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The recent damage to the Estlink 2 electricity cable running between Finland and Estonia has highlighted the precarious nature of power supply amid increased fears of a hybrid war with Russia.

Finnish police are investigating whether a ship with links to Russia was involved in sabotage, with the cable – set to be offline for months for repairs – thought to have been damaged by the vessel’s trailing anchor.

In response, Nato has enhanced its military presence in the Baltic Sea, while Estonia has sent a patrol ship to protect the remaining Estlink 1 power cable.

This week’s pod discusses the spate of cuts to data and power links that could point to such nefarious activities, the market impact and the volatile political situation in northern Europe which evokes memories of the Cold War.   

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel.
 Guests: Prof Paula Kivimaa, Research Professor at the Finnish Environment Institute in Helsinki; Fredrik Bodecker, Founding Partner and CEO of Bodecker Partners in Malmo; Olav Vilnes, Nordics Editor, Montel News.

Podcast editor: Bled Maliqi

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Germany’s energy sector is at a pivotal moment, with political shifts, economic challenges, and the energy transition shaping its future. This week on the Montel Weekly Podcast, Katharina Johannsen, Montel’s Berlin reporter, and Tobias Federico, senior analyst at Montel Analytics, join us to discuss key issues ahead of Germany’s February election.

We’ll explore how political changes, including Elon Musk’s favourite German party and the prospect of a Trump presidency, could impact energy policy and markets. 

The episode also delves into the downturn in German industrial production, expectations for energy prices in 2025, and the critical challenges facing Germany’s energy transition.

 Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
 Guests: Tobias Federico , Managing Director, Senior Analyst, Montel Analytics; Katharina Johannsen – Berlin Correspondent, Montel News

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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2024 was a year of seismic shifts in the energy sector, marked by challenges, breakthroughs, and critical debates. From Italy’s energy transition hurdles to Germany’s hydrogen shake-ups and the UK’s evolving gas market, we’ve seen how global events and regional policies shape the energy landscape.

In this special episode, Montel editors – Laurence Walker, Andreas Lochner, Nathan Witkop, Enza Tedesco, and Olav Vilnes – join host Richard Sverrisson to explore the biggest energy stories of 2024. We’ll also look ahead to what 2025 might bring, from key elections in Germany and Norway to the implications of geopolitical tensions and the nuclear revival.

Tune in for expert insights and thought-provoking discussions as we wrap up 2024 and peer into the year ahead for the global energy market.

 Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel
 Guests: Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-In-Chief, Montel News; Andreas Lochner – Germany Editor, Montel News; Nathan Witkop – Editor, Clean Energy Desk, Montel News; Enza Tedesco – Italy Editor, Montel News; Olav Vilnes – Nordics Editor, Montel News

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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2025 is set to be a year of continuing geopolitical turmoil. Donald Trump’s return to the White House will raise the temperature further at a time of major instability in the Middle East along with Russia-Ukraine.

Questions remain over where Europe’s gas will come from and a key European power-player, Germany, faces fresh elections in February.

In this episode, we delve into the latest geopolitical developments, as well as the key fundamental drivers, and assess their likely impacts, with Wayne Bryan, Principal Associate at the London Stock Exchange Group (and formerly Director of LSEG’s European Gas Research).

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

Guests: Wayne Bryan, Principal Associate (formerly Director, European Gas Research), London Stock Exchange Group; Andres Cala – Senior LNG Correspondent, Montel

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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Poland’s energy sector is undergoing a critical, if slow, transition after the election of Donald Tusk as prime minister exactly one year ago. Coal still dominates the mix despite a greater use of gas and a growth in renewables. Grid modernisation and energy security have taken centre stage. 

Significant challenges include high energy costs, particularly for industry. There’s also the matter of where government subsidies could, and should, be spent. Issues around policy cohesion, public and industry engagement and regional impacts all persist.

In this episode, we delve into the latest developments shaping Poland’s energy landscape. Montel’s experts provide a snapshot of the latest news, and Joanna Pandera, founder of the Forum Energii think-tank in Poland, discusses the milestones, challenges, and what Poland’s energy transition means for Europe and beyond. 

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

Guests: Joanna Pandera, Founder and CEO, Forum Energii, Professor at European University in Florence;  Hubert Put, Senior Energy Consultant, Montel;Marcin Czekanski,Poland Correspondent, Montel

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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This week, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change released a report declaring, “a new nuclear age is beginning,” arguing that nuclear power is critical in meeting global climate goals. But how is this renaissance different from earlier proclamations of an atomic revival?

In this episode, Richard talks with report co-author Tone Langengen about the case for a nuclear revival and the hurdles still in its way. Joining the discussion is nuclear expert Paul Dorfman, who questions whether nuclear can truly compete with renewables.

They cover the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs), the challenges of cost overruns, and whether nuclear and renewables can work together to create a resilient, low-carbon grid.

Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel
Guests: Tone Langengen - Senior Policy Advisor, Climate & Energy Policy at the Tony Blair Institute For Global Change. Co-author of this report “A New Nuclear Age”; Dr Paul Dorfman - Visiting Fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit of the University of Sussex; Chris Eales – France Editor, Montel

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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In October, the Nordic power market introduced a new calculation method for cross-zonal capacity to improve Nordic grid utilisation. However, so-called flow-based market coupling, in place for almost a decade in continental Europe, has received a rocky reception in the north. Particularly amongst policy makers and small companies. 

So, what exactly is it, and why has it caused a furore in the Nordic region?

In this episode, Richard speaks to TenneT's flow-based expert Frank Boerman, to unpack exactly how the flow-based model works, and two of our Montel experts share insights on some of the challenges that the Nordic energy market has already faced under the new system.   

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

Guests: Frank Boerman – Process Specialist at TenneT; Olav Vilnes – Nordic Editor, Montel News; Priyanka Shinde – Nordic Market Expert, Montel News

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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Global leaders at COP29 were under a huge amount of pressure going into talks this week following the UN Secretary General public voicing his concerns over the state of negotiations.   

 Criticisms of this year’s talks and the huge scale event that COP has become in recent years begs the question: is COP too big, and does it need reforming? We also discuss Europe's carbon market, current drivers and the reasons why prices may continue to rise. 

 In this episode, Richard speaks to Trevor Sikorski from Energy Aspects and our Carbon Correspondent reports from COP29 in Baku. 

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

 Guests: Trevor Sikorski – Head of Natural Gas and Carbon Research at Energy Aspects.

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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At the start of November, the Swedish government announced that it was vetoing plans for 13 offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea due to security concerns. The announcement was met with much criticism from developers and lobby groups who felt blindsided by the cancellations and concerned about what this decision suggests about Sweden’s future energy priorities.

In this episode, Richard speaks to WindEurope about their fears regarding Sweden’s decision and discusses the nuances of Sweden’s Ministry of Defence with Defence Consultant and former Swedish Army Lieutenant Colonel. 

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

Guests: Giles Dickson – CEO, WindEurope; Tobhias Wikstrom – CEO, Parachute Consulting; Anton Tigerstedt – Editor Sweden, Montel News

Editor: Bled Maliqi

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It has been a big week for global politics.

On the same day that the United States voted Donald Trump as their 47th President, the German coalition government broke down after a budget row over cutting energy costs to companies and financial support for Ukraine.

In this episode, Richard explores what this new US administration will mean for energy markets, and he speaks to one of our guests live from Munich about what the initial reaction to the news has been in Germany. Listen to a discussion on where this leaves the country – and the wider energy transition – as it enters a period of limbo until a new government is elected. 

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

Guests: Nadia Martin Wiggen – Director, Svelland Capital; Tobias Federico – Managing Director of Energy Brainpool GmbH & Co. KG

Editor: Bled Maliqi