Energy Futures Podcast

Can AI help us build resilience into the energy grid, even in the face of unforeseen challenges?

Host

Dr Francesco Leofante - Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing, Imperial (Centre for eXperimental AI)

Guest

Mary Cleary - Vice President (Marketing, Communications & Policy) at Neara

Today's topics

• Challenges in modelling AI for a critical infrastructure
• Major applications for grid resilience
• Repairing models for policy and regulators and
• New opportunities in AI

Timecodes & Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

01:13 - Grid Resilience Applications

01:38 - Meet the Host and Topic: Francesco Leofante on AI for Critical Infrastructure

02:27 - Meet the Guest: Mary Cleary from Neara

03:41 - What is a Physics-Enabled Digital Twin?

04:05 - Role of AI in Classifying Infrastructure Data

08:11 - Counterfactual Reasoning and Scenario Simulation

09:25 - Challenges of Data Collection in the Energy Sector

12:17 - Cost of Training AI Models and Opportunity Costs

14:44 - AI Safety and Explainability in Critical Systems

16:22 - Regulatory Challenges and Transparency

22:56 - Privacy and Cybersecurity Considerations

24:58 - Policy Recommendations and the Need for Guidance

29:04 - AI for Extreme Weather Prediction and Infrastructure Stress Testing

43:00 - Closing Remarks and Reflections on AI’s Role in Energy

Francesco's links

Imperial Profile link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/f.leofante

Linked In link - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescoleofante/

Mary's link

LinkedIn link - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-cleary-71212423/

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten-b4289a17/

Additional Links

Neara webpage link - https://neara.com

Centre for eXplainable AI link - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/explainable-artificial-intelligence/

From noisy myths to quiet revolutions: Heat pumps are transforming home heating in the UK. Curious how? Tune into this deep-dive with experts from Imperial College.

Host

Dr Anastasiya Ostrovnaya - Senior Research & Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment

Guest 

Matt Lipson – Deputy Director at Undaunted, Imperial

Today's Topics

• Challenges the ‘heat pump’ industry face in line with Net Zero targets.
• Government policies on Heat pumps
• Initiatives, new technologies and installations in UK homes
• And the driving force behind the market

Timecode Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

01:10 - Meet the Host and Guest: Anastasia Ostrovnaya & Matt Lipson

02:30 - Why Heat Pumps Matter for Net Zero

04:15 - Comparing UK and Norway: Adoption Challenges

06:00 - Government Subsidies and Public Awareness

08:00 - Electricity vs Gas Prices in the UK

10:00 - Heat Pump Efficiency Explained (COP & SCOP)

13:00 - System Design and Installation Quality

15:30 - Electricity Pricing and Smart Usage

17:45 - Scaling Up: Installer Shortages and Training

20:00 - Comfort Concerns in Older Homes

22:30 - Upfront Costs vs Running Costs

25:00 - Innovations in Heat Pump Technology

27:30 - Planning Rules and Noise Concerns

29:30 - Market Drivers: Startups vs Big Utilities

32:00 - Role of Finance and Mortgages

34:30 - EPC Ratings and Policy Misalignment

37:00 - Landlords and the Rental Market Challenge

39:30 - Ground Source Heat Pumps and New Builds

42:00 - Government Regulation and Developer Incentives

44:00 - Fuel Poverty and Warm Home Prescriptions

46:30 - Supporting Innovation and Startups

48:00 - Will the UK Meet Its Heat Pump Targets?

49:30 - Closing Thoughts

Anastasiya’s links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aostrovnaya/

Imperial profile link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/a.ostrovnaya

Matt’s links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-lipson-20baab/

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten-b4289a17/

Additional Links

Get in touch if you have an innovative idea for solving the challenges with getting heat pumps installed by everyone;

Undaunted Link - https://undaunted-hq.org/contact/.

Find out more about the cool new heat pump tech developed by Anzen here: Anzen Link - https://www.anzenwalls.co.uk/

Find answers to any of your heat pump questions on Heat Geek's YouTube channel. - https://www.youtube.com/HeatGeek

Open Energy Monitor link - https://openenergymonitor.org/

There's no need to fully insulate your home for heat pumps to operate at very high efficiency according to;

University of Oxford, link - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janrosenow_new-paper-why-the-fabric-first-dogma-is-activity-7141426267156840448-9Cok?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

University College London, link - https://journal-buildingscities.org/articles/10.5334/bc.388

Nesta, link - https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/insulation-impact-how-much-do-uk-houses-really-need/

Energy Systems Catapult, link - https://es.catapult.org.uk/news/electrification-of-heat-trial-finds-heat-pumps-suitable-for-all-housing-types/

Green Alliance, link - https://green-alliance.org.uk/briefing/decarbonising-heat-while-addressing-fuel-poverty/

Government consultation on new standards for private landlords in this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update

Interesting businesses you can buy heat pumps from:

Heat Geek, link - https://upgrades.heatgeek.com/

Aira, link - https://www.airahome.com/en-gb

Octopus Energy, link - https://octopus.energy/order/heat-pump/

In order to transform the UK’s transport system into a fully electric one, government have to identify key areas of infrastructure that need support and investment.

Do they run the risk of failure when large scale decisions are not backed by analysis?

Host 

Edoardo Taricco, a mechanical engineer and graduate of the MSc in sustainable energy futures from Imperial

Guests 

Mats Larson, a business Management Consultant with 30-years experience in developing company strategy. He has worked with large-scale transformation to electromobility and sustainability. His work has resulted in five internationally published books.

Topics Discussed 

• What is needed to develop the UK and the EU electromobility systems.
• Society and government’s thought process leading to unachievable targets. - The need for identifying key risks and investing in infrastructure.
• Electromobility in developing countries.

Timecode & Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

00:42 - Meet the Host and Guest: Eduardo Taricco & Mats Larsson

02:15 - Mats Larsson’s Background and Work on Electromobility

04:30 - What is Hyper Think? Understanding the Concept

07:45 - Risks of Hyper Think in Policy and Decision-Making

11:10 - Historical Examples of Successful System Change

14:20 - The Role of Competition in Driving Innovation

17:00 - Infrastructure Challenges in Electromobility

20:35 - Lessons from China’s Strategic Electrification

24:10 - Underestimating Electricity Demand in Europe

27:30 - The Problem with Unrealistic Policy Targets

30:50 - Root Causes of Hyper Think in Politics and Society

34:00 - Institutions and the Need for New Collaborative Models

37:20 - The Skills Gap: From Mechanical to Electrical Competence

40:00 - Government Mechanisms to Coordinate System Change

43:15 - External Factors That Could Shift the Dynamics

46:30 - Electromobility in Developing Countries

50:00 - The Need to Focus on Scalable, Proven Solutions

53:10 - Strategic Planning: Electrification Architects & Strategists

56:00 - What Gives Hope for the Future of Electromobility

58:00 - Closing Remarks and Where to Find the Book

59:00 - Outro and Energy Futures Lab Info

Edoardo's Link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoardo-taricco-9a77a2205/

Mats' link

https://www.getinstitute.com/about

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten-b4289a17/

Additional Links

• GET Institute Link - https://www.getinstitute.com/
• Mat's new book ' How building the future really works' - https://www.getinstitute.com/electromobilitytransformationhandbook

What alternative energy storage technologies are there to replace batteries, and can these technologies hold up to the growing demand for green energy?   

Host 

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa, Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies. 

Guests 

• Dr. Matthias Mersch - Research associate in the Clean Energy Processes Lab at Imperial College. 
• Dr Alexandra Welp – Mechanical Engineer, research assistant and PhD student at the University of Duisburg-Essen. She is currently a visiting researcher at Imperial college focusing on thermodynamic storage solution technologies. 

Topics Discussed  

• New Technologies that exist outside of batteries, and the efforts research and industry are making towards decarbonization. 
• Differences between Industrial and Domestic energy storage and the challenges each type of technology brings. 
• Developing trends in the energy storage field. 

Timestamps & Chapters

[00:51] Host and guest introductions: Dr Nadine Mustafa, Alexandra Welp, and Matthias Mirch

[01:45] Domestic vs. industrial energy storage overview

[02:33] Pumped thermal energy storage and systems thinking

[04:33] Thermal and mechanical energy storage explained

[04:45] Pumped hydro and gravitational energy storage

[05:21] Chemical energy storage and district heating

[07:27] Systems thinking and thermal integration basics

[15:09] Residential and industrial applications of thermal storage

[16:51] High-temperature industrial heat challenges

[18:03] Sector-specific challenges and mechanical/chemical storage

[18:45] Deep dive into chemical energy storage

[21:51] Mechanical and gravitational innovations

[23:21] Thermo-mechanical and compressed air energy storage

[25:39] Liquid air and hybrid storage technologies

[32:21] Policy, public acceptance, and future trends

Nadine's links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/ 

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou... 

Matthias' links:

LinkedIn link - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-mersch-ph-d-698634146/  

Imperial Profile link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/m.mersch 

Alexandra's link

LinkedIn link - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-welp-0b7ab524a/ 

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn 

Additional Links  

Clean Energy Processes Lab Imperial link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/clean-energy-processes/

Could Satellites Power Our Cities? Discover the Future of Energy.

Today’s episode of Energy Futures Podcast, we explore the exciting world of space-based energy.  

Topics Discussed; 

• Space-based solar power as an era defining new source of clean energy 
• The manufacturing, testing and longevity of satellite technologies, and 
• Financing space-based solar power 

Host  

Edoardo Taricco - mechanical engineer graduate of the MSc in sustainable energy futures from Imperial. 

Guest  

Martin Soltau - Co founder and Co-CEO of Space Solar, a leading start-up in the revolutionary sector of Space-Based Solar Power. 

Timecode & Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Space-Based Solar Power

01:30 Guest Introduction: Martin Soltau

03:00 Background and Formation of Space Solar

05:00 Technology Overview: Cassiopeia Design

07:30 Continuous Power and Beam Steering

10:00 Comparison with Other Satellite Designs

12:30 Energy Conversion and Grid Integration

15:00 Modularity and Assembly in Space

17:30 Value Chain and Partnerships

20:00 Elon Musk's Critique and Industry Response

22:30 Energy System Modeling and Economics

25:00 Funding and Investment Landscape

27:30 Solar Cell Technologies and Sustainability

30:00 Receiver Design and Land Use

32:30 Global Distribution and Governance

35:00 International Efforts and Government Programs

37:30 Technical Differences in Global Designs

40:00 Space Solar's Office and Demonstrators

42:30 Company Strategy and Public Engagement

45:00 Roadmap to Deployment

47:30 UK Government Support and Policy Challenges

50:00 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook

Edoardo's links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoardo-taricco-9a77a2205/

Martin’s Links  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-soltau-44596619/

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten-b4289a17/

Additional Links 

Space Solar link - https://www.spacesolar.co.uk/

Frazer-Nash Consultancy Link - https://www.fnc.co.uk/

Blue Origin Link - https://www.blueorigin.com/

SpaceX link - https://www.spacex.com/

MDA Space link - https://mda.space/

Professor Paul Mitcheson, Imperial Link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/paul.mitcheson/about

Professor Goran Strbac, Imperial link - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/g.strbac

Aethurflux link - https://www.aetherflux.com/

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) link - https://www.darpa.mil/

Oxford Space Systems link - https://oxford.space/

Sustainable Markets Initiative link - https://www.sustainable-markets.org/

Tech Nation Future Fifty link - https://technation.io/programmes/future-fifty/

Satellite Applications Catapult link - https://sa.catapult.org.uk/

Reykjavik Energy link - https://orkuveitan.is/en/

British Antarctic Survey link - https://www.bas.ac.uk/

UK Space Agency link - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency

OFCOM link - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/

OFGEM link - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/

Civil Aviation Authority link - https://www.caa.co.uk/

Can AI be both powerful and sustainable? Or are we trading the planet for progress? 

Topics discussed

• What is AI and how to build an AI model. 
• Differences in AI technologies. 
• The cost of running large data centres. 
• Carbon accounting of AI. 

Host 

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa, Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies.  

Guest  

• Dr. Hanya Ahmed  -  postdoctoral research assistant at the Royal Veterinary College and Queen Mary University, with the school of electronic engineering and computing science. She specializes in building and training AI models for industry and medical technology. 

Timecode & Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

01:30 - What is AI?   

03:00 - Building AI Models   

06:30 - Environmental Costs of AI Training   

09:00 - Efficiency vs. Environmental Impact   

12:00 - Genetic Frameworks in AI   

14:30 - Cloud vs. Edge AI   

17:00 - Carbon Accounting in AI   

19:30 - Industry Awareness and Responsibility   

22:00 - Future Tools and Benchmarks   

24:00 - Final Thoughts   

Nadine's links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/ 

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou... 

Hanya’s links: https://www.seresearch.qmul.ac.uk/electronics/people/hahmed/ 

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn 

In February of 2025, the Climate Change Committee released the 7th Carbon Budget, advising Government on new pathways to decarbonizing the UK by 2050.  

Topics Discussed; 

In this episode we dive into the budget as outlined and discuss topics;  

• The key strategies in the budget and how likely we are to achieve them.  
• Carbon removal and carbon capture technologies  
• The jobs and skills needed to achieve a large-scale transition, and  
• Challenges for government, industry and public  

Host 

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa - Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies. 

Guest  

• Dr Aidan Rhodes – Research Fellow at Imperial and Energy Policy Briefing Paper Fellow at Energy Futures Lab.  

Timecode & Chapters;  

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast  

00:41 - What is the Carbon Budget?  

03:20 - The Seventh Carbon Budget: Scope and Significance  

04:11 - Decarbonizing the Power Sector and Beyond  

05:51 - Heating and Households: The Heat Pump Challenge  

10:52 - From Technology to Implementation: Public Engagement and Policy  

14:28 - Industry and Investment: Long-Term Business Models  

18:00 - Carbon Markets and Carbon Removal Technologies  

21:20 - No Silver Bullet: A Multi-Technology Approach  

23:47 - Adaptation and Climate Resilience  

28:22 - Challenges to Reaching Net Zero  

32:03 - Supply Chains, Skills, and Workforce Transition  

36:00 - Granular Planning and Regional Considerations  

39:03 - Financing the Transition: Public and Private Roles  

43:01 - Conclusion: A Call to Action and Optimism 

Nadine's links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/ 

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou... 

Aidan’s Links  - Aidan Rhodes Profile | Imperial College London 

Aidan Rhodes | LinkedIn 

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn 

Additional Links  

• Seventh Carbon Budget link - https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-seventh-carbon-budget/#:~:text=Our%20recommended%20level%20for%20the,the%20importance%20of%20the%20task 
• Climate Change Committee link - https://www.theccc.org.uk 
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) link - https://www.ipcc.ch 
• Energy Futures Lab (Imperial) - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/energy-futures-lab/ 
• Centre for Environmental Policy (Imperial) - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/environmental-policy/ 

In 2025, the UK generated over 14 billion kilowatt-hours of solar electricity, enough to power more than 5 million homes. With solar technology evolving faster than ever, could the next leap in solar power come from labs pushing the boundaries of energy science? 

Host - Prof. Christos Markides - Clean energy technologies in the department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial 

Guest  - Dr Flurin Eisner - Lecturer and researcher in Green Energy and Sustainable Engineering at Queen Mary University 

Topics Discussed  

• Technology improvements in solar cells 
• Generation capacity for manufacturing solar technologies 
• Growth rate of PV industry 
• Technical dive into converting solar power to energy 
• Solar heat converted to cooling technologies 
• UK’s Solar PV generation vs that of Europe. 

Timecode & Chapters;  

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast 

00:45 - Meet the Hosts: Christos Markides and Flurin Eisner 

02:00 - Overview of Solar Energy Potential and Global Usage 

04:30 - Growth of Photovoltaics (PV) and Silicon Dominance 

07:00 - Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Silicon 

08:30 - Emerging Solar Technologies: Perovskites and Organics 

11:00 - Advantages and Challenges of Perovskite Solar Cells 

13:30 - Tandem Solar Cells and Efficiency Gains 

15:00 - Organic PV: Flexibility, Colour Tuning, and Indoor Use 

17:30 - Energy Payback Time and Sustainability of New Technologies 

19:30 - Hybrid PV-Thermal Systems and Heat Recovery 

22:00 - Thermal Storage and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) 

24:30 - Grid Integration and the Role of Storage 

26:30 - Desert Tech and International Solar Projects 

28:00 - Challenges in Grid Infrastructure and Distribution 

30:00 - Capacity Factors and Renewable Energy Intermittency 

32:00 - Solar for Cooling and Building Integration 

34:00 - Light Management and Spectral Tuning in PV 

36:00 - Material Design and AI in Solar Research 

38:00 - Policy, Funding, and the UK’s Role in PV Innovation 

40:00 - Solar Panel Adoption in UK Homes and Feed-in Tariffs 

42:00 - Final Thoughts: The Solar Revolution is Here 

43:00 - Outro and Energy Futures Lab Mission 

Christo's links: LinkedIn - Christos Markides | LinkedIn 

Imperial profile - Christos Markides Profile | Imperial College London 

Flurin’s links: LinkedIn - Flurin Eisner | LinkedIn 

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn 

Additional Links  

Joint Article Publication by Prof. Christos Markides and Dr. Maria Herrando 

Hybrid PV and solar-thermal systems for domestic heat and power provision in the UK: Techno-economic considerations 

Dr. Maria Herrando Imperial Profile link -https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/maria...

In this episode, we invited the co-authors of our latest briefing paper to come discuss the lessons learned and opportunities gained from the world’s largest off-shore wind farm.

Host

Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow at imperial and policy briefing paper fellow at Energy Futures Lab

Guest 

Dr. Kaylen Camacho-McCluskey, an MSc Environmental Technology graduate from Imperial

Topics covered;

- Challenges: Technical & logistical, macroeconomics and global events like Covid and the war in Ukraine.

- Lessons Learned - Standardised approach and collaboration between developers

- Recommendations for Government and for developers.

Timecode & Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

00:45 - Meet the Guests: Dr. Aidan Rhodes & Dr. Kaitlyn Camacho McCluskey

02:00 - Kaitlyn’s Journey into Environmental Policy

04:00 - Background on Dogger Bank Wind Farm

05:30 - What is HVDC and Why It Matters

07:30 - Innovations at Dogger Bank: Unmanned Converter Stations

09:30 - Challenges in HVDC Deployment

11:00 - Impact of COVID-19 on Construction

12:30 - Supply Chain Disruptions and Global Events

14:00 - Successes: Collaboration and Standardised Phasing

16:00 - Lessons from the Phased Approach (A, B, C)

17:30 - Planning and Permitting Challenges

19:00 - Government Recommendations for Offshore Wind

20:30 - Grid Upgrades and Transmission Planning

21:30 - Developer Recommendations: Standardisation and Skills

23:00 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find the Report

24:00 - Outro and Call to Action

Aiden's links

Imperial profile

LinkedIn

Kaylen's links

LinkedIn

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn

Additional Links 

Briefing Paper

Press Release

Financing Decarbonisation Ep 31: Dr Nadine Moustafa & Paul Davies 

Is Carbon capture an investable industry, and can it be financeable? 

Host 

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa, Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies.  

Guest  

• Paul Davies - Director at 7CO2: The Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub 

Topics Discussed  

• Government's role in financing decarbonisation  
• The public and private sector contributions to decarbonisation industries  
• Innovation in carbon capture lending itself to investment  
• Policies and the market. 

Timecode & Chapters;  

00:02:21 – Introduction & Guest Background  

00:02:47 – What Makes Financing Decarbonization Different?  

00:03:53 – Role of Government & Carbon Pricing  

00:04:36 – Public-Private Collaboration  

00:06:19 – Evolving Risk & Government Support  

00:08:10 – Negative Emissions & Market Potential  

00:09:05 – Business Models for Carbon Capture  

00:11:24 – Infrastructure Scaling Challenges 

00:12:14 – Why CCS Projects Lag Behind  

00:14:03 – Government’s Role in Mitigating Risk  

00:15:25 – Financial Close & Project Rollout  

00:17:09 – Non-Pipeline Transport Solutions  

00:19:16 – Modular vs. Mega Projects  

00:21:29 – Importance of Long-Term Policy Signals  

00:23:01 – Sector-Specific Financing Opportunities  

00:25:10 – Aviation & Consumer Offsets  

00:27:36 – Revenue-Driven Sectors Will Lead  

00:28:13 – Cross-Sector Financing Mechanisms  

00:30:31 – Residual Emissions & Net Zero  

00:33:31 – Long-Term Use of Fossil Fuels  

00:34:39 – Advice for Stakeholders  

00:36:03 – The Magic Wand Question  

00:37:11 – Social Acceptability & Political Support  

00:38:23 – Closing Thoughts  

Nadine's links:

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou... 

Paul's links:

7CO2: The Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub - https://www.7co2.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-davies/  

Produced by Annemarie van Basten 

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn 

Additional Links  

Other links: Energy Group - https://theenergygroup.uk/net-zero-st...  

Science based targets - https://sciencebasedtargets.org I 

PPC - https://www.ippc.int/en/  

CBAM - EU Carbon Boarder Adjustment Mechanism- https://www.mcgradyclarke.com/our-ser...