Montel Weekly

The last two years of the conflict in Ukraine, and the rise in malicious cyberattacks, has raised concerns security risks over Europe’s plans to be more self-sustainable in energy supply.Now, as countries across Europe roll out their plans for further decarbonisation and electrification, the security of these plans has come into question, pushing the energy sector firmly onto NATO’s radar.  Is Europe’s energy market set up to deal with security threats?In this episode, Richard speaks to two of the authors of a new report from Eurasia that puts the pressing issues of energy storage and grid compacity in Europe into a new – more urgent – context of security.Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests:Amund Vik – Senior Advisor to Eurasia Group and former Deputy Energy Minister in the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy; Henning Gloystein – Head for Energy, Climate, and Natural Resources at Eurasia Group; Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

It's clear for many that Europe needs to ramp up battery energy storage capacity over the next decade to help decarbonise the economy. But where does this leave battery developers and manufacturers who must navigate the complex markets and battle against negative pricing?In this episode, Richard speaks to Neoen’s MD of Sweden about the largest battery in the Nordic region that will start operating early next year. In addition, we hear from Rystad Energy’s battery expert about the market conditions and the competitive threat from China that we have already seen start to impact local European manufacturers.Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Laetitia Prot – Managing Director Sweden, Neoen               Lars Lysdal – Advisory Partner and battery expert, Rystad Energy 

This week marked a historic milestone for the UK as it shut down the last remaining coal-fired power station in Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire. Once the backbone of the country’s energy supply, coal has been an essential part of the energy mix for over a century.In this bonus episode, Richard speaks to Matthew Scrimshaw, CCO of Montel, who shares his memories of growing up in his childhood home which overlooked the iconic power plant. Matthew recounts stories of his grandfather going to work in another nearby coal unit, and being mesmerised as a boy by the Ratcliffe-on-Soar station.Matthew, Richard, and Montel’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Laurence, reflect on coal’s role in the industrial revolution, the integral position it held in the politics of the 1970s and 80s, and how the dirty fuel will be remembered in British history.    Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News; Matthew Scrimshaw – Chief Commercial Officer, Montel

In September, the growing uncertainty surrounding the hydrogen economy brought new projects from producers like Shell and Equinor to a halt. Is this the start of a wave of hydrogen project cancellations that we are about to see in Europe? Has H2 passed peak hype?Richard speaks to Montel’s Environmental Markets Reporter and the Hydrogen Science Coalition about why we are seeing hydrogen projects collapse now, and what is next to come.  Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: David Cebon – Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge University and founding member of the Hydrogen Science Coalition; Rachael Burnett – Environmental Markets Reporter, Montel News

Europe’s gas supplies are plentiful. Some in the industry are relaxed ahead of the coming winter, but with the rising military escalation in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and the global market apprehensively awaiting November’s US Election, this positive sentiment might be about to change. In this week’s episode, we speak to hedge fund Svelland Capital about the impending challenges to the gas market. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Nadia Martin Wiggen – Director, Svelland Capital; Andres Cala – Senior LNG Correspondent, Montel

This week, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled her team of new commissioners and set out their priorities for the next five years.Amongst her new team are some key, experienced players for energy and climate, whose home countries are already avid supporters of the EU’s plans to decarbonise its economy.Does this new, energy-charged Commission combined with Draghi’s report recommendations mean that we are going to see some drastic change in the next five years?In this week’s episode, we hear initial reactions to the announcement from our own Brussel’s Correspondent and Eurelectric’s Policy Director.Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Siobhan Hall – Brussel’s Correspondent, Montel News; Cillian O’Donoghue – Policy Director, Eurelectric

Harmonisation and international standardisation; those were the words that were often heard this week when analysts, traders, and energy producers came together to discuss the challenges facing the guarantees of origin market at the GO Conference in Reykjavík this week. The GO market is a driver for investment in renewable energy production pipeline, but how does it need to change to bring in more firms, especially energy intensive industry, and help boost demand across Europe?In this episode, Richard speaks to industry experts from the conference in Reykjavík and our reporter Enza Tedesco goes on a tour of one of Iceland’s new power plants.Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Lars Ragnar Solberg – Principal Consultant, AFRYHalldór K. Sigurðarson – Business Director, LandsvirkjunMerve Güngör – Policy and Networking Manager, RECS  

The global power system is changing. Carbon emissions are declining. The green transition is in full flow. This is good news for the planet, but what do the next few years on this journey to 2030 look like for carbon prices?In this episode, we talk about the impact of impending EU regulations that businesses are bracing themselves for. With supply due to decrease faster than demand, and the squeeze on industries who will no longer benefit from the EU’s free emissions allowance, we ask the question: who is going to feel the brunt of decarbonisation?Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Alexandra Härmatis - Senior Corporate Carbon Trader, Vertis Environmental Finance

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, MontelGuest: 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, MontelGuest: Daniel Arnesson, Manager, Renewable Power Analysis, Veyt

Germany plans to massively increase imports of hydrogen and its derivative products such as ammonia and methanol over the next five years but are the targets unrealistic and how green is the fuel? Listen to a discussion on what “hydrogen ready” could mean for infrastructure such as pipelines and power plants, the immense costs involved and the timescale for the decarbonisation of industry. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Henning Gloystein, Director, Eurasia Group.

Cuts to French electricity exports began earlier this year and will continue into the autumn. Listen to a discussion on why grid operator RTE impose the export limits and the reaction from inside France and the wider market? The TSO said the cuts are likely to continue into the autumn amid ample supply from renewables and nuclear and dwindling demand, but is the issue more structural? Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Frank Boerman, Tennet; Clement Boilloux, Montel Analytics; Muriel Boselli, Montel News.

As voters across the UK go to the polls, we take the pulse of the ways a potential Labour government could change the energy landscape. Kier Starmer is committed to a clean power system by 2030, rather than maxing out gas and oil output. Whilst the right-wing Reform looks set to opt for a “burn baby, burn” policy, what are Labours other plans. Listen to a discussion with Regen CEO Merlin Hyman and Montel’s Phil Hewitt on the possible future energy trading arrangements between the UK and the EU. Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Merlin Hyman, CEO, Regen; Phil Hewitt, Director, Montel Analytics

As Europe’s power system becomes ever more decentralised, electricity consumption patterns will need to change, and change fast. Huge daily and within-day price differences will mean ever bigger prices differences for when we choose to do our laundry, charge the car or put on the oven to make apple pie. Listen to a discussion with Michiel Lensink and Jean-Paul Harreman on the challenges of negative prices, network congestion and bringing smaller firms to the market.Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, Montel Guests: Michiel Lensink, CEO of ETPA; Jean-Paul Harreman, Director, Montel Analytics

Even for the best power projects, gaining electricity access from grid operators is far from straightforward. Amid an every lengthening queue of applications, how do TSOs decide what projects to approve and which to reject? Is it a choice between electricity hungry data centres generating Tik-Tok videos or AI servers? Listen to a discussion with Marius Holm Rennesund of Thema on the potential for demand growth in Norway and the wider Nordic region. And as the discussion about Norwegian nuclear power resurfaces, we talk about the viability of atomic energy in the country.Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Marius Holm Rennesund, Partner, Thema Consulting

As 373m Europeans head to the polls – we ask one simple question. Will the rise of the far right across the EU endanger the energy transition? Pollsters are warning a swing right – and left –  will fragment the European Parliament and could paralyse decision making. So, will the hard-fought parliamentary consensus for the green shift become fragile over the next five years?Host: Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuests: Raphael Hanoteaux, Policy Advisor, E3G; Siobhan Hall, Brussels correspondent, Montel. 

The green transition will not succeed unless industrial sectors also manage to decarbonise production processes. Sweden has experienced problems with long-term power purchase deals, with many companies facing a very tough financial environment amid price volatility and oversupply. Listen to a discussion on the lessons learnt for Europe and one company’s ambitious plans to massively reduce its carbon footprint.  Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Mia Bodin, Partner, Bodecker Partners; Arne Österlind, Energy Portfolio Director, H2 Green Steel. 

Global geopolitical tensions are growing amid a creeping escalation of the conflicts in the Middle-East and in Ukraine. Listen to a discussion on the dangers to global security and energy supply as very few countries seek to de-escalate conflict zones. This week’s pod also touches on the upcoming EU elections and positive signs in Germany as power demand seems to have bottomed out and turned a corner.Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Henning Gloystein, Director for Energy, Climate and Resources, Eurasia Group

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, MontelGuests:Yves Le Thieis, Vice President, Compass LexeconPaolo Coghe, CEO, Acousmatics

Europe is the frontrunner in the global renewables boom, as wind and solar have become the fastest growing electricity sources in history. Listen to a discussion on why the massive growth in capacity is set to continue this year, while coal and gas generation set to fall further. However, there are headwinds. Curtailments and public acceptance are obstacles that the industry and policy makers need to address, while negative prices may be a concern to some they should provide incentives for innovation in storage and flexibility. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson, Editor-in-Chief, MontelGuest: Dave Jones, Global Insights Director at Ember.