing the ultimate flexibility (time and space). -
Gerard and Laurent welcome Kristian Ruby, secretary general of Eurelectric, about their new report entitled âPower Barometer â Zeroing in on Electrificationâ.
To quote the IEA, we enter in the âAge of Electrificationâ where electrification rate is going to accelerate significantly.
We have an extensive conversation about the good news (growth of renewables, energy security progress in response to Russian aggression) and the not so good news (flat demand, as the new power usages â transportation, heating â donât grow as fast as anticipated; demand reduction or destruction). We discuss the impact of counterproductive taxation of various sources of energy, European competitiveness, the development of behind the meter energy as well as great initiatives such as the North Sea Wind Power Hubâ.
A very rich state of play.
And Gerard apologises for the poor quality of his audio as he was in car driving in France while carrying his precious collection of rare whiskies from Berlin to Dublin.
Link to Eurelectric report: Power Barometer â Zeroing in
https://powerbarometer.eurelectric.org/
Join us at the Energy Storage Awards 2024
https://storageawards.solarenergyevents.com/ -
What are VPP? Virtual Power Plants. What are DER? Distributed Energy Resources?
As the grid becomes more intermittent while the load is growing, those VPP/DER platforms provide a critical role by shedding demand, sometimes for a few minutes, to alleviate stress on the Grids.
VPPs can avoid starting polluting peakers via pre-agreed and targeted demand reduction, shift consumption via batteries and even act in in Frequency response market. And System Operators are willing to pay a decent price to have access to those resources.
That is the mission of Dana Guernsey. Dana is the CEO of Voltus, a Boulder-CO based leading DER technology platform and virtual power plant operator connecting distributed energy resources to electricity markets. As interconnection queues lengthen and capacity cost explode, are we on the dawn of a crazy development of VPPs.
Dana explains that while working for Walmart or fleet of Electric School buses, she can reduce Voltusâ clients power bills by up to 20% while keeping their core services unchanged. We are going to talk about technology, heating and cooling management, AI⊠and lasagna.
A deep dive into the future.
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VERY IMPORTANT: We are doing a Q&A Episode in November
Ask us whatever you want!!!
Send your questions: [email protected] - Laat meer zien
