Plugged In: the energy news podcast

Montel News
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Business News
  • Updated weekly

Coming from the heart of the Montel newsroom, Editor-in-Chief, Snjolfur Richard Sverrisson and his team of journalists explore the news headlines in the energy sector, bringing you in depth analysis of the industry’s leading stories each week.   Richard speaks to experts, analysts, regulators, and senior business leaders to the examine not just the what, but the why behind the decisions directing the markets and shaping the global transition to a green economy.   New episodes are available every Thursday.

  1. Data Centre Boom: catalysts and constraints

    1 day ago

    Data Centre Boom: catalysts and constraints

    Europe is experiencing a rush of investment into data centres as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services drive a new wave of electricity demand. From Finland to Spain, developers are searching for locations with abundant clean power, available grid connections and supportive policy frameworks. But as data centres grow larger and more power-hungry, questions are emerging about whether Europe's electricity infrastructure can keep pace. Grid operators are facing mounting connection queues, policymakers are weighing economic benefits against environmental concerns, and system planners are grappling with how to integrate large new sources of demand without compromising reliability. Could data centres become a catalyst for investment in grids, renewables and flexibility? Or do they risk adding further pressure to already constrained electricity systems? In this episode, Richard Sverrisson is joined by Janne Peljo of Finnish Industries, Elisabeth Cremona of Ember and Liam Newcombe of GreenScale to discuss the future of data centres in Europe, the impact of AI-driven demand growth, grid investment requirements, system stability, and the policy choices that will determine whether Europe can successfully power its digital future. #DataCentres #AI #EnergyTransition #ElectricityMarkets #PowerGrids #EnergySecurity #GridInfrastructure #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #DigitalInfrastructure #ArtificialIntelligence #Electrification #EnergyPolicy #PowerMarkets #EuropeEnergy Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Janne Peljo – Chief Policy Adviser on Climate and Biodiversity, Finnish Industries Elisabeth Cremona – Senior Energy Analyst, Europe, Ember Liam Newcombe – SVP Product, Energy Strategy & Innovation at GreenScale Alina Trabattoni – Italy Correspondant, Montel Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    41 min
  2. Finland - a power success story?

    11 Jun

    Finland - a power success story?

    As Europe grapples with energy security concerns, expectations of rising electricity demand, and the rapid growth of AI-driven data centres, Finland is emerging as one of the continent's most compelling energy success stories. In this episode of Plugged In, Richard Sverrisson is joined first by Elias Huuhtanen, Finland Correspondent at Montel News, who explains why Finland's long-term approach to energy planning, infrastructure investment and security preparedness has positioned the country as a model for Europe. Richard then speaks with Markus Rauramo, CEO of Fortum and President of Eurelectric, about the opportunities and challenges facing Europe's energy transition. They discuss the impact of AI and data centres on power demand, how Finland is preparing for industrial electrification, the importance of grid investment, and why affordable, clean and reliable energy remains essential for maintaining Europe's competitiveness. The conversation also explores geopolitical risks, Europe's exposure to global LNG markets, hybrid threats to critical infrastructure, and the lessons other countries can learn from Finland's pragmatic and technology-neutral energy strategy. Can Finland's approach offer a blueprint for Europe's energy future? #PluggedInPodcast #EnergySecurity #Finland #Fortum #Eurelectric #EnergyTransition #DataCentres #AI #ElectricityMarkets #Renewables #NuclearEnergy #GridInfrastructure #EnergyPolicy #LNG #CyberSecurity #EnergyResilience #IndustrialElectrification #Nordics #CleanEnergy #EnergyMarkets Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Markus Rauramo – CEO of Fortum & President of Eurelectric Elias Huuhtanen – Finland Correspondent, Montel News Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    33 min
  3. Sweden’s energy spat with Brussels

    5 Jun

    Sweden’s energy spat with Brussels

    Sweden's dispute with Brussels over electricity market rules is quickly becoming one of the biggest political energy stories in Europe. At the centre of the debate is a huge stockpile of congestion revenues; billions of euros generated from price differences across Sweden's own grid and its interconnectors with neighbouring countries. Stockholm argues the money should stay in Sweden to fix domestic bottlenecks and protect consumers, while the EU wants greater flexibility to use some of those funds for wider European grid projects. But this is no longer just a technical dispute over electricity markets. This week’s episode  explains how congestion revenues became such a political flashpoint, why frustrations with Germany and EU market rules are growing, and how Sweden’s widening north-south price divide is fuelling domestic pressure. #EbbaBusch #Sweden #EuropeanUnion #EU #EnergyPolicy #EnergySecurity #ElectricityMarkets #PowerMarkets #Interconnectors #GridInfrastructure #EnergyTransition #Renewables #CongestionRevenues #MarketIntegration #Nordics #Brussels #Podcast #PluggedIn #Montel #EnergyNews Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests:  Arne Bergvik - Energy Strategy Consultant, Sigholm  Sebastian De Toro - Partner & Head of Investor Services, New Republic Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    34 min
  4. Feeling the heat: Preparing Europe's grids for summer

    4 Jun

    Feeling the heat: Preparing Europe's grids for summer

    Europe's power systems are facing a new reality. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, electricity networks are coming under growing pressure. Rising cooling demand, aging infrastructure and the rapid expansion of renewable energy are all changing how grids operate during periods of extreme weather. The recent Iberian blackout also highlighted how important resilience, flexibility and interconnection have become in maintaining system security. So is Europe's electricity system ready for a hotter future? In this episode of Plugged In, Richard speaks with Julia Demirdag, Germany Correspondent at Montel News, Guy Nicholson from Statkraft, and Paweł Czyżak from Ember about how heatwaves are reshaping Europe's power sector. Together they explore why grids are increasingly becoming the critical point of vulnerability, what lessons can be learned from the Iberian blackout, and how batteries, storage and smarter system design could help future-proof Europe's electricity networks. #PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews #EnergyTransition #PowerMarkets #GridResilience #Heatwaves #EnergySecurity #BatteryStorage #ElectricityMarkets #Renewables #EnergyPolicy #NetZero Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel News Guy Nicholson – Head of Zero Carbon Grid Solutions, Statkraft Dr Paweł Czyżak – Europe Programme Director, Ember Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    37 min
  5. How many wake up calls does Europe need?

    21 May

    How many wake up calls does Europe need?

    The US-Israeli led war in Iran and the prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is once again exposing Europe’s vulnerability to global energy shocks; raising urgent questions about gas storage, LNG dependency and whether governments have learned anything from previous crises. In this episode of PluggedIn, Montel’s Richard speaks with Henning Gloystein from Eurasia Group and Saul Kavonic from MST Marquee about the escalating conflict and growing risks facing energy markets and global supply chains. Could shipping flows resume within weeks, or are market participants underestimating the possibility of years of disruption? The discussion explores fuel shortages, LNG price risks, Europe’s storage dilemma, China’s strategic positioning, and why many analysts believe the global economy is only beginning to feel the effects of the crisis. With competing forecasts and mounting geopolitical tensions, the episode examines what comes next for energy markets, and whether the world is prepared for a prolonged supply shock. #StraitOfHormuz #LNG #NaturalGas #OilMarkets #EnergyCrisis #GlobalEnergy #Geopolitics #EnergySecurity #GasMarkets #TTF #EnergyTransition #Iran #MiddleEast #ShippingCrisis #EnergyPodcast #Montel #PluggedInPodcast #OilAndGas #EuropeEnergy #LNGMarkets Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Saul Kavonic, Head of Energy Research, MST Marquee Henning Gloystein, Managing Director - Energy & Resources, Eurasia Group  Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    48 min
  6. Celebrating curtailment: Are negative prices really that bad?

    14 May

    Celebrating curtailment: Are negative prices really that bad?

    Negative power prices  are becoming increasingly commonplace in Europe’s electricity markets.   With solar generation soaring and renewable buildout accelerating, Europe’s power systems are increasingly producing more electricity than consumers need during certain hours of the day. The result? Wholesale electricity prices falling below zero, with generators effectively paying the market to take their power. But are negative prices actually a problem — or a sign that the energy transition is working? Should we be celebrating curtailment? The panel explores why countries like Germany, the Netherlands, France and Spain are seeing growing numbers of negative-price hours, how grid congestion and inflexible generation are contributing to the issue, and whether batteries, storage and demand-side flexibility can keep pace with the rapid expansion of renewables. They also debate why overbuilding renewables is economically rational, and whether current market structures are fit for a power system dominated by wind and solar. #EnergyMarkets #NegativePrices #Curtailment #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #PowerMarkets #BatteryStorage #SolarPower #WindEnergy #GridFlexibility #ElectricityMarkets #NetZero #EnergyStorage #MontelNews Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: André Bosschaart - Head of Analytics, Montel Anton Tijdink, Policy advisor - Electricity Market Design, TenneT TSO Caroline Pailliez, Montel Journalist, France Editor: Oscar Birk  Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    38 min
  7. Snorkelling for negative prices

    7 May

    Snorkelling for negative prices

    Norway - and the Nordic power system more generally - have seen fewer instances of negative prices than their continental counterparts in recent weeks. Why has the region been “snorkelling” while others have been plumbing the depths of negative prices. Norway’s hydropower system is under pressure after one of the coldest winters in 16 years and a prolonged period of low precipitation. Reservoir levels in southern Norway remain well below normal, raising questions about energy security, winter preparedness and the growing role of Europe’s interconnected power markets.  But is the situation really as serious as headlines suggest? Joined by some of the foremost experts on Norwegian hydropower and the market dynamics, together, they explore how low snowpack, dry weather patterns and shifting hydrological balances are affecting Norway’s power outlook — and why imported renewable energy from continental Europe may actually help save water in Nordic reservoirs ahead of winter. The panel also dives into the explosion of negative power prices across Europe, the impact of Germany’s rapid solar buildout, whether batteries and grids can keep pace with renewables growth, and why some analysts believe Europe’s energy transition is entering a period of extreme volatility. #EnergyMarkets #Norway #Hydropower #PowerMarkets #RenewableEnergy #Nordics #ElectricityPrices #NegativePrices #EnergyTransition #SolarPower #WindPower #EnergySecurity #GridInfrastructure #BatteryStorage #LNG #EuropeanEnergy #PowerTrading #WeatherRisk #HydroReservoirs #PluggedInPodcast Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Katinka Bogaard - Founder, MD and Analyst - Volt Power Analytics Ivan Føre Svegaarden - Head of Energy Analysis and Weather Risk Management -  TradeWpower AS  Tor Reier Lilleholt - Head of Analysis - Insight by Volue Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon

    34 min
  8. Gas storage: Complacency or Crunch?

    30 Apr

    Gas storage: Complacency or Crunch?

    Europe may have emerged from winter without a full-scale gas crisis; but with storage levels unusually low, geopolitical tensions rising, and summer-winter price spreads offering little commercial incentive, the real challenge may only just be beginning. Germany, home to Europe's largest gas storage capacity, is facing mounting pressure to refill ahead of winter while the war in the Middle East, uncertainty around LNG transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and fragile industrial demand all cloud the outlook. Across Europe, policymakers are weighing whether market forces alone can deliver enough supply; or if strategic intervention may once again be required. Will Europe’s gas market rebalance in time, or are governments heading back into crisis-management mode? Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Maria Haensch – Germany Correspondent, Montel News Sebastian Gulbis – Managing Director, Enervis Energy Advisors GmbH Erisa Pasko – Senior European Gas Analyst, Energy Aspects Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon #GasStorage #Germany #EuropeanGas #LNG #EnergySecurity #NaturalGas #Geopolitics #EnergyMarkets #PluggedInPodcast #Montel

    31 min
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About

Coming from the heart of the Montel newsroom, Editor-in-Chief, Snjolfur Richard Sverrisson and his team of journalists explore the news headlines in the energy sector, bringing you in depth analysis of the industry’s leading stories each week.   Richard speaks to experts, analysts, regulators, and senior business leaders to the examine not just the what, but the why behind the decisions directing the markets and shaping the global transition to a green economy.   New episodes are available every Thursday.

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