Energy Unplugged Aurora Energy Research

In this episode, we discuss the energy transition as an investment climate for low-carbon infrastructure in Europe and the US. Our Research Director, Richard Howard is joined by Aurora experts: Ryan Alexander, Research Lead for European Power Markets and Julia Hoos, Head of USA East.

Main topics include:

• The impact of the REPowerEU plan and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the US on the energy transition
• The status of renewables deployment in Europe vs the US
• Green hydrogen as a direct replacement for natural gas

In this episode, we welcome Jack Curtis, Chief Commercial Officer at Neara, in a talk with our Managing Director in APAC and California, Hugo Batten, and our Head of Research in APAC, James Ha.

Today’s discussion is focused on the challenges the power grid faces through the energy transition.

Neara is a physics-enabled platform that builds 3D interactive models of networks and assets, providing the ability to run real-world scenarios, assess current and future risks, and prioritize maintenance and disaster response. In the past, Jack was also Head of APAC for First Solar, and before he was both an investment banker and a lawyer.

Main topics include:

• The development of renewables over the past 10 years in Australia
• The government and the private sector’s roles in achieving the 1.5 degrees goal in Australia’s electricity system
• Neara’s platform, its fit with other models, and the challenges of the grid

In this episode we welcome Jan Pepper, CEO, Peninsula Clean Energy in a conversation with our Head of Advisory – US West, Felix Chow-Kambitsch and our Head of Research – US West, Kim Liu.

The discussion focusses on clean energy in California, as the state transitions towards its commitment of 100% clean electricity by 2045.

Jan has been working on renewable energy in California for the last 30 years. She is now CEO of Peninsula Clean Energy, a Community Choice Aggregation agency for San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos. Under Jan’s leadership since its inception in 2016, Peninsula Clean Energy has been leading the industry with its unprecedented goal for a California load-serving entity to procure 100% renewable energy 24/7 by 2025.

Main topics include:

• The role of CCAs in the energy transition
• PCE’s goal to deliver 24/7 renewable power by 2025
• Opportunities and challenges as California moves to 100% zero-carbon

This week we have a special episode on Energy Unplugged in which we welcome Daniel Breuer, Partner at Osborne Clarke in a conversation with our Co-Head of Advisory Central Europe, Thekla von Bülow.

The episode is preparing for our Renewables Summit Berlin 2023 taking place tomorrow, Thursday 11th of May in Berlin, Germany. The topic of the event is ‘Coordinating the German State and Market: Policies and Strategies to Reach 80% Renewables by 2030’ and Daniel is one of our speakers at the event. Daniel will be participating in one of the panel discussions entitled ‘Uncovering Optimal Pricing Mechanisms and Navigating Impacts of Regulatory Interventions on the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Markets’.

Daniel heads Osborne Clarke Germany’s Energy & Utility practice. He advises clients on all energy and regulatory matters with a particular emphasis on renewable energy projects (from greenfield development to repowering), direct marketing and PPA structures (corporate, utility and financial), energy trading compliance, battery storage and (green) hydrogen and the digital transformation of the energy industry.

The podcast episode is a pre-discussion of the topics we will touch upon on at our Renewables Summit Berlin 2023. We hope to see you there!

Main topics include:

• The PPAs market in the last 2-3 years starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and going through the energy crisis
• The impact of price caps on the recent PPAs transactions in Germany
• Regulatory interventions and their impact on the PPA markets

This week on Energy Unplugged, we discuss about the revolution in retail energy markets in the UK and internationally. We’re delighted to welcome Melissa Gander, Chief Operating Officer at Kaluza in a conversation with our Managing Director for UK & Ireland, Dan Monzani.

With an extensive career in energy, Melissa was a member of OVO Energy’s launch team in 2009 where she headed up their Customer Services and Operations, as well as their smart metering business. In 2019, Melissa became OVO Group Chief Operating Officer and joined Kaluza in 2021 as Chief Operating Officer helping to spearhead the company's international growth. Before joining OVO Energy, Melissa spent three years at Envoy Asset Management (part of Inexus Group). Melissa graduated in Economics from Sheffield University.

Melissa & Dan discuss:

• OVO Energy and what drove the growth of the company in the first 5 to 10 years
• Kaluza’s business model as a real-time SaaS platform accelerating the shift to a zero carbon world
• International retail markets and how straightforward is to scale a platform such as Kaluza
• Domestic flexibility and the role EV manufacturers have to play

In this episode we’re delighted to welcome Chris Hansen, State Senator for Colorado in a conversation with our Head of USA, Oliver Kerr.

Chris entered politics in 2016, he had a long career in the energy sector, both in academia and industry, he’s an energy expert by training, with a master degree from MIT, and a PhD from Oxford University.

Oliver and Chris discuss:

* The energy transition in Colorado and the role government has to play
* The role for markets in the energy transition
* The progress of decarbonisation wider in the US