The smarter E Podcast

The smarter E

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Technologie
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The smarter E Podcast - for and with the creators of the new energy world. Our podcast is all about the current trends and developments in a renewable, decentralized and digital energy industry. Our host Jonathan Gifford welcome and interview personalities who shape our industry and drive developments forward. Every week on Thursday with a new episode!

vor 2 Tagen

From EVs to BESS: Why capital is flowing to batteries

Recorded at two recent industry events – the SolarPower Summit in Brussels and the Battery Business & Development Forum in Frankfurt – this week’s episode explores why batteries have become one of the most dynamic areas of the global energy transition. Featuring two industry heavy hitters, the conversations cover how BESS is transforming everything from electric mobility and charging infrastructure to renewable energy markets and grid management. In the first interview, we’re joined by Laurent Segalen, clean energy investor and host of the Redefining Energy podcast, to unpack why electrification is entering a new phase of growth. Laurent explains how falling battery costs, improving EV technology, and changing energy economics are accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to electricity – particularly across transport sectors such as cars, vans, and heavy-duty trucks. The discussion explores why electric trucks are becoming increasingly compelling from a business perspective, with lower operating and maintenance costs driving adoption. Laurent also explains why stationary batteries will play a critical role in supporting high-power charging infrastructure, creating buffers across the electricity system, and enabling the continued expansion of renewable energy. In the second half of the episode, we speak with Stefan Mueller, COO and co-founder of ENERPARC, about the booming utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) market in Germany and Europe. Stefan shares insights into the wide range of emerging opportunities – from grid-scale batteries and solar-plus-storage projects to behind-the-meter applications supporting industry, EV charging, and energy-cost optimization. The conversation covers the changing economics of battery projects, including merchant trading, peak shaving, balancing markets, and how energy storage can help companies access more reliable renewable power. Stefan also explains what investors and banks need to see for BESS projects to become financeable, and why predictable regulation and grid connection frameworks remain essential. We also discuss the role of AI and digital platforms in managing increasingly complex energy assets, the future of hydrogen versus electrification in transport, and why batteries may ultimately help us use existing electricity infrastructure far more efficiently. ✉️ Questions or feedback? Write us at podcast@thesmartere.com

38 Min.
28. Mai

Will soaring fuel costs make eMobility mass market?

Recorded at the historic Berlin campus of technology and engineering giant Siemens, this week’s episode explores why Europe’s logistics industry is rapidly accelerating towards electrification – driven not only by decarbonization goals, but increasingly by energy security, operational resilience, and cost control. We’re joined by Marcel Rümenapf, Head of Sales for eMobility Europe at Siemens, to unpack how rising fossil fuel prices, dynamic electricity markets, and improving EV technology are transforming fleet economics for businesses across Europe. The conversation explores why logistics operators are now viewing electrification as a strategic advantage, particularly as electricity offers opportunities for smart charging, on-site solar integration, and far greater control over energy costs when compared with fossil fuels like diesel. A major focus of the discussion is how the complexity of large-scale fleet charging can be overcome. Marcel explains the ways in which smart charging software is becoming essential for managing depots with hundreds of electric buses or trucks that are balancing grid constraints, fast-changing wholesale electricity price dynamics, charging schedules, and operational requirements in real time. The episode also explores the increasingly important role of stationary battery storage at logistics hubs, both for supporting charging infrastructure and in auxiliary applications such as the participation in electricity balancing markets. We also discuss the future of electric trucks versus hydrogen, why fleet operators are beginning with phased pilot projects before scaling, and how electrification could even help logistics companies attract drivers by improving the driving experience itself. ✉️ Questions or feedback? Write us at podcast@thesmartere.com

33 Min.
14. Mai

It’s Eurovision! Solar Startups Edition (live from the SolarPower Summit)

Recorded on-site at the SolarPower Summit in Brussels, this week’s episode captures the market developments and innovative young companies shaping Europe’s clean energy transition. We kick things off with renowned BloombergNEF solar analyst Jenny Chase, who joins us to unpack why batteries have become the defining technology conversation across Europe’s solar sector. As PV penetration rates continue to increase and negative pricing events become more common, Jenny explains why in this next phase of development, the industry’s challenge is managing flexibility, storage, and increasingly volatile power markets. The conversation touches on anticipated developments like changing energy-trading models, EV smart charging, and long-duration storage, while also exploring how software and intelligent asset management are becoming as important as the hardware itself. And Jenny flags battery revenue cannibalization as a trend to keep an eye out for. The second half of the episode features interviews with the four finalists of the European Solar Startup Award, recorded directly after the competition finals at the summit: We speak with Sweden’s Qurrent about hybrid solar and battery optimization platforms designed to unlock new revenue streams for renewable assets. Finland’s Polar Night Energy explains how high-temperature sand batteries could provide low-cost industrial heat and long-duration storage using excess renewable electricity. Gridio discusses the growing importance of seamless EV smart charging and integrating electric vehicles with home solar systems. And finally, we hear from reLi Energy – the winner of the competition – on one of the battery sector’s most urgent emerging challenges: degradation management and how smarter operation of battery assets could dramatically improve long-term revenues and asset lifetimes. From the summit location in Brussels, this episode of The smarter E podcast provides a snapshot of where the European energy transition is heading next. Thank you to SolarPower Europe for the event invitation. ✉️ Questions or feedback? Write us at podcast@thesmartere.com

36 Min.
30. Apr.

Keep calm and deploy solar (and batteries)

With the Strait of Hormuz disruption continuing to drive fossil-fuel costs higher, businesses big and small have been left looking for ways to cut energy costs. But, in contrast to energy crises of the past, today’s clean energy technology is mature, cost competitive, and ready to fill the gap. This week on the pod, we speak to James Allston of Orkestra Energy for a view on how European businesses are responding to sustained high electricity prices and growing volatility. Rather than reacting to headlines, he explains how structural forces – from rising network charges to falling battery costs – are accelerating the business case for solar and storage. We unpack how local market dynamics, in leading commercial and industrial (C&)I marketplaces such as the United Kingdom and Germany, are shaping very different “value stacks” for batteries, including managing peak demand, navigating negative pricing, and optimizing behind-the-meter savings. We also explore the next frontier for commercial energy users: EV fleets with integrated on-site solar and storage. As grid capacity tightens and electrification accelerates, this convergence will likely shape how businesses think about both energy costs and transportation. Then, we shift from deployment to innovation with renowned solar researcher Professor Marko Topič from the University of Ljubljana, who takes us inside one of the most promising areas of solar research: perovskite solar cells. With record-breaking efficiencies already achieved, industry focus has turned to the next challenge for the emerging solar technology: durability. We dive into the perovskite degradation mechanisms, surprising “self-healing” behaviors, and the painstaking work required to understand, and ultimately control, these processes in real-world conditions. Professor Topič discusses indoor perovskite-powered IoT devices and even space applications, providing a glimpse into an exciting future – but one that will only be realized if researchers can bridge the gap between lab performance and long-term reliability. ✉️ Questions or feedback? Write us at podcast@thesmartere.com

47 Min.
16. Apr.

How solar is delivering energy security

As global energy markets face renewed volatility – from geopolitical flashpoints to supply disruptions – a key question is back in focus: how do we deliver energy security when fossil-fuel supply is no longer guaranteed? In this episode, we explore how flexibility – powered by EVs and batteries – is emerging as a frontline solution to energy security challenges. First, Gautham Ram (TU Delft) changes the narrative on EVs as a grid liability. Instead, he outlines how millions of electric vehicles could act as a vast, distributed storage network, effectively turning transport into a strategic energy asset. From smart charging to V2G, we explore how intelligent coordination – and not just new infrastructure – can ease grid congestion, absorb renewable generation, and reduce reliance on imported fuels. We also unpack the use cases driving AC vs. DC charging, bidirectional technology, and battery lifetimes – and why scaling these solutions will depend on standards, interoperability, and consumer confidence. Then, live from the Battery & Business Development Forum 2026 in Frankfurt, Ruben Valiente of Maxxen Energy shares a ground-level view of Europe’s rapidly expanding battery storage market. His message is timely: while battery cells remain dominated by global supply chains, Europe’s strength lies in system integration, local engineering, and getting projects deployed rapidly. As markets grapple with uncertainty, new approaches like vendor-backed financing are helping to de-risk investments and accelerate deployment, which is absolutely critical in these moments when resilience is thrown into question. With EV fleets increasingly acting as mobile energy reserves and utility-scale batteries stabilizing grids, this episode connects the dots across a rapidly evolving storage landscape and shows how, in an era of disruption, flexibility may be the ultimate hedge against energy insecurity. With a focus on smarter inverters and the power of distributed energy systems, this episode looks at how solar is redefining energy security – and why resilience may be its most important role yet. ✉️ Questions or feedback? Write us at podcast@thesmartere.com

46 Min.
2. Apr.

How solar is delivering energy security

Energy security is back at the top of the global agenda and new ways to secure supply are evolving fast. In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how solar is moving beyond generation to play a critical role in stabilizing power systems and delivering energy security. First, Wood Mackenzie analyst Timothy Shen breaks down the rapid evolution of solar inverters – and how they are well equipped to meet the challenges of today’s changing power mix. Once seen as passive components, today’s advanced inverters can actively support the grid managing voltage, frequency, and providing reactive power in real time. As the energy transition accelerates, these capabilities are becoming essential to keeping power systems reliable, especially during disruptions. We also examine what recent grid failures reveal about the gap between older infrastructure and newer, more resilient technologies, and why the latest generation of inverters could help prevent future blackouts. In the second half of the episode, Dr Rethabile Melamu from the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association shares insights from Africa’s rapidly accelerating solar market. With hundreds of millions still lacking access to electricity on the continent, solar and storage are an increasingly essential factors to support economic growth, energy access, and resilience. From community-led microgrids to innovative financing models, new approaches are enabling decentralized, secure power systems to scale quickly across Africa. For more for insights into Africa’s energy grid, check out the GSC’s recently released Africa Market Outlook for Solar PV: 2026–2029: https://www.globalsolarcouncil.org/resources/africa-market-outlook-2026-2029/ With a focus on smarter inverters and the power of distributed energy systems, this episode looks at how solar is redefining energy security – and why resilience may be its most important role yet. ✉️ Questions or feedback? Write us at podcast@thesmartere.com

37 Min.
19. März

Digitalizing the grid to meet today’s energy crisis – with Simon Evans and Akshat Rathi

As geopolitical tensions once again send shockwaves through global energy markets, the pressure to accelerate the energy transition has rarely been greater. In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how digital technologies and electrification are reshaping the energy system—and why smarter, more connected grids are becoming essential in navigating today’s crisis. Our first guest, Simon Evans, Global Digital Energy and Digital Twin Leader at Arup, explains what digitalization really means for electricity networks. As renewables, rooftop solar, EVs, and distributed assets multiply across the grid, traditional operating models are becoming increasingly complex. Digital technologies, including improved data sharing to digital twins and machine learning, can help system operators manage this growing complexity. But as Evans argues, the biggest hurdles are not technical. Regulatory frameworks, trust between stakeholders, and new approaches to secure data exchange will ultimately determine how quickly digitalization can scale. We also explore how smarter networks could unlock flexibility across the system like coordinating EV charging and distributed storage and reducing renewable curtailment. In some cases, digital tools could even help direct excess renewable generation toward households facing energy affordability challenges. In the second half of the episode, Bloomberg climate reporter Akshat Rathi joins the podcast to unpack the geopolitical context behind today’s volatile energy markets. As disruptions to oil and gas supply chains push prices higher, governments are once again confronting energy security concerns. But unlike past crises, there is now a third option: accelerating electrification and renewable energy deployment. From digital grids to geopolitics, this episode looks at how today’s energy shocks could reshape the power system and why smarter infrastructure may be key to building a more resilient, electrified energy future. ✉️ Have comments or questions? Get in touch at podcast@thesmartere.com

57 Min.
5. März

Are today’s solar modules built to last? – with Chiara Baretta and Steven Xuereb

Recorded live in Barcelona at the Solar Quality Summit in February, this episode of The smarter E Podcast examines a critical question for the PV industry: are today’s solar modules built for long-term durability? As manufacturers push for higher efficiencies, larger formats, and lower costs, quality data is flashing warning signs. Drawing on insights from Kiwa PI Berlin’s latest Module Manufacturing Report, we explore a record 3.36% defect rate observed during pre-shipment inspections in 2025, and what’s driving it. Rear-side breakage in large-format, glass-glass modules is emerging as a major concern, with thinner 2 mm strengthened glass proving more fragile under real-world stress. At the same time, thinner frames, rapid factory ramp-ups, and geopolitical supply chain shifts are adding new layers of risk. The episode also dives into degradation challenges linked to TOPCon technology, including UV-induced degradation – and module meta-stability, which is proving challenging for accurate characterization. In the second part of the episode, we turn to polymers – present in the encapsulants, backsheets, and adhesives that quietly influence whether modules last 30 years or fail early. New materials like POE and TPO are improving performance in some areas, but increasing complexity across the bill of materials. Meanwhile, emerging tools such as near-infrared field analysis and AI-supported inspection may help be a helpful root-cause analysis tool and enabler of predictive maintenance. If solar is scaling at unprecedented speed, quality assurance must keep up. Covering a wide range of the important quality topics at hand, our live conversation Barcelona puts the spotlight on what it will take to ensure today’s modules truly stand the test of time. ✉️ Have comments or questions? Get in touch at podcast@thesmartere.com

47 Min.

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The smarter E Podcast - for and with the creators of the new energy world. Our podcast is all about the current trends and developments in a renewable, decentralized and digital energy industry. Our host Jonathan Gifford welcome and interview personalities who shape our industry and drive developments forward. Every week on Thursday with a new episode!

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2026
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The smarter E Podcast