Transmission

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How do you take a battery project from an empty field to a grid-connected asset that actually supports the system? And with queue reforms, planning pressure, and shifting revenue stacks, what does it now take to move storage from idea to operation at speed *and* at scale?

Today we’re taking a look how sites are found, why connections and planning timelines make or break projects, and which policy changes (from connections reform to Clean Power 2030) matter most for accelerating flexible capacity on the system.

In this episode, Ed is joined joined by Bex Sherwood, Head of Development at Field, to unpack how a storage developer navigates origination, planning, construction and optimisation and where the biggest bottlenecks (and opportunities) now sit.

Key topics covered include:

• How battery storage projects are developed. From day zero through to operations.
• The impact of Clean Power 2030 and connections reform on storage growth.
• The key challenges developers face in planning and permitting.
• How Field has evolved since 2023, moving from developer to owner, operator, and optimiser.
• Why diversity in the workforce matters for the future of batteries and STEM.

About our guest

Bex Sherwood is Head of Development at Field, a developer, owner, operator and optimiser of grid-scale battery storage; she also chairs Regen’s Planning Working Group, focusing on practical reforms to speed well-sited, system-friendly projects. For more information about Field, head to their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.

How do you take a battery project from an empty field to a grid-connected asset that actually supports the system? And with queue reforms, planning pressure, and shifting revenue stacks, what does it now take to move storage from idea to operation at speed *and* at scale?

Today we’re taking a look how sites are found, why connections and planning timelines make or break projects, and which policy changes (from connections reform to Clean Power 2030) matter most for accelerating flexible capacity on the system.

In this episode, Ed is joined joined by Bex Sherwood, Head of Development at Field, to unpack how a storage developer navigates origination, planning, construction and optimisation and where the biggest bottlenecks (and opportunities) now sit.

Key topics covered include:

• How battery storage projects are developed. From day zero through to operations.
• The impact of Clean Power 2030 and connections reform on storage growth.
• The key challenges developers face in planning and permitting.
• How Field has evolved since 2023, moving from developer to owner, operator, and optimiser.
• Why diversity in the workforce matters for the future of batteries and STEM.

About our guest

Bex Sherwood is Head of Development at Field, a developer, owner, operator and optimiser of grid-scale battery storage; she also chairs Regen’s Planning Working Group, focusing on practical reforms to speed well-sited, system-friendly projects. For more information about Field, head to their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.

Traditional models of company building often fall short in the energy transition space. Unlike apps or SaaS, energy is complex, capital-heavy, and tied to physical assets that keep the lights on.

But the rise of the 'electron economy' see’s a new approach to building companies, and could help unlock the next wave of innovation for the energy transition, supporting the convergence of electricity, technology, and infrastructure.

In this conversation, Evan Caron CEO and Founder of Montauk Climate joins Quentin to explore all things energy and venture capital. Key topics covered include:

Key topics covered include:

• How the ‘electron economy’ is reshaping markets and business models.

• The shortcomings of the traditional venture model in energy and infrastructure.

• How Montauk Capital flips the incubator model to build companies from the ground up.

• The importance of deep expertise and management teams in scaling climate businesses.

• What investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers can learn from this new approach.

About our guest

Evan Caron is the founder of Montauk Capital, a venture studio dedicated to building companies for the energy transition. He brings extensive experience across energy markets, venture capital, and infrastructure investment, with a career dedicated to advancing the intersection of finance and the energy system. Evan leads a structured approach to building businesses in the electron economy identifying high-impact opportunities, developing strategies, and assembling expert leadership teams to scale solutions that address some of the most complex challenges in energy and climate. For more information on Montauk Climate, head to their website

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Traditional models of company building often fall short in the energy transition space. Unlike apps or SaaS, energy is complex, capital-heavy, and tied to physical assets that keep the lights on.

But the rise of the 'electron economy' see’s a new approach to building companies, and could help unlock the next wave of innovation for the energy transition, supporting the convergence of electricity, technology, and infrastructure.

In this conversation, Evan Caron CEO and Founder of Montauk Climate joins Quentin to explore all things energy and venture capital. Key topics covered include:

Key topics covered include:

• How the ‘electron economy’ is reshaping markets and business models.

• The shortcomings of the traditional venture model in energy and infrastructure.

• How Montauk Capital flips the incubator model to build companies from the ground up.

• The importance of deep expertise and management teams in scaling climate businesses.

• What investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers can learn from this new approach.

About our guest

Evan Caron is the founder of Montauk Capital, a venture studio dedicated to building companies for the energy transition. He brings extensive experience across energy markets, venture capital, and infrastructure investment, with a career dedicated to advancing the intersection of finance and the energy system. Evan leads a structured approach to building businesses in the electron economy identifying high-impact opportunities, developing strategies, and assembling expert leadership teams to scale solutions that address some of the most complex challenges in energy and climate. For more information on Montauk Climate, head to their website

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.

Traditional models of company building often fall short in the energy transition space. Unlike apps or SaaS, energy is complex, capital-heavy, and tied to physical assets that keep the lights on.

But the rise of the 'electron economy' see’s a new approach to building companies, and could help unlock the next wave of innovation for the energy transition, supporting the convergence of electricity, technology, and infrastructure.

In this conversation, Evan Caron CEO and Founder of Montauk Climate joins Quentin to explore all things energy and venture capital. Key topics covered include:

Key topics covered include:

• How the ‘electron economy’ is reshaping markets and business models.

• The shortcomings of the traditional venture model in energy and infrastructure.

• How Montauk Capital flips the incubator model to build companies from the ground up.

• The importance of deep expertise and management teams in scaling climate businesses.

• What investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers can learn from this new approach.

About our guest

Evan Caron is the founder of Montauk Capital, a venture studio dedicated to building companies for the energy transition. He brings extensive experience across energy markets, venture capital, and infrastructure investment, with a career dedicated to advancing the intersection of finance and the energy system. Evan leads a structured approach to building businesses in the electron economy identifying high-impact opportunities, developing strategies, and assembling expert leadership teams to scale solutions that address some of the most complex challenges in energy and climate. For more information on Montauk Climate, head to their website

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter

Which regions are best positioned for the clean energy transition and what does it really cost to balance these variable power sources across a global energy system? The transition is not just about choosing the cheapest technology upfront. It’s about understanding the system-wide costs of integrating renewables.

As the world races to electrify, countries face starkly different starting points. Some have abundant solar resources; others rely on wind. But no matter the geography, the same challenge emerges: how do we balance intermittent renewables while keeping costs down for consumers? Every country will have to solve the balance challenge, but the path will look different depending on local resources.

In this episode of Transmission, Elena Pravettoni and Phoebe O’Hara from SystemE&Piq join us to unpack one of the most pressing questions in energy today: how to design power systems that are clean, affordable, and reliable at scale.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Sun belts vs wind hotspots: Which geographies are better placed for the clean energy transition, and why local resources matter.
• Why building renewables is only half the challenge, and how flexibility shapes the true system cost.
• The role of storage, interconnection and demand response - the tools that make variable renewables reliable and affordable at scale.
• Global lessons in power system design – what countries can learn from each other.
• The importance of looking beyond cheapest generation to understand long-term system costs.

Mentioned in the episode

• Power Systems Transformation Report
• Demand side flexibility – unleashing untapped potential for clean power

About our guests

Elena Pravettoni is Head of Analysis at the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), where she leads research and insights to support policymakers and industry leaders in accelerating the global energy transition. Her work focuses on system-wide analysis to guide decision-making on clean power, decarbonisation pathways, and cost-effective solutions for net zero.

Connect on LinkedIn

Phoebe O’Hara is Power Lead at the ETC, where she leads work on power system transformation and is the lead author of the Commission’s recent report on the future of global clean power. With a background in battery storage and energy innovation, Phoebe brings deep expertise on the technologies and policies that enable reliable, affordable renewable energy at scale.

Connect on LinkedIn

For more information on the Energy Transmissions Commision or Systemiq, check out their websites.

https://www.systemiq.earth/

https://www.energy-transitions.org/

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.

Which regions are best positioned for the clean energy transition and what does it really cost to balance these variable power sources across a global energy system? The transition is not just about choosing the cheapest technology upfront. It’s about understanding the system-wide costs of integrating renewables.

As the world races to electrify, countries face starkly different starting points. Some have abundant solar resources; others rely on wind. But no matter the geography, the same challenge emerges: how do we balance intermittent renewables while keeping costs down for consumers? Every country will have to solve the balance challenge, but the path will look different depending on local resources.

In this episode of Transmission, Elena Pravettoni and Phoebe O’Hara from SystemE&Piq join us to unpack one of the most pressing questions in energy today: how to design power systems that are clean, affordable, and reliable at scale.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Sun belts vs wind hotspots: Which geographies are better placed for the clean energy transition, and why local resources matter.
• Why building renewables is only half the challenge, and how flexibility shapes the true system cost.
• The role of storage, interconnection and demand response - the tools that make variable renewables reliable and affordable at scale.
• Global lessons in power system design – what countries can learn from each other.
• The importance of looking beyond cheapest generation to understand long-term system costs.

Mentioned in the episode

• Power Systems Transformation Report
• Demand side flexibility – unleashing untapped potential for clean power

About our guests

Elena Pravettoni is Head of Analysis at the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), where she leads research and insights to support policymakers and industry leaders in accelerating the global energy transition. Her work focuses on system-wide analysis to guide decision-making on clean power, decarbonisation pathways, and cost-effective solutions for net zero.

Connect on LinkedIn

Phoebe O’Hara is Power Lead at the ETC, where she leads work on power system transformation and is the lead author of the Commission’s recent report on the future of global clean power. With a background in battery storage and energy innovation, Phoebe brings deep expertise on the technologies and policies that enable reliable, affordable renewable energy at scale.

Connect on LinkedIn

For more information on the Energy Transmissions Commision or Systemiq, check out their websites.

https://www.systemiq.earth/

https://www.energy-transitions.org/

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.

Traditional power systems were designed to flow one way from centralised transmission assets down to households and businesses. But as electrification accelerates, this old model risks becoming a bottleneck.

The grid faces growing pressure from rising demand, including EVs, heat pumps, industrial loads and variable renewable generation, but these could also be the key to flexibility success. The challenge is clear: how do we meet net zero goals affordably, without locking consumers into higher bills?

In this conversation, Alex Schoch, VP of Flexibility and Electrification at Octopus Energy joins Ed Porter to unpack the critical role of consumer-led flexibility in the net zero transition.

Key topics include:

• Why intelligent demand is no longer optional for the energy system and what happens if we ignore it.
• What does the shift from a supply-led grid to one shaped by consumers really look like?
• How smart tariffs can turn everyday appliances into tools for the energy transition.
• How aggregation at scale could rival traditional infrastructure and reshape system operations.
• Why flexibility can save consumers money as well as the system billions.

About our guest

Alex Schoch is VP of Flexibility and Electrification at Octopus Energy, where he leads efforts to accelerate the electrification of transport, heating, and industry while integrating consumer demand into power systems. With a background at Tesla launching both EV and energy storage businesses -including the landmark Hornsdale battery project in Australia. Alex brings deep expertise in how technology, markets, and policy intersect to drive the energy transition.

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn

or for more information on what Octopus do, head to their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter.

Traditional power systems were designed to flow one way from centralised transmission assets down to households and businesses. But as electrification accelerates, this old model risks becoming a bottleneck.

The grid faces growing pressure from rising demand, including EVs, heat pumps, industrial loads and variable renewable generation, but these could also be the key to flexibility success. The challenge is clear: how do we meet net zero goals affordably, without locking consumers into higher bills?

In this conversation, Alex Schoch, VP of Flexibility and Electrification at Octopus Energy joins Ed Porter to unpack the critical role of consumer-led flexibility in the net zero transition.

Key topics include:

• Why intelligent demand is no longer optional for the energy system and what happens if we ignore it.
• What does the shift from a supply-led grid to one shaped by consumers really look like?
• How smart tariffs can turn everyday appliances into tools for the energy transition.
• How aggregation at scale could rival traditional infrastructure and reshape system operations.
• Why flexibility can save consumers money as well as the system billions.

About our guest

Alex Schoch is VP of Flexibility and Electrification at Octopus Energy, where he leads efforts to accelerate the electrification of transport, heating, and industry while integrating consumer demand into power systems. With a background at Tesla launching both EV and energy storage businesses -including the landmark Hornsdale battery project in Australia. Alex brings deep expertise in how technology, markets, and policy intersect to drive the energy transition.

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn

or for more information on what Octopus do, head to their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?

Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy’s unmissable newsletter

Delivering a decarbonised power system isn’t just about building more renewables and storage, it’s also about regulation. The rules that shape investment, protect consumers, and manage risk are critical to whether the UK can hit net zero on time.

But regulation comes with trade-offs. How do you keep bills affordable while ensuring enough capital flows into clean infrastructure? How do you encourage innovation without compromising reliability? And how can Ofgem strike the right balance between investor certainty and consumer protection in a period of huge change?

In this conversation, Ed speaks with Georgina Mills, Director of Energy Systems Management & Security at Ofgem about the regulator’s role in the UK’s energy transition. They discuss the frameworks that shape investment in networks, the need for agility in a fast-changing market, and what regulatory innovation might look like as we build a net zero system.

Key topics covered include:

• Why regulation is central to delivering net zero on time.
• The trade-offs between consumer protection and investor certainty.
• How Ofgem is adapting frameworks to enable flexibility and innovation.
• The role of regulatory signals in unlocking clean energy investment.
• What the future of energy regulation could look like in a net zero world.

About our guest

Georgina Mills is Director of Energy Systems Management & Security at Ofgem, where she leads reform of network charging and facilitates low-carbon investment across Great Britain’s electricity system. With experience spanning regulatory roles in both the UK and New Zealand, Georgina oversees initiatives that balance consumer protection with system resilience

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our interviews are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, conversations, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.