Energy Gang

• An energy podcast crossover: Energy Gang and Interchange Recharged join forces to discuss flexibility on the power grid: why it is so important, and how to create it

  They called the film Avengers: Infinity War the most ambitious crossover event in history. We can’t quite make the same claim, but at Wood Mackenzie’s 2025 Solar and Energy Storage Summit, we did record a crossover episode. Ed Crooks, host of Energy Gang, is joined by Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Wood Mackenz’s principal analyst for solar power and host of Interchange Recharged, to discuss the future of energy, and of the electricity grid in particular.They are joined by Rob Chapman, Senior Vice President of Energy Delivery and Customer Solutions at the non-profit research group EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute, which aims to help power society toward a reliable, affordable, and resilient energy future. Rob talks about a key theme in his work: the importance of flexibility on the electricity grid. Increased reliance on solar and wind power has created challenges in keeping the grid balanced and the lights on. Surging demand for electricity for new data centres to train and run AI models is giving rise to a whole new set of issues. More flexible demand and supply on the grid is increasingly valuable. But where can it come from?Data centres don’t usually offer a lot of flexibility in their operations. People want to use ChatGPT and watch Netflix even at night and when the wind is low. So what can the hyperscalers do to create flexibility? Are virtual power plants an effective option? And how can the energy industry improve collaboration to find solutions that promote the clean energy transition while keeping prices down?You can find Energy Gang wherever you get your podcasts, and follow Interchange Recharged with Sylvia Leyva Martinez for deep dives into the innovations that are accelerating the energy transition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• What do the tariff wars mean for low-carbon energy? | Recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit

  “With great uncertainty comes great opportunity”, says Abby Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, in this special episode of the Energy Gang, recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit.Is she right? And what are those opportunities? To find out, host Ed Crooks welcomed Abby and Shyam Srinivasan, CEO and Co-Founder of Zitara Technologies, for a special discussion on the state of the solar and storage industries today.Uncertainty is the buzzword of the moment: uncertainty over tariffs, over tax credits, over the evolution of AI, and over the economic outlook. The Trump administration’s new tariffs are disrupting supply chains and prompting companies to delay investment decisions. At such a volatile time, it’s easy to be caught out by a sudden change in policy.Companies have different strategies for coping with all this uncertainty. Some have been stockpiling solar panels; a few have been stockpiling batteries. And all the while, there are some powerful global trends still driving the industry: overproduction in China that is still driving down costs, and the need for new electricity generation of all types to power data centers for AI.Abby, Ed and Shyam debate the uncertain policies and forecasts that are making companies hesitant to invest, and find some pointers to help navigate through the storm. And they lift their eyes from the day-to-day chaos to consider what are the real opportunities for the longer term once the immediate crisis is over.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Keeping cleantech investment alive | With technological, economic and policy challenges mounting, how can we keep energy innovation on track?

  These are hard times for investment in low-carbon energy. The lack of progress in international climate negotiations, threats to policy support, and an increased awareness of the challenges of decarbonization, have created some strong headwinds. Everyone agrees that more breakthroughs in innovative emissions-reducing technologies are essential for tackling climate change. So how can innovative energy companies raise the capital they need to scale?Catalytic capital can provide long-term investment in clean energy and accelerate early-stage climate technologies. To find out how it can make a difference, host Ed Crooks welcomes back to the show Amy Duffuor. Amy is the co-founder and general partner at Azolla Ventures, a $300 million VC firm dedicated to having an impact on emissions. They do it through catalytic capital, which is still looking for a return, but can be more patient and flexible than conventional investment.In challenging times for investment in decarbonization, cleantech startups need to be able to explain their broader significance for the energy system and the economy, as well as their impact on emissions. “For climate tech to succeed it's not just about the innovation itself, but about understanding the narrative that surrounds it," Amy says.Also joining the show is Melissa Lott, partner general manager at Microsoft.* Together they look at the geopolitical tensions and US policy frameworks that are influencing investor confidence and support for innovation. And they ask the question: with the world clearly not on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, how can we get investment to flow into adaptation strategies to build long-term resilience. Can it be done? Listen to find out.*Melissa’s opinions in this episode are her own and do not reflect the opinions of Microsoft.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• How can the power industry meet the challenge of rising demand? | In a special live episode recorded at the American Clean Power association, we discuss how to meet America’s growing need for electricity

  If President Trump’s tariff strategy succeeds in sparking a revival in US manufacturing, one consequence will be surging demand for power. We are already seeing electricity demand starting to pick up after 15 years of stagnation, driven by new data centers for AI and a wave of factory-building for semiconductors and batteries that is already under way. How can the electricity industry increase capacity to meet that growing demand and provide the power that the country needs?That’s the question for this special episode of the Energy Gang, recorded live in front of an invited audience at the headquarters of the American Clean Power association in Washington DC. Host Ed Crooks talks to Chris Shelton, the Chief Product Officer at AES, Travis Kavulla, the Vice-President for Regulatory Affairs at NRG Energy, and MJ Shiao, the Vice President of Supply Chain and Manufacturing at American Clean Power.They discuss whether electricity demand growth is really happening, which technologies are best placed to provide new supply, and who will end up paying for the investment needed to increase capacity. The Trump administration’s focus has been on “baseload” power, particularly new natural gas power plants. But there are reasons why they cannot be a complete solution. Renewable energy and battery storage also have important roles to play.The group also assess the impacts of changing energy policies under a Republican administration and Congress. What will be the fate of tax credits for low-carbon energy under the Inflation Reduction Act? And will moves to expedite permitting and environmental approvals make it easier to build all kinds of new infrastructure, including power and energy facilities, in the US?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Is the US being left behind in the race to develop new clean energy technologies? BYD is selling EVs that can charge in five minutes | China is streaking ahead of the US in the energy transition race

  The Chinese car company BYD, the world’s top-selling manufacturer of electric vehicles, is launching two models that can charge in five minutes; about the time it takes to fill a tank with gasoline. It’s news that looks like a landmark moment in the energy transition, the way that the release of the DeepSeek model was for AI. It’s another eye-opening breakthrough out of China that should have the US worried. Or is it?To explain the significance of this latest leap forward in Chinese technology, Ed Crooks is joined by Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, and Robbie Orvis, senior director for modelling and analysis at the think-tank Energy Innovation.They debate the question: is the US being outpaced in the global race to innovate in clean energy technology? If the US has lost the automotive innovation race to China, what does that mean for US car companies? Robbie argues that the US auto industry needs solid policy support for domestic battery manufacturing to stay competitive. The Trump administration is relying heavily on tariffs: will that strategy be effective, or might it actually hinder progress in building a modern industrial base in the US?Amy calls for a shift in how US policy approaches innovation in the EV sector, and energy generally. Can the recipe that created the spectacular success of Silicon Valley be recreated in the energy industry? The gang also discuss the problems at Tesla. In the face of challenges in China and Europe, how will the company respond?Tune in for a lively discussion on these critical questions, and more. Join the conversation about the future of energy and innovation. Follow the show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit woodmac.com/podcasts for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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