The Clean Energy Revolution

In this special edition of The Clean Energy Revolution, we bring you highlights from a panel discussion, ‘Women Leading the Energy Transition’, hosted at New York University during Climate Week.

The discussion is moderated by Sandy Grace, Vice President of US Policy and Regulatory Strategy for National Grid, who sits down to talk with women working in various roles addressing the clean energy transition.

You’ll hear from panellists including Naomi Boness (Stanford University), Hadia Sheerazi (Rocky Mountain Institute), Amy Myers Jaffe (NYU), and one of this podcast’s co-hosts Dr. Carolyn Kissane (NYU), as they share their career journeys, current challenges, and opportunities needed to ensure a robust, equitable and sustainable energy transition.

Be sure to tune in to hear about the impactful work happening in policy, academia, NGOs, and startups, as well as the incredible and inspirational stories of some of the women at the forefront of the energy transition. This special episode is not to be missed.

It’s an exciting time for geothermal energy. The US Department of Energy predicts geothermal power generation capacity to grow by 26 times by 2050, potentially providing almost 10% of the US’ total power needs. To talk about the policy and technology that’s needed to achieve this goal is Kevin Jones, enhanced geothermal program manager at the DOE. He speaks to Carolyn Kissane about pilot projects in the US and the pioneering work they are doing.  

What makes geothermal so exciting is its reliability as it’s available 24/7, whatever the weather. Enhanced geothermal systems are also revolutionising the field, allowing for the extraction of heat from deeper, previously unreachable rock formations. This cutting-edge technology opens up vast new areas for geothermal development, even in regions without traditional geothermal activity. Michael Webber is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas in Austin, and he also joins the show to talk Carolyn through the technology that could unlock enough power to meet 3-5% of the world’s demands by 2050.  

It's not only electricity generation that geothermal energy can provide. It has use as a heat source too, and co-host Laura Young finds out how the UK’s only geothermal plant works as she talks to Eden Geothermal CEO Gus Grand.  

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not reflect the activities of National Grid 

The role of technology in the energy transition has been talked about for years. In a speech at the Leaders Summit on Climate in 2021, International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol said:

“IEA analysis shows that about half the reductions to get to net zero emissions in 2050 will need to come from technologies that are not yet ready for market. This calls for massive leaps in innovation. Innovation across batteries, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, carbon capture and many other technologies.”

So what major advances in technology have we seen in the industry since that speech? And what role does current technology have in driving innovation in the industry?

From Google’s AI-driven efficiency programs to cutting-edge technologies improving grid performance, this month we’re looking at the tech that’s needed to accelerate the path to net zero.

Carolyn and Laura are joined by Neil Osborne, Google’s Chief Energy Evangelist (yes that’s the real title), as he shares how the company is using AI to optimise energy usage. As Carolyn explains, data centres are energy-hungry. So at the same time they’re saving energy with AI optimisations, they’re using it. How are companies like Google addressing this dilemma?

Other key technologies discussed in this episode are: 

Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR):

This technology is already helping National Grid to unlock up to 40% extra capacity for electricity to flow safely through their power lines. We speak to Alex Houghtaling from DLR operator LineVision to find out more.

Smart Conductors: Jason Huang from TS Conductor joins Laura and discusses revolutionary smart conductor technology that measures temperature and sag in real time. This can help utilities push more power through the grid safely and optimise capacity, aiding the global transition to renewables.

Battery Storage Safety: Eric Stein from Viridi explains how advanced lithium-ion battery storage systems, initially developed for NASA, are making grid storage safer and more reliable.

AI for Grid Maintenance: National Grid uses AI to monitor and maintain the condition of its infrastructure, from predicting the impacts of climate change on vital assets to analysing the network via autonomous drones. Gary Stockdale, National Grid’s Net Zero Innovation Manager, discusses how innovation is helping them to work smarter in the mission to net zero.

The transition to clean energy is the biggest challenge of our generation, and its unprecedented nature means that totally new ways of thinking and innovative solutions are required for it to be delivered successfully.  

This means the industry must continue to innovate, to drive this change at the speed and scale needed. Investment in new technology, the forging of new partnerships and the creation of new business models are all advancing the energy transition.  

To help keep you in the know, Carolyn and Laura are joined by experts in energy, business and climate to explore the ways the industry is innovating to tackle the biggest challenges in reaching net zero.  

Carolyn kicks things off by talking with Steve Smith, Chief Strategy & Regulation Officer at National Grid. He explains why the speed and scale of progress needed for a clean, fair and affordable energy transition won’t be achieved if the industry continues to take the same approaches that have been taken historically. 

Carolyn and Steve also discuss National Grid’s collaborations with start-up companies to develop next-generation technologies and much more.Plus, innovation across the sector such as a new way of looking at grids; the applications for AI and modern computing power, and innovative approaches to modular networks to deal with changing demand from customers.   

Meanwhile, Laura was at National Grid’s Innovation Day event, discussing everything from the changing relationship between small and big business, how to drive change in the industry and the collaboration between utilities and buyers. Jake Oster is Director of Energy and Environmental Policy at Amazon, and he spoke to Laura about Amazon’s sustainability and net zero plans. Amazon is the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, with 500 wind and solar projects across more than 25 countries around the world.   

Denise Massey is Managing Director of the Energy Innovation Centre, and she discusses the evolving collaboration between big and small business in accelerating the deployment of clean energy. Laura also speaks with Nora Brownell, Co-Founder of ESPY Energy Solutions and partner in Clean Energy Ventures, about the role of innovation in the energy transition, and how to create a clean energy future where everyone benefits.  

Collaboration - be it with government, utilities, investors or stakeholders – plays a vital role in the energy transition and only by working together can we achieve the kind of innovation needed for a clean energy future. 

Connecting more clean energy projects to the electricity grid is one of the most critical issues in driving the clean energy transition. Legacy ‘first come first served’ approaches, along with a rapid growth in the number of projects looking to connect, have led to stalled, or "zombie" projects waiting in the queue to be connected - so what’s being done to resolve this?  

Across the world, it's estimated we'll need 11,000 gigawatts by 2030 to triple renewable energy capacity. In the UK, electricity capacity may need to double by 2030 to achieve net zero goals, and in the US, renewable electricity deployment needs to significantly ramp up to achieve a zero-carbon energy supply.  

To discuss the rise in connection applications and the plans to accommodate them, Laura speaks to Ruth Shaw, Customer and Stakeholder Experience Manager in Electricity Transmission at National Grid. Together they look at groundbreaking projects like Dogger Bank – the world’s largest offshore wind farm – and how these projects are providing the blueprint for a streamlined connections process.  

On the other side of the Atlantic, Carolyn is joined by Sandy Grace, Vice President of US Policy and Regulatory Strategy for National Grid, to uncover how the US is tackling similar challenges. Innovative solutions like bi-directional flows and vehicle-to-grid technology are poised to revolutionize the grid. Sandy explains how they work, and analyses the need for regulatory reforms to speed up connections to the grid. 

Find out more about the upgrades to the grid happening in the UK and US at https://www.nationalgrid.com/the-great-grid-upgrade and https://upstateupgrade.nationalgrid.com/  

In 1990, in an episode of The Simpsons, the family are sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner. Homer gives thanks to nuclear power: ‘the cleanest, safest energy source there is’. He then adds, ‘except for solar - which is just a pipe dream.’

Despite the irony in the statement, over 30 years later it’s safe to say solar is very much not just a pipe dream. In the US alone, solar capacity has increased by 51% from 2022 to 2023. 32.4 GW of new capacity was installed in 2023. New materials such as perovskite cells are driving record efficiencies, and investment is flowing into the sector thanks to incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Carolyn and Laura explore the role of solar in the Clean Energy Revolution, looking at the technology and policy that’s driving growth.

Becca Jones-Albertus, head of the Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office, speaks with Carolyn about the ongoing advancements in solar in the US. Costs are down and efficiency is up. The potential is there for solar to boost its contribution to US energy generation from 6% to over 40%.

Meanwhile, Laura looks beyond the limits of land-based solar power as she chats to Sam Adlen, CEO of UK-based firm Space Spolar. As the name suggests, they’re developing solutions to space-based solar power; a UK government grant is funding their research into the possibilities for harnessing solar energy in space and sending it back to earth. How realistic is it?

Plus, the latest technologies in solar are explored with Jonathan Gifford, Editor at Large at pv magazine. He tells Laura about ‘floatovoltaics’, solar panels installed on lakes and reservoirs. Where land is scare, they’re an innovative solution. The water helps regulate the temperature of the cells, which naturally lose efficiency the more they heat up. Combining floating solar with hydroelectric dams is another innovation: these hybrid systems produce more electricity and can even store the potential energy in the form of water.

The potential for solar power goes beyond panels on roofs, and certainly beyond just a pipe dream.

The Global Wind Energy Council forecasts that, with sustained policy support and investment, global wind capacity could reach 2,000 GW by 2030. This would be a significant contribution to net zero goals, so what does this sustained policy support look like? Where does the investment need to go, and where are we seeing innovation in the sector?  

On The Clean Energy Revolution, Carolyn and Laura explore the policy, technological advancements, investment needs, and the pivotal role of international cooperation in developing wind power. 

Laura is in Bilbao at the WindEurope annual conference. WindEurope, formerly the European Wind Energy Association, represents manufacturers, suppliers, utilities, developers and research institutes to develop and advocate for wind power in Europe. Giles Dickson is CEO, and he joins Laura as the conference gets underway. Together they highlight the role of the North Sea as a pivotal energy hub for Europe, as Giles talks about the need for increased cooperation among North Sea bordering countries to maximize the region's wind energy potential. What does the wind sector look like on the East side of the Atlantic? 

Meanwhile, Carolyn is in New York, with Will Hazelip, President of National Grid Ventures for the U.S. Northeast, to discuss the outlook for wind power in the region. Wind power in the US has seen substantial growth in the last two decades; 6 terawatt-hours in 2000 to 434 in 2022. What’s the potential for growth over the next decade, and beyond? Major projects such as South Fork Wind Farm and Vineyard Wind show the scale of ambition in the north-east, and the progress that’s being made to the 30GW target for 2030 set by the Biden administration. Carolyn and Will examine the state cooperation and policy support for offshore wind projects – projects that are perfectly placed to provide New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC with firm, reliable clean energy. 

As of the end of 2022, the UK's offshore wind capacity stood at over 10 GW, contributing significantly to the country's renewable energy mix. The UK government aims to add an extra 40 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 to meet increasing electricity demands and sustainability goals. Across Europe, the goal is 300 GW by 2030. 

The main talking points to come out of the WindEurope event, as Laura explains, are the complexities of scaling wind energy, the necessity of robust commercial frameworks, the impact of NIMBYism, and the crucial aspect of community engagement in wind projects.

Katie Jackson, President of NGV, and Matt Hinde, Head of European Affairs, also join this episode to explore these key points: the critical need for substantial investment and development in wind energy to meet future electricity demands, the importance of state cooperation and international collaboration to harness wind power effectively, and the significant challenges posed by supply chain issues, regulatory hurdles, and community opposition.

This year will see a significant milestone: renewable sources are poised to constitute over a third of global electricity generation, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). 

With the ambitious pledge set out at COP28 - to triple renewable capacity by 2030 - still high on the agenda of global energy policy, much focus is on the capability of electricity grids to deliver on increased demand. What infrastructural and regulatory frameworks need updating as we move toward 50% renewable generation, and towards the ultimate goal of 100%? As electrification increases, a modern grid is essential to handle the load.

So how can countries continue the significant progress that’s already been made in increasing renewable generation, and evolve our grids for the future?

In this episode, Laura and Carolyn are joined by National Grid’s Reihaneh Irani-Famili (VP capital delivery, project management and construction) and Sara Habib (Head of future price controls) to discuss the tripling of renewable energy generation. How will it happen and how do make sure the grids can cope?

China's huge solar deployment has created competition globally in manufacturing as well as research and development, so the discussion naturally revolves around policy planning in the UK and US, grid modernisation and the balance between energy security, affordability and decarbonisation. 

What are the plans to modernise the grid to keep up with forecasted clean energy demand? Find out on The Clean Energy Revolution.

Discover more about National Grid at www.nationalgrid.com

It's going to be a significant year for clean energy.

In 2024, countries are expected to update or submit new nationally determined contributions - their commitments to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The International Energy Agency has highlighted the need for significant increases in renewable energy deployment to meet these climate goals, projecting that renewable power capacity must double by 2030. This means an annual increase of around 300 GW over the next decade, compared to 2020's record of 250 GW of added renewable energy capacity. All this against a backdrop of pivotal elections around the world which will have a major impact on energy policy.

So what needs to happen this year to keep us track for net zero?

Laura and Carolyn get season 3 of the Clean Energy Revolution underway by making three bold predictions for the year in energy. The pledges made at COP28 last year are still a major focus, with the UAE's $30 billion fund to support climate-friendly projects worldwide and a commitment to triple renewable generation by 2030 standing out. National Grid delegates also gave us their predictions while in Dubai, and Laura and Carolyn analyse these at the end of the show.

What else can we expect from the year? Find out on The Clean Energy Revolution.

Discover more about National Grid at www.nationalgrid.com

Welcome to a new season of The Clean Energy Revolution.

Dr Carolyn Kissane and Laura Young explore the people, policy and projects that are having the biggest impact on tackling climate change.

How can infrastructure around the world be upgraded to keep up with energy demand? What needs to happen to triple global renewable energy generation? Where and how will AI be best deployed?

Laura Young, aka Less Waste Laura is an award-winning climate activist, environmental scientist and ethical influencer. Dr. Carolyn Kissane is Associate Dean of the graduate programs in Global Affairs and Global Security, Conflict and Cybercrime at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, and Founding Director of the Energy, Climate Justice & Sustainability Lab.

Accompanied by expert guests, they’ll take a look at the challenges and opportunities associated with renewable energy, including the impact on people and communities, how to make sure everyone benefits from the clean energy transition and what businesses can do – and are doing - to lead the way.