Energy Unplugged by Aurora

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Tony Cocker, Senior Independent Director of SSE plc. Tony is also Chair of Infinis Energy Management Ltd, a distributed power generator. Between 1996-2017 he worked for E.ON SE and Powergen in a number of roles, including Chair and CEO of E.ON UK and Chair and CEO of E.ON Energy Trading SE. John and Tony discuss: •The change in the role of a director in the renewables space •The future of the British retail power market •Reforms needed to most ease the transition to Net Zero •SSE as a major sponsor of COP26 Next week on Energy Unplugged we will welcome Trudy Harrison MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport. Stay tuned! Support the show

In this episode, our Managing Director in Australia Hugo Batten speaks to Farhad Billimoria, Energy Systems Researcher, Energy & Power Group at the University of Oxford and Rowan von Spreckelsen, Principal in our Sydney office. Farhard is currently completing his PhD on energy markets in Oxford and he has worked for Australia’s system operator AEMO, Mercer, CalPERS and AMP Capital Investors. The focus of the discussion is around the Australian energy market and incentive structures to bring on new renewables and firming capacity. Main topics include: •The major challenges and opportunities for renewables and storage investment in Australia •Market design reforms and incentive structures shifting through renewables •The New South Wales Government contracts structures, key components and implications for market participants Next week on Energy Unplugged we will welcome Tony Cocker, Senior Independent Director of SSE plc. Stay tuned! Support the show

This week on Energy Unplugged we have a Christmas special episode in which we focus on waste management and energy from waste in particular. Our Research Director, Richard Howard is joined by two waste experts: Julia Watsford, CEO at Enfinium, the largest pure-play waste-to-energy operator in the UK and Chris Jonas, Director at Tolvik Consulting, one of the expert advisors on waste markets in the UK and Europe. Main topics include: •COVID impact on the waste-to-energy sector •The role of waste management in the Net Zero transition •Views on a potential incineration tax •Negative emissions and the potential of energy from waste to incorporate CCS Support the show

In this episode, our Head of Commissioned Projects for Western Europe, Felix Chow-Kambitsch is talking to Boris Schucht, Chief Executive Officer of Urenco, an international supplier of uranium enrichment services. Boris joined Urenco in May 2019 from 50Hertz, the North-East German Transmission System Operator, where he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer since 2010. Previously he held a number of senior executive positions within the energy sector across Germany and Europe, including WEMAG AG and the Vattenfall Group. Felix and Boris discuss: •The role of nuclear in the energy transition and nuclear innovation •Key takeaways from COP26 and what is needed to ensure the targets are met •Pairing hydrogen and nuclear to decarbonize hard to abate sectors Next week on Energy Unplugged we will welcome Julia Watsford, CEO at Enfinium & Chris Jonas, Director at Tolvik Consulting. Stay tuned! Support the show

Our Commercial Manager Lisa Langer is joined by Christoph Strasser, Co-CEO of Pacifico Renewables Yield, a renewable energy producer with a quickly growing portfolio of roughly 170 MW. Christoph joined Pacifico Renewables Yield as Co-CEO in October 2019 and prior to that he spent few years in J.P. Morgan‘s Corporate & Investment Bank. Christoph has a B.Sc. in Business Administration from University of Mannheim and M.Sc. in Management from University of Mannheim and ESSEC Business School. Lisa and Christoph discuss: •Pacifico’s market expansion to The UK, Netherlands and Australia •Moving to less established markets and taking on merchant exposure in Pacifico’s projects •Power prices affecting renewables investment •The next big challenge for the energy transition Support the show

Thekla von Bülow, Principal for Commissioned Projects in our Berlin office is joined by Shaun Kingsbury, Chief Investment Officer of Just Climate. Shaun started his career working for Shell and in 2012 he has set up the world’s first low carbon investment bank – Green Investment Bank, which was later acquired by Macquarie Group. Currently Shaun is Chairman of Renewable Power Capital, Co-founder and Board member of Climate Transition Capital, Chairman of CNG Fuels and Chief Investment Officer of Just Climate, a new business launched in the beginning of November. The focus of the conversation is on sustainable finance and climate impact investment helping to accelerate climate action. Thekla and Shaun discuss: •Subsidy schemes for renewables vs. merchant / PPAs •The role of the private sector in investing into clean energy technologies •The ESG investment movement •Corporate PPAs as a tool for decarbonisation Support the show

In this episode, our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig is joined by Christian Thiel, CEO of EnergyNest, a high temperature energy storage company. Christian started his career at BMW and prior to joining EnergyNest in 2014 he worked as Investment Banker at UBS and as Consultant at McKinsey and he was the Vice President for Business Development and Marketing at Senvion. Christian has a PhD in Economics and Marketing focussing on designing sales structures in foreign markets. The focus of the discussion is around the importance of addressing industrial heat for reaching Net Zero. Main topics include: •EnergyNest’s technology and its role in the energy transition •The challenge of addressing the emissions coming from the heat sector •The current and future gas and carbon prices •Hydrogen vs electrification Support the show

With National Grid just announcing that the group expects profits to hit top end of range on soaring energy prices as a result of interconnectors, the focus of today's show is on interconnectors’ role in delivering NetZero and the North Sea Link project as the world’s longest subsea interconnector linking the UK and Norway. In this episode, our Managing Director for UK and Ireland - Dan Monzani is delighted to be joined by Cordi O’Hara, President of National Grid Ventures at National Grid. Cordi has more than 20 years’ experience in the energy industry, managing key relationships with government officials, regulators and customers. She began her career trading power and gas for Centrica and between 2014 and 2017 she was Director of the UK System Operator. Prior to joining National Grid Ventures, Cordi was Chief Operating Officer for the US Gas Business for National Grid. Dan and Cordi also discuss: •The UK’s 40GW offshore wind target by 2030 and the technical barriers to get there •COP26 and the opportunities for wider global cooperation on grids •The most attractive business environment for investing in hydrogen at the moment Support the show

In this episode we’re talking about power exchanges as a vital part of traded power markets. Our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Georg Aasen, Vice President at Nasdaq Commodities, which runs one of Europe’s largest power exchanges. Prior to this role, Georg was Head of Marketplace at Nord Pool and built up deep experience in the economics of power exchanges. John and Georg discuss: •The key characteristics of a successful power trader •Social contribution of markets and what would the European power market look like in the absence of power exchanges •The evolution of renewables offtake and PPAs •The future of non-power contracts and hydrogen Support the show

This week on Energy Unplugged we have a special episode which comes right after the UK Government published its Net Zero Strategy in response to the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations for the Sixth Carbon Budget and during COP26 taking place in Glasgow. Our Managing Director for UK and Ireland - Dan Monzani is joined by Lord Deben, Chairman of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in a conversation about Net Zero and prospects for COP26. Lord Deben has over 50 years’ experience in public life, consistently as a deep influential voice on climate change and the environment. He was the UK’s longest-serving Secretary of State for the Environment (1993 to 1997) and he has held several other high-level ministerial posts, including Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1989 to 1993). Since 2012 he is the Chair of CCC, an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008 with the main purpose to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets. Dan and Lord Deben discuss: •The UK’s Net Zero Strategy - in which sectors the Government's plans are most complete and where are there the biggest holes •The investment costs of Net Zero and who pays for it •COP26 and the key ingredients in a successful climate diplomacy Support the show

In this episode, our Managing Director in Australia, Hugo Batten is joined by Rupert Maloney, Head of Hydrogen at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and Weijie Mak, Principal in Aurora’s office in Australia. Before joining CEFC, Rupert was General Manager of Strategy & Corporate Development at Ampol, an Australian fuels player, as well as a banker at Macquarie and a lawyer at Baker & McKenzie. The discussion is focused on hydrogen and the opportunities for developing a hydrogen industry in Australia. The main topics include: •Key takeaways of CEFC’s recent Australian hydrogen market study •Hydrogen as an export opportunity for Australia and prioritization of domestic opportunities •How the Europeans are designing their markets around hydrogen •The low electrolyzer CAPEX and the cost of capital reductions Support the show

In this episode, we continue the discussion on the role of world’s largest utilities in decarbonising society. Our CEO John Feddersen is talking to Alberto De Paoli, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Enel. Alberto was appointed CFO in November 2014 and joined the Enel Group in 2008 as CFO for Enel Green Power, the Group's renewable power generation subsidiary, a position he held until 2012. Between 2012 – 2014 he was the Head of Group Strategy. Alberto is also Co-chair of the UN Global Compact CFO Taskforce for the sustainable development goals. John and Alberto discuss: •Enel’s role in the energy transition and ensuring sustainability at the centre of the company’s business model •The driving force behind Enel’s internationalization •ESG investment movement and what has enabled it to grow the way it has Support the show

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Peter Cramton, Professor of Economics at the University of Cologne to discuss the future of power markets. Peter is one of the world’s foremost experts on electricity systems economics, he’s been a leading thinker in market design across energy, telecommunications and health procurements in the US, Europe and beyond. Since 1983, he has conducted research on auctions and market design, with a focus on the design of complex markets to best achieve goals. Between 2015-2021, he was an independent director of the board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). John and Peter discuss: •Whether privatisation of parts of the power markets worked globally in the sense that enhanced human welfare •The meaning and targets for decarbonisation in Europe vs the US •Security of supply and the impact of the recent events in ERCOT on capacity markets and energy only markets Support the show

Our Market Lead for Italy - Matteo Coriglioni speaks to Toni Volpe, CEO of Falck Renewables. Toni has been the CEO of Falck Renewables since 2016 and he started working in the energy industry at the Enel Group in 2004, where he covered several roles such as CEO of Enel Green Power North America in 2005 and Country Manager and CEO of Enel Romania in 2014. Falck Renewables is one of the biggest “pure players” in the European renewable energy sector, the Group has an installed capacity of 1.3 GW in UK, Italy, Spain, France, the Nordics and the United States, a project pipeline of more than 4.5 GW and manages around 4 GW of plants around the world (in more than 40 countries) on behalf of third parties; mostly wind onshore and solar. Matteo and Toni discuss: •The future of the energy transition and Falck Renewables’ strategy in terms of expanding to new markets and technologies •The role of policy in decarbonisation and renewables development •The impact of the Next Generation EU fund in accelerating the energy transition in Europe Support the show

Our Research Director Richard Howard speaks to Andrew Doyle, Executive Director MUFG. Andrew joined MUFG in March 2011 following the acquisition of a US$5bn project finance portfolio from RBS. He has over 15 years of project finance experience covering large thermal power and renewables projects across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. This is one of a series of episodes featuring energy transition leaders who will be speaking at our Spring Forum 2021. The Forum takes place in London on Wednesday 29th September. For more information go to auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/. Richard and Andrew discuss: •Hydrogen and business models that are emerging and how and when they will become bankable •By when will green hydrogen be cheap enough to compete with grey and blue hydrogen •The most attractive markets in Europe for hydrogen •Whether the UK Hydrogen strategy is ambitious enough Support the show

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig speaks to Christoph Torwegge - International Energy & Utilities Sector Leader at Osborne Clarke. Christoph leads a cross-border team advising clients across the energy sector on renewables, energy storage and energy innovation. He specialises in M&A and commercial law and supports funders, investors and developer clients in developing, investing in and financing projects in the renewables (solar, onshore wind and hydro) and other infrastructure sectors. This is one of a series of episodes featuring energy transition leaders who will be speaking at our Spring Forum 2021. The Forum takes place in London on Wednesday 29th September. For more information go to auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/. Hanns and Christoph discuss: •The role of lawyers in the energy transition •Renewables transactions and changes in the legal frameworks governing renewables •Areas for reform and where the law needs to change to reflect commercial realities on the ground Support the show

We have a very special episode for you this week on Energy Unplugged. Our CEO John Feddersen is talking to Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG about the role of the world’s largest utilities in decarbonising society. This is one of a series of episodes featuring energy transition leaders who will be speaking at our Spring Forum 2021. The Forum takes place in London on Wednesday 29th September. For more information go to https://auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/. John and Markus discuss: •RWE’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040 and the impact of such a commitment •The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and how do we synchronize the investments cycles •EU’s climate ambition and what do we need to do to achieve the targets, where do we get the space for renewables and how can we accelerate planning and permitting processes Support the show

Our Managing Director in Australia - Hugo Batten is joined by Anna Skarbek, the CEO of ClimateWorks Australia, a not-for-profit decarbonisation think tank. Anna has been the CEO of ClimateWorks Australia for almost 12 years now and she has had a number of Board roles in Australia, from CEFC to Impact Investment Group to the Carbon Market Institute. She has been hugely influential in Australia’s decarbonisation debates, and has certainly carried the torch when things were darkest in Australia’s long journey towards Net Zero. Hugo and Anna discuss: •The recently released IPCC report and its impact in Australia •Decarbonisation debates in Australia over the last decade and the current status •Solar & solar thermal storage technologies as dominant drivers of decarbonising the power system Support the show

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Bruce Riley – Managing Director for Infrastructure and Project Finance at NatWest. The focus of the show is the evolving role of project and infrastructure finance in the energy transition. Bruce leads one of Europe’ largest and most influential energy infrastructure and project finance teams and he’s a veteran in Europe’s project finance industry, having spent his career entirely with Royal Bank of Scotland – NatWest. John and Bruce discuss: •How has project finance as a field changed over the past two and a half decades •The relevance of renewables low carbon finance for NatWest loan book & long term climate commitments •Financing coal assets and how decisions are made within the bank to not lend against a particular area on ESG grounds Support the show

Ed Birkett, Senior Research Fellow in the Energy and Environment unit at the Policy Exchange & Rachel Fletcher, Director Regulation and Economics at Octopus Energy join our Research Director Richard Howard for this week’s Energy Unplugged episode. The conversation focuses on the challenges around energy market design in a Net Zero world. Ed wrote a report last year called ‘Powering Net Zero - Why local electricity pricing holds the key to a Net Zero energy system’ which tackled the energy market design topic. Rachel is an experienced executive and regulatory expert, she spent many years at Ofgem in senior roles in retail markets, consumer protection, smart grids and networks, before moving to Ofwat as CEO and then more recently she has returned to the energy sector at Octopus Energy. Main topics include: •Is the current market design for power, gas, hydrogen and heating fit for purpose? •Will it deliver and enable the transition towards Net Zero? And if so, will it do so at the least costs for consumers? •How can we ensure security of supply and network operability, make sure we keep the lights on in a Net Zero world If you'd like to hear more about this topic join our in-person Aurora Spring Forum on Wednesday 29 September 2021 in Central London, where we will continue the discussion on market design to enable the Net Zero transition. More info available here: https://auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/ Support the show

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig speaks to Alexander Voigt, CEO of STOFF2 & Board Member and Founder of HH2E. Alexander is one of the pioneers of the global energy transition. He has studied physics and started his career at an engineering bureau working on solar thermal solutions. He has founded several companies in the energy sector such as Solon in the solar space, Younicos in the battery space, Lumenion in the high temperature heat storage space, and STOFF2 & HH2E in the hydrogen space. Hanns and Alexander discuss: •Alexander’s journey and solar wind as a niche topic in the past •New technologies and concepts in the energy transition from battery & heat storage to hydrogen •Hydrogen economics and CO2 prices •Regulations needed to make the energy transition work Support the show

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig is joined by one of the key executives in European hydrogen - Sopna Sury, Chief Operating Officer for Hydrogen at RWE Generation. Previous to the current role, Sopna spent ten years in roles that have spanned leading Strategy and Regulatory Affairs at RWE Renewables, Energy Services and Infrastructure at Uniper, and Business Development at E.ON Climate and Renewables. Before entering the energy sector, she completed a bank training, then studied economics and joined McKinsey, where she spent almost 10 years. Hanns and Sopna discuss: •Sopna’s professional journey and the reasons for which RWE has a board member for hydrogen •The role of hydrogen in the energy transition and why is everybody getting excited about it •The controversial use of hydrogen in sectors such long distance road transport and heating •RWE’s hydrogen strategy and its role in this pretty crowded market Support the show

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is delighted to be joined by Stef Murphy and Paro Konar, Directors of Industrial Energy at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Stef and Paro are job share directors for the Industrial Energy Directorate which provides focus and leadership of BEIS strategy, policy development and delivery on industrial energy issues, and also ensure that industrial energy policies maximise the economic opportunities to the UK from the global move to cleaner growth, as part of the overall Industrial Strategy. The focus of the conversation is around industrial decarbonisation as the UK government has published its strategy in March this year, and the upcoming hydrogen strategy. The main topics include: •Key challenges and opportunities for industry in the move to Net Zero •The progress against commitments in the UK’s Energy White Paper and the Ten Point Plan •The UK’s upcoming Hydrogen Strategy and what to expect from it •UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), what did it take to set it up from scratch & lessons learnt since the early EU ETS in 2005 •The impact of EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on the UK industry NOTE: At ~ min. 23:15 in the recording the ‘Net Zero Hydrogen Fund’ supporting the development and adoption of hydrogen is mentioned and referred to as the £250 million fund. We would like to clarify that the ‘Net Zero Hydrogen Fund’ is £240 million. Support the show

Our Head of Iberia, Ana Barillas speaks to Federico Giannandrea, Partner and Head of Continental Europe at Foresight, a sustainability-led listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager. Federico joined Foresight in 2010 and leads Foresight’s infrastructure investments in continental Europe and the business development for infrastructure globally. Ana and Federico discuss: •How is renewable investment changing across Europe and value shifting across development stages •Vertical integration in development and construction •Local partnerships and how difficult is it to enter a new market Support the show

Our Managing Director in Australia - Hugo Batten speaks to Andrew Butler, Managing Director at Nectr – an Australian energy retailer that’s a subsidiary of the Korean group Hanwha. Andrew has successfully led three retail energy start-up ventures - Australian Power & Gas, Alinta Energy and now Nectr and he’s also spent time in telco and infrastructure more broadly. Hugo and Andrew discuss: •The retail space shift in Australia over last decades and other major aspects in the evolution of the Australian retail •Nectr and Octopus Energy Kraken Technology Platform •The state of Australian energy in terms of energy start-ups and innovation •Rising government intervention in energy markets with focus on wholesale and retail Support the show

Dolf Gielen, Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Innovation and Technology Centre joins our Research Director Richard Howard for this week’s Energy Unplugged podcast. Dolf has been with IRENA for over 10 years, having previously been Chief of the Energy Efficiency and Policy Unit at UNIDO, and spending a number of years with IEA – starting as a Senior Energy Analyst and being promoted to Project Head of Energy Technology Scenarios.He has a strong engineering background, following his degree in Chemical Engineering with an MA in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Energy and Materials Modelling. The interview covers a breadth of key market concerns around decarbonisation, focusing initially on IRENA's flagship publication setting out the pathway for a 1.5 degrees celsius ambition and closely examining the key issues and opportunities en route. The chat takes a deep dive into: •What we need to achieve •Hitting the targets by 2050 – what we can do with what we have, and the importance of joined-up thinking, including:oInterconnectionoFlexibilityoRetrofitoCarbon Capture and Storage •and crucially includes for the burning hot topics of the sector: 'kalte dunkelflaute' and green hydrogen Support the show

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is joined by a leading thinker on South Eastern European energy - Julian Popov. Julian is former Minister of Environment of Bulgaria, European Climate Foundation (ECF) fellow and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Buildings Performance Institute Europe. He has been voted twice as one of the most influential voices in European energy by EURACTIV. John and Julian discuss: •Julian’s journey, his novel called ‘Island of Mists’ and his experience as the Bulgarian Energy Minister •Energy transition and the power investment climate in South Eastern Europe •Offshore wind potential and growing interest •The European Commission as a force for good in South Eastern European power sector governance, structure, rules and markets Support the show

Our CEO John Feddersen speaks to Guy Newey, Strategy and Performance Director at Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) - an independent, not-for-profit centre of excellence that bridges the gap between industry, government, academia and research. ESC has recently published its report called ‘Rethinking Electricity Markets – EMR 2.0’, an initiative aiming to develop proposals to reform electricity markets so that they best enable innovative, efficient, whole energy system decarbonisation. Guy has had a diverse career across the energy sector. He has been a Special Adviser to two former Energy Secretaries of State, and was previously Head of Policy at Ovo Energy and Head of Environment and Energy at the think-tank Policy Exchange. Before this, Guy worked as a journalist in Hong Kong and in the UK. John and Guy discuss: •Guy’s journey, his early experience as a journalist and the impact on his present role •ESC’s mission in the energy transition and avoiding clean growth costs •‘Rethinking Electricity Markets’ report with a focus on the role of consumers •The agreement on decarbonisation in 5 years’ time Support the show

Our Nordics Lead Alexander Esser speaks with Harald Överholm, CEO and co-founder of the leading solar Power Purchase Agreement provider in the Nordics - Alight (previously Eneo). Harald has been an advisor to WWF, the Swedish government and the Stockholm Environment Institute, as well as a former board member of Swedish Solar Energy. He is a Cambridge alumni with a PhD focused on market development of US solar PPA market and holds a masters degree in Industrial Engineering of Energy Systems. Alex and Harald discuss: •Harald’s in-depth studies of the US solar market, importing concepts to Europe and his inspiration in founding the company •Nordics as one of the most advanced PPAs markets and long term supply of PPAs •Alight and how does Solar as a Service differ from a typical project development Support the show

In this episode, Our CEO John Feddersen speaks to Pat O'Doherty, CEO of the leading Irish utility Electricity Supply Board (ESB). Pat was appointed CEO of ESB in 2011 and to the ESB Board in 2013. He is Director of Energy UK and until very recently he was President of Eurelectric - the sector association which represents the common interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level. John and Pat discuss: •Pat’s journey and the job of the utility CEO now compared to 10 years ago •ESB and how the enterprise is measuring its ESG success •State-owned utilities’ role in enabling a just energy transition •Cyber security and how well is the European utility industry prepared for it Support the show

Welcome to our 50th official Energy Unplugged episode! Our Head of Digital Solutions Mateusz Wronski is joined by the creator of the renewables division at one of the largest energy companies in the world - Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President for Renewables at Total. Julien joined Total in 2016, after two years of service as Senior Advisor to the President of France, François Hollande where he was entrusted with the overhaul of the French nuclear industry. Mateusz and Julien discuss: •Key challenges in shifting the focus of an oil supermajor by creating the renewables division within Total •Total’s target of 100 GW by 2030 as one of the most ambitious renewables goals in the industry •Floating offshore wind and Total’s strategy in bringing the costs down •The impact of green hydrogen in enabling renewables investment Support the show

Our CEO John Feddersen speaks to Henrik Tordrup, Partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). CIP is one of the leading clean energy investors globally, having recently raised a EUR 7 billion renewable energy investment fund. Henrik is a veteran of Europe’s offshore wind boom of the past decade and has deep expertise on the emerging energy transition in the US. John and Henrik discuss: •Henrik’s journey and his motivation to focus on the US markets •CIP’s current strategy and the main risks as a renewable investor •Current US policy and the recent federal election impact on decarbonisation •Texas’ big freeze in February and lessons for policy makers Support the show

Our Research Director, Richard Howard speaks to Henry de Zoete, Co-founder of the energy switching service provider - Look After My Bills. Henry has a career background working as Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education prior to his success with Look After My Bills – which secured the best deal in the history of the UK Dragons’ Den business pitch competition. The company is now owned by industry giant Go Compare. Henry and Richard discuss: •Henry’s career and experience working for then Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove •His inspiration and motivation for establishing Look After My Bills •Raising funds in Silicon Valley and securing the investment from UK television’s notoriously tough Dragons panel •Transferring the ownership of his business to Go Compare and what’s next Support the show

Our Head of Iberia, Ana Barillas is joined by Dulce Mendonça, Director and Fund Manager at InfraRed Capital Partners. Dulce joined InfraRed in 2013 and is currently focusing on business development and origination of infrastructure investments in Europe. After attaining an M.Sc in Business Administration from ISCTE Business School in Lisbon, she began her career in investment banking before moving to infrastructure investment around 16 years ago. Ana and Dulce discuss: •InfraRed’s approach to the risk-reward trade-off of investment •The energy transition and scale of investment challenges •The Iberian market and whether there is a solar bubble in the peninsula •Sustainable investment and green hydrogen incentives Support the show

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig is joined by Dr. Brigitte Knopf, Secretary General of the Berlin-based climate research institute MCC (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change). Brigitte is one of Germany’s leading experts on climate change and has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Council of Experts on Climate Change by the German Federal Government. The Council has recently published its first report assessing Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. Hanns and Brigitte discuss: •MCC’s leading role in the climate change debate •The Council of Experts on Climate Change’s report findings and lessons learned •The European Green Deal and Germany’s decarbonisation targets •COVID-19 impact and emissions reduction during lockdown Support the show

In this episode our CEO John Feddersen speaks to Greg Jackson, the Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, one of the UK’s largest energy supplier businesses, and award-winning for its status as a provider of 100% sustainable energy. Octopus Energy Group recently announced the acquisition of its sister company, Octopus Renewables, bringing the retail and the generation side of energy together under one roof. Greg is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the UK with a long career leading multiple software ventures among other businesses, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge. John and Greg discuss: •The importance of policy in the current UK energy supply market •Understanding the customer experience and meeting customer’s needs •Weathering the debris of the Texas storms and cost-pass-through tariffs •The role of prices in power generation and investment Support the show

Our Research Director Richard Howard is joined by Dr. Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power Plc to discuss one of the biggest players to emerge in new energy policies: green hydrogen. Graham joined ITM Power 12 years ago, previous to which he worked with National Power, and spent 11 years in the power industry developing energy storage and generation technologies. ITM Power is a leading manufacturer of hydrogen electrolysers. From early engagement on some of the UK’s earliest hydrogen mobility projects, it is currently working with the nationally significant HyDeploy energy trial – a crucial factor contributing towards the UK’s Net Zero targets. Richard and Graham discuss: •Green hydrogen’s role on the road to attaining Net Zero •Typical buyers and business models for electrolysers •Government support requirement for reaching the 40 GW target Support the show

This week on Energy Unplugged we have a special episode on modelling energy markets and the broader complexities of modelling for future scenarios. Our Head of Digital Solutions Mateusz Wronski chats with Jonathan Black, our Head of Modelling. Jonathan’s role is to set the vision and strategy for our market models and their developments. Besides managing our international team of modellers he has extensive experience in modelling for a breadth of physical systems, with a background as a Research Scientist at the National Physical Laboratory and a PhD in Applied Mathematics. Mateusz and Jonathan discuss: •Credibility of modelling outside academia •Our motivation for building our own models •Modelling role in decarbonisation of the energy sector Support the show

Our Nordics Lead Alexander Esser speaks with Lisa McDermott - Executive Director Renewable Project Financing at ABN AMRO Bank. Lisa started her career as a lawyer at Clifford Chance, specialising in tax, M&A and fund structuring. Since 2004 she has held a number of senior origination, structuring and management roles within various structured finance disciplines. ABN AMRO is one of the earliest project financiers for offshore wind and one of the most active debt providers for renewables and sustainable business in Europe. Alex and Lisa discuss: •ABN AMRO’s role in financing the energy transition •Changing environment for project finance of renewables •Financeability of electrolysers for green hydrogen production Support the show

Our Managing Director in Australia - Hugo Batten is delighted to be joined by Professor Tim Nelson - Executive General Manager, Energy Markets at Infigen. Tim is an Associate Professor at Griffith University and writes prolifically on Australia’s energy transition. Recently purchased by Iberdrola, Infigen is an Australian wind, gas and battery player, and also a retailer. Hugo and Tim discuss: •Gentailers and strategic options available to them •Carbon pricing vs industrial policy •Nodal pricing •Perceptions of risk in the NEM •Biden election and other global event impacts on Australia’s energy politics Support the show

Our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Jonathan Maxwell, CEO and founder of Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL). Jonathan has over 25 years’ experience in international finance, infrastructure and private equity. Since its 2007 establishment, SDCL has launched energy efficiency project investment funds in the UK, Ireland, Singapore and New York. John and Jonathan discuss: •Jonathan’s motivation for starting a sustainable investment business •The importance of energy security and resilience •ESG investment and achieving high ESG performance Support the show

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen speaks with Harry Boyd-Carpenter – Director, Head of Energy EMEA at EBRD; and Peter Baum – Project Leader in our Berlin office. Harry leads the landing and investment team at EBRD where he focuses on deploying capital investments in regions where investment is more challenging (including eastern Europe and northern Africa). Peter focuses on our activities in eastern and south-eastern Europe, and he has previously been an Analyst for Energy Efficiency and Climate Change at EBRD. Main topics include: •EBRD’s role in driving the energy transition •Politics and investments decisions •Energy transition in eastern Europe and northern African power markets Support the show

This podcast episode is a special one celebrating International Women’s Day on 8th March and discussing hydrogen. We're featuring two female leaders in the energy industry as our Head of Iberia, Ana Barillas is joined by Ana Quelhas, recently appointed as Managing Director for Hydrogen at EDP Group. Prior to the new role, Ana Quelhas was the Head of Corporate Energy Planning at EDP and previous to that she worked at the Directorate General for Research within the European Commission and for the California Independent System Operator. Main topics include: •Investment decisions vs. uncertainties coming from public policies •Iberian market as a hub for green hydrogen •Interplay between green hydrogen and batteries Support the show

In this Energy Unplugged episode, Aurora’s Head of Commissioned Projects for Western Europe, Felix Chow-Kambitsch is joined by Mark Futyan, Anesco’s Chief Executive Officer. Anesco is an energy services company specialising in solar PV, storage and energy efficiency, and playing a key role in the transition to Net Zero. With an impressive career within the energy industry, Mark joined Anesco in February 2020 from Centrica, where he most recently held the position of Distributed Power Systems Director. Felix and Mark discuss: •Anesco’s role in the energy transition and potential areas of growth •UK’s commitment to Net Zero and how we can get there •Investment opportunities and potential of hydrogen Support the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Managing Director in Australia, Hugo Batten, speaks with Tony Wood, the Head of the Energy Program at Grattan Institute and one of Australia’s most prolific energy writers and thinkers. Tony has had a lengthy career in energy - working for organisations such as Origin Energy, The Clinton Foundation and Incitec Pivot. He also writes in the Australian Financial Review and other Australian publications on energy. Hugo and Tony discuss: •Australian approach to climate policy and the history of the climate wars in Australia •The role of gas in the energy transition •Proposals to reform the Australian transmission system Support the show

In this episode, our Nordics Lead Alexander Esser is joined by Andreas Regnell, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Development at Vattenfall. Andreas has been with Vattenfall for more than 10 years and previously Managing Partner of Nordic Region at BCG, and Analyst and Account Manager at Citibank. He holds a degree in Economics. Alexander and Andreas discuss: •The role of state-owned energy companies on the path to Net Zero •Backcasting vs forecasting of the energy market •Green hydrogen for steel production Support the show

In this episode, our US Country Lead Oliver Kerr is joined by LevelTen Energy’s Chief Operating Officer - Jason Tundermann and Vice President for Europe - Flemming Sørensen, as they take a deeper look at PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements). LevelTen is the world’s largest renewable energy procurement platform. Jason has a successful career history in senior level business development roles within the energy sector for over ten years. Flemming has a strong investments background, and over 20 years’ experience in project development, energy sourcing and portfolio management for energy firms including Ørsted and Energi Danmark. Main topics include: •The role of PPAs within the broader energy transition •Market design for Net Zero and investment in renewables •Key trends in PPA markets across Europe Support the show

This week on Energy Unplugged, our US Country Lead Oliver Kerr is joined by Jay Zoellner, CEO of Kiwi Power, a leading global energy technology company. Jay has held a number of leadership roles in the power sector – both in public and private energy companies, and is now focusing his efforts on growing Kiwi Power’s business internationally. Oliver and Jay discuss: •Kiwi Power’s mission and Jay’s role •The company’s expansion to the US, and key differences between US and UK markets •The role of flexible energy and investment opportunities Support the show

In this episode, Aurora's CEO John Feddersen speaks with Stefan-Jörg Göbel - Senior Vice President Wind & Solar Continental at Statkraft. Stefan-Jörg is responsible for developing a pan-European renewables portfolio, spanning solar and wind for one of Europe’s leading utilities. Previously, he ran one of Europe’s largest power trading and origination teams and he started his electricity sector career in Enron’s European team. John and Stefan-Jörg discuss: •The role of route-to-market providers and PPAs •Renewables investment in Europe and trends in Government support •The role of hydrogen in power markets Support the show

In this episode, Aurora’s Managing Director in Australia, Hugo Batten speaks with Ian Learmonth, the CEO of Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). With vast experience in the energy sector across the globe, Ian has spent time at Macquarie Group, NatWest and Social Ventures Australia, prior to joining the CEFC in 2017. Some of the main topics include: •CEFC, technologies of focus and storage investment cases •Role of gas and storage in Australia’s energy transition •The evolution of policy and regulation in the Australian market Support the show