Sustainability Business

On this episode Russell Reading sits down with Miguel Gil and Ally Charlton from Schneider Electric’s Renewable Energy and Carbon Advisory team to unpack highlights from the Perspectives event: the push for closer timing and location matching of renewables, supply‑chain decarbonization and buyer collaborations, evolving reporting guidance and deadlines, and growing focus on demand optimization and flexibility.

Want to learn more or get involved? The guests invite listeners to reach out and continue the conversation at upcoming events.

See the events coming up: Events at Schneider Electric

Host Russell Reading speaks with Kenny Schoolcraft about the U.S. Section 232 measures announced Aug 6 that set minimum import prices for polysilicon, ingots/wafers, cells and modules and add a 15% duty on covered downstream products. The rules, effective Dec 4, 2026, are intended to onshore manufacturing but will raise import costs and change project economics.

The episode covers the specific price floors, anti‑stockpiling limits, uneven geographic impacts, possible PPA price increases (broadly a 2%–7% equipment effect with some developers already moving prices higher and an estimated directional impact of about $2–$5/MWh), and how developers and corporates should manage and allocate delivery risk when negotiating PPAs.

In this episode Russell Reading speaks with Jorge Arenillas, Managing Director of Encavis Energy Solutions, about how energy customers have become more sophisticated and why renewable producers must shift from single-asset PPAs to integrated, multi-technology, multi-country solutions.

They cover the value of operational excellence, portfolio management, batteries for flexibility, the balance between global scale and local market expertise, and the growing importance of data, short‑term trading, and reliable partners to deliver tailored, credible decarbonization solutions.

In this episode Russell Reading speaks with Stuart Lemmon, Head of Global Practices for Sustainability at Schneider Electric, about the shift from sustainability as a moral imperative to a strategic business driver. They discuss valuing climate risk, supply-chain emissions, long-term asset resilience (with data-center examples), and how organizations can turn sustainability into measurable financial and operational value.

Stuart shares practical advice on starting the journey, building cross-functional capability, and prioritizing actions that mitigate risk and unlock opportunity for lasting business success.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Russell Reading interviews Esther Finidori, Schneider Electric’s Chief Sustainability Officer, about how sustainability is embedded into company strategy and operations. They cover long-term planning, the AirSet innovation replacing SF6, packaging and fleet changes, supplier engagement, and the Impact 2030 framework.

Takeaways: sustainability creates resilience and purpose, digital tools are essential to scale progress, and collaboration across the value chain is key to achieving net-zero and circular economy goals.

Russell Reading and Rain Bliss dive into part 2 of their Mexico series, explaining the self-consumption model for systems between 700 kW and 20 MW. They cover how these projects differ from distributed generation, the importance of on-site storage for reliability, and the distinctions between interconnected and non-interconnected systems.

The episode also discusses commercial and strategic benefits—cost savings, resiliency, and high-quality certificates—plus practical considerations like roof space, supply contracts, permitting timelines, and next steps for evaluating candidate sites.

In this episode Russell Reading speaks with Rain Bliss from Zeigo Network about on‑site solar in Mexico. They explain the two main models—distributed generation (up to ~700 kW) and the larger self‑consumption model—who makes a good candidate, and why distributed generation can be fast to permit and attractive thanks to retail net‑metering.

The conversation covers practical first steps for corporates: prioritize owned sites with sufficient roof or land space, check daytime load and power costs, align internal stakeholders, and engage a trusted developer or Zeigo Network to move projects forward.

In part 2 of the Renewable Roundup podcast, Energy Markets expert Russell Reading and Energy Consultant, Zander Dale explain why environmental attribute certificates (EACs) are rising on corporate agendas, how they differ from carbon credits, and which sectors are most likely to use them.

They cover practical examples (steel, cement, fuels, agriculture), market opportunities and risks, and give clear steps for buyers: match activity, use recognized methodologies, verify data, be transparent, and avoid overclaiming.

This episode of the Renewable Roundup podcast explains environmental and commodity attribute certificates (EACs), how they differ from physical low-carbon products, and how they act as a financing and reporting mechanism to scale low-carbon commodities when direct sourcing isn’t possible.

Russell Reading and Zander Dale discuss the mitigation hierarchy, the distinction between environmental outcomes and reporting rights, the role of registries and assurance, and how SBTi Net-Zero 2.0 integrates market instruments into target implementation.

Russell Reading interviews Jimmy Scott, co-founder of Koy Clothing, about building a fashion brand inspired by Kenya and combining commercial success with genuine sustainability.

The episode covers Koy's pledge to donate 20% of profits to Kenyan projects, their sand dam water project, education and sports initiatives, plastic-free packaging, customer volunteer trips, and practical advice for businesses wanting to give back authentically.

Visit the Koy Clothing website: www.koyclothing.com