In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Toby Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Offshore Renewables at Northland Power. Toby joins Marc Hedin, our Head of Research for the UK & Ireland, for an in-depth discussion on the topic of offshore wind.

Toby oversees global operations, delivery, and growth initiatives for offshore renewables at Northland Power. With over 25 years in the energy industry, he previously served as COO at Maple Power and held senior roles at RWE, including Project Director for the Gwynt y Môr and Galloper wind farms, and Director of Asset Management and Operations.

Main topics include the following:

• The most time-consuming stages of offshore wind projects: engineering, planning, permitting, and grid connection
• Investing in offshore wind in a higher rates world: subsidy schemes and PPAs
• Floating offshore wind

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In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Akshay Kaul, Director General for Infrastructure at Ofgem. Akshay joins Tom Smout, Senior Associate in our GB Research team, for an in-depth discussion on building a grid ready to support the energy transition in Great Britain.

Akshay has been with Ofgem since 2017. Before his current role, he served as Director of Networks, overseeing the economic regulation of Great Britain’s energy networks. His responsibilities included developing the next generation of onshore network price controls (known as RIIO2), regulating offshore transmission infrastructure, and advancing an ambitious cross-border interconnection programme through the cap and floor regime.

Main topics include the following:

• What is the current state of the GB grid connection queue, and what led to the queue being so congested?
• What are the main proposals under consideration for improving the grid connection process, and why?
• How have things changed with a new UK government? How is Ofgem working with new organisations and ministers to deliver on energy targets?

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In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Ethan Zindler, Climate Counselor at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he leads the Treasury’s Climate Hub. Ethan joins our Head of Advisory for the UK & Ireland, Brian Potskowski, and Lizzie Bonahoom, Associate in our U.S. Research team, to discuss the current landscape and future of the U.S. energy transition, especially in light of the upcoming November 5th election.

Before joining the Treasury, Ethan served as Head of Americas at BloombergNEF (BNEF). He played a pivotal role in the creation of Climatescope, an annual public resource detailing clean energy investment conditions in emerging market economies since 2012. Ethan has also authored reports on climate and clean energy for organisations such as the Climate Investment Funds at the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations, among others.

Main topics include the following:

• What is the progress to date for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and how could the upcoming elections in the United States impact its future?
• Could the costs of the IRA overshoot, given higher power demand growth driven by generative AI?
• How is the United States supporting Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) and what is the outlook for delivery of their objectives?

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In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome John Mushriqui, co-founder & CEO of InRange Energy, and Chris Pennington, Global Director of Energy and Sustainability at Iron Mountain Data Centers. They join our Market Lead for New York ISO & ISO New England, Anne Bettiol, to discuss power deliverability solutions for data centers.

John, a lifelong entrepreneur, founded InRange based on his firsthand experience with the challenges of energy procurement processes. Meanwhile, Chris, in his role at Iron Mountain, defines what it means for a data center to be truly sustainable—addressing issues from water use to biodiversity, with clean power as the foundation.

Key topics of discussion include:

• The opportunities and challenges data centers face today
• How can Behind the Meter (BTM) generation be used strategically to meet data center demand with clean electricity
• Nuclear vs renewables regarding BTM generation to meet data center demand

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In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome John Pettigrew, Chief Executive, National Grid. He joins our Global Research Director, Richard Howard, to discuss the outlook for power systems in both the UK and the US, with a particular focus on the investment required in grid infrastructure in these markets.

John has extensive experience in the utility sector. He joined National Grid as a graduate in 1991 and has progressed through many senior management roles. As Chief Executive, he has delivered transformational organisational and portfolio change, positioning National Grid to play a pivotal role in the energy transition and helping shape energy policy. John is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Key topics include the following:

• The Great Grid Upgrade
• The potential impact of the upcoming US election result on network investments
• Risks facing interconnection projects from technical, economic, regulatory, security, and market perspectives

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In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome Louise Oriol, Advisor, RTE (France's Transmission System Operator). She joins our Head of France, Pierre Dennery, and Jonathan Hoare, Senior Analyst in our French Research team, to discuss negative price hours in the French market.

Louise is an expert on electricity regulatory issues and electricity markets with over 10 years of experience, that include having worked for the French Ministry of Energy in the Electricity Markets Office and then in the Renewable Energy Office. She became advisor to RTE’s Director of New Flexibilities for the Power System in 2022, dealing with flexibilities for balance of demand and supply, but also for solving congestions.

Main topics include the following:

• What is driving negative price hours growth in France during 2024?
• How will actions by regulators, policymakers and private players affect negative price hours in the future?
• Would renewable energy participation in the balancing market during hours of negative prices be a possible solution for France?

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