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With European gas storage levels relatively low, periods of cold temperatures, weak wind or low rainfall could have an outsized impact on gas and power prices.

In this episode of Plugged In, we look at the key weather patterns to watch in the months ahead and what they could mean for Europe’s energy system.

How could El Niño shape the European winter? Could a weakening polar vortex raise the risk of colder weather later in the season? And what happens to power markets when high demand coincides with low wind and solar generation?

We also examine the importance of rainfall and snowpack for hydropower, the growing exposure of European markets to weather-driven volatility, and how energy companies are increasingly hedging against temperature, wind and precipitation risks.

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

Guests:

Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel News

Mark Stephens-Row – Client Engagement Manager EMEA and Asia, AtmosphericG2

Pierre Buisson – Head Weather & Agro, Munich Re

Rebecca McManus – Renewables Lead, European Energy Market, Aurora

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#EnergyMarkets #EuropeanEnergy #Weather #PowerMarkets #GasMarkets #Renewables #ElNino #Dunkelflaute #Hydropower

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The rules that have underpinned global shipping and energy trade for decades are coming under increasing strain. From the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea to the Baltic and the Arctic, geopolitical tensions are raising risks for shipping, supply chains and energy markets.

Recorded in Svalbard, this episode looks at what a more fragmented and dangerous maritime landscape means for global energy security. The discussion explores how the Iran war has changed LNG trade, why Asian buyers are rethinking their reliance on Middle Eastern supplies, and whether the world is shifting from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” energy supply chains.

The conversation also turns to Europe, where low gas storage levels, growing reliance on US LNG and uncertainty over Russian and Qatari supplies are creating fresh concerns for the winter and next year. 

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

Guests:

Saul Kavonic – Head of Energy Research, MST Marquee

Henning Gloystein – Managing Director, Energy & Resources, Eurasia Group

Editor: Alexandra Carlon
Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#EnergySecurity #LNG #GasMarkets #Shipping #StraitOfHormuz #EuropeanGas #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics #Arctic #Svalbard

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Europe is heading into winter with gas storage well below comfortable levels, LNG supplies under pressure and the Strait of Hormuz crisis adding further uncertainty to an already tight market.

Could a cold winter push European gas prices to EUR 150/MWh? And with Europe increasingly competing for LNG on the global market, how exposed is the continent to another energy price shock?

This week, we discuss Europe's gas balance, the race for LNG, the impact of continued disruption in the Middle East and what needs to happen to prevent another painful winter for consumers and industry.

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

Guests:
Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Tony Jordan – Founder, Energy Price Intelligence
Yuriy Onyshki – Senior Gas Analyst, LSEG
Trevor Sikorski – Head of Natural Gas and Emissions, Energy Aspects

Editor & Producer: 
Alexandra Carlon

#EuropeanGas #LNG #GasStorage #EnergyMarkets #GasPrices #StraitOfHormuz #EnergyCrisis #EnergySecurity

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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