Utility-scale clean energy projects in development are still facing connection queues and regulatory barriers. RE+ may be done for 2025, but the debate is still going. Host Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, sits down with three leaders who are driving progress from different corners of the energy transition, from utility-scale project development to digital grid optimisation and solar system reliability.  

Sylvia Leyva Martinez and her guests discuss how federal and state regulations shape project timelines and financing, the latest innovations in the grid and the future of interconnection studies, the supply chain outlook for developers and technology providers, and how policy and software are converging to accelerate the energy transition. 

In this episode you’ll hear from:  

Angela Amos from AES Clean Energy - As Director of Commercial Strategy & Innovation, Angela brings a unique vantage point that bridges policy, finance, and market execution. Drawing on her experience at AES, Uplight, and FERC, Angela shares how developers are navigating an evolving regulatory landscape, adapting to federal and state policy shifts, and rethinking how technology integration shapes long-term strategy. She also discusses how AES is approaching supply chain partnerships and what “innovation” really looks like at a global energy developer. 

Lindsey Williams from Shoals Technologies Group - Lindsey is VP of Marketing & Communications at Shoals, and she joins Sylvia to unpack the latest in solar and storage performance. Building on Shoals’ recent focus on EBOS (Electrical Balance of System), Lindsey reflects on how component design, reliability, and digital monitoring are redefining project outcomes. She also shares what she heard from the floor at RE+, including the big industry talking points shaping developer confidence and long-term investment certainty in clean energy infrastructure. 

Inalvis Alvarez Fernandez from Simple Thread - Inalvis is a Senior Energy Technology Engineer at Simple Thread, and she explains how digital tools like Minerva are helping reduce project backlogs, streamline utility processes, and unlock grid capacity faster. Inalvis also discusses the challenges clean energy companies face scaling renewables and how regulatory clarity can enable more efficient technology deployment. 

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Electrification is surging, AI data centres are multiplying, and volatility is rising on both sides of the meter. Can storage step in as the flexible backbone the US grid now needs? 

Host Sylvia Leyva Martinez is joined by Joanna Martin Ziegenfuss, General Manager for Strategic Market Development (North America), and Ruchira Shah, General Manager of Software Product Management at Wärtsilä Energy Storage. Together they unpack how high-performance hardware paired with sophisticated control software delivers real-time flexibility, from synthetic inertia and fast frequency response to price arbitrage and microgrid operation. 

The conversation tracks the shift from treating storage as a bolt-on to renewables to viewing it as a core reliability asset. Sylvia, Joanna and Ruchi explore how AI-driven load growth and volatile demand profiles change planning assumptions; why interconnection queues are pushing some data centres toward on-site generation plus batteries; and how market rules and policy must evolve to reward flexibility and sub-second response. They also dig into software’s role in future-proofing assets as grid requirements tighten, and where innovators are already meeting new performance thresholds.

If you’re navigating project economics, market design or grid operations in a fast-changing landscape, this episode offers a pragmatic look at what’s working, what’s missing, and why storage is set to anchor a resilient, decarbonised grid.

This episode is brought to you by Wärtsilä Energy Storage – Wärtsilä delivers high performing, large-scale energy storage systems by combining sophisticated software, robust safety, and long‑term reliability—empowering utility, IPP, and data center customers to maximize energy value and investment returns. To learn more, visit: https://www.wartsila.com/energy/energy-storage?utm_source=woodmac&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=energy_storage_saving_the_grid&utm_content=host

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This special wrap-up episode of Interchange Recharged takes listeners on a fast tour of the entire carbon capture value chain, from industrial emitters and LNG developers to UK transport and storage pioneers. Host Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, brings together three leaders shaping how CCUS moves from theory to reality.

First, James Lopez, Subsurface CO₂ Storage Advisor at CEMEX, explains why cement’s process emissions make it one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise and why storage certainty is now the key enabler for investment. He shares how CEMEX is identifying and evaluating CO₂ storage hubs across global sites, and why capture without a permitted storage solution is a business risk few emitters can take. “CCUS doesn’t work if you only have the C,” he says, “you need the full chain.”

Next, Glenn Wilson, Chief Financial Officer at Coastal Bend LNG, discusses how LNG economics and carbon capture can work hand in hand. Designed from day one as a low-carbon project, Coastal Bend LNG is integrating capture across both pre-treatment and post-combustion stages, aiming for near-zero emissions. Glenn explains how 45Q tax credits and the sale of verified environmental attributes create a dual-revenue model, and why tokenising the carbon intensity of each LNG cargo could redefine transparency in global energy trade. “We’re not just reducing emissions,” he says, “we’re creating a new market for verified carbon value.”

Finally, Nick Terrell, Executive Director at Carbon Catalyst, joins from the UK to reveal how depleted gas fields are being repurposed into next-generation carbon storage sites. Following the country’s first offshore CO₂ injection test, he shares how reusing North Sea infrastructure is cutting costs, driving bankability, and opening the door to cross-border storage for European emitters. As policy alignment grows between the UK and EU, Terrell argues that liberalisation and private capital will be the next accelerators. “Once we have more FIDs,” he says, “finance, technology, and data will do the rest.”

From the cement kiln to the seabed, this episode captures the energy and optimism emerging across the CCUS ecosystem - a clear sign that carbon capture is moving from cautious planning to confident execution.

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Recorded live on day two of Wood Mackenzie’s CCUS Conference in Houston, this episode of Interchange Recharged explores how carbon capture is advancing from state-level regulation to real-world innovation and global market trends.

Host Sylvia Leyva Martinez begins with Lily Barkau, Groundwater Section Manager at the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, who explains how Wyoming became one of the first states to secure Class VI primacy and why local leadership is key to building trust, speeding up permitting, and ensuring long-term stewardship of CO₂ storage.

Next, Katherine Hough of GEVO connects policy with practice, describing how her team links biogenic CO₂, carbon sequestration, and sustainable aviation fuel to create a truly circular carbon economy. Her insights show how business models, not just technology, are making carbon management commercially viable.

Finally, Sylvia sits down with Ed Crooks, Vice Chair, Americas at Wood Mackenzie and host of  Energy Gang, for a wide-angle look at how policy clarity, AI-driven demand, and global energy dynamics are shaping the next phase of CCUS.

From permitting to project finance to public perception, this on-the-ground episode captures the collaborative energy driving carbon capture forward—and marks a rare crossover between Wood Mackenzie’s two flagship podcasts.

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This special episode of Interchange Recharged brings together finance, law, and technology leaders shaping the path to commercial carbon capture. Host Sylvia Leyva Martinez explores how capital, regulation, and innovation are converging to turn early-stage CCUS projects into bankable reality.

The conversation opens with Omer Farooq, Head of Sustainable Asset Finance at Bank of America, on how one of the world’s largest banks is approaching carbon capture — from financing first-of-a-kind projects to assessing new business models and risk structures. Omer explains why point-source capture is already investable, why direct air capture still has hurdles to clear, and why incentives like 45Q remain the backbone of the economics. “Policy drives energy,” he says, “and transport and permitting are the next frontiers.”

Next, Liz McGinley, Partner at Bracewell LLP, joins to unpack the evolving U.S. regulatory landscape. She discusses the expanded 45Q tax credit, the lingering uncertainty around the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, and why the slow pace of pipeline permitting has become a bottleneck for deployment. Yet, she says, investor confidence is growing fast — driven by clarity on incentives and insurance mechanisms to manage geological risk.

Finally, Shahul Hameed, Vice President of Global Oil & Gas Measurement Instrumentation at Emerson, explains how technology is catching up with policy. He shares how decades of oil and gas expertise are being repurposed for CO₂ transport and storage, and how automation, measurement accuracy, and data integrity are helping to de-risk projects. From AI-driven analytics to mass-based metering, Shahul outlines how precision is becoming the new currency of CCUS.

From finance and legal frameworks to field-level innovation, this episode captures the mood on the ground in Houston — one of optimism, collaboration, and rapid evolution. As Sylvia concludes, “Finance follows certainty. The incentives are there, the technology is advancing, and the industry is learning fast.”

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As RE+ 2025 wrapped up in Las Vegas, the mood across the show floor was one of contradiction: anxiety, anger, optimism, and opportunity all rolled into one. In this episode, Sylvia Leyva Martinez – Research Director and analyst covering global solar markets - sits down with Chris Seiple, Vice Chair of Power & Renewables, and Kasim Khan, Senior Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, to unpack the forces shaping today’s energy market. From the shockwaves of OB3 and FEOC restrictions, to investors navigating the whiplash of shifting subsidy regimes, Sylvia, Chris and Kassim talk about the conversations they’ve had with developers and manufacturers. Everyone is facing the same dilemma: double down on building compliant supply chains or hold back in anticipation of yet another policy reversal? Meanwhile, the collapse of early-stage development activity and the race to prove FEOC compliance are reshaping priorities across the industry.

But there’s more than just uncertainty, there’s also innovation. Utilities are experimenting with new ways to fast-track data center interconnections, EPCs are doubling down on execution, and storage is emerging as the wildcard technology that could reshape both grid reliability and investor confidence. With US utilities already committed to 99 GW of new load from data centers - equivalent to nearly 15% of peak demand - the industry faces a defining test. Will the removal of subsidies finally level the playing field for capital, or will it strip away the last federal lever for climate policy? Tune in to hear why industry leaders believe we are living through the most uncertain moment in US clean energy history, and why that uncertainty could also create the biggest opportunities yet.

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Recorded live at RE+, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, hosts Ryan Chen and Neil Bradshaw from Hithium to unpack the true costs of OB3, the constraints on innovation and fire safety as result of the bill, and the future possibilities for AIDC.

Neil Bradshaw is Director of Global Applications Engineering, and takes the view that even US manufacturers aren’t immune from the OBBA’s sweeping impact on supply chains: “imagine you are a manufacturer based in the US but you're importing parts, and all of a sudden you have a policy that comes through that changes how you bring in parts and maybe you can't find local cells or you can't find a certain component,” he says. How are manufacturers responding to this uncertainty? How are they planning for the next few years, never mind decades?

Ryan Chen is Chief of Staff to the Chairman at Hithium, and he shares with Sylvia how Hithium is betting big on Texas manufacturing, investing before they even had offtake agreements in place. You’ll hear how they’re importing not just equipment but full-scale Chinese manufacturing practices - down to autonomous container movers - and why true scale is the only way to compete.Plus, hear how AI is driving new demand for storage, how bankruptcies are shaking up the talent market, and why even something as small as a paint colour change can cost millions in safety testing.

Got power? At Hithium Energy Storage, we make sure the answer is always yes. Hithium delivers safe, reliable, profitable energy solutions that keep the clean energy transition moving forward. Let green energy benefit all. Trusted worldwide, built to last.

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Despite the US adding 4.3 gigawatts of solar manufacturing capacity in Q2, there were no additions to the upstream components of polysilicon wafer and cell manufacturing. As gas prices continue to rise and the demand for alternative power supplies grows, get a detailed look at what big names in energy are doing to get over the hurdles. 

On her second day at RE+ in Las Vegas, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, explores the trajectory of solar and storage. Alongside industry experts, this episode of Interchange Recharged discusses the exciting yet challenging future of solar energy and energy storage amidst changing policy landscapes and growing demand. Sylvia and her guests explore and explain the dynamics of solar capacity, regulatory and financial challenges such as One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) accelerating the phase-down of key tax credits, and emerging technologies fueling the renewable energy sector. 

This episode includes an exclusive excerpt from Sylvia’s presentation with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). She discusses energy policy uncertainty, market saturation in the solar energy industry, and manufacturing hurdles in the renewable energy space. 

Featured guests in this episode of Interchange Recharged:  

• Sean Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Policy at SEIA 
• Steven Munson, Valuation and Tax Credit Advisor for Energy Transition at CohnReznik 

In this episode, Sylvia and her guests discuss: 

• The State of Solar Energy and Storage - Sean discusses why solar and energy storage are crucial for power demands in the coming years, emphasizing their role in new energy infrastructures. 
• Impact of Policy Changes - Sean and Sylvia explore the effects of recent legislative changes, including the projected decline in solar installations post-2027, and how peak chaos impacts the industry. 
• Investor Perspectives and Valuations - Steven shares insights on current investor sentiments, valuation challenges, and trends in renewable energy financing. 
• Technological Advancements – The guests discuss strategies to improve efficiencies in solar modules, automated permitting, and innovations aiming to lower costs. 
• Looking Into the Future – Sylvia and her guests explore potential long-term effects of emerging technologies like AI on power markets and the need to adapt quickly to policy updates. 

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Interchange Recharged explores clean tech, green finance and energy innovation, the three lanes on the road to a successful global energy transition. At the intersection of these lanes is a place where ideas on finance, technology and policy are shared and debated. 

Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, and her guests bring you data and forecasts on clean technology, climate change, and offer predictions on the build out of utility-scale projects and the future of green finance. 

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Check out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Energy Gang, at woodmac.com/podcasts/the-energy-gang 

Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/

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In a year defined by uncertainty, this RE+ special episode of Interchange Recharged flips the script from “build more” to “get more from what you’ve got.” Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, is joined by Alex Bamberger, VP of Digital Solutions at RES, to look at how owners are squeezing extra megawatt-hours from operating wind, solar and storage, opening OEM-level data, pairing software with smart hardware, and retuning controls for site realities. You’ll hear real uplift figures (think low-single-digit AEP gains that add up to a year’s worth of new installs at fleet scale) that show how new tech is optimising renewable energy assets.

Then we widen the lens to the grid itself. Systems architect and founder and CEO of Dynamic Grid Kay Aikin makes the case that smarter controls, storage and flexible demand can raise distribution utilisation far beyond today’s approximate 45%. Sylvia and Kay look at how performance-based models could unlock faster, cheaper reliability without waiting on every substation rebuild. You can find more on this at www.dynamicgrid.ai

Finally, GridStor’s VP of Finance Anna Astretsova breaks down the storage finance reality: plenty of capital, but higher costs. What’s the impact been of OB3 on storage? Learn how safe-harbouring, earlier procurement, bankable tolling structures and better cycling assumptions are getting deals done, and why FEOC, tariffs and interconnection queues are reshaping who wins. It’s been a packed first day of RE+, so get the key insights right here on the show.

Make sure you’re following wherever you listen to the podcast so you don’t miss any of the coverage.

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The policy environment in the US at the moment is challenging, but developers, utilities, and investors are still moving forward with decarbonisation goals and climate action; they’re just talking about it and approaching it in a different way. As RE+ (North America’s biggest clean energy event) kicks off, Sylvia Leyva Martinez talks to veteran climate journalist and cleantech investor Molly Wood, about the ways in which the industry is navigating the uncertainty. Molly talks about the outdated forecasts of 1–2% load growth which are being blown apart by real demand increases of up to 30% in some regions, driven by electrification, AI, and data centers.

 If you can’t make it to the event this year, Interchange Recharged will bring you the key discussions and exclusive insights so you don’t miss out. You’ll hear why traditional load forecasts are being upended by surging demand from AI and data centers, and what that means for project planning and risk management.

 Despite policy headwinds, the money is still flowing, but in smarter ways: into scalable tech like batteries, grid modernization, and distributed solutions. Investors are refocusing on scalable, commercial-ready technologies like batteries, grid modernization, and distributed energy solutions. And as the narrative shifts from using terms like “net zero” to the more pragmatic “energy dominance,” the conversation explores how storytelling shapes strategy, and why hyperscalers like Google and Amazon may even build their own small modular reactors or power islands to secure the future of energy.

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