In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, Dr. Aidan Rhodes discusses the critical importance of resilience in the energy sector with Bronwyn Bullen, Organisational Resilience Manager at UK Power Networks. Together, they explore the evolving definition of resilience, strategies to adapt energy infrastructure, and how organisational resilience contributes to maintaining a reliable energy grid.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Energy Futures Podcast

00:31 - Episode overview: Resilience in energy

01:39 - Welcome and introduction of Bronwyn Bullen

02:13 - Bronwyn's role and the importance of organisational resilience

03:33 - Lessons from the 2013 storms and the concept of resilience

06:00 - Resilience as a strategic priority at UK Power Networks

08:52 - Bronwyn’s background and path to organisational resilience

10:35 - Difference between reliability and resilience

12:13 - Phases of resilience: preparation, impact, and learning

13:36 - Preparing for extreme weather events

16:00 - How UK Power Networks handles storm response and customer communication

19:50 - Cross-functional roles during storms and fostering unity

23:15 - Cultural evolution of resilience since 2013

27:17 - Horizon scanning and responding to emerging threats

30:00 - Lessons learned from COVID-19 and agility in the organisation

32:24 - Societal resilience and the role of individuals, businesses, and government

36:00 - Black start scenarios and electricity system restoration

41:00 - Challenges of restoring the grid after major disruptions

42:40 - The importance of cross-sector collaboration for resilience

44:56 - Case studies and learning from crises in other industries

46:00 - Final thoughts and resources for listeners

Bronwyn’s Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwyn-bullen-64973a345/?originalSubdomain=uk

UK Power Networks resources: https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

Priority Services Register: https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/priority-services-register

Additional links

The 2022 UK Government Resilience Framework

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/about-this-website-and-uk-resilience/#:~:text=with%20devolution%20agreements.-,UK%20Government,is%20responsible%20for%20crisis%20response.

The business Continuity Institute

https://www.thebci.org/

Titan submersible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_submersible_implosion

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Stay Connected

Watch, Listen & Subscribe:

YouTube: Energy Futures Podcast

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Apple Podcasts

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Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1HVzUhWIOhRqjbEi9HhXs3?si=7551f6c752264f55

Stay Connected:

Follow Energy Futures Lab:

Twitter: @EnergyFuturesIC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imperial-college-london-energy-futures-lab/?viewAsMember=true

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/energy-futures-lab/

Energyfutureslab@imperial.ac.uk

In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, hosts Dr. Paola Sáenz and Dr. Nadine Moustafa explore the evolving landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs) and their role in achieving climate goals. From engineered solutions like Direct Air Capture (DAC) to nature-based methods such as afforestation, the discussion dives deep into the technical, economic, and policy challenges of carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

Featuring:

• Dr. Paola Sáenz – Research Associate at Sightline Climate & Imperial College London, specializing in Negative Emissions Technologies and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS).
• Dr. Nadine Moustafa – Research Associate at Imperial College London, focusing on systems modeling for carbon management and decarbonization strategies.

Chapters & Timecodes

[00:00:00] - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

[00:01:00] - Meet the hosts: Paola Sáenz & Nadine Moustafa

[00:02:16] - What is Carbon Removal (CDR)?

[00:03:02] - Nature-based vs. engineered solutions

[00:06:06] - Where should CDR solutions be deployed?

[00:08:42] - Carbon markets and pricing mechanisms

[00:12:53] - Climate change risks and cost dynamics

[00:16:50] - The role of policy in scaling carbon removal

[00:22:00] - Public perception and societal challenges

[00:24:06] - The impact of COP decisions on carbon markets

[00:30:48] - Carbon accounting and verification challenges

[00:33:12] - The balance between emissions reduction and removals

[00:37:22] - Hard-to-abate sectors and NET applications

[00:41:07] - Global perspectives and data gaps in CDR

[00:41:26] - Closing thoughts and where to find the speakers

Key Takeaways

• Carbon dioxide removal is essential to achieving net zero, alongside emissions reductions.
• Engineered and nature-based solutions are complementary, not competing.
• Carbon markets and pricing structures need to evolve for large-scale deployment.
• Policy and public engagement play a crucial role in real-world implementation.
• Global equity and access to NETs are critical for effective climate action.

Paola’s links

Paola Sáenz Imperial Profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/paola.saenz-cavazos17

Paola Sáenz Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolasaaenzc/?originalSubdomain=uk

Sightline climate: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/

Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/hitachi-centre/

Nadine’s links

Nadine Imperial Profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.moustafa18

Nadine LinkedIn:

What role does energy storage play in shaping our energy systems? This episode delves into the transformative potential of energy storage technologies in achieving net-zero goals and supporting a sustainable energy future.

Host:

Dr. Nadine Moustafa, Research Associate at Imperial College London specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies.

Guests:

• Professor Martin Freer, CEO of The Faraday Institution. Martin is an expert in energy storage, nuclear energy, and battery technologies, with a distinguished career spanning innovative research and policy advocacy.
• Jingyi Chen, Head of Battery at Breathe Battery Technologies. Jingyi leads advancements in battery management solutions, enhancing performance across automotive, consumer electronics, and energy storage.

Topics Discussed:

• The role of battery technology in achieving net-zero and supporting sustainable energy goals.
• Applications of batteries in home energy storage and electric vehicles (EVs).
• Strategies to improve energy storage efficiency through innovation and sustainable practices.

Video Chapters and Time Codes:

0:00 - Introduction: The importance of energy storage in modern energy systems

2:15 - Meet the Host: Dr. Nadine Moustafa's expertise in decarbonisation

3:45 - Guest Introductions: Professor Martin Freer and Jingyi Chen

7:30 - The role of batteries in achieving net-zero energy goals

12:10 - Everyday applications of energy storage technologies

16:25 - Challenges and opportunities in battery innovation

21:50 - Sustainable practices in battery manufacturing and use

27:05 - The future of energy storage: Trends and emerging solutions

31:40 - Closing thoughts and takeaways

About the Host and Guests:

Dr. Nadine Moustafa is a research associate in the Chemical Engineering Department and the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. She specialises in carbon management and decarbonisation strategies, integrating socio-economic and technical aspects to develop sustainable energy solutions. Nadine also serves as the Program and Policy Officer at the Coalition for Negative Emissions, advancing policies for carbon capture and removal technologies.

Nadine’s Links

Imperial page: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.moustafa18

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/?originalSubdomain=uk

Professor Martin Freer is the CEO of The Faraday Institution and a leading expert in energy storage and nuclear energy. With a rich career in academic leadership and energy innovation, he has been instrumental in guiding policy and creating impactful energy solutions.

Martin’s Links

Martin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-freer-485160279/

The Faraday Institution:

What role can artificial intelligence play in shaping the future of energy systems? In this episode, Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow at Imperial College London and Energy Policy Briefing Papers Fellow at Energy Futures Lab, explores the intersection of AI and energy with two expert guests:

Francesco Leofante, Imperial College Research Fellow, affiliated with the Centre for Explainable Artificial Intelligence. Francesco’s work focuses on safe and explainable AI, particularly counterfactual explanations and their robustness.

Daniel Lewis, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Fellow and author of the Energy Security and AI policy briefing paper. Daniel examines AI applications in energy systems, associated challenges, and key policy considerations for the future.

In This Episode:

- The potential solutions and opportunities for AI within energy systems

- The challenges and risks of integrating AI into the energy sector

- How AI could help accelerate the transformation of energy systems for net zero

YouTube Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

00:01:02 - Meet the Guests: Francesco Leofante and Daniel Lewis

00:03:15 - How AI Can Transform Energy Systems

00:08:10 - Safe and Explainable AI in Energy

00:15:45 - Policy Insights: Energy Security and AI

00:21:20 - Challenges of Integrating AI in Energy Systems

00:29:30 - Counterfactual Explanations and AI Transparency

00:37:00 - AI and Grid Flexibility for Net Zero

00:44:15 - Key Policy Considerations for AI Adoption in Energy

00:50:30 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Learn More

Guest Bios:

Dr. Aidan Rhodes

Dr. Rhodes is a Research Fellow at Imperial College London and the Energy Policy Briefing Papers Fellow at Energy Futures Lab. He prepares accessible briefing papers for energy sector policymakers, focusing on topics like digitalization, smart energy systems, and national energy innovation.

Aidan’s links

Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/aidan.rhodes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-rhodes-06b16030/?originalSubdomain=uk

Francesco Leofante

Francesco is an Imperial College Research Fellow at the Centre for Explainable Artificial Intelligence. He leads the ConTrust project, a four-year initiative to study robustness in explainable AI. His work delves into safe and transparent AI applications.

Francesco’s links

Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/f.leofante

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescoleofante/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://fraleo.github.io/

Daniel Lewis

Daniel is a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) Fellow and author of the Energy Security and AI policy briefing paper. He transitioned into this role from his anthropology PhD research at Durham University, which focused on primate host-microbiome coevolution.

Daniel’s links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lewis-bio/

POST Paper Energy security and AI: https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0735/

Additional Links

Smart Meter Paper: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/energy-futures-lab/reports/briefing-papers/paper-9/

https://www.neso.energy/what-we-do/data-ai

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_learning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_Nuclear_Generating_Station

https://viso.ai/deep-learning/computer-vision-tasks/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_language_model

Host: Cait Hewitt, Policy and Engagement Officer, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London

Guests:

• Dr. Jan Rosenow: Director of European Programmes, Regulatory Assistance Project
• Max Waddingham: Senior Heating Design Engineer, Good Energy

In This Episode:

• What are heat pumps, and how do they work?
• The challenges and opportunities in rolling out heat pump technology.
• Policies needed to make heat pumps a mainstream choice.
• The role of public attitudes, skilled installers, and trusted brands in driving adoption.

Guest Bios:

• Dr. Jan Rosenow: With decades of experience in energy policy, Dr. Rosenow shares insights into the global transition to clean energy and the potential of heat pumps to transform home heating.
• Max Waddingham: A hands-on expert in heat pump installations, Max discusses real-world challenges and solutions for making heat pumps accessible to everyone.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast
• 00:01:01 - Meet the Guests: Dr. Jan Rosenow & Max Waddingham
• 00:03:16 - Why Heat Pumps Matter for Decarbonisation
• 00:06:18 - How Heat Pumps Work: Science and Efficiency
• 00:13:31 - Overcoming Barriers: Cost, Skills, and Public Perception
• 00:20:22 - Policies to Drive Heat Pump Adoption
• 00:30:13 - Public Attitudes and Misconceptions about Heat Pumps
• 00:39:20 - Trusted Messengers: Installers and Brand Confidence
• 00:44:02 - Future Research: Heat Pumps and Grid Flexibility
• 00:45:31 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Learn More

Cait’s links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cait-hewitt-2482a3195/

Grantham Institute: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/

Jan’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janrosenow/

Website: https://www.janrosenow.com/index.html

RAP: https://www.raponline.org/

Recent paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225000434

Blue Sky:

In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, Imperial PhD student Fater Akuhwa sits down with Professor Tim Green to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of energy systems, with a focus on grid co-design and the integration of renewable energy.

Professor Green, an expert in electrical and electronic engineering, shares his insights on the concept of grid forming and grid following, two key approaches in the regulation of frequency, voltage, and system stability without the traditional synchronous generators that have long been essential for grid stability.

Professor Green also discusses his pivotal role in leading Imperial College’s sustainability strategy and the challenges associated with shifting to a low-carbon university campus and supply chain.Key Topics Discussed:

• The challenges of grid stability and system services in the absence of synchronous generators
• The roles of grid forming and grid following in modern grids
• The sustainability strategy at Imperial College London
• Insights on data-led stability analysis for inverter-dominated grids
• The future of energy systems and the integration of variable renewable energy sources

Additional Links

Professor Green Imperial profile

https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/t.green

For more information on Professor Tim Green's work, visit: Sustainable Imperial

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/sustainability/

Paper Revisiting grid-forming and grid-following inverters: A duality theory

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=PWvm-uEAAAAJ&citation_for_view=PWvm-uEAAAAJ:q1zXlPLtbUIC

Fater Akuhwa Imperial Profile

https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/f.akuhwa22

In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, we sit down with Richard Black, Director of Policy and Strategy at Ember, to explore the future of energy, the zero-carbon transition, and his career in climate journalism and policy. Richard shares insights from his newly released book, The Future of Energy, offering an optimistic view of the clean energy revolution and the challenges ahead.

Highlights include:

• The role of think tanks like Ember in shaping global energy policy
• The importance of clear communication in the energy transition
• Reflections on the evolution of climate policy and the rise of global clean energy movements
• Richard’s journey from BBC science correspondent to energy policy expert
• Key takeaways from his book The Future of Energy and its vision for a sustainable energy future

Links:

• Ember: Global Clean Energy Think-Tank
• Richard Black on Linkedin
• Richard Black’s Book: The Future of Energy
• Richard Black’s Previous Book: Denied: The Rise and Fall of Climate Contrarianism

• Energy Futures Lab Website
• Energy Futures Podcast YouTube Channel
• Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts

In this episode, we’re taking you to the London Climate Technology Show 2024—an inspiring hub of innovation and collaboration for a sustainable future.

We’ll be sharing highlights from two expert panel discussions, followed by insights from the exhibition floor, where industry leaders showcased groundbreaking solutions.

Panel 1: Innovation for Sustainability: Technology's Role in Achieving Net Zero

Our first panel, 'Innovation for Sustainability: Technology's Role in Achieving Net Zero,' brought together leading voices in the field of clean energy and innovation:

• Naomi Weir, Director of Innovation at the Confederation of British Industry,
• Chris Coonick, Innovation Management Office Director at National Grid,
• Luke Ames Blackaby, Head of Innovation Hub at Ofgem,
• Michael Green, Founder and Strategy Director of Luna 9,
• Philip Jarvis, CEO of Coomtech Ltd, and
• Ioannis Kasinopoulos, Co-founder and CEO of Electryone.

This panel unpacked how cutting-edge technologies are accelerating the journey to net zero, with a focus on scalability, collaboration, and innovation across industries."

Panel 2: Balancing Financial and Environmental Performance in Global EcoFunds

The second panel, 'Balancing Financial and Environmental Performance & Navigating Compliance in EcoFunds Globally,' explored the intersection of sustainability goals and financial strategies.

On the panel were:

• Martyn Link, Managing Director of Link Advisory Services Ltd,
• Eman Adel, Sustainable Energy Expert at RCREEE,
• Mark Campanale, Founder and Executive Director of Carbon Tracker,
• Jim Totty, Managing Director of Viridis Capital,
• Satyajit Mohanan, Projects Coordinator at Cambridge Cleantech, and
• Catherine Barber, Assistant Director of Environment & Energy at the Greater London Authority.

Although we captured only the first half of this discussion, the insights offered a compelling look at navigating compliance challenges and unlocking the potential of sustainable investments."

Exhibition Highlights

Finally, we explored the exhibition floor, where cutting-edge solutions were on display. From National Grid’s latest innovations to transformative projects by the Department for Science, Innovation &