Temperatures reached 40C across Europe this week in the latest of several heatwaves which have engulfed the continent this summer.  

In response, power prices soared in many regions, with countries like France curbing nuclear power production because rivers – used for cooling purposes –  became too warm.

In this week’s episode, Richard discuss the impact of rising temperatures on power production, consumption and prices. How can Europe futureproof its power market from extreme weather conditions?

Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Contributor: Julia Demirdag - News correspondent, Montel News

Guests:
Robin Girmes -  Managing Director, Energy Weather
Pawel Czyzak - Europe Programme Director, Ember

Editor: Bled Maliqi
Producer: Sarah Knowles 

It’s been 10 years since the Paris Climate Agreement entered intro force. Yet, tariffs, trade wars, and the reversal of the US’s climate policies are putting the global energy transition at risk. 

 Where does this leave the relationship between the EU, the US, and other global trading partners? And should Europe’s solar and wind developers shun Chinese products?

 In this week’s episode, Richard speaks to Lord Adair Turner - Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission about carbon pricing, the cost of the energy transition, and China’s influence in the future of green energy. 

 Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
 Contributor: Cem Bektas - Carbon correspondent, Montel News
 Guest: Lord Adair Turner - Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission
 Editors: Bled Maliqi, Oscar Birk
 Producer: Sarah Knowles

This is the fifth episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. 

In this final special episode, Richard speaks to Dr Annegret Groebel, President of the Council of European Energy Regulators and Director of International Relations at the German Regulatory Authority, BNetzA. 

They talk about the challenges with energy regulation in 2025, and what the next move is for Germany and its bidding zones. 

Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guest: Dr Annegret Groebel - President of the Council of European Energy Regulators & Director of International Relations at BNetzA

Editors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah Knowles

Producer: Sarah Knowles

This is the fourth episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. 

In this episode, Richard sits down with Jarand Rystad, CEO and Founder of energy research and intelligence company, Rystad Energy.

They talk about the changes in China’s oil demand, the production - or lack - of hydrogen, and the challenges with battery and solar power in Europe.

Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guest: Jarand Rystad - CEO and Founder, Rystad Energy

Editors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah Knowles

Producer: Sarah Knowles

This is the third episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. 

In this episode, Richard speaks to Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, CEO of Finnish TSO, Fingrid. 

They discuss the ongoing issues with balancing Finland’s power market, the oversupply of renewable energy in the Nordics, and the future of Finland’s nuclear energy programme. 

Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guest: Asta Sihvonen-Punkka - CEO, Fingrid

Editors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah Knowles

Producer: Sarah Knowles

This is the second episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. 

In this episode, Richard interviews Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of Eon, about Europe’s power market. 

They discuss the boom in renewable energy, the issues surrounding security of supply, and the importance of investing in Europe’s grid infrastructure. 

Presenter: Richard Sverisson - Editor-in-Chief 

Guest: Leonhard Birnbaum - CEO of Eon

Editors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah Knowles

Producer: Sarah Knowles

This is the first episode of Plugged In’s five-part CEO summer series, where Richard interviews prominent leaders in Europe’s energy sector. 

In this episode, Richard speaks to Dhara Vyas, CEO of Energy UK about the state of the UK’s energy sector one year on from the Labour government coming into power. 

They discuss the UK’s renewable energy targets, the UK government’s green energy policies, and the problem of rising energy prices. 

Presenter: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief 

Guest: Dhara Vyas - CEO of Energy UK

Editors: Bled Maliqi, Sarah Knowles

Producer: Sarah Knowles

The US, China, and now Europe are seeing a surge in data centres as big tech firms and other businesses develop their AI models. But, will these data centres cause the dramatic rise in power consumption that many are predicting? 

In this episode, Richard goes deep into the subject with data centre experts from RISE and Greenscale to understand who the tenants of these data centres are, what challenges the tech and energy industries need to overcome together, and how data centres will continue to evolve with the exponential growth in AI. 

Presenter: Richard Sverrisson
Contributor: Alina Trabattoni - Italy Correspondent, Montel News

Guests:
Tor Björn Minde - Head of ICE Datacenter Unit at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)
Liam Newcombe - Senior Vice President of Product, Energy Strategy and Innovation, Greenscale

Editors: Bled Maliqi
Producer: Sarah Knowles

This week, LNG prices rose to a 10-week high in Europe in response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.  

With the shadow of a threat from Iran to close its vital waterway for global LNG shipments, in this episode, we discuss the likelihood of this happening, the political power dynamics at play and the implications for global energy markets.

Richard speaks to Eurasia Group’s Head of Energy and Kpler’s Principal LNG Analyst about the changes in shipping movements that we have seen around the strait in response to Israel and Iran’s attacks, and what this tells us about how the energy markets have so far reacted.

Host: Richard Sverrisson
Contributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Laura Page - Principal LNG Analyst, Kpler
Henning Gloystein - Practice Head of Energy, Climate & Resources, Eurasia Group

Editor: Bled Maliqi
Producer: Sarah Knowles

Since spring 2025, power prices in the Nordics have been below zero, thanks to a myriad of factors, including low power demand and a glut of green power production. 

Whilst this has been good news for some consumers in the region - who have been paid to use their electricity - the prevalence of sub-zero prices has created jitters for investors and many in öthe markets are feeling the impact of the negative downturn. 

In this episode, Richard speaks to a panel of experts from Montel’s Energy Day in Helsinki about why the Nordics are experiencing the most dramatic level of negative prices vs the rest of Europe. We also look at PPAs, the impact of an increase in nuclear energy, and how renewables can coexist with other growing energy sources. 

Presenter: Richard Sverrisson

Guests:

Suvi Paaso - Managing Director, Power Deriva 
Riku Merikoski - Senior Power Analyst, Axpo Solutions AG
Vesa Ahoniemi - Chief Commercial Officer, Winda Energy
Priyanka Shinde - Market Expert Nordic, Montel Analytics

Editors: Bled Maliqi
Producer: Sarah Knowles