Plugged In: the energy news podcast

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Plugged In: the energy news podcast episodes

October 29 Trump’s rapprochement with Russia
Send us your thoughts!
As Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal in Ukraine and takes an increasingly conciliatory approach towards Russia, what could it mean for Europe’s energy markets?
This week on Plugged In, we look at how a shift in US policy towards Russia could reshape energy supply; from the future of sanctions and Russian oil and gas to the impact on European prices and security of supply.
We also ask whether Russian energy could become commercially attractive to Europe again, whether Europe can maintain sanctions without Washington, and what growing reliance on US LNG means if the US and Europe continue to diverge over Russia.
Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Guests:
Elise Wu - LNG Correspondent, Montel News
Henning Gloystein – Managing Director, Energy, Climate & Resources, Eurasia Group
Tobias Federico - Chief Analyst, Montel
Editor: Alexandra Carlon
Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#Trump #Russia #Ukraine #UkraineWar #RussiaUkraine #EnergyMarkets #EuropeanEnergy #EnergySecurity #EnergyCrisis #EnergyPrices #NaturalGas #LNG #USLNG #RussianGas #RussianOil #OilMarkets #GasMarkets #EnergySanctions #Sanctions #Geopolitics #EnergyGeopolitics #USEuropeRelations #USRussiaRelations #Europe #EnergyTransition #MontelNews #PluggedInPodcast
29 min
October 22 Going Dutch: Easing grid bottlenecks
Send us your thoughts!
Grid congestion has become one of the biggest obstacles facing the Dutch energy transition, with businesses and new projects struggling to secure connections as electrification puts growing pressure on the power system.
This week on Plugged In, we ask what the Netherlands can do to make better use of the grid it already has — and how the country’s energy regulator can boost flexibility, batteries and smarter connections to help ease bottlenecks.
We also explore the role of batteries in relieving congestion, the debate over grid tariffs, transparency around solar and storage, the risks and benefits of algorithmic trading, and why greater integration with neighbouring power markets remains crucial.
Host:
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Guest:
Timon Dubbeling– Senior Energy Regulator, Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets
Editor & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon
#Energy #EnergyMarkets #EnergyTransition #GridCongestion #PowerMarkets #Electricity #GridFlexibility #BatteryStorage #EnergyStorage #RenewableEnergy #Netherlands #DutchEnergy #EnergyRegulation #SmartGrid

29 min
October 15 Cyber attacks, sabotage: How resilient is Europe’s energy infrastructure?
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Europe’s energy infrastructure is facing a growing range of threats, from physical sabotage and cyberattacks to hybrid warfare targeting the wires, the pipelines and the substations that keep power and gas flowing.
This week on Plugged In, we look at how vulnerable Europe’s critical energy infrastructure really is — and whether governments and operators are prepared for an increasingly hostile security environment.
We explore the risks and ask how the threat has evolved since 2022. What can Europe do to strengthen resilience, from greater redundancy and decentralisation to closer cooperation between energy companies, intelligence services and armed forces?
We discuss cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and attacks harder to attribute. Where are Europe’s biggest blind spots — and what would happen if a critical part of the energy system were deliberately taken offline?
Host:
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Guests:
Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Tobias Federico – Chief Analyst, Montel
John Roberts – Energy Security Specialist, Methinks Ltd
Petras Katinas – Research Fellow in Climate, Energy and Defence, RUSI
Editor & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon

#EnergySecurity #EnergyInfrastructure #CyberSecurity #HybridWarfare #CriticalInfrastructure #EuropeanEnergy #EnergyMarkets #GasMarkets #EnergyResilience #EnergyTransition #Geopolitics #RenewableEnergy #Europe #PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews

34 min
October 08 Watering down the EU ETS?
Send us your thoughts!
Europe’s carbon market is entering a critical period. Governments are pushing back against carbon costs, industrial competitiveness is climbing the political agenda and policy makers are debating changes that could alter how the EU ETS operates.
This week on Plugged In, we look at whether Europe is simply fine-tuning its flagship carbon market, or moving towards a more actively managed system.
We explore the political battle over the ETS review, proposals that could effectively create a soft carbon price corridor, and the growing tension between climate ambition and protecting European industry. We also look at what the reforms could mean for market liquidity and EUA prices, with tightening fundamentals pointing towards further upside into 2027.
Host:
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Guests:
Cem Bektas – Carbon Correspondent, Montel News
Hæge Fjellheim – Head of Carbon Analysis, Veyt
Ben Lee – Head of Carbon Research, Redshaw Advisors

Editor & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon
#EUETS #CarbonMarket #CarbonTrading #CarbonPrices #EUClimatePolicy #EnergyMarkets #EnergyTransition #EmissionsTrading #IndustrialCompetitiveness #EUA #PluggedInPodcast

31 min
October 01 15-minute power trading: One year on
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It’s been one year since Europe’s day-ahead power market moved from hourly to 15-minute trading in order to help integrate renewables, boost liquidity in the day-ahead market and improve supply security. So, has the shift delivered what it promised?
This week on Plugged In, we look at how the change has reshaped Europe’s power markets — from shifting liquidity and the distinctive “sawtooth” price pattern to better integration of renewables and new opportunities for flexible assets.
We also explore what still needs to change, the challenges of bringing other markets into 15-minute trading, and whether Europe could eventually make the leap to five-minute intervals.
Host:
Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Guests:
Olav Endre Vilnes – Editor Nordics, Montel News
Priyanka Shinde – Nordic Market Expert, Montel Analytics
Vincent Thevenin – Market Manager, Montel
Ina Schjelderup – Head of Public & Regulatory Affairs Nordics, Benelux and Baltics, EPEX SPOT
Editor & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon
#EnergyTrading #PowerMarkets #ElectricityMarkets #EnergyMarkets #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #15MinuteTrading #PowerTrading #MarketDesign #EnergyStorage #EPEXSPOT #PluggedInPodcast

33 min
September 24 El Niño and the Polar Vortex - the key weather drivers for Q4
Send us your thoughts!
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 & Commodity Risks - Europe, Munich Re
Rebecca McManus – Renewables Lead, European Energy Market, Aurora
Editor & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon
#EnergyMarkets #EuropeanEnergy #Weather #PowerMarkets #GasMarkets #Renewables #ElNino #Dunkelflaute #Hydropower

31 min
September 17 Global trade risks threaten energy security
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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 & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon
#EnergySecurity #LNG #GasMarkets #Shipping #StraitOfHormuz #EuropeanGas #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics #Arctic #Svalbard
30 min
September 10 Europe braces for winter gas crunch
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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

33 min
September 03 Summer price volatility: Batteries take the spoils?
Send us your thoughts!
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 & Producer:
Alexandra Carlon
#BatteryStorage #BESS #EnergyStorage #PowerMarkets #EnergyMarkets #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #Gas #EnergyTransition #Europe

31 min
August 27 Hormuz crisis: Outlook remains highly uncertain
Send us your thoughts!
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

33 min

About Plugged In: the energy news podcast

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Coming from the heart of the Montel newsroom, Editor-in-Chief, Snjolfur Richard Sverrisson and his team of journalists explore the news headlines in the energy sector, bringing you in depth…