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Interchange Recharged

Clean tech, green finance and energy innovation are the three lanes on the road to a successful global energy transition. At the intersection of these lanes is a place where ideas on finance, technology and policy are shared and debated. That intersection is Interchange Recharged.

Your host is Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst and research director at Wood Mackenzie. When Sylvia isn’t tracking the technologies and markets driving the build-out of renewable power, she’s speaking with visionaries, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and energy analysts to explore the newest developments in renewable technology, explain the ideas on global energy policy that could accelerate the energy transition, and identify new funding and financial models that could solve the biggest challenges we face on the way to net zero.

Sylvia and her guests bring you data and forecasts on clean technology, climate science, and offer predictions on the build out of utility-scale projects and the future of green finance.

What does the surge in data-centre demand mean for the grid, and who pays for it? What’s happening in global EV adoption and development? What’s the forecast for solar, one of the major success stories of renewable energy in the last ten years? What does the data tell us about the future of hydrogen, of nuclear, or of low-carbon power? These are examples of the insights and detailed analyses you can expect bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7am ET.

If you like The Energy Transition Show, Catalyst with Shayle Kann, The Big Switch from Columbia University, Open Circuit with Jigar Shah or The Green Blueprint, you’ll enjoy Interchange Recharged.

Want to get involved with the show? Reach out to podcasts@woodmac.com to:

Bring Bridget and Interchange Recharged to your event

Be a guest on the show

Sponsor an episode

Ask a question to Bridget or one of our guests

Check out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Energy Gang, at woodmac.com/podcasts/the-energy-gang

Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/

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Latest Episodes:

Carbon capture technology leads the charge for a sustainable future Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Bridging the gap and overcoming barriers in CCS expansion

It's no secret that achieving net-zero emissions requires a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels. As the world looks to alternative energy sources to combat climate change, carbon capture and storage (CCS) emerges as a key technology enabling industries to decarbonize. By capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their source and storing them underground, CCS can significantly mitigate the environmental impact of industries that are otherwise hard to green, such as cement production and power generation.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has set an ambitious goal for CCS, expecting it to capture around 6 billion tons of CO2 by 2051 with notable advancements within the coming years. Innovations in CCS technology aim to address concerns of scalability and cost, making it more accessible and financially feasible for industries to adopt.

Aker Carbon Capture is a provider with some major projects underway, and they’ve signed an MoU with Microsoft to pursue joint innovation in the space. David Banmiller sits down with Microsoft’s Ole Henrik Ree, and Aker Carbon Capture’s Hanne Rolen, and David Phillips, to discuss the crucial role played by CCS in achieving a more sustainable future.

We conclude with a discussion about the 'Carbon Capture as a Service' (CCaaS) model, a shift aimed at enhancing accessibility and practicality, and the journey towards achieving net-zero emissions.

Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow

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Textile recycling is helping create a circular economy Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Tackling the global textile waste challenge.

The fashion and textile industries are at a pivotal point, urgently needing to incorporate sustainable practices, particularly in textile recycling. With the industry's shift towards synthetic materials like polyester, there's a significant challenge in handling the large quantity of textile waste, estimated at 92 million tons globally every year. Emerging chemical textile recycling technologies, especially those focusing on common polyester-cotton blends, are key to reducing waste and decreasing reliance on new raw materials.

This has major implications for the circular economy; if you can reduce textile waste to zero then the techniques could theoretically be used across other manufacturing sectors. To discuss this, we are joined by Toby Moss and Erik Koep from Worn Again. Worn-Again focuses on recycling polycotton blends, which make up 80% of all textiles.

Erik and Toby explain how they navigate the intricacies of recycling materials in a world where the average garment contains multiple fabric blends, often with less than 1% of unknown materials. What strategies are they employing to expand their technology's reach, considering the scale of this global challenge?

The use of polyester in textiles is almost as widespread as the use of plastic bottles in Europe. Effective recycling methods for these widely used materials are essential in reducing environmental impact, marking an important stride in changing the industry's waste management and sustainability strategies.

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What does the world need from COP28? Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

COP28 gets underway next week. 7 years on from the Paris Agreement, and a global stocktake of decarbonisation efforts lies ahead. Collective action is crucial, as is an exponential increase in these efforts; current policy is not enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C.

We are joined by Angela Wilkinson, CEO of the World Energy Council, to discuss the actions and pledges the world needs to see from the summit. She highlights the need for optimism in tackling the climate crisis. Geopolitical complexities across the world add to the challenge, creating what’s known as the energy trilemma (a term coined by the WEC nearly 20 years ago). Joining Angela to explore the issues of energy security created by geopolitical tension is Elena Belletti, Head of Carbon Research at Wood Mackenzie.

Together they look at the accountability of government and corporations with high emissions profiles, changing societal and even economic norms, and the technology (like CCS) which could form most of the debate.

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Creating a circular economy through plastics recycling Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

Recycling plastic into feedstock is a crucial piece of the energy transition puzzle. We use a lot of plastic – 380 million tons of it is produced every year. Reducing the amount of fossil fuels used in its production, and minimizing waste going into landfill is crucial as we accelerate towards net zero.

Plastic Energy is a plastic producer who are leading this charge. In this week’s Interchange: Recharged, we sit down with Adela Putinelu, Head of Policy and Sustainability at Plastic Energy.

They talk about the technology used to turn end-of-life plastic into feedstock for the production of new plastic products.

How can we create a circular economy with recycling? What part will it play in the energy transition, and where is the demand for 100% recycled plastics?

Subscribe to the show on your podcast platform of choice and visit woodmac.com/podcasts to listen back to previous episodes. Join in the conversation on X – we’re @interchangeshow

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How new climate modeling can shape the renewable energy landscape Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

New forecasts for weather patterns could help the solar and wind industries make better investment decisions in the long term.

Climate trends are accelerating rapidly. Global temperatures hovered consistently at around 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels from January to August. Then in September, they shot up to 1.8 degrees. Dr Zeke Hausfather, research scientist at Berkeley Earth, opined in a recent NYT piece that global warming has actually accelerated in the last 15 years, rather than continuing at a gradual pace.

The effects of climate change are no longer something for the next generation to worry about; they’re being felt here, and now. As a result, it’s crucial to deploy renewables as quickly and efficiently as possible. This involves continuing to invest in the two largest sectors – wind and solar.

There’s a strong correlation between the effectiveness of these energy sources and the weather predictions we make to inform our long-term planning and investment decisions.

Anticipating and planning for variability in supply and demand comes from analyzing historical weather and climate data.

On the Interchange Recharged today, we are joined by Rob Cirincione, founder and CEO of Sunairio. They have a model which they say can make better predictions for solar and wind demand and supply, helping the industry to make better investment decisions and deploy more quickly.

Traditionally, historical data has been the primary tool for making predictions about future weather events and their possible impact on supply-demand imbalances. Historical data has its limits and does not always provide an accurate representation of future weather events. With climate change accelerating faster than we thought, and with a limited amount of historical data available, there’s a need for modeled projections to fill this gap.

For instance, in the solar industry, historical average models like the typical meteorological year (TMY) are used to predict future performance and returns. However, the assumption that the climate is the same as it was when the model was developed is flawed. Therefore, it's essential to continually measure and observe the impact of climate trends on irradiance and thus, the performance and returns of solar projects.

Rob explores the tools used to predict weather-driven variability in energy, what the solar industry currently uses to predict long-term performance, how to apply the predictive model Sunairio is developing to make better investment decisions, and how progress with decarbonisation efforts could impact future forecasts.

Subscribe to the show on your podcast platform of choice and visit woodmac.com/podcasts to listen back to previous episodes. Join in the conversation on X – we’re @interchangeshow

00:00:00: Introduction to the show

00:00:01: Rob's career and the start of Sunairio

00:00:06: The weather's impact on energy supply and demand

00:00:37: Tools used to predict weather-driven variability in energy

00:01:01: The limitations of using historical weather data

00:01:47: The reason for creating Sunairio

00:02:02: Sunairio's role in the industry

00:03:18: Investment analysis and planning in regards to weather events

00:03:32: Current practices in solar industry

00:04:38: Flaws in using historical data for future predictions

00:07:18: The impact of changing climate trends on the solar performance

00:09:02: The importance of this analysis for investors and project managers

00:09:30: The risk of production underperformance in renewable projects

00:10:49: Sunairio's use of statistical climate model for predictions

00:11:16: Discussion on weather forecasting and its impact on energy production

00:12:20: Using statistical approach in climate modeling for energy production

00:12:42: Applying the predictive model in decision-making

00:14:27: The forecasted production gap and how it affects renewable energy goals

00:16:13: Coverage and capabilities of the modeling system

00:17:49: Expansion and future expectations for the renewable energy markets.

00:20:01: Geographical challenges and solutions in energy production

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The Interchange: Recharged - Live at Wood Mackenzie's CCUS Conference - Part 2 Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Carbon capture, utilization and storage is evolving rapidly from a niche market to a mainstream investment theme. To explore the technology, financing and science behind this key piece of the energy transition puzzle, industry leaders and analysts met in Houston for Wood Mackenzie’s CCUS Conference.

The Interchange Recharged was there, capturing the best conversations and debate from a packed day of discussion. There was so much to unpack, we couldn’t fit it all into one podcast, so here’s part two of our special broadcast from the conference.

There is push in the industry for collaboration between emitters and sequestration, but also between government and policy with permitting. It’s a complex task, but vital for developing CCUS infrastructure in as efficiently as possible.

First to join us in the studio was Melany Vargas – VP, Head of Hydrogen Consulting at Wood Mac. There are mutual implications between hydrogen and CCUS; hydrogen, as a clean energy alternative will replace existing energy sources. CCUS allows for the continued use of these, while theoretically removing the harmful emissions. Blue hydrogen in particular has a value: you’re producing a product with commercial value. That creates the impetus for the application of CCS – you need to justify investment in those harder-to-abate other sectors.

Following the examination of hydrogen, we sat down with Brandon Bromberek, Vice-President of oil and gas measurement solutions at Emerson Automated Solutions. Brandon looks at the impact of the IRA, with fiscal momentum helping to make projects more economic, and the shifting in political direction to stand behind carbon capture as a whole.

Together they explore the regulation around the world – Canada seem to be further ahead than anyone else. Why?

Carl Fortin is Global Business Manager, carbon capture and storage at ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions. He sat down for a Fireside chat during the day, focused on developing a robust CCUS portfolio. He joins us on the podcast today to explain more about it. We’re behind as a society in trying to get to the pace necessary to meet our ambitions for decarbonization, says Carl. How can we improve value chains to accelerate decarbonization?

Finally, Tom Nelson from Compact Membrane Systems joins us to explore the biggest challenges in the industry, and how partnerships between engineers and energy producers needs to improve to speed up the rollout of CCUS projects.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show and check out part one of our special live broadcast from the conference in Houston, with insight from Lazard, Chevron New Energies and Endress+Hauser.

Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode, out every second Friday at 7am ET. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Electricity 4.0: A Sustainable, Resilient, and Efficient Future [Sponsored Content] Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

We’re facing a triple crisis: energy security, deadline for decarbonization and a fragile global economy. We’re at a pivotal moment where sustainable commitments can become a reality, now that technology has aligned with intention. We’ve seen extreme weather across the globe in the past few months, and it’s only going to increase in frequency. Mitigating these risks, strengthening the grid and reducing emissions to limit the warming are all vital.

On the Interchange: Recharged today, we are joined by Bala Vinayagam, Senior Vice President of Microgrids at Schneider Electric, and Jana Gerber, North American Microgrid President, also at Schneider.

Electricity 4.0 is the foundation of a digitized, modern and electrified grid. It’s a principle that transforms how we source, transmit and consume energy. Bala and Jana explain to us the importance of Electricity 4.0, and the ways it uses existing technology to implement ever-evolving solutions to climate change. Electricity 4.0 focuses on four key pillars, detailed in today’s show.

Decarbonisation

Centering on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a decarbonized economy, strategies for this include electrifying more sectors of the economy and employing renewable energy sources to generate electricity.

Digitization

The second aspect, digitization, revolves around the deployment of digital technologies to better monitor energy usage. The goal is to leverage data collected through artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things to improve the efficiency and resilience of existing infrastructure. The untapped efficiency of the current infrastructure can be harnessed through comprehensive digitization, offering potentially transformative benefits.

Decentralization

Electricity 4.0 emphasizes decentralization. Currently, the electrical infrastructure relies heavily on bulk generation and large transmission infrastructure. Decentralization ensures more distributed generation and storage behind the meter, which simultaneously improves the resilience of the grid and generates a greener infrastructure.

Democratization

This is all about empowering consumers to play a more active role in the energy system itself. The aim is for consumers to participate through demand response programs, energy efficiency measures, and deploying distributed generation and green infrastructure behind the meter. This concept transforms energy consumers into "prosumers", actively participating in energy production alongside consumption. Jana explores the concept of a prosumer – it’s a term we havw heard thrown about a lot in recent weeks.

The future of sustainability depends on electrifying and digitizing our energy grid. Through digital twin interfaces, online exchanges and marketplaces, Schneider is constantly innovating to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources

Learn more about Electricity 4.0 and microgrids here: www.se.com/us/microgrid

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The Interchange: Recharged - Live at Wood Mackenzie's CCUS Conference - Part 1 Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage is evolving rapidly from a niche market to a mainstream investment theme. To explore the technology, financing and science behind this key piece of the energy transition puzzle, industry leaders and analysts met in Houston for Wood Mackenzie’s CCUS Conference.

The Interchange: Recharged was there, capturing the best conversations and debate from a packed day of discussion. Across two full episodes, we bring you the thoughts and insights from industry experts, as they examine the potential for CCUS to solve some of our biggest challenges in decarbonizing. Will it be the key to decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors? How much more development does the technology need? And where does the carbon actually go once it’s captured or sequestered?

David kicks things off with the opening remarks from Wood Mac’s head of CCUS research: Mhairidh Evans. She explores the current state of the market and highlights some of the existing CCUS infrastructure and projects around the world that are leading the way.

George Bilicic, Vice Chairman of Investment Banking, Global Head of Power, Energy & Infrastructure at Lazard is joined by Ed Crooks, Vice-Chair Americas at Wood Mackenzie, as they look at the regulatory environment for CCUS activities, and the complex route of finalising financial decisions (FID) for projects.

Tim Duncan from Talos Energy, and Chris Powers from Chevron New Energies are next to join in the podcast studio, fresh from a panel discussion on stage in which they looked at the opportunities for corporates in the CCUS space. What are the challenges for operators? What are the key needs to scale a CCUS business?

There’s an interesting link between green hydrogen and CCUS; this partnership is explored in depth by next guest Mercy Renteria, National Business Development Manager of Hydrogen and CCS at Endress+Hauser. Mercy’s background in oil and gas, and transition to green technology operation, is indicative of the wider shift across the industry. She stresses the need for collaboration in reaching net zero: as we say often on the show, the energy transition will need a multitude of technologies, working in tandem to achieve net zero.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show, and check out part two of our special live broadcast from the conference in Houston, with insight from Exxon Mobil, Wood Mackenzie, Emerson and Compact Membrane Systems.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are PPAs Still Playing Their Part In The Expansion Of Solar? Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Alight is a company riding the solar-coaster and enjoying the heights.

In November 2021, we sat down with Harald Overholm, co-founder and CEO of Alight.

The focus of that discussion was on the emergence in popularity of Power-Purchase Agreements, in the solar sector. Alight, as one of the biggest providers in the Nordics, was looking to continue expansion throughout Europe. Since then, there’s been exponential growth and evolution in solar, and the way businesses and homes source that energy.

In November 2022, Alight raised about €150 million to expand their operations. This was a major milestone for the relatively small company at the time. Managing to secure equity in the market, they worked with various partners, ultimately partnering with an infrastructure fund, DIF.

DIF, being one of the leading mid-market infra funds specializing in renewables, was instrumental in driving the company to expand its team and strategically take control of certain projects.

Alight's key play was transitioning their role from being developers to becoming an independent power producer. As a PPA, Alight gained the ability to select which projects to develop, devise strategies to monetise them, and ultimately derive profit. This significant shift has been a cornerstone of their recent progress.

The solar industry, as it expands quickly, provides opportunities, but it also presents potential obstacles. A primary concern, as Harald explores, is the heavy reliance on China for polysilicon production, a foundational component of solar cells. This poses potential supply chain risk, fuelling the argument for diversifying polysilicon production.

While challenges might lie ahead, the surge of interest from investors, the potential of new enhancing technologies, and the increasingly favourable view of solar power are a key part of the energy transition that keeps the industry optimistic.

The key to sustained success lies in the ability of companies like Alight to ride the high times and the low times. With the right balance of financial backing, strategy, and a focused vision, solar energy companies are poised to illuminate the path towards a greener future.

For more on this topic, check out the recent episode of the Energy Gang, our sister podcast which you can find here: https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/the-energy-gang/riding-the-solar-coaster/

Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode, out every second Friday at 7am ET. Find us on X – we’re @interchangeshow

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Hours To Days - Reinventing Long-Duration Energy Storage Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

A new linear generator could be the answer to the risks of extreme weather.

The prospect of an extended blackout during a heat wave is not only alarming, but a potential public health emergency. According to a recent report in the New York Times, 800,000 residents would require hospitalisation if a major heatwave coincided with an extended blackout. The study, conducted by the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, made clear the need for reliable energy storage.

Advancements in technology are helping to mitigate the risk, with modern batteries improving their lifespans from two to four hours to a more robust eight to ten hours. Experts even predict reaching a milestone of 100-hour battery life in the near future. However, nature doesn’t keep time like we do, and extreme weather can cause outages that outlast even these improved capabilities. So how can we protect our cities and ensure sustained power during these disruptions? The answer lies in developing technologies that transition long-duration storage capacities from hours to days and beyond. The Mainspring Linear Generator, developed by Mainspring Energy, a Silicon Valley-based startup, could be one of the answers to the storage challenge.

We are joined by Mainspring CEO Dr. Shannon Miller, a Stanford alumna with a PhD in mechanical engineering.

The Mainspring Linear Generator has raised over $530 million in funding from cleantech investors and demonstrates the potential of innovative solutions in accelerating the shift towards a net-zero carbon grid. Shannon explains how it uses different types of fuel - including conventional types like natural gas - and clean fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.

To explore the wider trends and challenges around long-duration storage, Dr Melissa Lott also joins us on the Interchange this week. Melissa is Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and she talks about the risks of gaps in power access, energy cost spikes and reliability issues. One of the key changes seen in the storage market is the separation of storage and generation solutions. As fossil fuel-based generators wind down, finding reliable and sustainable alternatives to provide reliable power becomes increasingly important.

Incentives and regulatory frameworks are integral to fostering the energy transition. Currently, however, specific types of storage, like electrochemical or thermal storage, are often prescribed in state mandates instead of leaving room for innovative alternatives. Therefore, there's a growing need for technology-neutral policies that accommodate various kinds of storage, including clean fuels.

If you haven’t already, check out our sister podcast, "The Energy Gang," which offers biweekly insights into the latest and biggest energy stories. Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode, out every second Friday at 7am ET.

Find us on X (formerly known as Twitter) – we’re @interchangeshow

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