Plugged In: the energy news podcast

Italy has launched one of the most controversial proposals in the European energy market in years. In a bid to lower electricity prices and boost the competitiveness of Italian industry, the government has proposed shifting the cost of carbon emissions from gas-fired power plants to consumers. Supporters say the move could reduce wholesale power prices and ease pressure on businesses facing high energy costs. But critics warn it could undermine the foundations of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS); the cornerstone of Europe’s climate policy. In this episode, Richard speaks with international experts about why carbon prices have been falling, what Italy’s proposed reforms could mean for the power market, and the potential impact on renewable investment and corporate PPAs. They also discuss whether the proposal could distort electricity markets across Europe and the legal challenges the European Commission may raise. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Hæge Fjellheim, Head of Carbon Analysis at Vertis Gaia Stigliani, Senior Principal at AFRY Management Consulting Lorenzo Parola, Managing Partner at Parola Associati Enza Tedesco - Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Alex Carlon #EnergyMarkets #EUETS #EnergyTransition #CarbonMarkets #ClimatePolicy #EnergyPolicy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTrading #EnergyEconomics #EuropeanEnergy #CleanEnergy #Decarbonisation #EnergyPodcast

Middle East escalation has put the Strait of Hormuz; the world’s key energy chokepoint, under threat. We assess the impact on Brent crude, European gas (TTF), and global LNG, with a focus on Qatar’s supply and Europe’s exposure. Joined by Hussein Ibish, Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, Dan Marks, Research Fellow for Energy Security at RUSI, and Henning Gloystein, Eurasia Group, they discuss whether Iran would truly close Hormuz, the risks to shipping and infrastructure, and what comes next for global energy markets. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Hussein Ibish - Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute Dan Marks - Research Fellow for Energy Security at RUSI Henning Gloystein - Eurasia Group Laurence Walker - Montel News Editor: Alex Carlon, Oscar Birk Producer: Alex Carlon Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify #StraitOfHormuz #HormuzCrisis #OilPrices #LNG #QatarLNG #EnergyMarkets #EnergyCrisis #GasPrices #BrentCrude #TTF #EnergySecurity #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #ShippingDisruption #GlobalMarkets #RUSI

This week marks the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - a war which has unearthed new hybrid warfare tactics and the targeting of crucial gas and electricity infrastructure in the country. What has changed this winter for the people of Ukraine, and will Putin's mission to "freeze Ukraine” and brutally destroy its energy work? In this episode, Richard speaks to guests in Kyiv about the daily realities that the people of Ukraine have experienced this winter without access to heat and power, and the scale of the repair and recovery that energy workers are doing on the ground every day. Listen also to the broader implications of ongoing war on Europe's energy security, and why energy infrastructure has become a prominent war target. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Yuriy Onyshkiv from - Senior Gas Analyst, London Stock Exchange Group Oleksiy Povolotskyi - Head of Recovery Office, DTEK Kristian Ruby - Secretary General Eurelectric Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

With Nord Pool set to offer electricity futures contracts from March, competition for liquidity on the Nordic power curve will heat up this year. Who will come out on top? Also, the European Commission, along with the energy regulators, wants to create a new, centralised unit to operate day-ahead market coupling in the EU. Whilst market participants agree with the need for increased regulatory oversight, there is concern from exchange bosses that this would promote a single point of failure and hamper healthy competition. Would this proposal fix the part of the system that isn't broken? In this episode, Richard sits down with the CEOs of Nord Pool and EEX in Essen to discuss this, as well as the issues concerning liquidity in certain markets in Europe, and how the market needs to adapt to aggregators and the flexibility that the investment into renewables demands. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Tom Darrell - CEO, Nord Pool Peter Reitz - CEO, EEX Contributor: Julia Demirdag - Germany Reporter, Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

As tensions between Iran and the US intensify, Russian mounts fresh attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and President Trump softens his stance on the US grab for Greenland, France´s President Macron has warned Europe about a false sense of security, even a state of emergency. In this episode, Richard speaks to our guests in front of a live audience at E-world in Essen, Germany, about the outlook for Europe's supply and demand under these ongoing geopolitical rumblings: Listen to a discussion on the most important threats to Europe's energy security. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Henning Gloystein - Managing Director of Energy and Resources, Eurasia Group Hanns Koenig - Managing Director, Aurora Energy Research EMEA Tobias Federico - Chief Analyst, Montel Contributor: Mai Rosner - Investigative Reporter, Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles

Norway is normally an exporter of electricity to its neighbours , but experts are sounding alarm bells. They warn that the increase in demand from electrification and data centres will eclipse the country's abundant power supply. Has Norway now reached that crucial turning point? In this episode, Richard sits down with Nordic market experts at the Pareto Securities conference in Oslo to discuss the how government subsidies are distorting investment decisions, and why major demand drivers like data centres need faster grid reforms and connections. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Erik Strømsø - CEO and Co-Founder, BW ESS Jørn Skaane - CEO, Lefdal Mine Datacenter Lars Ove Skorpen - Director of Power & Renewable Energy, Pareto Securities Contributor: Petter Udland - Norway Reporter, Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Ten European countries in Europe came together in Hamburg earlier this week to sign a commitment to deliver 100GW of offshore wind in the North Sea - a move the German energy minister labelled as "a historic moment for Europe." After a year of failed auctions and cancelled wind projects across some countries in Europe, does this "pact" reveal Europe's commitment to energy independence following President Trump's abuse directed at "loser windmills"? In this episode, Richard speaks to offshore wind developer Orsted and TSO TenneT about some of the grid integration challenges that the sector needs to overcome, and how proposed interconnectors and bidding zones could work in practice. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Ulrik Stridbæk - Head of Global Regulatory & Public Affairs, Ørsted Joana Stirnberg - Coordinator of EU Affairs, TenneT Hubert Put - Senior Consultant, Montel Contributor: Andreas Lochner - Germany Editor, Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

This week, US President Donald Trump confirmed his plans to annex Greenland, threatening European members of NATO with higher tariffs if they try to stand in his way. Despite European leaders expressing messages of defiance and retaliation to these threats from the US, does Europe's reliance on the US for its LNG - and the tariffs negotiated as part of the 2025 EU-US deal - leave the continent in a weak position to oppose Trump? In this episode, Richard speaks to geopolitical and gas experts about how the markets have responded to this week's events, and the impact that global geopolitical tensions are having on LNG and oil trade. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Anne-Sophie Corbeau - Global Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy Claudio Galimberti - Chief Economist, Rystad Energy Contributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles

In this week's episode, we take a trip to the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland to visit the Svartsengi power Station. Located only several hundred metres from several active volcanoes, the 85 MW geothermal plant has withstood 12 eruptions over the past few years - only shutting down once when power lines actually melted. Richard sits down with HS Orka's CEO to find out exactly how this resilient power station kept running when lava was flowing down the mountainside and the local residents were being evacuated. Not least how the company upgraded the plant on time and under budget. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guest: Tómas Már Sigurðsson - CEO, HS Orka Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

One week into the new year, and President Trump is continuing his mission to tear up the prevailing international order, creating further incertainty for global oil and gas markets following his attack on Venezuela and the arrest of its President, Nicolás Maduro. Meanwhile, Denmark has replied to US threats to annex Greenland, and Russia continues to target Ukraine's power infrastructure, despite ongoing ceasefire talks. In the first official episode of the new Plugged In podcast season, Richard sits down with Montel's Chief Analyst Tobias Federico to discuss the events that are already shaping the geopolitical landscape in 2026, as well as the significance of Berlin's power outage that affected 50,000 homes during the first weekend in January. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guest: Tobias Federico - Chief Analyst, Montel Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Negative power prices, geopolitical tension, energy policy, batteries and strengthening the grid - what's in store for Europe's energy markets in 2026? In our first episode of the new year, Richard sits down with Montel's Editors from France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, and the UK to review the key events from 2025, and discuss the headlines predicted to affect Europe's energy sector in 2026. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Christopher Eales - France Editor, Montel News Pablo Bronte - Iberian Editor, Montel News Andreas Lochner - Germany Editor, Montel News Laurence Walker - UK Editor, Montel News Enza Tedesco - Italy Editor, Montel News Olav Vilnes - Nordics Editor, Montel News Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

How could our Christmas leftovers, such as rejected potatoes and 'pottail' from whisky distilleries, fuel the energy transition? In our final episode for 2025, Richard sits down with a company in Scotland to discuss how they produce bio-based green chemicals from food and drink byproducts, and how these greener alternatives are already helping pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries wean off fossil fuel chemicals. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Gabriel Power - UK Reporter, Montel News Guest: Mark Simmers - CEO, Celtic Renewables Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles Subscribe to the podcast on our website, via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

It's been a busy first year for the EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. The Iberian blackout, grid congestion, curtailment of renewable energy and a record number of negative prices. How does he plan to tackle some of these issues in 2026? In this episode, Richard sits down with the EU´s top energy official in the heart of the European Commission to discuss the details of his grids package released earlier this week, his stance on the future of Russian gas supplies, and how he is trying to work with member states who oppose the ban. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Fatima Sadouki - Brussel's Reporter, Montel News Guest: Dan Jorgensen - European Commissioner for Energy Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles

The global LNG market has been tight since 2022, with prices remaining around USD 10/MMbtu (about EUR 30/MWh). However, with the one-year countdown to the complete phase-out of Russian gas starting next month, and a new wave of LNG capacity from the US and Qatar expected to come online from next year - could prices drop as low as USD 7/MMbtu? In this episode, Richard sits down with LNG analysts and geopolitical experts to discuss how Asia could see a strong demand rebound in the next few years, why Germany's declining industrial gas consumption puts downward pressure on long-term demand into Europe. But there is a note of caution as structural challenges in the US LNG construction industry are likely to cause supply delays. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Henning Gloystein - Managing Director of Energy and Resources, Eurasia Group. Saul Kavonic - Head of Energy Research, MST Financial. Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles

Has the flagship climate conference of the parties (COP) lost its touch? One week after the closing of the annual COP conference, we examine the deals - or non-deals - that came out of the two weeks of negotiations, and why the EU failed in its negotiations to deliver a plan for the global transitioning away from fossil-fuels. Richard speaks to Lord Adair Turner about the pressure from petro-states on negotiations, the unusual alliances with developed countries, and why expectations surrounding COP's effectiveness as a mechanism for change are dwindling. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Cem Bektas - Carbon Reporter, Montel News Guest: Lord Adair Turner - Chairman, Energy Transitions Commission Editor: Oscar Birk Producer: Sarah Knowles

Germany boasts the biggest economy in Europe. Yet energy-intensive industries in the country are struggling with high energy costs versus their global competitors. The German government has said it will aim to lower the cost of power to EUR 50/MWh - far below current wholesale prices - from 1 January 2026 with the launch of its new industry power price. What are the implications for German companies, larger firms as well as the smaller and medium sized companies that are the engines of the country’s economy? In this episode, Richard speaks to Dr. Claudia Kemfert about the current sentiment towards the coalition government. In addition, what doed its plans to tender 10GW of predominantly gas-fired power plants says about Germany's commitment to the green energy transition? Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Christian Driessen - Germany Editor, Montel News Guest: Dr. Claudia Kemfert - Professor of Energy Economics and Energy Policy at Leuphana University Lüneburg, and Head of the Energy, Transportation and Environment Department at the German Institute for Economic Research Editor: Oscar Birk Hellenes Producer: Sarah Knowles

In recent months, political opposition towards renewable energy policies in the UK has been on a steady rise, as commitment to deliver "cheaper power" starts to overtake the ambition to have "clean power". Energy affordability is firmly back on the agenda. In the drive to deliver green targets have politicians overhyped the implications of a move to a decarbonized power system? Is free power for all a realistic or even feasible concept? If not, how can consumers be incentivised to use electricity when it’s cheap and not when it’s expensive? What are the real consequences? In this episode, Richard sits down with Afry Director, Stephen Woodhouse, at Montel's Energy Day in London to talk about whether the push for “clean power by 2030” can deliver cheap power, what changes are needed to deliver more private investment and how political and geopolitical shifts have reshaped costs and policy objectives. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guest: Stephen Woodhouse - Director, Afry Editor: Bled Maliqi Producer: Sarah Knowles

In October, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol - the world’s most widely used carbon accounting framework - launched two public consultations, inviting input from professionals across the industry to share their thoughts on proposed changes to the current guidance for scope 2 carbon emissions and market-based accounting. But what are the changes? How do they affect big businesses on a global level? Could reformulating the methodology for temporal and locational reporting have far-reaching consequences for de the GO market? In this episode, Richard sits down with experts in Amsterdam to discuss the proposed updates to the GHG Protocol, and what these changes mean for renewable energy markets and corporate sustainability reporting. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Alina Trabattoni - Italy Reporter, Montel News Guests: Killian Daly - Executive Director, EnergyTag Carolyn Addy - Head of Commercial, Renewabl Editor: Bled Maliqi Producer: Sarah Knowles

Anyone who has visited Norway in recent years will be struck at the advance the country has made with electric vehicles and its charging infrastructure. Should this be rolled out across Europe, EVs could consume just over 100 TWh by 2030. What will be the impact on grids, heavy goods transport and supply chains? Listen to a discussion on the challenges faced in the electrification of transport, especially the impact that the electrification of heavy goods vehicles will have on grids. What solutions does Europe need to deploy in order to cope with the rollout of high-speed EV charging stations? Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Gert Ove Mollestad - Norway Editor, Montel News Guests: Wenche Teigland - CEO, Fount Shan Tomouk - BESS and Energy Research Lead, Benchmark Minerals Intelligence Editor: Bled Maliqi Producer: Sarah Knowles

European gas storage levels are lower compared to the same time last year, but many market participants are fairly confident that there will be enough of the fossil fuel for the months ahead. However, the weather remains the uncertain factor with some experts estimating that gas prices could jump more than 30% if Europe is hit with very cold temperatures this winter. What’s the outlook for prices as demand remains low, Europe becomes increasingly reliant on US LNG amid an unstable geopolitical situation? In this episode, Richard sits down with the London Stock Exchange Group to discuss several potential seasonal scenarios and the key market drivers for the months ahead. Host: Richard Sverrisson - Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Contributor: Laurence Walker - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guest: Wayne Bryan - Research Principal, London Stock Exchange Group Editor: Bled Maliqi Producer: Sarah Knowles