Plugged In: the energy news podcast

Montel News
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 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. 5d ago

    Cyber attacks, sabotage: How resilient is Europe’s energy infrastructure?

    Send us your thoughts! Europe’s energy infrastructure is facing a growing range of threats, from physical sabotage and cyberattacks to hybrid warfare targeting the wires, the pipelines and the substations that keep power and gas flowing. This week on Plugged In, we look at how vulnerable Europe’s critical energy infrastructure really is — and whether governments and operators are prepared for an increasingly hostile security environment. We explore the risks and ask how the threat has evolved since 2022. What can Europe do to strengthen resilience, from greater redundancy and decentralisation to closer cooperation between energy companies, intelligence services and armed forces? We discuss cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and attacks harder to attribute. Where are Europe’s biggest blind spots — and what would happen if a critical part of the energy system were deliberately taken offline? Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Tobias Federico – Chief Analyst, Montel John Roberts – Energy Security Specialist, Methinks Ltd Petras Katinas – Research Fellow in Climate, Energy and Defence, RUSI Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EnergySecurity #EnergyInfrastructure #CyberSecurity #HybridWarfare #CriticalInfrastructure #EuropeanEnergy #EnergyMarkets #GasMarkets #EnergyResilience #EnergyTransition #Geopolitics #RenewableEnergy #Europe #PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews

    Cyber attacks, sabotage: How resilient is Europe’s energy infrastructure?

  2. Oct 8

    Watering down the EU ETS?

    Send us your thoughts! Europe’s carbon market is entering a critical period. Governments are pushing back against carbon costs, industrial competitiveness is climbing the political agenda and policy makers are debating changes that could alter how the EU ETS operates. This week on Plugged In, we look at whether Europe is simply fine-tuning its flagship carbon market, or moving towards a more actively managed system. We explore the political battle over the ETS review, proposals that could effectively create a soft carbon price corridor, and the growing tension between climate ambition and protecting European industry. We also look at what the reforms could mean for market liquidity and EUA prices, with tightening fundamentals pointing towards further upside into 2027. Host:  Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Cem Bektas – Carbon Correspondent, Montel News Hæge Fjellheim – Head of Carbon Analysis, Veyt Ben Lee – Head of Carbon Research, Redshaw Advisors Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EUETS #CarbonMarket #CarbonTrading #CarbonPrices #EUClimatePolicy #EnergyMarkets #EnergyTransition #EmissionsTrading #IndustrialCompetitiveness #EUA #PluggedInPodcast

    Watering down the EU ETS?

  3. Oct 1

    15-minute power trading: One year on

    Send us your thoughts! It’s been one year since Europe’s day-ahead power market moved from hourly to 15-minute trading in order to help integrate renewables, boost liquidity in the day-ahead market and improve supply security. So, has the shift delivered what it promised? This week on Plugged In, we look at how the change has reshaped Europe’s power markets — from shifting liquidity and the distinctive “sawtooth” price pattern to better integration of renewables and new opportunities for flexible assets. We also explore what still needs to change, the challenges of bringing other markets into 15-minute trading, and whether Europe could eventually make the leap to five-minute intervals. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests:  Olav Endre Vilnes – Editor Nordics, Montel News Priyanka Shinde – Nordic Market Expert, Montel Analytics Vincent Thevenin – Market Manager, Montel Ina Schjelderup – Head of Public & Regulatory Affairs Nordics, Benelux and Baltics, EPEX SPOT Editor & Producer:  Alexandra Carlon #EnergyTrading #PowerMarkets #ElectricityMarkets #EnergyMarkets #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #15MinuteTrading #PowerTrading #MarketDesign #EnergyStorage #EPEXSPOT #PluggedInPodcast

    15-minute power trading: One year on

  4. Sep 24

    El Niño and the Polar Vortex - the key weather drivers for Q4

    Send us your thoughts! With European gas storage levels relatively low, periods of cold temperatures, weak wind or low rainfall could have an outsized impact on gas and power prices. In this episode of Plugged In, we look at the key weather patterns to watch in the months ahead and what they could mean for Europe’s energy system. How could El Niño shape the European winter? Could a weakening polar vortex raise the risk of colder weather later in the season? And what happens to power markets when high demand coincides with low wind and solar generation? We also examine the importance of rainfall and snowpack for hydropower, the growing exposure of European markets to weather-driven volatility, and how energy companies are increasingly hedging against temperature, wind and precipitation risks. Host:  Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel News Mark Stephens-Row – Client Engagement Manager EMEA and Asia, AtmosphericG2 Pierre Buisson – Head Weather & Commodity Risks - Europe, Munich Re Rebecca McManus – Renewables Lead, European Energy Market, Aurora Editor & Producer:  Alexandra Carlon #EnergyMarkets #EuropeanEnergy #Weather #PowerMarkets #GasMarkets #Renewables #ElNino #Dunkelflaute #Hydropower

    El Niño and the Polar Vortex - the key weather drivers for Q4

  5. Sep 17

    Global trade risks threaten energy security

    Send us your thoughts! The rules that have underpinned global shipping and energy trade for decades are coming under increasing strain. From the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea to the Baltic and the Arctic, geopolitical tensions are raising risks for shipping, supply chains and energy markets. Recorded in Svalbard, this episode looks at what a more fragmented and dangerous maritime landscape means for global energy security. The discussion explores how the Iran war has changed LNG trade, why Asian buyers are rethinking their reliance on Middle Eastern supplies, and whether the world is shifting from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” energy supply chains. The conversation also turns to Europe, where low gas storage levels, growing reliance on US LNG and uncertainty over Russian and Qatari supplies are creating fresh concerns for the winter and next year.  Host:  Snjólfur 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 & Producer:  Alexandra Carlon #EnergySecurity #LNG #GasMarkets #Shipping #StraitOfHormuz #EuropeanGas #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics #Arctic #Svalbard

    Global trade risks threaten energy security

  6. Sep 10

    Europe braces for winter gas crunch

    Send us your thoughts! Europe is heading into winter with gas storage well below comfortable levels, LNG supplies under pressure and the Strait of Hormuz crisis adding further uncertainty to an already tight market. Could a cold winter push European gas prices to EUR 150/MWh? And with Europe increasingly competing for LNG on the global market, how exposed is the continent to another energy price shock? This week, we discuss Europe's gas balance, the race for LNG, the impact of continued disruption in the Middle East and what needs to happen to prevent another painful winter for consumers and industry. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Tony Jordan – Founder, Energy Price Intelligence Yuriy Onyshki – Senior Gas Analyst, LSEG Trevor Sikorski – Head of Natural Gas and Emissions, Energy Aspects Editor & Producer:  Alexandra Carlon #EuropeanGas #LNG #GasStorage #EnergyMarkets #GasPrices #StraitOfHormuz #EnergyCrisis #EnergySecurity

    Europe braces for winter gas crunch

  7. Sep 3

    Summer price volatility: Batteries take the spoils?

    Send us your thoughts! Batteries are emerging as one of the big winners from Europe’s increasingly volatile power markets. In this episode, we look at how huge amounts of solar generation are driving down midday power prices before sharp evening peaks create opportunities for battery storage. The discussion explores who profits from these price swings, whether batteries could begin to displace gas-fired generation, the shift towards larger and longer-duration storage, and whether a rapidly expanding battery fleet could eventually flatten the very volatility it profits from. We also look ahead to what Europe’s battery boom could mean for power prices, grid investment and the shape of the energy system by 2030. Host:  Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel News Fintan Devenney – Market Expert, Montel Beatrice Petrovich – Senior Energy Analyst, Europe, Ember Erik Strømsø – CEO, BW ESS Editor & Producer:  Alexandra Carlon #BatteryStorage #BESS #EnergyStorage #PowerMarkets #EnergyMarkets #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #Gas #EnergyTransition #Europe

    Summer price volatility: Batteries take the spoils?

  8. Aug 27

    Hormuz crisis: Outlook remains highly uncertain

    Send us your thoughts! The Strait of Hormuz crisis has reshaped the outlook for global energy markets, with uncertainty over LNG flows, European gas storage and geopolitical risk hanging over the months ahead. In this episode, we look at how the conflict has affected oil and gas markets, whether disruption through Hormuz has become a lasting feature of global energy trade, and why Europe could face a tight autumn and winter; particularly on price, even if outright gas shortages remained unlikely. The discussion also covers low European storage levels, the role of weather, market reactions to Donald Trump’s interventions, and the wider geopolitical and energy risks facing Europe into 2027. Host:  Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Elise Wu - LNG Correspondent, Montel News Amund Vik - Senior Advisor, Eurasia Group Bjarne Schieldrop - Chief Analyst, Commodities, SEB Tobias Federico - Chief Analyst, Montel Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon #StraitOfHormuz #EnergyMarkets #EuropeanGas #GasPrices #LNG #EnergyCrisis #EnergySecurity #OilMarkets #Geopolitics #EuropeanEnergy #GasStorage #WinterOutlook #Iran #EnergyTransition

    Hormuz crisis: Outlook remains highly uncertain
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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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