Transmission

By Ed Porter, Modo EnergyBusiness Science Investing Physics

Transmission episodes

February 17 How Solar Turned the Price Curve Upside Down - AES Clean Energy
AI data center power demand is surging, solar prices are collapsing, and power markets like ERCOT are changing fast.
Power trading strategies that worked just three years ago are now obsolete as markets transform in real-time.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Terry Embury, Vice President of Trading and Market Operations at AES Clean Energy. The conversation explores the shift in electricity markets driven by solar proliferation, the evolving value proposition of battery storage across different markets, strategic lessons from decades of power trading experience, and how Terry's team is positioning themselves at the intersection of renewable energy and the data center boom that's driving unprecedented electricity demand growth.
Chapters
- 00:00 Clean Energy Timing Problem
- 02:03 AES Company Overview
- 04:45 Battery Storage California
- 06:38 ERCOT Duck Curve
- 08:15 Solar Trading Blocks
- 09:45 Battery Revenue Streams
- 12:21 CAISO vs ERCOT Batteries
- 14:25 Market Volatility Dynamics
- 15:30 Offtake Agreements Explained
- 17:21 Belfield 500MW Battery
- 18:45 Biggest Trade Ever
- 21:00 Wind Solar Portfolio Management
- 22:14 24/7 Clean Energy Matching
- 25:11 Renewable Coverage Pricing
- 26:07 Nuclear Energy Outlook
- 28:21 SMR Timeline Concerns
- 30:56 Nuclear Submarine Stories
- 34:52 Transmission Constraint Challenges
- 38:19 Data Center Generation Gap
- 40:05 AI Growth Inflection Point
- 42:00 Battery Market Opportunity
- 44:39 AI Prompt Engineering Careers
- 46:14 Trading Desk Culture Shift
- 48:29 Managing Young Traders
- 50:10 Head of Trading Daily Routine
- 51:08 Worst Trading Day Story
- 53:24 AES Future Announcements
- 54:55 Contrarian Energy Market Views
#AI #DataCenters #Solar #ERCOT #Batteries #CleanEnergy #Nuclear
56 min
February 17 How Solar Turned The Price Curve Upside Down - AES Clean Energy
AI data center power demand is surging, solar prices are collapsing, and power markets like ERCOT are changing fast.
Power trading strategies that worked just three years ago are now obsolete as markets transform in real-time.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Terry Embury, Vice President of Trading and Market Operations at AES Clean Energy. The conversation explores the shift in electricity markets driven by solar proliferation, the evolving value proposition of battery storage across different markets, strategic lessons from decades of power trading experience, and how Terry's team is positioning themselves at the intersection of renewable energy and the data center boom that's driving unprecedented electricity demand growth.
Chapters
- 00:00 Clean Energy Timing Problem
- 02:03 AES Company Overview
- 04:45 Battery Storage California
- 06:38 ERCOT Duck Curve
- 08:15 Solar Trading Blocks
- 09:45 Battery Revenue Streams
- 12:21 CAISO vs ERCOT Batteries
- 14:25 Market Volatility Dynamics
- 15:30 Offtake Agreements Explained
- 17:21 Belfield 500MW Battery
- 18:45 Biggest Trade Ever
- 21:00 Wind Solar Portfolio Management
- 22:14 24/7 Clean Energy Matching
- 25:11 Renewable Coverage Pricing
- 26:07 Nuclear Energy Outlook
- 28:21 SMR Timeline Concerns
- 30:56 Nuclear Submarine Stories
- 34:52 Transmission Constraint Challenges
- 38:19 Data Center Generation Gap
- 40:05 AI Growth Inflection Point
- 42:00 Battery Market Opportunity
- 44:39 AI Prompt Engineering Careers
- 46:14 Trading Desk Culture Shift
- 48:29 Managing Young Traders
- 50:10 Head of Trading Daily Routine
- 51:08 Worst Trading Day Story
- 53:24 AES Future Announcements
- 54:55 Contrarian Energy Market Views
#AI #DataCenters #Solar #ERCOT #Batteries #CleanEnergy #Nuclear
56 min
February 12 Is UK Grid Reform Really Working? - Low Carbon
The UK's electricity grid connection queue ballooned to over a Terawatt of projects - far more than the country will ever need, creating delays for renewable energy developers trying to bring solar, wind, and battery storage online. Connections reform was designed to clear this gridlock, but delays in the process are now pushing back critical infrastructure decisions that could make or break the UK's 2030 clean energy targets.
In this episode, Ed Porter speaks with Ed Birkett, New Projects Director at Low Carbon.The conversation explores the current state of connections reform, the challenges facing renewable energy developers navigating the new grid offer system, the critical role of battery storage co-location with solar projects, and why substation siting decisions have become the new bottleneck for getting clean energy projects built on time.
Chapters
- 00:00 - Introduction and connections reform recap
- 01:44 - The 1,000GW grid queue crisis
- 02:04 - Transmission versus distribution network access differences
- 03:21 - Gate one and gate two grid offers explained
- 04:06 - Current status of gate two notifications
- 05:28 - Connection date uncertainty and timeline delays
- 07:39 - September deadline for final grid offers
- 09:15 - Co-location of batteries with solar projects
- 11:42 - Why Ofgem removed batteries from solar schemes
- 14:58 - Network capacity constraints and upgrade costs
- 17:25 - Active network management and curtailment solutions
- 20:33 - Distribution versus transmission network capacity planning
- 23:47 - Industry response to battery removal decisions
- 26:19 - The business case for solar-battery portfolios
- 29:51 - Substation siting challenges and planning delays
- 32:44 - National Grid's role in new infrastructure
- 35:16 - Summer solar generation and negative prices
- 38:16 - How solar projects price curtailment risk
- 40:10 - Next steps for connections reform implementation
- 42:02 - Critical path issues for 2030 delivery
- 43:24 - Contrarian view: using existing networks better
46 min
February 12 Is UK Grid Reform Really Working? - Low Carbon
The UK's electricity grid connection queue ballooned to over a Terawatt of projects - far more than the country will ever need, creating delays for renewable energy developers trying to bring solar, wind, and battery storage online. Connections reform was designed to clear this gridlock, but delays in the process are now pushing back critical infrastructure decisions that could make or break the UK's 2030 clean energy targets.
In this episode, Ed Porter speaks with Ed Birkett, New Projects Director at Low Carbon.The conversation explores the current state of connections reform, the challenges facing renewable energy developers navigating the new grid offer system, the critical role of battery storage co-location with solar projects, and why substation siting decisions have become the new bottleneck for getting clean energy projects built on time.
Chapters
- 00:00 - Introduction and connections reform recap
- 01:44 - The 1,000GW grid queue crisis
- 02:04 - Transmission versus distribution network access differences
- 03:21 - Gate one and gate two grid offers explained
- 04:06 - Current status of gate two notifications
- 05:28 - Connection date uncertainty and timeline delays
- 07:39 - September deadline for final grid offers
- 09:15 - Co-location of batteries with solar projects
- 11:42 - Why Ofgem removed batteries from solar schemes
- 14:58 - Network capacity constraints and upgrade costs
- 17:25 - Active network management and curtailment solutions
- 20:33 - Distribution versus transmission network capacity planning
- 23:47 - Industry response to battery removal decisions
- 26:19 - The business case for solar-battery portfolios
- 29:51 - Substation siting challenges and planning delays
- 32:44 - National Grid's role in new infrastructure
- 35:16 - Summer solar generation and negative prices
- 38:16 - How solar projects price curtailment risk
- 40:10 - Next steps for connections reform implementation
- 42:02 - Critical path issues for 2030 delivery
- 43:24 - Contrarian view: using existing networks better
46 min
February 10 Stress Testing the Grid With a Digital Twin (Xcel Energy)
Power grids are shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive simulation and planning. Utilities can now rehearse extreme weather events, wildfire scenarios, and load surges before they happen, fundamentally changing how the grid stays reliable.
Alejandro De Diego speaks with Marcus Johansson, Senior Executive - Wildfire Mitigation, Digital Transformation, Grid Modernization at Xcel Energy. The conversation explores how digital twins, virtual replicas of the physical grid, are enabling utilities to run simulations of weather events, wildfire scenarios, and increasing electricity demand.
You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Deigo - VP of Insights.
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatch
Chapters
- 00:03 - Introduction
- 01:45 - Xcel Energy Overview
- 03:05 - Grid Modernization Role
- 04:26 - Digital Twin Technology
- 05:27 - Analytics vs Simulations
- 06:15 - Wildfire Mitigation Strategies
- 07:28 - Advanced Metering Infrastructure
- 08:13 - Predictive Maintenance Applications
- 08:42 - Data Integration Challenges
- 10:29 - Distribution Management Systems
- 13:17 - AI Load Forecasting
- 14:20 - Peak Demand Management
- 16:01 - Sustainability Journey
- 16:28 - Energy Transition Motivation
- 17:10 - Infrastructure Investment Plans
- 18:22 - Transmission Focus Areas
- 18:58 - Join Xcel Energy
- 19:18 - Contrarian Industry Views
- 20:11 - Service Orchestration Mindset
- 20:44 - Build vs Buy
- 21:25 - Future Generation Optimism
23 min
February 10 Stress Testing the Grid With a Digital Twin (Xcel Energy)
Power grids are shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive simulation and planning. Utilities can now rehearse extreme weather events, wildfire scenarios, and load surges before they happen, fundamentally changing how the grid stays reliable.
Alejandro De Diego speaks with Marcus Johansson, Senior Executive - Wildfire Mitigation, Digital Transformation, Grid Modernization at Xcel Energy. The conversation explores how digital twins, virtual replicas of the physical grid, are enabling utilities to run simulations of weather events, wildfire scenarios, and increasing electricity demand.
You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Deigo - VP of Insights.
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatch
Chapters
- 00:03 - Introduction
- 01:45 - Xcel Energy Overview
- 03:05 - Grid Modernization Role
- 04:26 - Digital Twin Technology
- 05:27 - Analytics vs Simulations
- 06:15 - Wildfire Mitigation Strategies
- 07:28 - Advanced Metering Infrastructure
- 08:13 - Predictive Maintenance Applications
- 08:42 - Data Integration Challenges
- 10:29 - Distribution Management Systems
- 13:17 - AI Load Forecasting
- 14:20 - Peak Demand Management
- 16:01 - Sustainability Journey
- 16:28 - Energy Transition Motivation
- 17:10 - Infrastructure Investment Plans
- 18:22 - Transmission Focus Areas
- 18:58 - Join Xcel Energy
- 19:18 - Contrarian Industry Views
- 20:11 - Service Orchestration Mindset
- 20:44 - Build vs Buy
- 21:25 - Future Generation Optimism
23 min
February 05 Why Natural Gas Prices In The US Just Jumped 70% (Energy Flux)
Transmission is getting a glow up and we want to hear from you what we can improve. Help us by filling in this short survey. https://form.typeform.com/to/kCdj85iK?typeform-source=www.linkedin.com
Gas prices spiked over 25% in a week as cold weather and short squeezes created chaos across European and US markets in January 2026.
Ed Porter speaks with Seb Kennedy, founder of Energy Flux, about the recent gas market crisis. Kennedy explains the short squeeze mechanics in European markets, US production freeze-offs, Trump's LNG policies, Venezuela's gas flaring tragedy, and Pakistan's solar boom versus LNG commitments.
You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter - VP of Insights.
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and January 2026 gas spike
01:44 - Seb Kennedy's dual role journalist analyst
04:26 - Understanding TTF and Henry Hub hubs
05:37 - Investment fund positioning and short squeeze
09:05 - Weather patterns driving European gas demand
12:13 - Nuclear outages worsening European gas crisis
14:44 - US gas price spike explained
16:53 - Freeze-offs and US production challenges
21:13 - LNG export constraints at Freeport facility
25:20 - Trump administration's impact on LNG markets
29:20 - Panama Canal and geopolitical LNG considerations
30:47 - Venezuela's political upheaval and oil situation
32:40 - Venezuela's massive gas flaring crisis
35:20 - Pakistan's renewable boom versus LNG commitments
42:53 - Key themes to watch in 2026
44:25 - Contrarian view on import dependence
47 min
February 05 Why Natural Gas Prices In The US Just Jumped 70% (Energy Flux)
Transmission is getting a glow up and we want to hear from you what we can improve. Help us by filling in this short survey. https://form.typeform.com/to/kCdj85iK?typeform-source=www.linkedin.com
Gas prices spiked over 25% in a week as cold weather and short squeezes created chaos across European and US markets in January 2026.
Ed Porter speaks with Seb Kennedy, founder of Energy Flux, about the recent gas market crisis. Kennedy explains the short squeeze mechanics in European markets, US production freeze-offs, Trump's LNG policies, Venezuela's gas flaring tragedy, and Pakistan's solar boom versus LNG commitments.
You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter - VP of Insights.
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and January 2026 gas spike
01:44 - Seb Kennedy's dual role journalist analyst
04:26 - Understanding TTF and Henry Hub hubs
05:37 - Investment fund positioning and short squeeze
09:05 - Weather patterns driving European gas demand
12:13 - Nuclear outages worsening European gas crisis
14:44 - US gas price spike explained
16:53 - Freeze-offs and US production challenges
21:13 - LNG export constraints at Freeport facility
25:20 - Trump administration's impact on LNG markets
29:20 - Panama Canal and geopolitical LNG considerations
30:47 - Venezuela's political upheaval and oil situation
32:40 - Venezuela's massive gas flaring crisis
35:20 - Pakistan's renewable boom versus LNG commitments
42:53 - Key themes to watch in 2026
44:25 - Contrarian view on import dependence
47 min
February 03 Why ERCOT's $5k Price Spikes Are Actually Good for Reliability (ERCOT)
Transmission is getting a glow up and we want to hear from you what we can improve. Help us by filling in this short survey. https://form.typeform.com/to/kCdj85iK?typeform-source=www.linkedin.com
Can energy-only market design deliver both reliability and affordability as electricity grids face unprecedented transformation?
In this episode, Alex speaks with Keith Collins, Vice President of Commercial Operations at ERCOT, about managing the unprecedented challenges facing Texas's electricity grid. As data centers and AI facilities flood into the state, ERCOT must balance explosive demand growth with affordability and reliability all within an energy-only market structure that's unique among major US grid operators.
Chapters:
00:00 ERCOT's role in Texas grid management
01:09 Electricity market design and efficiency
02:28 Winter Storm Uri and resource adequacy
04:40 Texas data center boom explained
06:39 Energy-only markets and price signals
08:18 Grid resource adequacy challenges
12:28 Dispatchable reliability reserve service ECRS
18:45 Real-time energy and ancillary services
22:15 765kV transmission expansion in Texas
26:30 Residential demand response and virtual power plants
31:45 Comparing ERCOT to other US markets
36:27 Future grid technologies and storage growth
40:05 Distributed battery systems and grid integration
41:05 ERCOT market design framework
You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter, our VP of Insights.
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatch
47 min
February 03 Why ERCOT's $5k Price Spikes Are Actually Good for Reliability (ERCOT)
Transmission is getting a glow up and we want to hear from you what we can improve. Help us by filling in this short survey. https://form.typeform.com/to/kCdj85iK?typeform-source=www.linkedin.com
Can energy-only market design deliver both reliability and affordability as electricity grids face unprecedented transformation?
In this episode, Alex speaks with Keith Collins, Vice President of Commercial Operations at ERCOT, about managing the unprecedented challenges facing Texas's electricity grid. As data centers and AI facilities flood into the state, ERCOT must balance explosive demand growth with affordability and reliability all within an energy-only market structure that's unique among major US grid operators.
Chapters:
00:00 ERCOT's role in Texas grid management
01:09 Electricity market design and efficiency
02:28 Winter Storm Uri and resource adequacy
04:40 Texas data center boom explained
06:39 Energy-only markets and price signals
08:18 Grid resource adequacy challenges
12:28 Dispatchable reliability reserve service ECRS
18:45 Real-time energy and ancillary services
22:15 765kV transmission expansion in Texas
26:30 Residential demand response and virtual power plants
31:45 Comparing ERCOT to other US markets
36:27 Future grid technologies and storage growth
40:05 Distributed battery systems and grid integration
41:05 ERCOT market design framework
You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter, our VP of Insights.
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatch
47 min

About Transmission

From the publisher's feed

Transmission is the podcast for energy professionals navigating the global shift to a low-carbon power system. Hosted by Ed Porter, Transmission goes deep on battery storage markets, power market dynamics, and the commercial forces shaping the energy transition - with the people at the centre of it.

Every week, we sit down with the CEOs, heads of trading desks, government advisors, policy architects, and leading practitioners driving change across the industry.

These are practitioner conversations - focused on how markets actually work, where the real opportunities and risks lie, and what the data is telling us.

We cover clean energy investing, capacity markets, balancing mechanism participation, and the evolving regulatory environment that shapes returns across geographies. Our coverage spans Great Britain, Germany, Spain, and the broader European energy transition, with regular episodes dedicated to the specific dynamics of each market.

Transmission tracks the inflection points that matter: when markets shift, where capital is flowing, and what experienced operators are doing next.

We also cover power markets more broadly - interconnectors, flexibility markets, grid infrastructure, and the trading strategies that sophisticated players use to extract value in increasingly complex systems.

Who listens: Transmission is built for people who work in energy - analysts, investors, developers, traders, asset managers, and policy professionals at every stage of their careers.

If you're entering the industry or building your understanding of how battery storage and power markets actually work, Transmission is one of the fastest ways to get up to speed - directly from the people shaping them.

About Modo Energy: Transmission is produced by Modo Energy, a B2B SaaS platform that helps renewable energy companies, funds, utilities, and banks manage and value their energy assets. Specializing in batteries and provides data, analytics, and forecasting to help customers understand the financial performance of their energy assets.

The Modo Energy Terminal is the one-stop shop for teams trying to understand the commercial case for grid-scale battery energy storage - bringing together trusted indices, customizable benchmarks, independent revenue forecasts, in-depth written analysis, and much more.

Guided by the principles of transparency and usability, Modo Energy’s Terminal provides owners, operators, developers and financiers with a complete view of the landscape for storage - past, present, and future - so that users can make informed, bankable decisions about their assets.

Hundreds of organizations rely on Modo’s tools and insights to navigate market trends, optimize investment strategies, and stay ahead of industry shifts. As the storage space continues to evolve, Modo is leading the way - helping businesses unlock the full value of their assets and make smarter decisions in a net-zero future.

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