Plugged In: the energy news podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

A Montel News investigation has aired claims of insider trading in Germany’s power market. Signals received by some to help balance the grid are allegedly being used to front-run prices for same-day delivery. We’ve spoken to traders who claim this is an open secret worth millions of euros. Listen to a discussion with the reporter who broke the story.

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
Guest: Nathan Witkop, Editor Clean Energy Desk, Montel

The guarantees of origin (GO) market is complex and opaque. Listen to a discussion that unpicks the complexity, simplifies the jargon and lays bare the controversies in the market. With big tech looking to source more and more green energy, how can the market – projected to be worth EUR 4bn by 2030 – increase its credibility and boost liquidity? And why has Norway ruled out an exit from the GO market?

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
Guest: Daniel Arnesson, Manager, Renewable Power Analysis, Veyt

What a difference a couple of years makes. As France returns to a position of net power exporter, it appears to have moved on from the supply woes of 2022. But booming solar generation, a plethora of negative prices in France and its neighbours have weighed on wholesale electricity prices and raised doubts about the financing of new nuclear plants and renewables. Listen to a discussion on the flexible operation of nuclear plants in combination with solar and wind generation. Could France be heading for a glut of power production?

Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel

Guests:

Yves Le Thieis, Vice President, Compass Lexecon
Paolo Coghe, CEO, Acousmatics

Concerns over energy supply for the coming months are mounting as gas flows from Russia to Germany through the vital Nord Stream 1 pipeline have dwindled to 20% of capacity. Market participants fear that deliveries could be cut completely, due to an ongoing spat between the two countries over the turbine necessary to pump the gas. Listen to a discussion with a Ukraine-based expert on the likelihood of a full cut to flows and the potential implications for European industry and households.

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
Guests: Yuriy Onyshkiv, Senior Gas Analyst, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)

In the last episode before a summer break, we round up the past six months and delve into the key drivers for the remainder of the year. Gas will continue to be the pressing issue, with a squeeze on supply likely to remain the single most important issue for 2022 and 2023. Listen to a discussion on why Nordic firms will be praying for rain and the urgency to solve permitting bottlenecks for green energy across Europe. And much, much, more.

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel

Guests: 
Olav Vilnes, Editor Nordics, Montel
Andres Cala, LNG Correspondent, Montel
Tasmin Chowdhary, Environmental Markets Reporter, Montel

Can we expect a total reduction in gas flows to Europe over the coming weeks? Will the Nord Stream 1 pipeline stay offline after annual maintenance in July? These are the key issues facing countries across Europe in the week to come, as a trickle in gas deliveries could deepen the continent’s energy, possibly causing prices to spike still further. Listen to discussion on the outlook for the coming winter and the options available for market participants and policy makers. 

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
Guest: Wayne Bryan, Director European Gas Research, LSEG

The war in Ukraine continues wreaking death and destruction, with hopes of a lasting ceasefire looking unlikely. The conflict also continues to cast a shadow on Europe’s energy market as the bloc looks to wean off its dependency on Russian gas. Listen to a discussion on whether Moscow’s new game plan could be to saturate the market with a view to price out alternative supplies, particularly from the US.

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
Guest: Henning Gloystein, Director, Energy, Climate and Resources, Eurasia Group

The European Commission’s recent RepowerEU package seeks to hastily end the continent’s dependency on Russian gas as well as accelerate the expansion of renewables and green gases. Listen to a discussion on the long, expensive road ahead, and why not everyone welcomes plans to boost the region’s gas infrastructure. Will the new measures ease the permitting logjam for green energy or could a more targeted approach work better?

 Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel
 Guests: Ilaria Conti, Head of Gas, Florence School of Regulation
 Dries Acke. Director, Solar Power Europe

In a tale of two regions, southern Norway will continue to experience very high wholesale prices while they will be much lower in northern parts of the country and Sweden, for a long while yet. Listen to a discussion on the market outlook in the Nordics amid the wider energy crisis, Finland’s power squeeze, and why companies are deserting the forward market. In addition, what’s the likelihood of a supply crunch in the coming winter?

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel 

Guests: 
Sigbjørn Seland, Chief Analyst, Storm Geo
Marius Holm Rennesund, Partner, Thema Consulting

Russia’s turning off the gas taps to Poland – along with Bulgaria and more recently Finland – has created an opportunity for one of Europe’s biggest producers of fossil fuels to switch to more renewables like wind and solar. Listen to a discussion on how Russia’s war in Ukraine has spurred Warsaw to speed up its green transition, even if it means a brief pick-up in coal-burn to keep the lights on.  

Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel 
Guest: Joanna Mackowiak-Pandera, President of Energy Forum.