Energy Unplugged by Aurora

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Mariglen Nora, Head of the Green Energy Segment at Elevion Group, joining Casimir Lorenz, Aurora’s Market Lead for Central Europe & the Nordics, for a deep dive into how European renewable and flexibility markets are evolving across Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, and beyond. Mariglen oversees Elevion’s portfolio of specialist companies spanning PV, battery storage, biomethane, and other clean technologies, and serves on the boards of BELECTRIC, BELECTRIC GREENVEST, and EnergyShift. Drawing on extensive experience at Elevion and CEZ Group, he offers a granular, cross-market perspective on how utility-scale PV, BESS, biomethane, and grid constraints are shaping investment priorities across Europe. You will learn about: How Germany’s PV boom is now shifting toward co-located solar + battery projects, and how grid constraints are shaping investor behavior. Italy’s leadership in biomethane, the role of the MACSE mechanism in making battery storage bankable, and the country’s strong mix of renewable incentives. The complementary relationship between PV, batteries, and biomethane: batteries for fast, short-term flexibility, and biomethane for dispatchable, long-duration power, creating a more resilient energy mix. How rising renewable penetration across Europe is driving hybrid project development, while grid access and regulatory frameworks remain key bottlenecks.

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome the Honourable Matt Kean, Chair of Australia’s Climate Change Authority and Director at Wollemi. He joins Hugo Batten, Aurora’s Managing Director for APAC, and James Ha, Aurora’s Head of Research for APAC, for a deep conversation on how Australia is reshaping its energy system - through policy reform, market design, and strategic investment - to deliver a cleaner, more secure, and more affordable power sector Matt draws on over a decade in senior government roles - including NSW Minister for Energy & Environment, NSW Treasurer, and Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party - where he led major reforms in renewable energy, grid investment, and climate legislation. Now at Wollemi, he is helping scale climate-positive investments while continuing to shape Australia’s national climate strategy through the Climate Change Authority. You will learn about: Australia’s path to rapid decarbonisation, including REZs, long-duration storage, grid upgrades, and state–federal coordination. Unlocking clean industry, from green manufacturing and critical minerals to electrifying mining operations. Reforming legacy subsidies - such as diesel fuel tax credits - to accelerate clean technology uptake. The information ecosystem shaping climate decisions, including RenewEconomy, BNEF, and independent journalism.

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Nawal Saini, Managing Partner in Brookfield’s Renewable Power & Transition Group. He joins Dan Monzani, Aurora’s Managing Director for the UK & Ireland and India, alongside Debabrata Ghosh, Aurora’s Head of India, for a deep dive into how renewable deployment and transition investment are accelerating in India and other emerging markets. Nawal leads Brookfield’s renewable and transition business across these regions, drawing on extensive experience in energy and infrastructure investment at CDPQ, JP Morgan, and Jacob Ballas, as well as banking roles with ABN Amro Bank and SBI Capital Markets. His perspective combines large-scale capital allocation, platform building, and first-hand insight into navigating policy, regulatory, and market complexity in fast-growing economies. You will learn about: How clean energy investment is scaling in India and other emerging markets - and the structural drivers behind investor momentum. Barriers to rapid renewable deployment, including grid constraints, curtailment, and delays in long-term PPA execution. The rising role of hybrid renewables, batteries, and firm dispatchable renewable electricity (FDRE) solutions in delivering reliable energy at scale. How Brookfield evaluates opportunities, structures partnerships, and manages risk in high-growth emerging markets.

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Karol Wolański, Head of Flexibility & Aggregation at Respect Energy, and Roch Baranowski, Chief Strategy Officer at Respect Energy Holding. They join Piotr Dobrzynski, Aurora's Market Lead for Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia, to discuss how Poland and the wider CEE power markets are evolving in response to renewable growth, regulatory reforms, and market volatility. Karol brings deep expertise in balancing markets and cross-border power exchange, leading the development of flexibility and aggregation services for renewables and storage assets. Roch oversees Respect Energy’s growth strategy, combining commercial and environmental value creation, with extensive experience in energy transition, consulting, and sustainable innovation. You will learn about: • How flexibility and balancing services are reshaping operating models and creating new revenue streams for renewable generators and storage operators. • Strategic approaches to optimizing battery energy storage and capturing ancillary service revenues. • Innovative PPA structures and other mechanisms that unlock additional value in evolving power markets. • Opportunities for early movers in Poland, the CEE region, and beyond, as the power market adapts to higher renewable penetration and new regulations.

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Anna von Bremen, Partner and Head of Energy Innovation at Osborne Clarke. She joins Nico Leicht, Project Leader in Aurora’s Berlin Advisory Team, to discuss market design, regulatory frameworks, and innovation in the German power sector. Anna brings deep expertise in energy regulation and co-located battery storage projects, advising on both technical and commercial aspects of the evolving market. Nico and Anna explore how Germany’s grid, regulatory processes, and market mechanisms are adapting to increasing renewable penetration and new storage technologies. Main topics include the following: • The role of regulators and grid operators in enabling a more flexible, digitalized, and grid-friendly energy system. • Challenges and opportunities for co-located battery storage, including the integration of green and grey power, smart homes, and virtual power plants. • Market mechanisms, including redispatch processes, capacity pricing, and dynamic variable pricing, and their implications for investment certainty. • The path forward for Germany’s energy transition, balancing efficiency, rationalization, and the technical implementation of climate and grid targets.