193. The Seven Deadly Sins of the Energy Transition
Three wise men met and discussed the Seven Sins of The Energy Transition. Laurent, Gerard and Michael dissect seven sectors that have captured attention, investments and public money and are at best dead ends, at worst disasters waiting to happen.Greed — “Subsidy Mining in a Lab Coat” (Carbon Capture & Direct Air Capture)A capital-intensive detour that soaks up public money while delivering trivial abatement at extreme cost, great PR for incumbents, weak climate math. Gluttony — “Three Kilowatt-Hours to Move One” (Hydrogen-for-Energy)An energy-wasting appetite: make H₂ with clean power, then throw most of that power away moving, compressing, liquefying, and reconverting it—useful only in narrow industrial niches. Sloth — “Always ‘On Time’ by 2040” (Small Modular Reactors)Perma-prototype promises that stay years late and dollars short while wind, solar, and storage deploy at scale now. Pride — “We Will Bottle the Sun” (Fusion Salvationism)Technological hubris as strategy: a captivating physics quest, but not a climate plan for the 2030s. Invest in science, don’t budget on miracles. Lust — “Drop-In Fantasies for Every Engine” (Biofuels-Everywhere)The seductive promise of pouring yesterday’s fuels into tomorrow’s problems; keep them for hard-to-electrify edges, not as a universal fix. Wrath — “Culture War at Sea” (America’s Offshore-Wind Own-Goals)Ideological backlash, litigation, and policy whiplash torch viable projects and local supply chains while the rest of the world builds.Envy — “Green Halo by Checkbox” (ESG Box-Ticking)Chasing ratings and labels instead of real-world decarbonization and cash-flow-relevant risk; better to separate E, S, and G and measure outcomes
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192. How AI will revolutionise Energy
Gerard delivered a keynote on Digitalisation, AI, Supply Chains and Electrification at the EcoVadis Global Summit.Gerard Reid argues that we are living through a new industrial revolution driven by digitalization, AI, and electrification, comparable in scale to the steam and automobile revolutions of the past. He highlights how China is rapidly outpacing Western forecasts in areas like AI, solar power, and electric vehicles, reshaping global competitiveness. Reid stresses that AI will transform industries—from healthcare to transport to energy—while massively increasing the world’s demand for electricity, which will increasingly be met through solar and battery storage. His central message is that businesses and countries must adopt a growth mindset, embrace AI as an enabler, and adapt quickly—or risk irrelevance in the face of accelerating global change.EcoVadis is a globally recognized platform that provides sustainability ratings and assessments for companies, focusing on their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. It evaluates businesses across four key themes: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. These assessments help companies manage ESG risks, ensure compliance, and improve sustainability practices across their operations and supply chains.
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191. “How Big Things Get Done” with Pr. Bent Flyvbjerg (hosted by Michael Barnard)
This is a re-release of the legendary interview by Michael Barnard of Pr Bent Flyvbjerg on our sister show ”Redefining Energy Tech” Professor Bent Flyvbjerg, an expert on megaprojects and author of How Big Things Get Done, shares insights from a database of over 16,000 projects, revealing that 99.5% fail to meet expectations in budget, timeline, or benefits.He stresses the value of learning from successful projects, especially in renewable energy, where solar, wind, and transmission projects outperform nuclear power, which suffers from regulatory hurdles and skill shortages.Flyvbjerg introduces key concepts like modularity, repeatability, and the “window of doom”—the critical early phase when delays can derail projects. He contrasts fast, modular successes like the Tesla Gigafactory with slow, complex projects like nuclear plants and the Olympics.The episode also compares pumped hydro and battery storage, highlighting the role of risk management, stakeholder alignment, and using data-based heuristics to guide project decisions. Listeners are encouraged to understand base rates, study variance charts (especially Chapter 9 of Flyvbjerg's book), and develop their own heuristics for better megaproject outcomes.
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190. Solar and Flex – Solar Power Summit 2025
This Spring, Laurent Segalen was invited by Solar Power Europe to moderate a panel, during the Solar Power Summit, around the theme ”Winning the Flex challenges”.The Speakers were:Andrea Wechsler, Member of the European Parliament, EPP, GermanyPaula Rey Garcia, Acting HoU Renewables & Energy System Integration, DG ENER, European CommissionNick Bitsios, Head of Brussels Office, MetlenJuan Rivier Abbad, Head of Global Renewables Regulation, IberdrolaVlasios Souflis, COO EMEA, Lightsource BPJose Manuel Carvalho, Head of Renewable Energy JV & Partnerships, Arcelor MittalThere is a European Policy being developed called the Green Industrial Deal. What is it? Does it work? Does it answer the current issues faced by Solar developers and Energy Consumers?The panel confront the views of various actors, from policy makers to the private sector. A very lively debate with unexpected outcomes. We thank Walburga Hemetsberger and the whole team of Solar Power Europe for organising that great event
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189. Energy Disruptions - (Gerard on "Clean Titans")
This is Summer time, so we publish some contents that we have created on other channelsA few weeks ago, Gerard came on the ”Clean Titans”The YouTube channel “Clean Titans” focused on clean energy, is hosted by Sam Evans, known as The Clean Energy Guy. His content dives into clean energy topics with enthusiasm, aiming to educate and inspire viewers about sustainable solutions.Gerard talks about “Energy Disruptions” and you can watch him here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5LGTcT-EOw
Two investment bankers weekly explore how tech, finance, markets and regulations are radically redefining the world of energy: Renewable Energy, Electric Cars, Hydrogen, Battery Storage, Digitisation...Your co-hosts: from Berlin, Gerard Reid and from London, Laurent Segalen.Our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redefining-energy/X handle: @Redef_Energy
South Africa