How Wind Energy Overtook Nuclear in Just Two Decades | Ep261: Henrik Andersen
The episode examines how wind energy has surged to become a dominant power source, overtaking nuclear generation worldwide. Host Michael Lubreich interviews Henrik Andersen, CEO of Vestas, the world’s largest pure‑play wind turbine maker, to trace the sector’s evolution over the past two decades. Andersen highlights that wind now supplies just under 10% of global electricity, up from less than 1% when he began his career. This leap was driven by massive cost reductions, larger turbine sizes, and a globally distributed supply chain that balances local manufacturing of massive components with centralized design and partner production. Key moments include Andersen’s recollection of warning audiences in 2011 that renewables would soon need to compete without subsidies, and the industry’s rapid scaling—adding the first 100 GW of capacity in 30 years, then another 100 GW in just seven. He also cites the creation of digital wind atlases and site‑specific turbine engineering as critical to unlocking high‑quality, consistent wind resources. The discussion underscores Europe’s energy security challenges, noting that 55% of its consumption is imported. Wind’s cost‑competitiveness and rapid deployment provide a pathway to reduce dependence on external suppliers, accelerate decarbonization, and reshape global energy markets.
RCP8.5 Is Dead, What Comes Next? Ep260: Roger Pielke, Jr.
The episode marks a turning point in climate modeling after the worst‑case emissions pathway known as RCP 8.5 – and its successor SSP 5‑8.5 – was declared implausible by leading scientists. Host Michael Lubrike and senior fellow Roger Pielke Jr. explain why the scenario,...
Can Anyone Catch China's Clean Tech Lead? Ep258: Bryony Worthington & Michael Liebreich
The episode examines China’s dominant position in clean‑technology manufacturing and the broader geopolitical forces reshaping global energy markets. Bryony Worthington and Michael Liebreich debate whether countries should protect domestic supply chains or rely on low‑cost Chinese imports, especially as oil...
India’s Solar Revolution Is Bringing Cheap Energy To Millions | Ep257: Harish Hande
The episode spotlights Harish Hande, co‑founder of the Selco Foundation, and his mission to bring affordable, decentralized solar energy to India’s poorest households. Hande argues that true energy policy must prioritize how electricity is used at the doorstep, not merely...
Electrify Everything You Can, Do The Rest Later: The Electrification Staircase | Ep256
The episode introduces the Electrification Staircase, a six‑row framework developed by the Electrification Alliance to map which energy‑using applications can be switched to electricity now versus later. Host Michael Liebreich and co‑authors explain that the tool helps policymakers and investors...
The Era Of Fossil Fuel Unreliability Has Begun | Ep 254: Jennifer Granholm
The conversation with former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm centers on the growing unreliability of fossil‑fuel supplies, especially as geopolitical tensions threaten key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca and Bab el‑Mandeb. Granholm argues that these disruptions are accelerating...
Energy Shocks, Inflation & Risk: How a Central Bank Responds to Crisis | Ep252: Pierre Wunsch
In this episode of Cleaning Up, National Bank of Belgium governor Pierre Wunsch explains how European central banks are reassessing their response to energy‑price shocks, inflationary pressures and the broader climate‑transition debate. Wunsch notes that the conventional wisdom of treating energy...
Can We Cool The Planet, And Should We Try? | Ep251: Ricken Patel
The episode centers on Ricken Patel’s conversation about climate‑stabilisation technologies—often labeled geoengineering—and the broader political and activist landscape shaping their development. Patel critiques a system where private profit can dictate atmospheric interventions, while highlighting the UK actuaries’ “Parasol Lost” report...
Flexibility Is Transforming the Grid
The video argues that the electricity grid, historically designed around an inflexible demand model, is being reshaped by modern demand‑side flexibility. Engineers once built massive generation and pumped‑storage capacity to handle sudden spikes, such as a million kettles turning on...
Do We Still Need Carbon Capture & Storage? | Ep250: Emmanouil Kakaras
The episode centers on whether carbon capture and storage (CCS) remains a viable tool in the global energy transition, featuring Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) technology evangelist Emmanouil Kakaras. Host Michael Liebreich frames climate change as fundamentally an engineering challenge and uses...
Are Fossil Fuel Cars About to Have A Kodak Moment? Ep248: Fiona Howarth
Fiona Howarth, founder of Octopus Electric Vehicles, explains how millions of electric cars are poised to become active participants in the power grid through vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) technology. Falling battery prices, the UK’s zero‑emission vehicle mandate, and aggressive competition from Chinese...
Iran Will Reshape Oil, Gas & Clean Energy For Years To Come | Bryony Worthington & Michael Liebreich
The episode focuses on the sudden escalation in the Middle East after a U.S. raid on Iran‑linked targets, Iran’s swift retaliation, and the immediate shock to global energy markets. By closing the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 19% of world...
Why Renewables Are Booming Despite the Politics | Ep245: Miguel Stilwell D'Andrade
The episode of "Cleaning Up" spotlights why renewable energy is thriving despite political headwinds, featuring Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO of EDP and its renewables arm. He frames the surge in U.S. power demand—driven by data centers and industrialization—as a catalyst...
Solar Is Making It Easier to Get Electricity To Everyone
The video highlights a growing movement to use solar energy as a catalyst for genuine electrification in underserved communities, emphasizing that true access means reliable, high‑quality power rather than a single bulb or charger. The speaker argues that vulnerable populations,...
The World Decides: Clean Energy or Oil & Gas? Ep243: Damilola Ogunbiyi
The episode centers on a conversation with Damilola Ogunbiyi, UN Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, about whether the world’s energy future will be decided by oil and gas or by clean power, with a particular focus on the...