Energy Unplugged by Aurora

Aurora Energy Research
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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. 19H AGO

    EP. 288 Building the Backbone of the Energy Transition

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Pierre Dennery, Aurora’s outgoing Country Head for France, is joined by Dominique Ferreira, Global Brand Director for Omexom, the energy infrastructure brand of VINCI Energies.   Recorded live at the Building Beyond Conference in Paris, hosted by Leonard, VINCI's foresight and innovation platform. The conversation explores the growing importance of grid infrastructure in the energy transition, and why long-term investment, policy stability, and electrification are becoming central to energy security and decarbonisation strategies worldwide. Dominique works across Omexom’s global operations supporting grid infrastructure, electrification, and digitalisation projects that enable the energy transition across more than 30 countries.  Pierre and Dominique discuss the evolving balance between decentralisation and interconnection, how infrastructure priorities differ across regions, and the role of digitalisation, AI, and new grid technologies in shaping the future electricity system.  You will learn about:  Why grid infrastructure has become one of the key bottlenecks of the global energy transition.  How countries are balancing energy sovereignty, decarbonisation, and electrification through different energy strategies.  Why interconnection and decentralisation are developing simultaneously across energy systems worldwide.  How AI, digital twins, and predictive maintenance are changing the way grids are designed and operated.

    17 min

  2. 20H AGO ·  VIDEO

    EP. 288 Building the Backbone of the Energy Transition

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Pierre Dennery, Aurora’s outgoing Country Head for France, is joined by Dominique Ferreira, Global Brand Director for Omexom, the energy infrastructure brand of VINCI Energies.   Recorded live at the Building Beyond Conference in Paris, hosted by Leonard, VINCI's foresight and innovation platform. The conversation explores the growing importance of grid infrastructure in the energy transition, and why long-term investment, policy stability, and electrification are becoming central to energy security and decarbonisation strategies worldwide. Dominique works across Omexom’s global operations supporting grid infrastructure, electrification, and digitalisation projects that enable the energy transition across more than 30 countries.  Pierre and Dominique discuss the evolving balance between decentralisation and interconnection, how infrastructure priorities differ across regions, and the role of digitalisation, AI, and new grid technologies in shaping the future electricity system.  You will learn about:  Why grid infrastructure has become one of the key bottlenecks of the global energy transition.  How countries are balancing energy sovereignty, decarbonisation, and electrification through different energy strategies.  Why interconnection and decentralisation are developing simultaneously across energy systems worldwide.  How AI, digital twins, and predictive maintenance are changing the way grids are designed and operated.

    16 min

  3. APR 30

    EP. 287 Elias Saba on Battery Economics, Risk and the Future of Storage

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Hugo Batten, Managing Director of APAC for Aurora Energy Research, is joined by Elias Saba, Chief Commercial Officer of Eku Energy, and Lara Panjkov, Aurora’s Head of Research in APAC. Together, they explore how battery storage economics are evolving across Australia and Japan, and how shifting market dynamics are reshaping investment strategies. Elias leads Eku’s global Technology, Markets and Trading function and brings over 15 years of experience across energy storage, renewables, and market design, including previous roles at Tesla and Macquarie. He has played a key role in commercialising major battery projects such as Hazelwood, Rangebank, and Williamsdale, and shares insights into how developers are structuring revenue, managing risk, and scaling storage portfolios across global markets. The conversation examines key trends shaping battery investment today: falling but volatile technology costs, increasingly bespoke offtake structures, and the growing role of merchant exposure and optionality. The speakers also explore how Australia’s mature market contrasts with Japan’s more policy-driven approach, and how evolving regulation, grid constraints, and utility participation are influencing deployment. You will learn about: Why early battery projects relied on merchant exposure and built-in flexibility. How offtake structures remain bespoke despite growing market standardisation. Why Japan’s battery market is developing differently, with strong government support. How new use cases like data centre co-location are shaping the next phase of storage investment.

    40 min

  4. APR 23

    EP. 286 Beyond Buildout: Brazil’s Next Power Market Evolution

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Rodrigo Borges, Market Lead for Brazil at Aurora Energy Research, is joined by Veronica Coelho, Country Manager & SVP at Equinor, and Roberto Colindres, CEO of Rio Energy. Together, they explore how Brazil’s power sector is entering a new phase of development – where system optimisation, rather than pure capacity growth, will define the next cycle of investment.  Veronica brings a global developer perspective from Equinor’s international portfolio, including large-scale offshore wind, while Roberto draws on his experience leading the development and scaling of renewable assets in Brazil. The discussion highlights how Brazil’s abundance of wind, solar, water, and land positions it as a potential global clean energy powerhouse – provided the right regulatory and system-level frameworks are in place.  The conversation examines the evolving dynamics of Brazil’s electricity market: rising curtailment, increasing intraday price volatility, and mounting pressure on grid infrastructure. The discussion highlights the growing importance of BESS to reduce curtailment, capture price spreads, and improve system flexibility, while also discussing why offshore wind—despite world-class resource potential—remains a longer-term opportunity given current cost challenges relative to onshore renewables.  You will learn about:  Why Brazil’s next phase of renewables growth depends on optimisation, not just expansion.  How BESS can reduce curtailment, lower system costs, and enhance grid flexibility.  Why offshore wind in Brazil is a major long-term opportunity but not yet cost-competitive.  How grid constraints and market design challenges are shaping investment decisions.  Why long-term policy visibility and regulatory stability are critical to unlocking future growth.

    59 min

  5. APR 14 ·  VIDEO

    EP. 285 Inside Grid Congestion: An Aurora Deep Dive

    This week on Energy Unplugged, in the first of our new video series, Richard Howard, Global Head of Research at Aurora Energy Research, is joined by Marc Hedin, Head of Research for West Europe and Africa at Aurora Energy Research, to explore one of the most pressing challenges in power markets today: grid congestion. Together, they unpack why curtailment is rising rapidly across Europe as renewable build-out outpaces grid expansion – and why this is becoming a critical risk for developers and investors. They examine how congestion impacts revenues, from reduced generation to increased volatility, and why traditional modelling approaches often underestimate the risk. The conversation explores how different markets manage congestion – from nodal pricing in the US to redispatch in Europe – and highlights the growing complexity of market design, policy shifts, and grid reform. Looking ahead, they discuss how more advanced modelling can better capture these dynamics, and the strategies available to mitigate risk – including co-location, portfolio optimisation, and smarter siting decisions. You will learn about: Why grid congestion and curtailment are rising across renewable markets  How different market designs manage congestion globally  The key risks for investors, from location effects to policy uncertainty  How better modelling and asset strategies can mitigate – and even benefit from – congestion

    34 min

  6. APR 8

    EP. 284 Luuk Veeken on navigating volatility in Europe’s power markets

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Claudia Gunter is joined by Luuk Veeken, CEO and co-founder of Dexter Energy. Together, they explore how rising renewable penetration is driving short-term power market volatility – and why success increasingly depends on mastering real-time trading and forecasting.  Luuk explains how the shift from predictable, subsidy-backed renewables to weather-driven, merchant assets is transforming the market. With falling capture prices, rising imbalance costs, and more frequent price spikes, generators must move from simply maximizing output to actively optimizing value – continuously updating positions as forecasts evolve.  The conversation highlights how improved forecasting, intraday trading, and automation can significantly reduce imbalance exposure, while also examining the growing role of batteries, evolving market design, and cross-border balancing in stabilizing prices. Looking ahead, Luuk outlines how AI-driven forecasting and automated trading will shape the next generation of renewable business models.  You will learn about:  Why short-term volatility and imbalance costs are rising in renewable-heavy systems   How forecasting and intraday trading can protect revenues   The role of market design and cross-border balancing in price formation   How AI, automation, and batteries are reshaping renewable trading strategies  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.

    30 min

  7. APR 3

    EP. 283 Offshore Wind Reset: Duncan Clark on What Comes Next

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Richard Howard, Global Director of Research at Aurora Energy Research, is joined by Nick Civetta, Project Leader at Aurora Energy Research, and Duncan Clark, Board Member at Renewable UK and former Head of Europe Development at Ørsted. In this episode experts unpack what recent allocation rounds mean for offshore wind project economics, and why the UK’s 50GW target is increasingly a question of delivery rather than ambition. While confidence is returning after a market reset, significant challenges remain – particularly around grid infrastructure, supply chains, and the sheer scale of projects needing to be built this decade.  The conversation also looks ahead to how competition may evolve in future auctions, the growing role of system integration, and whether floating wind can scale commercially. Alongside this, they examine how AI and data centre demand could become a major driver of electricity consumption – and a potential opportunity for offshore wind.  You will learn about:  Why recent auctions signal a reset for offshore wind economics   What’s really holding back project delivery in the UK   How grid constraints could shape deployment this decade   The outlook for floating wind and its challenges   Why AI and data centres are a key wildcard for future 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.

    48 min

  8. MAR 24

    EP.282 Daniel Gerber on Power Electronics and the Future of Grid Stability

    This week on Energy Unplugged, Reece Jackson, Senior Product Manager - Grid, Aurora, is joined by Daniel Gerber, Global Business Line Manager for Renewable Power and Motion High Power at ABB. Together, they explore how rising renewable penetration, electrification, and new demand sources are reshaping grid stability - and the critical role power electronics will play in maintaining reliable power systems.  Daniel leads ABB’s renewables-focused power electronics business and brings nearly two decades of experience spanning R&D, operations, and global service management. Drawing on ABB’s work across international markets, he shares how inverter-based resources, once seen as a source of instability, are increasingly becoming part of the solution - enabled by advances in grid-forming technologies, control systems, and digital simulation tools.  The conversation examines the technical and structural challenges facing modern grids: the shift from centralized generation to distributed, inverter-based systems; the growing impact of data centres, AI, and electrification on demand patterns; and the increasing frequency of system disturbances. Daniel outlines how a combination of improved hardware, software-based simulation, and evolving grid codes can help operators manage these complexities, while also highlighting the practical constraints - from supply chains to permitting - that continue to slow progress.  You will learn:  Why inverter-based renewables are changing how grid stability is managed.  How grid-forming technologies and power electronics can support system strength.  Why digital simulation and “grid twin” models are becoming critical for planning and operations.  What’s holding back faster grid connections - from equipment bottlenecks to system complexity.  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
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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
    321
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Aurora Energy Research
  • Show Website
    Energy Unplugged by Aurora

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