Plugged In: the energy news podcast

Hosted by Montel News

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Episodes

388

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

Coming from the heart of the Montel newsroom, Editor-in-Chief, Snjolfur Richard Sverrisson and his team of journalists explore the news headlines in the energy sector, bringing you in depth analysis of the industry’s leading stories each week. Richard speaks to experts, analysts, regulators, and senior business leaders to the examine not just the what, but the why behind the decisions directing the markets and shaping the global transition to a green economy. New episodes are available every Thursday.

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60 recent

November 12, 2026Episode 4730 min

BESS: Availability or Profitability?

Send us your thoughts! Battery storage is booming across Europe, driven by the rapid growth of renewables, volatile power prices and an urgent need for flexibility. But as more batteries come online should operators and investors be focusing more on availability rather than profitability? This week on Plugged In , recorded at Montel's UK Energy Day in London, we explore whether Europe's battery boom risks are becoming a victim of their own success, as growing storage capacity threatens to erode the very price spreads and trading opportunities that underpin revenues. We discuss what makes a battery project profitable and bankable, the growing importance of asset availability and trading strategies, and where investors are finding the most attractive opportunities across Europe. We also examine the potential impact of long-duration energy storage, reforms to Britain's balancing market, and whether smarter technology, better locations or more innovative financing will determine the winners in Europe's increasingly competitive battery sector. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Nathan Witkop – Green Energy Desk, Montel Fintan Devenney – Market Expert, Montel Mark Meyrick – General Manager, Ecotricity Smart Grid Limited Jacopo Buriollo – Founder and CEO, Megawatt Finance Editor: Alexandra Carlon Producer: Alexandra Carlon #PluggedIn #BatteryStorage #EnergyStorage #BESS #EnergyMarkets #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #EnergyInvestment #PowerMarkets #MontelNews

November 5, 2026Episode 4631 min

How green is Big Tech?

Send us your thoughts! Big Tech is buying huge amounts of renewable electricity to power data centres and the push for AI, but how green is that power really? And could changes to the rules governing corporate green energy claims transform Europe's Guarantees of Origin market? This week on Plugged In , we explore proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol - a widely used international accounting standard for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions - including a shift towards matching renewable electricity more closely to when and where it's consumed. We examine the different approaches taken by major tech companies (such as Google and Amazon), the potential winners and losers from hourly matching, and what more granular certificates could mean for GO prices, trading, batteries and renewable investment. With resistance to tighter standards growing, we also ask whether the market is ready for such a fundamental shift — and how quickly these changes could become reality. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Nathan Witkop – Clean Energy Editor, Montel News Daniel Arnesson – Manager Renewable Power Certificates Analysis, Veyt Killian Daly – Executive Director, EnergyTag Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #RenewableEnergy #GuaranteesOfOrigin #GreenEnergy #BigTech #GHGProtocol #CarbonAccounting #HourlyMatching #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #CorporateSustainability #PowerMarkets #GreenCertificates #PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews #EnergyMarkets

October 29, 2026Episode 4528 min

Trump’s rapprochement with Russia

Send us your thoughts! As Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal in Ukraine and takes an increasingly conciliatory approach towards Russia, what could it mean for Europe’s energy markets? This week on Plugged In , we look at how a shift in US policy towards Russia could reshape energy supply; from the future of sanctions and Russian oil and gas to the impact on European prices and security of supply. We also ask whether Russian energy could become commercially attractive to Europe again, whether Europe can maintain sanctions without Washington, and what growing reliance on US LNG means if the US and Europe continue to diverge over Russia. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Elise Wu - LNG Correspondent, Montel News Henning Gloystein – Managing Director, Energy, Climate & Resources, Eurasia Group Tobias Federico - Chief Analyst, Montel Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #Trump #Russia #Ukraine #UkraineWar #RussiaUkraine #EnergyMarkets #EuropeanEnergy #EnergySecurity #EnergyCrisis #EnergyPrices #NaturalGas #LNG #USLNG #RussianGas #RussianOil #OilMarkets #GasMarkets #EnergySanctions #Sanctions #Geopolitics #EnergyGeopolitics #USEuropeRelations #USRussiaRelations #Europe #EnergyTransition #MontelNews #PluggedInPodcast

October 22, 2026Episode 4428 min

Going Dutch: Easing grid bottlenecks

Send us your thoughts! Grid congestion has become one of the biggest obstacles facing the Dutch energy transition, with businesses and new projects struggling to secure connections as electrification puts growing pressure on the power system. This week on Plugged In , we ask what the Netherlands can do to make better use of the grid it already has — and how the country’s energy regulator can boost flexibility, batteries and smarter connections to help ease bottlenecks. We also explore the role of batteries in relieving congestion, the debate over grid tariffs, transparency around solar and storage, the risks and benefits of algorithmic trading, and why greater integration with neighbouring power markets remains crucial. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guest: Timon Dubbeling– Senior Energy Regulator, Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #Energy #EnergyMarkets #EnergyTransition #GridCongestion #PowerMarkets #Electricity #GridFlexibility #BatteryStorage #EnergyStorage #RenewableEnergy #Netherlands #DutchEnergy #EnergyRegulation #SmartGrid

October 15, 2026Episode 4333 min

Cyber attacks, sabotage: How resilient is Europe’s energy infrastructure?

Send us your thoughts! Europe’s energy infrastructure is facing a growing range of threats, from physical sabotage and cyberattacks to hybrid warfare targeting the wires, the pipelines and the substations that keep power and gas flowing. This week on Plugged In , we look at how vulnerable Europe’s critical energy infrastructure really is — and whether governments and operators are prepared for an increasingly hostile security environment. We explore the risks and ask how the threat has evolved since 2022. What can Europe do to strengthen resilience, from greater redundancy and decentralisation to closer cooperation between energy companies, intelligence services and armed forces? We discuss cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and attacks harder to attribute. Where are Europe’s biggest blind spots — and what would happen if a critical part of the energy system were deliberately taken offline? Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Tobias Federico – Chief Analyst, Montel John Roberts – Energy Security Specialist, Methinks Ltd Petras Katinas – Research Fellow in Climate, Energy and Defence, RUSI Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EnergySecurity #EnergyInfrastructure #CyberSecurity #HybridWarfare #CriticalInfrastructure #EuropeanEnergy #EnergyMarkets #GasMarkets #EnergyResilience #EnergyTransition #Geopolitics #RenewableEnergy #Europe #PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews

October 8, 2026Episode 4230 min

Watering down the EU ETS?

Send us your thoughts! Europe’s carbon market is entering a critical period. Governments are pushing back against carbon costs, industrial competitiveness is climbing the political agenda and policy makers are debating changes that could alter how the EU ETS operates. This week on Plugged In , we look at whether Europe is simply fine-tuning its flagship carbon market, or moving towards a more actively managed system. We explore the political battle over the ETS review, proposals that could effectively create a soft carbon price corridor, and the growing tension between climate ambition and protecting European industry. We also look at what the reforms could mean for market liquidity and EUA prices, with tightening fundamentals pointing towards further upside into 2027. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Cem Bektas – Carbon Correspondent, Montel News Hæge Fjellheim – Head of Carbon Analysis, Veyt Ben Lee – Head of Carbon Research, Redshaw Advisors Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EUETS #CarbonMarket #CarbonTrading #CarbonPrices #EUClimatePolicy #EnergyMarkets #EnergyTransition #EmissionsTrading #IndustrialCompetitiveness #EUA #PluggedInPodcast

October 1, 2026Episode 4132 min

15-minute power trading: One year on

Send us your thoughts! It’s been one year since Europe’s day-ahead power market moved from hourly to 15-minute trading in order to help integrate renewables, boost liquidity in the day-ahead market and improve supply security. So, has the shift delivered what it promised? This week on Plugged In , we look at how the change has reshaped Europe’s power markets — from shifting liquidity and the distinctive “sawtooth” price pattern to better integration of renewables and new opportunities for flexible assets. We also explore what still needs to change, the challenges of bringing other markets into 15-minute trading, and whether Europe could eventually make the leap to five-minute intervals. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Olav Endre Vilnes – Editor Nordics, Montel News Priyanka Shinde – Nordic Market Expert, Montel Analytics Vincent Thevenin – Market Manager, Montel Ina Schjelderup – Head of Public & Regulatory Affairs Nordics, Benelux and Baltics, EPEX SPOT Editor & Producer : Alexandra Carlon #EnergyTrading #PowerMarkets #ElectricityMarkets #EnergyMarkets #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #15MinuteTrading #PowerTrading #MarketDesign #EnergyStorage #EPEXSPOT #PluggedInPodcast

September 24, 2026Episode 4030 min

El Niño and the Polar Vortex - the key weather drivers for Q4

Send us your thoughts! With European gas storage levels relatively low, periods of cold temperatures, weak wind or low rainfall could have an outsized impact on gas and power prices. In this episode of Plugged In , we look at the key weather patterns to watch in the months ahead and what they could mean for Europe’s energy system. How could El Niño shape the European winter? Could a weakening polar vortex raise the risk of colder weather later in the season? And what happens to power markets when high demand coincides with low wind and solar generation? We also examine the importance of rainfall and snowpack for hydropower, the growing exposure of European markets to weather-driven volatility, and how energy companies are increasingly hedging against temperature, wind and precipitation risks. Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel News Mark Stephens-Row – Client Engagement Manager EMEA and Asia, AtmosphericG2 Pierre Buisson – Head Weather & Commodity Risks - Europe, Munich Re Rebecca McManus – Renewables Lead, European Energy Market, Aurora Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EnergyMarkets #EuropeanEnergy #Weather #PowerMarkets #GasMarkets #Renewables #ElNino #Dunkelflaute #Hydropower

September 17, 2026Episode 3929 min

Global trade risks threaten energy security

Send us your thoughts! The rules that have underpinned global shipping and energy trade for decades are coming under increasing strain. From the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea to the Baltic and the Arctic, geopolitical tensions are raising risks for shipping, supply chains and energy markets. Recorded in Svalbard, this episode looks at what a more fragmented and dangerous maritime landscape means for global energy security. The discussion explores how the Iran war has changed LNG trade, why Asian buyers are rethinking their reliance on Middle Eastern supplies, and whether the world is shifting from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” energy supply chains. The conversation also turns to Europe, where low gas storage levels, growing reliance on US LNG and uncertainty over Russian and Qatari supplies are creating fresh concerns for the winter and next year. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Saul Kavonic – Head of Energy Research, MST Marquee Henning Gloystein – Managing Director, Energy & Resources, Eurasia Group Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EnergySecurity #LNG #GasMarkets #Shipping #StraitOfHormuz #EuropeanGas #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics #Arctic #Svalbard

September 10, 2026Episode 3832 min

Europe braces for winter gas crunch

Send us your thoughts! Europe is heading into winter with gas storage well below comfortable levels, LNG supplies under pressure and the Strait of Hormuz crisis adding further uncertainty to an already tight market. Could a cold winter push European gas prices to EUR 150/MWh? And with Europe increasingly competing for LNG on the global market, how exposed is the continent to another energy price shock? This week, we discuss Europe's gas balance, the race for LNG, the impact of continued disruption in the Middle East and what needs to happen to prevent another painful winter for consumers and industry. Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Guests: Laurence Walker – Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News Tony Jordan – Founder, Energy Price Intelligence Yuriy Onyshki – Senior Gas Analyst, LSEG Trevor Sikorski – Head of Natural Gas and Emissions, Energy Aspects Editor & Producer: Alexandra Carlon #EuropeanGas #LNG #GasStorage #EnergyMarkets #GasPrices #StraitOfHormuz #EnergyCrisis #EnergySecurity

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