The smarter E Podcast

00:30:00

Stack ‘em up: Germany’s big battery inflection point...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/09/17

Germany’s utility-scale battery deployment is hitting an inflection point.After years of projects piling up in development pipelines, utility-scale storage is arriving at gigawatt scale – just as Germany’s huge solar fleet drives electricity prices towards zero, or below, during sunny hours. For batteries that can shift that power into higher-priced periods, the opportunity is enormous. Host Jonathan Gifford speaks with Thaddäus Kreisig, Principal at Aurora Energy Research, about Germany’s forming

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00:30:39

Update on global solar and inside “24/7 renewable...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/09/03

The Dunkelflaute has become one of the most persistent arguments against a fully renewable energy system. When the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, where is our energy supposed to come from?Detailed new modeling from Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE suggests these “dark doldrums” are a challenge – but should not be enough to halt the energy transition. The bigger challenge to be overcome is how the flexibility needed to manage low-renewable energy periods can be embedded into the country’s

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00:22:59

Why modelling the energy transition matters – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/08/20

Despite claims that the energy transition is losing momentum, solar and battery deployment continues to run ahead of forecasts – profoundly impacting electricity markets and the wider global energy system.Recorded at The smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, host Jonathan Gifford is joined by Jarand Rystad, founder and CEO of energy analysts Rystad Energy, to examine where the transition stands today. Rystad explains why solar has consistently outpaced forecasts and how mass production, aggressive cost

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00:25:24

Effective responses to power markets in flux – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/08/06

An increasing number of solar marketplaces have entered a new phase – one where achieving strong, ongoing installation rates depends heavily on system flexibility. Recorded live at The smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, this episode of pod brings together two conversations that examine how solar marketplaces are changing in the face of this new reality, which includes falling capture prices and the rapid rise of battery energy storage.Host Jonathan Gifford is first joined by Edurne Zoco, Executive

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00:35:11

How U.S. innovators are reshaping solar – with Howard...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/07/23

Innovation in solar business models and technology is front-and-center on this episode of The smarter E Podcast. Featuring two leaders from the U.S. solar industry, it explores how innovation across the solar value chain is taking the global energy transition in new directions. Recorded live at The smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, host Jonathan Gifford speaks with two executives from companies that represent very different stages of the industry's evolution: one scaling and redefining an established

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00:30:58

What EV acceleration means for the grid – with Thomas...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/07/09

As Europe faces rising energy-security concerns, volatile electricity markets and growing grid congestion, a new generation of energy solutions is emerging that could turn these challenges into opportunities. Recorded live at The smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, this episode explores how EVs, smart charging, and vehicle-to-grid technology are transforming cars into active participants in the electricity system. These “batteries on wheels” have the potential to be friends rather than foes when it

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00:31:50

Can Renewables Deliver 24/7 Power? | Live from The...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/07/02

The future of energy was on display in Munich last week — and this isn’t hyperbole! While some still question how an industrialised nation like Germany can be powered by renewable energy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, The smarter E Europe 2026 offered some compelling insights. Through a major new study, an interactive exhibition, and the countless innovations showcased across the event, a pathway to a fully renewable energy system was laid out in remarkable detail.In this special

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00:34:29

Perovskites: the race for the future of PV? – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/06/25

Recorded at the Tandem PV Workshop in Berlin, this week’s episode explores one of the most exciting frontiers in solar technology: perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics. Featuring two leading researchers from Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB), the conversations dive into why perovskites could unlock the next major step forward in solar efficiency – and what still needs to happen before the technology reaches mass commercialization. In the first interview, we’re joined by Professor Rutger Schlatmann,

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00:37:38

From EVs to BESS: Why capital is flowing to batteries...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/06/11

Recorded at two recent industry events – the SolarPower Summit in Brussels and the Battery Business & Development Forum in Frankfurt –this week’s episode explores why batteries have become one of the most dynamic areas of the global energy transition. Featuring two industry heavy hitters, the conversations cover how BESS is transforming everything from electric mobility and charging infrastructure to renewable energy markets and grid management.In the first interview, we’re joined by Laurent

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00:36:09

It’s Eurovision! Solar Startups Edition (live from...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/05/14

Recorded on-site at the SolarPower Summit in Brussels, this week’s episode captures the market developments and innovative young companies shaping Europe’s clean energy transition.We kick things off with renowned BloombergNEF solar analyst Jenny Chase, who joins us to unpack why batteries have become the defining technology conversation across Europe’s solar sector. As PV penetration rates continue to increase and negative pricing events become more common, Jenny explains why in this next phase of

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0:37:07

How solar is delivering energy security – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/04/02

Energy security is back at the top of the global agenda and new ways to secure supply are evolving fast. In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how solar is moving beyond generation to play a critical role in stabilizing power systems and delivering energy security.First, Wood Mackenzie analyst Timothy Shen breaks down the rapid evolution of solar inverters –and how they are well equipped to meet the challenges of today’s changing power mix. Once seen as passive components, today’s

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0:57:10

Digitalizing the grid to meet today’s energy crisis –...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/03/19

As geopolitical tensions once again send shockwaves through global energy markets, the pressure to accelerate the energy transition has rarely been greater. In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how digital technologies and electrification are reshaping the energy system—and why smarter, more connected grids are becoming essential in navigating today’s crisis.Our first guest, Simon Evans, Global Digital Energy and Digital Twin Leader at Arup, explains what digitalization really means

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00:46:32

Are today’s solar modules built to last? – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/03/05

Recorded live in Barcelona at the Solar Quality Summit in February, this episode of The smarter E Podcast examines a critical question for the PV industry: are today’s solar modules built for long-term durability?As manufacturers push for higher efficiencies, larger formats, and lower costs, quality data is flashing warning signs. Drawing on insights from Kiwa PI Berlin’s latest Module Manufacturing Report, we explore a record 3.36% defect rate observed during pre-shipment inspections in 2025, and

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00:44:31

Battery capacity is going through the roof – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/02/19

Battery capacity is getting bigger, storage duration longer, and batteries more central to how power systems operate.In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we look at what’s driving the surge in battery capacity and why expectations for storage are shifting so quickly. Projects that would have seemed unrealistic just a few years ago are now moving into planning and achieving financial close. Lithium-ion batteries are expanding well beyond traditional short-duration applications, as falling costs

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0:38:03

Has Vehicle-to-Grid Reached the Tipping Point? – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/02/05

In this episode of The smarter E podcast, we unpack how bidirectional EV charging is reshaping Europe’s energy and mobility landscape, from market signals to real-world deployment at scale.We begin with a policy perspective, speaking with @Adriana Fricke from @Hubject –a company that is working at the intersection of e-mobility, regulation, and energy systems. As Europe pushes toward electrification, regulatory standardization and cross-industry alignment are emerging as critical enablers of

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0:38:03

Has Vehicle-to-Grid Reached the Tipping Point? – with...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/02/05

In this episode of The smarter E podcast, we unpack how bidirectional EV charging is reshaping Europe’s energy and mobility landscape, from market signals to real-world deployment at scale.We begin with a policy perspective, speaking with @Adriana Fricke from @Hubject –a company that is working at the intersection of e-mobility, regulation, and energy systems. As Europe pushes toward electrification, regulatory standardization and cross-industry alignment are emerging as critical enablers of

de

0:58:10

Inside 2026’s PV pricing reset – with Alex Barrows,...

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/01/22

After a prolonged period of rock-bottom prices and manufacturing oversupply, solar PV pricing is starting to shift –and the implications could ripple across the global industry in 2026. In this episode of The smarter E podcast, host Jonathan Gifford digs into what’s changing beneath the surface of the PV supply chain, and why pricing dynamics are becoming impossible to ignore. In the first part of the episode, Jonathan is joined by Alex Barrows, Head of PV at CRU, and Molly Morgan, Senior Analyst,

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0:58:10

TSEP #247 Inside 2026’s PV pricing reset

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/01/22

After a prolonged period of rock-bottom prices and manufacturing oversupply, solar PV pricing is starting to shift –and the implications could ripple across the global industry in 2026.In this episode of The smarter E podcast, host Jonathan Gifford digs into what’s changing beneath the surface of the PV supply chain, and why pricing dynamics are becoming impossible to ignore. In the first part of the episode, Jonathan is joined by Alex Barrows, Head of PV at CRU, and Molly Morgan, Senior Analyst,

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00:44:36

TSEP #246 Big BESS is here to save the day

The smarter E Podcast ·

2026/01/08

Big batteries are taking off in Europe and are set to become a major contributor to the energy transition worldwide.In Europe, deployment has now reached a critical inflection point. Annual utility-scale BESS installations doubled between 2024 and 2025, while cumulative capacity surpassed 100 GW for the first time over the same period. These insights come from new analysis by Wood Mackenzie, led by EMEA principal analyst for energy storage Anna Darmani. Anna joined The Smarter E podcast to reflect

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TSEP #245 Staying home, with smart energy management

The smarter E Podcast ·

2025/12/11

Home may be where the heart is –but it’s also becoming a major player in the energy transition.In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how smart home energy management systems (HEMS) help households get the most out of distributed energy assets such as rooftop solar, home batteries, EV chargers, and heat pumps –making for lower energy bills, deeper decarbonization, and meaningful support for the wider energy system. Our first guest on this week'a pod, Irene Guerra Gil, Energy Market

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