The fires in Los Angeles of January 2025 were devastating. They were also made about 35% more likely due to climate change.

This is true all over the world; a recent study authored by Research Fellow Pierre Masselot at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that rising temperatures could kill an extra 2.3 million people in Europe by the end of the century. Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie and host of Interchange Recharged, talks to Pierre at the start of the show about the study, and the implications of a rapidly heating environment for US energy. 

Those implications were made clear in January – and it emphasised the need for increased climate resilience: it’s a dynamic process rather than a static outcome and involves both mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (adjusting to the impacts already in motion). In short, communities and economies need more robust frameworks to deal with climate change. Nuin-Tara Key is Executive Director of Programs at California Forward. California Forward builds strategies for businesses and governments in the region to improve climate resilience.

How do they do it? How can climate resilience be strengthened in uncertain economic and political times? How can we balance mitigation with adaptation? Sylvia and Nuin-Tara talk it through.

Join the conversation with us - we’re on most social platforms at @interchangeshow. We’d love to get your feedback.

If you haven’t heard it already, check out our sister podcast Energy Gang. We had Kate Gordon, CEO at California Forward, on a special episode recorded at New York Climate Week, which explored many of the themes we talked about today and plenty more.’

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How a major US utility plans for sustainable growth.

The US is on track to see over 25% growth in annual clean energy installations this year, despite uncertainty around permitting and grid connections. The new Trump administration threatens much clean energy legislation, so how can the industry plan ahead? Annual clean energy installations are set to average 102 GW over the next 11 years, quadruple the 26 GW averaged over the past decade. The narrative around energy demand must acknowledge long-term trends, not just recent spikes.

Utilities recognise the need for increased transmission investment. Sylvia Leyva Martinez is joined by Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO at one such utility - EDP Renewables North America. Together they try and find the certainty in the uncertainty that lies ahead. The IRA is, as Sandhya says, a beautiful canvas. Is it about to torn down? 

 They discuss the growing demand for renewable energy, and the challenges faced by the grid. Are the economics of PPAs aligning to perhaps provide a path forward? Power purchase agreements are becoming more critical as companies lock in prices. Energy security is still top of mind, as is the need for a balanced energy mix to meet demand. Plus, Sylvia and Sandhya debate the significance of domestic manufacturing, the role of off-takers and the need to get communities onside when planning large energy projects.

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The trends, challenges and breakthroughs.

Clean energy in 2025 will face challenges from rising electricity demand, inflation-driven costs, and political pressures. How can these challenges be solved? And what else lies ahead this year?

To find out, host Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, sits down with fellow analysts Chris Seiple (Vice Chairman of Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables group) and Jonny Sultoon (Head of Markets & Transitions, Energy Transition Practice at Wood Mac). 

It’s not all doom and gloom - the good news is the continued growth of solar; it’s leading carbon-free power additions despite a global slowdown in renewables. Will this trend continue? Plus, a look at what could change with utility tariffs, and advancements in energy technology.

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In conversation with Abigail Hopper

 Policy changes which will impact US solar – both manufacturing and demand - are on the horizon. To discuss the current state of the solar industry in the wake of the US election, the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), potential changes to tax credits, and the impact of tariffs and energy demand on the industry, Sylvia Leyva Martinez is joined by Abigail Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association.

 What policy change will we see with a new administration next year? Things are a bit uncertain, which isn’t ideal for developers or investors, so there’s a need for strategic planning. Abby and Sylvia discuss the evolving priorities in the renewable energy sector, in particular the need to focus industry leaders on business certainty and energy security. How can more certainty be injected into the market? How does community engagement come into it, and what about the interconnection challenge that looms large over the energy transition? All this and more on the last Interchange: Recharged of the year. 

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The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac.

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Could the potential repealing of the IRA halt the progress of solar manufacturing?

A second Donald Trump presidency will have a big impact on the energy transition. The Biden administration’s landmark climate bill the Inflation Reduction Act had incentives for domestic solar manufacturing and installations. Tearing up the act could slow down the exponential growth in the sector.

Sylvia Leyva Martinez is a principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie. She’s joined by Martin Pochtaruk, CEO at Heliene (a US solar manufacturer) to debate the outlook for solar over the next four years. Policy shifts have occurred in the past but, as Martin says, progress in clean energy has been unstoppable. That’s not to say there’s not implications for the industry with a change in government; tariffs and trade policy could create big challenges. 

Plus, there are labour challenges in the solar sector – there’s a big need for specialised training. Advancements in solar technology have significantly boosted efficiency and output but there’s a skills gap in installation and engineering. What are the broader implications of reshoring solar manufacturing for the US economy? How can the US solar industry remain competitive globally? Sylvia and Martin discuss it.

The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac

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The future of carbon capture

With global emissions on the rise, the pressure to decarbonise is driving interest in CCUS (carbon capture, utilisations and storage) … but is CCUS a viable path to net zero, a temporary solution or a high-cost gamble that may simply just perpetuate the use of fossil fuels?

Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, sits down to talk with fellow Wood Mackenzie team members, Mhairidh Evans, VP, head of CCUS research and co-head of carbon management and Peter Findlay, director of CCUS economics, about the complex nuances of CCUS.

The trio discusses policy support differences between North America and Europe, the impact of government incentives like the U.S. 45Q tax credit, and the need for community buy-in for infrastructure projects. They also explore potential pathways for CCUS growth, address obstacles and opportunities for technology advancement and speculate on whether a consistent global carbon price could be a game-changer.

With insights into real-world CCUS projects and the market conditions influencing investment, the conversation highlights the factors that could determine CCUS’s role in the energy transition.

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The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac

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Strategic solar for a stronger grid

The solar industry is at a turning point, shifting from niche investments to a cornerstone of America’s clean energy future. With renewable energy investment soaring and energy needs intensifying, solar's role has never been more crucial.

Sylvia Martinez, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, and David Banmiller sit down with Gregg Felton, CEO of Altus Power, to explore how commercial and community solar are driving the U.S. toward its decarbonisation goals. Gregg shares his journey from investment management to leading a renewable energy powerhouse, detailing how solar has evolved into a viable asset class due to falling costs and rising electricity prices.

The pair discuss Altus Power’s strategy of building solar arrays near consumption hubs to ease grid stress and meet rising energy demand. Gregg emphasises the role of state support, partnerships, and incentives in driving growth, as well as the need for stakeholder education for broader solar adoption.

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Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow.

The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac.

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Global investment in renewables is projected to surpass US$2 trillion by 2030, with wind, solar and storage projects leading the way. Syliva Martinez, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie is joined by Ray Long, President and CEO at ACORE (American Council On Renewable Energy), to look at how the energy transition is creating jobs, lowering costs and making the U.S. more competitive in the global market. American families are expected to save between US$27 and US$38 billion over the next eight years thanks to clean energy initiatives. However, there are still bottlenecks holding back progress, like transmission gridlock and permitting delays. With bipartisan efforts underway, such as the Manchin-Barrasso permitting bill, Ray explores the impact they’re having, and how the industry is moving toward overcoming the challenges.

Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow.

The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac

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Part two of our analysis of safety developments for energy storage and batteries.

Guest host Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, joins us to explore the challenges and solutions to lithium-ion battery safety. In part one of our two part series, thermal runaway events (which can lead to fires) were a key issue. What are the big players in manufacturing doing to address these? Andrew Tattersall is Industrial Vertical Market Lead for batteries at Siemens, and he joins the show to answer the question. With net zero goals fast approaching, how are Siemens working to improve safety? Early detection systems and regulatory frameworks are key to preventing incidents. 

Additionally, data analytics play a crucial role in predictive safety measures. Dr Kai-Phillip Kairies is Co-Founder of Accure, a battery analytics company working to study battery behaviour to prevent malfunctions before they occur. 

Key questions you’ll get answers to in this episode: what are Siemens' Net Zero plans, and how are they addressing sustainability across their operations and supply chain? Andrew discusses Siemens' 2030 net-zero goals and outlines innovations like electric paint lines, and support for suppliers to achieve net zero by 2050. How are battery safety concerns being addressed, particularly around thermal runaway events? Andrew and KP discuss early detection systems and the role of data analytics in preventing safety incidents. 

Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow.

The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac

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Exploring fire risk mitigation in the face of lithium-ion challenges.

Battery and energy storage-related fires are still relatively rare, but when they do occur, they are challenging to manage due to the high energy density of lithium-ion batteries. So how is the industry working to mitigate these risks? To find out, we are joined by Kelly Sarber, CEO of Strategic Management and Vice Chair of NY-BEST, a battery industry trade group in New York. Kelly advocates for educating communities with planned energy storage projects, especially around risk management. A recent survey revealed that 42% of these communities expressed safety concerns, primarily due to fears of fires. The conversation emphasises the importance of involving local communities and first responders early in the planning process to build trust and transparency.

Lithium-ion battery fires can be particularly difficult to suppress due to the risk of thermal runaway, which can cause the fire to reignite even after being extinguished. Anthony Natale, Director of Risk at the Fire & Risk Alliance, works on identifying and managing risks in utility and battery storage. Anthony and Kelly discuss the complexities of controlling these fires and stress the need for better containment and isolation strategies during incidents. They also explore necessary design changes in battery energy storage systems (BESS), such as direct injection of suppression agents, to improve fire response.

Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow.

The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza’s revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmac

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