The Hypercube Energy Podcast

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Sarah Montgomery, CEO and Co-Founder of Infyos, about the growing complexity of renewable energy supply chains and why developers can no longer ignore ESG and geopolitical risk.

Adam and Sarah cover:

• Why renewable energy supply chains remain heavily dependent on China
• The hidden ESG and human rights risks in batteries and solar
• How supply chain due diligence impacts project financing
• Why AI and data platforms are critical for supply chain transparency
• The future of battery manufacturers, integrators and supply chain diversification

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Ilesh Patel, CEO of Egg Power and Chief Commercial Officer, Energy Transition at Liberty Global, about how rising power demand is reshaping the energy system and why customer-led models are becoming critical to delivering the next phase of the transition.

Ilesh shares his experience building Baringa’s global energy practice before moving into industry to launch and scale new energy transition businesses. He explains why execution, not ideas, is the biggest challenge in energy, and how focusing on real customer demand changes the way infrastructure is developed and financed.

The conversation explores a fundamental shift in the energy landscape: rapid demand growth from digital infrastructure and data centres, combined with the need to deliver clean power at scale. Ilesh outlines how corporate PPAs can help bridge the gap between ambition and delivery, and why the industry must evolve beyond traditional supply-led approaches.

Adam and Ilesh cover:

• Why power demand is rising in modern energy systems
• The role of corporate PPAs in scaling clean energy
• Why customer-led models outperform traditional development
• Execution challenges in building energy businesses
• Where AI and digital tools can drive efficiency in the system

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Lawson Steele, CEO of Haldane Energy, about how the energy system is evolving and what large-scale infrastructure is needed to support a renewable-led future.

Lawson shares his experience building renewable and grid businesses, explaining how long-term, high-conviction investment thinking underpins successful energy platforms. He outlines why increasing renewable penetration will lead to structural oversupply, and how this creates both challenges and opportunities across the system.

The conversation also explores hydrogen as long-duration energy storage, the role of infrastructure in balancing supply and demand, and the realities of developing gigawatt-scale projects in complex markets.

Adam and Lawson cover:

• Why renewable-heavy systems will create structural oversupply
• Hydrogen as long-duration energy storage at scale
• Building large-scale energy infrastructure businesses
• System planning, policy and long-term investment decisions
• Where AI and digital tools can improve energy system efficiency

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Richard Whitmore, Director of Asset Management at Adaptogen Capital, about how battery storage is evolving and what it takes to build and scale successful BESS portfolios.

Richard shares his experience across offshore wind and battery storage, explaining why BESS should be treated as a trading asset rather than a passive generator. He outlines the importance of asset management, data strategy and operational planning early in the lifecycle, and how these decisions shape long-term performance.

The conversation also explores scaling from a single project to a portfolio, supply chain constraints, and the realities of operating battery assets in increasingly complex energy markets.

Adam and Richard cover:

• Why BESS is a trading asset, not a passive generator
• Asset management and operational strategy from day one
• Data, tooling gaps and fragmented systems
• Supply chain challenges and delivery risk
• How to scale from one asset to a portfolio

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Catherine Cleary, Grid Connection Specialist at Roadnight Taylor, about the challenges shaping grid connections and why reforming the process is critical to delivering the energy transition.

Catherine shares her experience working across renewable, storage and large demand connections, explaining how the grid connection process works in practice and why it has become increasingly complex. She outlines the drivers behind connections reform, the shift from “first come, first served” to “first ready, first connected,” and what this means for developers, investors and the wider energy system.

Adam and Catherine also explore the realities of building and upgrading grid infrastructure, the limitations of automation and AI in this space, and where digitalisation could still play a role.

Adam and Catherine cover:

• Catherine’s role at Roadnight Taylor and the fundamentals of grid connections
• Why the grid queue has become a major bottleneck for energy projects
• Connections reform and the shift to a “ready and needed” system
• The impact of reform on developers, investors and project timelines
• Why grid infrastructure delivery, not just process, is the critical challenge
• Where automation, data and digital tools could support the grid
• Clean Power 2030 and what it will take to deliver at scale

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Steven Fawkes, Managing Partner at ep Group, about how energy efficiency, electrification and finance shape the pace of the energy transition.

Steven shares his experience across decades in the energy sector, reflecting on how the system has evolved from centralised, fossil-based generation to one increasingly driven by renewables, storage and distributed energy. He explains why energy efficiency has historically struggled to scale, despite its importance, and how challenges around measurement, standardisation and investment continue to hold it back.

Adam and Steven also discuss how electrification and efficiency interact at different system levels, the growing role of distributed batteries and flexibility, and how data, standardisation and de-risking tools could unlock more private capital. Along the way, they explore the human and organisational barriers that slow change, and why incentives, business models and trust are just as important as technology.

Adam and Steven cover:

• Steven’s role at EP Group and how he approaches building energy projects
• What has changed most across the energy system over the past 40 years
• Why energy efficiency remains underfunded and overlooked
• Electrification, distributed energy and the rise of flexibility markets
• How finance, standardisation and de-risking shape investment decisions
• The organisational and human barriers that can slow the energy transition

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with James Jamieson, Vice President of Business Development at Starlight Energy, about how planning decisions shape renewable energy projects and why policy, public trust and collaboration are central to delivering new infrastructure.

James shares his experience across local authority, consultancy and developer-side planning, explaining how energy projects move through the planning system and how decisions are made. The conversation explores the balance between commercial development, community concerns and environmental impact, as well as how biodiversity and social value are increasingly built into renewable projects from the outset.

Adam and James also discuss how planning is evolving as renewable infrastructure scales, where AI could help reduce administrative burden, and why trust, transparency and better public understanding of planning will be essential to delivering the next generation of energy projects.

Adam and James cover:

• James’s role at Starlight Energy and how renewable energy projects move through planning
• Why planning decisions are policy-led rather than popularity contests
• Balancing development, biodiversity and community concerns
• How planning professionals work with authorities, stakeholders and local communities
• Where AI could support planning systems and reduce administrative complexity
• Trust, transparency and the future of public engagement in infrastructure decisions

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Lucy Webb, Head of People Partnering at So Energy, about the human side of the energy transition and how people strategy underpins performance in a rapidly evolving energy market.

Lucy shares her journey across STEM industries into energy and explains how So Energy is preparing for sector shifts such as smart meter rollout, half-hourly settlement and increasing digitalisation. The conversation explores capability mapping, job design and future skills planning, as well as how AI can be used to enhance customer service and employee experience rather than replace human expertise.

Adam and Lucy cover:

• Lucy’s role at So Energy and what people partnering means in practice
• How capability mapping helps prepare for industry reform and digital change
• Job design, performance and adapting roles in a fast-moving sector
• AI as an enabler for customer service and operational efficiency
• Attracting diverse talent into energy and the skills that will matter most

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Ralph Johnson, Head of UK Business Development at Habitat Energy, about what truly drives performance in battery energy storage and why availability, not marginal optimisation uplift, often determines real-world returns.

Ralph shares his journey from EDF Energy and Reactive Technologies into battery optimisation, explaining how specialist optimisers manage complex assets across evolving power markets. The conversation explores how dispatch models, settlement reform and revenue certainty products are reshaping battery economics, and why operational discipline, strong onboarding and close collaboration between trading, operations and data teams are critical to protecting long-term value.

Adam and Ralph cover:

• Ralph’s role at Habitat Energy and how large-scale battery assets are optimised
• Why availability often matters more than incremental performance gains
• Where projects commonly fall short, from onboarding and metering to warranty constraints
• How market design and ancillary services influence battery returns
• The rise of co-location and what it means for asset performance and financing

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Antonio Montoto, Head of Storage at Greenvolt Power, about how battery storage has evolved from niche, bespoke projects into core infrastructure for modern power systems and what it really takes to deliver storage at scale across global markets.

Antonio shares his journey from working on early, technically driven storage projects to leading utility-scale battery portfolios across Europe, the US, and Japan. He explains how the challenges facing storage have shifted over the past decade, from understanding degradation and cycling limits to executing complex projects, securing bankability, and integrating batteries into increasingly competitive energy markets. The conversation explores how market maturity, regulation, and geography shape storage outcomes, and why realistic returns, strong execution, and the right mix of software and in-house expertise are critical to long-term value.

Adam and Antonio cover:

• Antonio’s role at Greenvolt Power and how large-scale storage portfolios are built
• Why battery storage has moved from bespoke use cases to mainstream grid infrastructure
• Where storage projects most commonly fail and how experienced teams avoid it
• The gap between engineering reality and financial bankability
• How regulation and market maturity differ across regions
• What’s really changed in battery hardware over the past decade