EP.245 Matt Grover on Battery Dispatch and Economics
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Matt Grover, Director of Energy Markets at Fluence in Australia. He joins our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, and our Head of Research in APAC, James Ha, to discuss battery dispatch and economics.
At Fluence in Australia, Matt leads the team responsible for the company’s Mosaic software product, which supports dozens of renewable generators and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) assets in trading on the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). Prior to joining Fluence, Matt held roles at AMS, EnelX, and EnerNOC. He brings over a decade of experience in Australia's NEM market operations.
Main topics include the following:
Key features of NEM’s market design and generation mix, and future changes at a system level
The role of battery dispatch software in overall business cases
Battery economics including merchant dispatch, offtake contracts, and virtual tolls
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40:10
EP.244 Mallika Ishwaran, Chief Economist, Shell
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Mallika Ishwaran, Chief Economist, Shell. She joins our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, and our Global Research Director, Richard Howard, to discuss Shell’s 2025 Energy Security Scenarios.
As Shell’s Chief Economist, Mallika advises on macroeconomic issues, economic trends, and related policy matters, shaping Shell’s long-term scenario outlooks. Prior to joining Shell, she had a distinguished career in the UK government, holding several senior roles, including Head of Policy Analysis at the Cabinet Office for the 2009 G20 London Summit.
Main topics include the following:
Impact of AI and rising energy demand in the models and scenarios
The role of gas in the energy transition, and the biggest levers to bend the emissions curve down
The best use of long-term energy models in the development of reports
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38:36
EP.243 Tom Glover, UK Country Chair, RWE
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Tom Glover, UK Country Chair, RWE. He joins Caroline Still, Project Leader in our Oxford Advisory team, to discuss the main challenges GB’s power sector is facing.
As RWE’s UK Country Chair and Chair of the RWE UK Renewables Boards, Tom serves as the company’s most senior representative in the UK. He is responsible for leading national-level engagement and managing relationships with key stakeholders. In addition to his role at RWE, Tom is Chair of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association and a trustee for several charities. His previous experience includes roles at Barclays Capital, Enron, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Main topics include the following:
The impact of the Clean Power 2030 targets on the confidence of markets and investors
What decisions need to be settled by strategic planning, and which should be market-driven?
What can and should the UK be doing now to take advantage of the global uncertainty and remain attractive to global investors?
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27:56
EP.242 Jonathan Dillon on Clean Energy Investment Trends in Europe
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Jonathan Dillon, Partner at Clifford Chance. He joins our Global Research Director, Richard Howard, to discuss clean energy investment trends in Europe.
Jonathan specialises in domestic and cross-border M&A for clean energy, renewables, and brownfield infrastructure assets. He advises private equity, infrastructure funds and other financial investors and has particular experience in competitive sale processes and the establishment of joint venture structures.
Main topics include the following:
How is the investor landscape evolving in terms of investor profiles, geographical interest, technology, and business models?
How do investors perceive the emerging risks to the markets and technologies of focus?
How much does the volatile geopolitical climate influence investors' decisions?
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41:09
EP.241 Margaret Cooney on New Zealand’s Power Market
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Margaret Cooney, Chief Operating Officer at Octopus Energy in New Zealand. She joins our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, and our Head of Australia, Weije Mak, to discuss New Zealand’s power market.
Prior to Octopus Energy, Margaret was the Head of Powershop in New Zealand. She has also held roles at Meridian in New Zealand, and at OFWAT in the UK as their Head of Market Reform.
Main topics include the following:
New Zealand’s predominantly green energy mix and the key drivers of investment
Evolving from Demand Side Response to Intelligent Demand in a nodal market with extended, linear grids like those in New Zealand.
What are the challenges and advantages of operating in smaller, more isolated markets?
Welcome to ‘Energy Unplugged by Aurora’, a mix of in-depth conversations with key international industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, sharing their unique perspectives on the global energy transition.
Hosted by various Aurora experts, we explore the hottest topics and trends across the energy landscape. From renewables, battery storage, and grid integration, to hydrogen, commodity markets, and technology innovation, our high-profile guests weigh in with their valuable insights.
Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the energy industry, with a new episode released every week!
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