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Batteries are emerging as one of the big winners from Europe’s increasingly volatile power markets.

In this episode, we look at how huge amounts of solar generation are driving down midday power prices before sharp evening peaks create opportunities for battery storage.

The discussion explores who profits from these price swings, whether batteries could begin to displace gas-fired generation, the shift towards larger and longer-duration storage, and whether a rapidly expanding battery fleet could eventually flatten the very volatility it profits from.

We also look ahead to what Europe’s battery boom could mean for power prices, grid investment and the shape of the energy system by 2030.

Host: 
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel News
Fintan Devenney – Market Expert, Montel
Beatrice Petrovich – Senior Energy Analyst, Europe, Ember
Erik Strømsø – CEO, BW ESS

Editor: Alexandra Carlon
Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#BatteryStorage #BESS #EnergyStorage #PowerMarkets #EnergyMarkets #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #Gas #EnergyTransition #Europe

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The Strait of Hormuz crisis has reshaped the outlook for global energy markets, with uncertainty over LNG flows, European gas storage and geopolitical risk hanging over the months ahead.

In this episode, we look at how the conflict has affected oil and gas markets, whether disruption through Hormuz has become a lasting feature of global energy trade, and why Europe could face a tight autumn and winter; particularly on price, even if outright gas shortages remained unlikely.

The discussion also covers low European storage levels, the role of weather, market reactions to Donald Trump’s interventions, and the wider geopolitical and energy risks facing Europe into 2027.

Host: 
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Elise Wu - LNG Correspondent, Montel News
Amund Vik - Senior Advisor, Eurasia Group
Bjarne Schieldrop - Chief Analyst, Commodities, SEB
Tobias Federico - Chief Analyst, Montel

Editor: Alexandra Carlon
Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#StraitOfHormuz #EnergyMarkets #EuropeanGas #GasPrices #LNG #EnergyCrisis #EnergySecurity #OilMarkets #Geopolitics #EuropeanEnergy #GasStorage #WinterOutlook #Iran #EnergyTransition

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Reservoir levels in southern Norway are at their lowest for 30 years raising concerns about power prices in the months ahead and the Nordic region’s ability to balance domestic needs with exports to neighbouring markets.

In this episode of Plugged In, we examine the state of Nordic hydropower, the outlook for reservoir refilling and what current weather patterns could mean for power markets in the months ahead. The discussion explores the role of interconnectors, changing power flows between countries and how weather uncertainty continues to shape market expectations.

Looking beyond this winter, our guests also consider how the Nordic power system may evolve over the next five to ten years as demand rises, generation changes and the energy transition gathers pace.

Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Gert Ove Mollestad – Norway Editor, Montel News
Gro Klæboe – Product Manager, Mid- and Long-term Modelling, Volue Data & Forecasts
Silje Eriksen Holmen – Head of Fundamentals and Hydrology, Volt Power
Sigbjørn Seland – Chief Analyst, StormGeo

Editor: Alexandra Carlon
Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#Nordics #PowerMarkets #Hydropower #EnergyTransition #ElectricityMarkets #Reservoirs #NordicPower #EnergySecurity #Montel #PluggedInPodcast

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Extreme heat and drought are putting Europe’s power system under pressure on close to an annual basis. 

Low river levels and high water temperatures are constraining nuclear and hydropower generation, just as demand for cooling rises. Meanwhile, solar has emerged as a bright spot — providing a quarter of the EU’s power mix in June and helping meet increased daytime demand.

In this episode of Plugged In, we look at how extreme weather is reshaping Europe’s power markets, why countries overly reliant on one generation source may be particularly vulnerable, and what growing price volatility tells us about the need for storage and flexibility.

We also ask whether Europe is prepared for a future in which today’s extreme summers become increasingly commonplace; and what needs to happen now to make the power system more resilient.

#Energy #PowerMarkets #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #EnergyTransition #Renewables #SolarPower #NuclearEnergy #EnergySecurity #Europe #Drought #PowerSystems #PluggedInPodcast 

Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:

Maja Žuvela -  SEE Correspondent, Montel News

Dr Chris Rosslowe -  Senior Energy Analyst, Europe, EMBER 

Professor Mark Maslin - British climate scientist and Professor of Earth System Science, UCL 

Chiara Cagnazzo - Principal Scientific Officer at Copernicus Climate Change Service 

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

Producer: Alexandra Carlon

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After a summer spent exploring the technologies, markets and policies shaping Europe's energy transition, the final episode of the Plugged In Summer Series asks one key final question: is the green shift slowing down, or speeding up?

Richard is joined by two expert academics. David Reiner of the University of Cambridge and  Michael Grubb of University College London to explore what's next for the energy transition. Together, they assess how geopolitical instability, rising electricity demand and shifting global dynamics are reshaping the path ahead—from energy security and electrification to market reform, investment, China's growing influence and the future of clean energy policy. 

The conversation concludes by returning to the central question that has run throughout the series: is the energy transition accelerating, stalling, or taking a different path?

Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:

Dr David Reiner, Professor of Technology Policy, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

Professor Michael Grubb, Professor of Energy and Climate Change, University College London

Producer: Alexandra Carlon

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

#EnergyTransition #NetZero #EnergySecurity #ClimatePolicy #Electrification #CleanEnergy #ElectricityMarkets #Geopolitics #Decarbonisation #EnergyMarkets #MontelNews #PluggedInPodcast

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Artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy at extraordinary speed, but it's also creating one of the biggest new sources of electricity demand Europe has faced in decades. As hyperscale data centres continue to expand, are Europe's power systems, grids and energy markets ready to keep pace?

In this episode of the Plugged In Summer Series, we explore what the AI boom means for the energy transition. The discussion centres around power supply and how grid constraints could shape investment, to the role of flexibility, policy and smarter energy management. We chat about the challenges and opportunities facing Europe's electricity system in the wake of such a growing industry. 

Featuring insights from experts in technology policy, data centre strategy and the power sector, this episode asks whether AI's growing appetite for energy can be aligned with Europe's ambitions for a secure, affordable and low-carbon future—and what needs to happen next.

Host:

Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:

Katie Berriman Davies, Head of Energy, TechUK

Liam Newcombe, SVP Product, Energy Strategy & Innovation, GreenScale

Steve Smith, Group Chief Strategy & UK External Affairs Officer, National Grid

Producer: Alexandra Carlon

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

#AI #DataCentres #EnergyTransition #ElectricityMarkets #PowerSystems #GridInfrastructure #Renewables #Flexibility #Decarbonisation #EnergyPolicy #Hyperscalers #DigitalInfrastructure #CleanEnergy #PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews

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Europe's electricity system is changing fast. As renewables continue to reshape the power mix, new challenges are emerging; from negative pricing and falling pofitability  to the increased need for flexibility, storage, long-term investment signals and the growing demands of AI-driven data centres.

In this episode of the Plugged In Summer Series, host Richard speaks with market experts Cillian O'Donoghue of Eurelectric and Fabian Huneke of Agora to explore whether Europe's electricity market design is still fit for purpose.

The discussion examines whether the current market framework is delivering the right incentives for investment, the role of contracts for difference (CFDs) and power purchase agreements (PPAs), the importance of forward market liquidity, and why flexibility (from batteries to demand response) will be critical to keeping the energy transition affordable and secure. The guests also discuss how Europe can accelerate grid development, respond to rising electricity demand from data centres, and ensure market reforms keep pace with a rapidly evolving power system.

Is Europe's market design driving the clean energy transition; or at risk of holding it back? 

Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests: 

Cillian O'Donoghue, Director, Policy, Eurelectic

Fabian Huneke, Project Lead Energy Transition in the Power Sector, Agora

Producer: Alexandra Carlon 

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

#PluggedInPodcast #EnergyTransition #ElectricityMarkets #MarketDesign #Renewables #PowerMarkets #EnergyPolicy #GridFlexibility #EnergyStorage #CfDs #PPAs #DataCentres #EuropeanEnergy #MontelNews#Datacentres

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Europe has made remarkable progress in developing renewable energy, but grids – both at distribution and transmission level, are struggling to keep up. Congestion, long connection queues and ageing infrastructure are holding back the energy transition. So, is the answer simply building more grid infrastructure; or making better use of the network we already have?

In this third episode of the Plugged In Summer Series, host Richard is joined by experts from across the electricity sector to explore how Europe can ease its growing grid bottlenecks. Frank Boerman-Lima shares insights from the front line of transmission system operation and cross-border electricity markets. Luuk Veeken explains how AI, forecasting and automated trading are helping integrate more renewable power, while Brian Lonn discusses the growing role of battery storage and flexibility markets in supporting the grid. 

Together, they explore how smarter market design, flexibility and digital innovation can unlock more capacity from Europe's electricity networks and keep the energy transition moving.

Host:

Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:

Frank Boerman-Lima, Flow-Based Capacity Calculation Expert

Luuk Veeken, CEO, Dexter Energy

Brian Lonn, Head of UK Flexibility, Statkraft

Producer: Alexandra Carlon

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

#EnergyTransition #PowerGrids #RenewableEnergy #GridFlexibility #ElectricityMarkets #EnergyTransition #PowerGrids #CleanEnergy #BatteryStorage #AI #EnergyTransition #ElectricityMarkets #PowerGrids #GridFlexibility #Renewables

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Europe is developing green energy at lighting speed.  But as solar and wind generation reaches record levels, new challenges are emerging across the electricity system. Negative prices, grid congestion, curtailment and falling capture prices are raising a fundamental question: has renewable deployment reached its limits, or is the rest of the energy system failing to keep pace?

In this episode of the Plugged In Summer Series, we explore whether Europe's next challenge is no longer building renewable generation, but integrating it.

Host Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief of Montel News, is joined by Dr Lion Hirth, one of Europe's leading energy market economists and Professor of Energy Policy at the Hertie School; Luca Pedretti, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder of Pexapark; and Professor Jan Rosenow, one of Europe's foremost experts on energy efficiency and electrification, and Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the University of Oxford.

Together they examine whether current market structures, grids and policy frameworks are fit for a predominantly green energy system,, how investors are responding to growing merchant risk, and why flexibility, storage and electrification could determine whether Europe's energy transition continues to accelerate…or begins to slow down.

Host:
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:

Dr Lion Hirth, Professor of Energy Policy, Hertie School

Luca Pedretti, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder, Pexapark

Jan Rosenow, Energy Programme Leader and Professor of Energy and Climate Policy, University of Oxford

Producer: Alexandra Carlon 

Editor: Alexandra Carlon