Energy Unplugged by Aurora

Aurora Energy Research
  • 4.6 (5)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to ‘Energy Unplugged by Aurora’, a mix of in-depth conversations with key international industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, sharing their unique perspectives on the global energy transition. Hosted by various Aurora experts, we explore the hottest topics and trends across the energy landscape. From renewables, battery storage, and grid integration, to hydrogen, commodity markets, and technology innovation, our high-profile guests weigh in with their valuable insights. Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the energy industry, with a new episode released every week!

  1. 2D AGO

    EP. 276 Scaling the Energy Transition: Flexibility, Capital and Execution

    In this episode of Energy Unplugged, Simon De Clercq is joined by Pieter-Jan Mermans, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Junction Growth Investors, to explore how Europe’s energy transition is shifting from rapid build-out to a more operationally complex phase. Reflecting on the last decade of renewables, electrification and storage growth, they discuss why today’s biggest challenges are no longer technological, but lie in flexibility, market design, and making existing infrastructure work harder. Pieter-Jan brings first-hand experience from founding and scaling REstore into a global leader in demand-side flexibility, before joining Centrica Business Solutions’ executive team following its acquisition. Drawing on this background - and his current role investing in European energy transition scale-ups - he explains why flexibility, software and optimisation have moved from the margins to the core of power markets, and how grid-enhancing technologies can unlock value faster and more cost-effectively than network expansion alone. Set against tighter capital markets and evolving policy priorities, the conversation argues that the next phase of the energy transition will be defined by execution and unit economics. From residential and industrial flexibility to smarter trading, automation and regulation that reward system value, Simon and Pieter-Jan make the case that aligning markets with real-world system needs will be critical to keeping Europe’s transition investable, reliable and competitive. You will learn: Why flexibility and optimisation - not new generation - are now the biggest levers in Europe’s energy transition. How demand-side response, storage and software can unlock system value faster than traditional grid build-out. What scaling an energy-tech business reveals about the real-world barriers to deploying flexibility at pace. Why execution, unit economics and market design will determine which transition technologies succeed in tighter capital markets.   Registration for the leading annual gathering of the European energy industry – the Aurora Spring Forum, taking place on 29th April 2026, in London is open - a one-day deep dive into the biggest strategic questions shaping Europe’s energy transition, plus top-tier networking and a live recording of Energy Unplugged. Book now at https://auroraer.com/events/aurora-spring-forum-2026 and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.

    34 min

  2. FEB 5

    EP. 275 - Systemic Reform and the Future of Britain’s Energy System

    This week on Energy Unplugged, we share a keynote address from Jonathan Brearley, Chief Executive of Ofgem, recorded live at Aurora’s Energy Transition Summit in London. Jonathan sets out why the UK’s energy transition now requires deep systemic reform -moving beyond a purely market-led model towards a more strategic, coordinated approach to planning, regulation and delivery. Drawing on lessons from electricity market reform and the rapid scale-up of offshore wind, he argues that choosing low-cost pathways, coordinating infrastructure, enabling flexible demand and spreading costs fairly are essential to delivering a cleaner, more secure and affordable energy system. Jonathan reflects on the pressures driving reform, from volatile gas prices and rising energy bills to surging demand from electrification, AI and data centres. He outlines how Ofgem is responding through faster network approvals, connection reform, closer coordination with the National Energy System Operator, and a renewed focus on retail market reform. The discussion highlights the challenge of balancing affordability, security and decarbonisation while creating a regulatory framework capable of supporting large-scale investment in networks and clean energy. You will learn: Why systemic reform is now essential to deliver a coordinated, lower-cost energy transition beyond a purely market-led model. How affordability, fairness and energy debt are shaping the transition, and what needs to change to protect consumers. What a reformed regulatory framework must do to unlock investment, accelerate grid build-out and enable flexible demand. Registration for the leading annual gathering of the European energy industry – the Aurora Spring Forum, taking place on 29th April 2026, in London is open - a one-day deep dive into the biggest strategic questions shaping Europe’s energy transition, plus top-tier networking and a live recording of Energy Unplugged. Book now at https://auroraer.com/events/aurora-spring-forum-2026 and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.

    21 min

  3. JAN 27

    EP.274 – From Grid Bottlenecks to Battery Value: Europe’s Storage Markets Evolve

    This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re joined by Steffen Schülzchen, Founder and CEO of Entrix, and Constantin Nicklas, Head of Sales at Entrix, for a discussion on how grid congestion is reshaping battery storage investment across Europe. They join Claudia Gunter, Senior Research Lead at Aurora, to focus on why network constraints have become a defining challenge for batteries, and how flexible connection models, smarter optimisation, and evolving market rules could help unlock capacity faster. The discussion explores how congestion, redispatch, and ramping limits affect battery revenues in practice, and what this means for system efficiency, investors, and decarbonisation outcomes. Steffen founded Entrix in 2021 after advising European utilities on the energy transition at McKinsey & Company, and now leads the development of an intelligent trading and optimisation platform for battery assets. Constantin brings a commercial and investor perspective from over a decade in financial asset management at Deutsche Bank, where he worked closely with energy-focused investment structures. Together, they offer a grounded view on how regulatory design, grid access, and market signals are shaping the next phase of battery deployment in Europe. You will learn: Why grid congestion has become a binding constraint for battery deployment in Europe, especially in Germany. How connection rules, redispatch, and ramping limits shape real-world battery revenues and risk. What flexible grid access and smarter optimisation could unlock for storage investors and system operators. How market design and regulation will need to evolve to scale batteries efficiently and cost-effectively. Registration for the leading annual gathering of the European energy industry – the Aurora Spring Forum, taking place on 29th April 2026, in London is open - a one-day deep dive into the biggest strategic questions shaping Europe’s energy transition, plus top-tier networking and a live recording of Energy Unplugged. Book now at https://auroraer.com/events/aurora-spring-forum-2026 and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.

    33 min

  4. JAN 23

    EP. 273 - From the C-Suite: What Next for Britain’s Energy Transition

    This week on Energy Unplugged, we bring you a live panel discussion from Aurora’s Energy Transition Summit, moderated by Camilla Palladino, Deputy Head of Lex at the Financial Times. She is joined by Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem; Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure Data Centres Group; and Keith Anderson, CEO of Scottish Power, for a wide-ranging debate on whether Britain’s energy transition can remain on course amid political uncertainty, rising bills and growing scrutiny of net-zero commitments. Drawing on perspectives from regulation, infrastructure delivery and energy-intensive demand, the panel strikes a note of cautious optimism on the UK’s clean power ambitions, while highlighting the barriers that must be addressed. The conversation explores the need for faster planning and regulatory reform, greater policy stability to sustain investor confidence, and a grid fit for a 21st-century economy - capable of supporting growth in AI, data centres, manufacturing and life sciences. The discussion also examines affordability, questioning how network and policy costs are recovered, and why accelerating grid investment could be one of the most effective ways to cut system costs and ease pressure on consumers. You will learn about: Why planning speed and regulatory agility are now critical to delivering the energy transition. How policy instability risks undermining investor confidence at a time of major capital need. The growing tension between rising electricity demand and an overstretched grid network. What grid reform and cost allocation could mean for energy bills and long-term system efficiency. Registration for the leading annual gathering of the European energy industry – the Aurora Spring Forum, taking place on 29th April 2026, in London is open - a one-day deep dive into the biggest strategic questions shaping Europe’s energy transition, plus top-tier networking and a live recording of Energy Unplugged. Book now at https://auroraer.com/events/aurora-spring-forum-2026 and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.

    41 min

  5. JAN 13

    EP.272 – Renewables at Scale: Flexibility, Grids and the Future Power System

    This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re joined by Ana Marques, Executive Board Member at EDP. She joins Ana Barillas, Aurora’s Managing Director for Iberia & LatAm, to explore how flexibility, grids, and system resilience are becoming central to the next phase of the energy transition, alongside continued growth in wind and solar.  Ana sits on EDP’s Executive Board and oversees the group’s global renewable generation platform, alongside responsibility for digital, technology, and safety. Drawing on EDP’s international footprint, she shares how scale, technology diversification, and disciplined value creation underpin the company’s strategy, and why renewables must increasingly deliver not just clean energy, but also reliability and system services. You will learn: Why flexibility, grids, and resilience are now critical pillars of renewable-heavy power systems. How renewables and storage are increasingly contributing to ancillary services and system stability. What lessons recent system stress events offer for operating low-carbon power markets. How electrification, data centres, and hydrogen are reshaping future power demand and market design. Registration for the leading annual gathering of the European energy industry – the Aurora Spring Forum, taking place on 29th April 2026, in London is open - a one-day deep dive into the biggest strategic questions shaping Europe’s energy transition, plus top-tier networking and a live recording of Energy Unplugged. Book now at https://auroraer.com/events/aurora-spring-forum-2026 and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.

    40 min

  6. JAN 6

    EP.271 - Flexibility, Batteries and the Future of Europe’s Power System

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Jesse Hetema, Aurora’s Head of the Netherlands and Belgium, is joined by Simon Bushell, Founder and CEO of Sympower, to explore why flexibility has become a critical pillar of Europe’s energy transition. They discuss how rising price volatility, negative prices and grid congestion are shifting the focus from pure decarbonisation towards system resilience, and why demand-side response and batteries are now essential to keeping renewable-heavy power systems stable and investable. Simon founded Sympower in 2015 and has grown the company into a leading provider of flexibility services across Europe, with a strong presence in the Nordics and Greece. Drawing on his experience working with industrial customers, he explains how flexibility is unlocked in practice – from identifying low-cost demand-side opportunities to optimising batteries across multiple markets – and why digital platforms, advanced dispatch and supportive regulation are key to scaling flexibility across Europe. Listeners will also hear how tools like Aurora’s Flex subscription help market participants understand flexibility opportunities and price dynamics, and how CHRONOS supports the optimisation and valuation of battery assets across volatile power markets. You will learn: Why flexibility is now essential to Europe’s power system, as congestion and curtailment become structural challenges. How flexibility services and BESS optimisation generate value across multiple European power markets. What storage owners and large energy users need to get right to maximise multi-market revenues from flexibility. How market design, grid constraints, and regional differences are shaping the future of flexibility at scale in Europe. Registration for the leading annual gathering of the European energy industry – the Aurora Spring Forum, taking place on 29th April 2026, in London is open - a one-day deep dive into the biggest strategic questions shaping Europe’s energy transition, plus top-tier networking and a live recording of Energy Unplugged. Book now at https://auroraer.com/events/aurora-spring-forum-2026 and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.

    31 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    EP.270 Review of 2025: Insights from the Global Energy Transition with 12 Aurora Experts

    2025 has been a landmark year for the global energy sector and the energy transition, marked by rapid change and significant challenges. Aurora has brought together the key themes shaping the energy transition into a special end of year report and accompanying podcast – hosted by our Global Research Director, Richard Howard and with contributions from 12 Aurora experts from Aurora’s global network. Key themes explored are: US policy changes under the Trump administration The report delves into the sweeping policy shifts enacted by President Trump’s administration, which have had significant effects on both domestic and international energy markets. Increased trade tariffs, a renewed focus on US energy independence, and the rollback of clean energy incentives have altered investment flows and market dynamics. The analysis explores how these policies have impacted global trade, LNG exports, and the competitiveness of renewables. The AI boom and data centre expansion A defining trend of 2025 has been the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and data centre development. Electricity demand from data centres globally now rivals that of a major economy such as Germany, creating both opportunities and challenges for utilities and grid operators. The discussion covers the need for rapid grid expansion, investment in flexible infrastructure, and the implications for renewable energy integration as data centres become increasingly central to power system planning. Grid reliability amidst climate volatility and renewables buildout Extreme weather events, ageing infrastructure, and the accelerated deployment of renewables have placed grid reliability at the forefront of concerns. The report and podcast examine major outages and system stress in regions such as Iberia, Australia, and the US, analysing their causes and the responses from system operators and policymakers. It underscores the importance of proactive planning, investment in grid-forming technologies, and the role of flexibility—such as batteries and demand response—in maintaining system stability. Challenges and solutions for renewables integration As renewables reach record levels of deployment, new challenges have emerged: negative pricing, grid congestion, and economic curtailment. The report and podcast feature case studies from Europe, Latin America, Japan, and India, illustrating how different markets are addressing these issues through technology, market design, and policy innovation. Solutions discussed include longer duration storage, portfolio optimisation, and reforms to locational signals, all aimed at ensuring the continued success of the energy transition.

    1h 14m

  8. 12/18/2025

    EP.269 – Ofgem’s Steve McMahon on Grid Investment, Faster Delivery and Net-Zero Needs

    This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Steve McMahon, Ofgem’s Director for Network Price Controls. He joins Dan Monzani, Aurora’s Managing Director for the UK & Ireland, to unpack Ofgem’s final determinations for RIIO-3 and what the next regulatory period means for networks, consumers and investors. The discussion explores the scale of required electricity and gas network investment, how strategic planning and new procurement approaches aim to accelerate delivery, and the challenges posed by surging demand, connection queues and rising system constraints.   Steve leads Ofgem’s regulation of the onshore electricity and gas networks, overseeing the current price controls and the development of the RIIO-3 settlements, as well as serving as Ofgem’s Head of Scotland. He brings deep experience from senior roles across UK and Scottish Government, including in transport infrastructure and economic analysis.   You will learn about: Why RIIO-3 marks a major step-change in network investment and planning. How Ofgem is balancing delivery speed, investment viability, and consumer protection. The tools designed to accelerate grid upgrades - from early-stage funding to advanced procurement. The growing cost of system constraints and why timely investment is essential.

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to ‘Energy Unplugged by Aurora’, a mix of in-depth conversations with key international industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, sharing their unique perspectives on the global energy transition. Hosted by various Aurora experts, we explore the hottest topics and trends across the energy landscape. From renewables, battery storage, and grid integration, to hydrogen, commodity markets, and technology innovation, our high-profile guests weigh in with their valuable insights. Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the energy industry, with a new episode released every week!

Information

  • Creator
    Aurora Energy Research
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Aurora Energy Research
  • Show Website
    Energy Unplugged by Aurora

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