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[Episode #276] – Electricity Reform in South Africa
In this episode, Chris Nelder explores South Africa’s sweeping electricity reforms, focusing on the creation of the South Africa Wholesale Electricity Market (SOWEM) and the unbundling of Eskom into separate generation, transmission, and distribution units. He interviews economist Dr. Kenneth Kramer, who links the nation’s chronic load‑shedding and sluggish economic growth to decades of under‑investment, policy uncertainty, and corruption within Eskom. The conversation also features Keith Bowen, a veteran power‑systems economist, who recounts the long‑running effort to design a competitive market and the recent legal changes that finally enable it. Together, the guests illustrate how transitioning from a coal‑dominated monopoly to a liberalised, renewable‑friendly grid is essential for South Africa’s economic revival and climate goals.
Celebrating Curtailment: Are Negative Prices Really that Bad?
The episode examines why wholesale electricity prices in Europe are increasingly turning negative, a phenomenon driven by rapid growth in solar and wind generation that outpaces demand, especially during sunny midday periods. Experts explain that negative prices signal oversupply, prompting...
Austin Energy Enters the Next Phase of Decarbonization
In this episode of the Energy Capital Podcast, Austin Energy’s General Manager Stuart Riley and COO Lisa Martin discuss how the municipally‑owned utility operates as a vertically integrated, non‑opt‑in entity within ERCOT and leverages that structure to prioritize customer‑centric, decarbonization...
Data Centers & Digital Twins: What Are They REALLY Doing? | Daily Pulse
In this episode, host Maria Z explores the rapid expansion of data centers and the emerging technology of digital twins, linking them to broader agendas like AI surveillance, smart cities, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis mission. She explains...
Snorkelling for Negative Prices
The episode examines Norway’s unusually low hydro reservoir levels after a record‑cold winter and a severe precipitation deficit, which have turned the country from a net power exporter into an importer for the first time in years. Experts explain how...
Biomass Beat: Key Takeaways From the Argus Biomass Conference
The Argus Biomass Conference highlighted a surprisingly upbeat mood across the biomass supply chain, driven by record‑high European industrial pellet prices and strong demand ahead of the heating season. Participants discussed price spreads between Europe, Asia, and premium pellets, the...
Carbon Removal Is Stuck in Low Earth Orbit. Here's How We Get Out.
In this episode of The Carbon Curve, host Naeem Merchant talks with Dr. Julio Friedman, chief scientist at Carbon Direct, about the sector’s transition from “CDR 1.0” to “CDR 2.0.” Friedman explains that carbon‑removal projects are stuck in a low‑Earth‑orbit...
Negative Emissions: Biochar’s Test as a Scalable CO2 Removal
In this Argus Carbon episode, senior reporter Balaji Shanbagh Raj interviews Kavin Kumar Kandaswamy, CEO of Procline, about biochar as a scalable negative emissions technology. Kavin explains how Procline tackles feedstock constraints by sourcing invasive species across South Asia and...
Critical Evolution of Japan's Carbon Credit Market
In this episode of ESG Currents, host Homa talks with Yuuki Mori, General Manager of the Carbon Credit Market Office at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, about Japan’s emerging carbon credit market and its integration with the upcoming Green Transformation Emissions...
Data Center Debate: Are Energy Bills About To Explode?
The episode examines the looming energy crisis posed by the rapid expansion of AI data centers, noting that by 2030 they could consume twice today’s electricity—enough to power France and Germany combined—while the U.S. grid may lack sufficient capacity. Guests...
Jim Hart, CEO BCS Consultancy: Data Centre Truths 2026
In this episode, Jim Hart, co‑founder and CEO of BCS Consultancy, breaks down the findings of the Data Centre Truths 2026 report, highlighting the sector’s shift from pure data‑centre projects to broader infrastructure development. He stresses a looming talent gap—projected...
The Absolute Best Water Reactor: What Happened to the World’s Fastest Constructed Reactor?
In this episode, James Krelnstein and the Decouple team dissect the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR), spotlighting Japan’s record‑breaking construction of Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa Units 6 and 7, which were built in just 38 months and at a third of the cost...
AV Charging Infrastructure: How Terawatt Is Building the Physical Layer Autonomous Fleets Need
In this episode of Autonomy Insiders, host Daniel talks with Peter Cohen, General Manager for AV and rideshare at Terawatt Infrastructure, about the often‑overlooked challenge of charging infrastructure for autonomous vehicle fleets. Terawatt builds, finances, and operates high‑power charging hubs—typically...
[Episode #274] – Global Electricity Review 2026
In this episode, Ember analyst Nicholas Fulgham breaks down the 2026 Global Electricity Review, highlighting that 2025 was the first year since the pandemic when global fossil‑fuel electricity generation fell, driven by renewables outpacing demand growth. Solar alone supplied three‑quarters...
Seven Buyers in a Trench Coat
In this episode of The Carbon Curve, host Naim Merchant talks with Jack Andreessen‑Kavanaugh, director of the Carbon Management Program at Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy, about Microsoft’s pause on new carbon‑dioxide‑removal (CDR) purchases and what it reveals about...