The Energy Revolution
The Energy Revolution podcast explores the critical questions shaping the clean energy transition. Hosted by Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, a former UK government advisor and Cambridge policy fellow, the show features interviews with industry leaders, academics, and journalists. Topics range from geopolitics to cutting-edge technology, providing insights behind energy headlines.
Episodes
How China's Electricity Sector Really Works, with Prof Michael Pollitt (Cambridge)
China is already central to the global clean energy story. It dominates renewable technology manufacturing, leads the world on EVs and batteries, and is often described as the emerging “electrostate”. But we tend to hear much less about China’s own electricity system.So how does it work? Why has electricity been so important to China’s economic growth?And what can the UK and Europe learn from the
Why UK Energy Bills Will Stay High, with Kate Mulvany
This week we’re talking about energy bills.The UK has some of the highest electricity prices in theworld, and global events are once again pushing oil and gas markets into the headlines. But what actually drives the cost of energy in Britain? How will the latest crisis in the Middle East feed through to household bills? And does the price cap really protect consumers in the way people think?This w
What Tony Blair Gets Wrong About Energy (And the Economy), with Andrew Sissons (Nesta)
A few weeks ago, Tony Blair published an essay arguing that the UK should focus less on clean power, and more on cheap power. But is that really the choice Britain faces? And in a world of rising electricity demand, data centres, expensive gas, and growing pressure on the grid, what would genuinely cheap power actually look like?This week, Andrew Sissons returns to the podcast to join host Sulaima
Chris Stark on the UK's Clean Power Future
This week we have a special episode of The Energy Revolution Podcast, as we’re joined by Chris Stark, Head of the UK’s Clean Power Mission, to discuss the UK’s plan to build a clean power system by 2030.What has the Clean Power Mission achieved so far? And how can the UK make sure clean power translates into lower bills, greater energy security and a more electrified economy?Chris and our host, Su
Why North Sea Oil Won’t Make Us More Secure, With Tessa Khan (Uplift)
For decades, the North Sea has played a major role in Britain’s energy system, economy and industrial base.But production has been declining for years, and the debate over what should happen next remains highly contested.Why are projects like Jackdaw and Rosebank still being reconsidered?What does the government’s position on new licences mean in practice?And what would further domestic production
Green Tech and the "Valley of Death", with Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE (GFI)
This week we're live from Innovation Zero, to talk the challenges of scaling new climate technologies.The so-called "valley of death" affects all sectors, but clean tech is particularly difficult to move from research to wide-scale adoption.Why? And what can we do about it?Our guest this week is Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE, CEO at the Green Finance Institute and the first person to win an
Can Britain really go Electric? with Ben Westerman
The Hormuz Oil Crisis is reminding Britain just how reliant we still are on oil and gas.Our electricity is fairly clean, but only 21% of final energy use is electrified.The rest - in our homes, our cars, and our industries - relies on increasingly volatile and expensive oil and gas.Why is Britain so far behind in electrifying compared to countries like France, the Netherlands, or Norway?And what c
Can we power the AI revolution, with Lucy Yu (government's AI Champion for Clean Energy)
Lucy Yu is one of the UK's most influential minds in the energy and AI space. She is CEO at the Centre for Net Zero, and recently appointed as the UK government's AI Champion for Clean Energy.Today she joins our host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett (Policy Fellow at the University of Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy), to discuss the future of these two crucial sectors.Can the grid cope with
How to Stop an Energy Crisis: renewables and security, from Ukraine to Iran (with Ana Musat)
Energy security is on everyone's mind right now. Since Israel and the US struck Iran and Iran's strikes across the Gulf nations, oil prices have soared over $100 a barrel and the Straits of Hormuz remain blockaded. But this isn't the first time we've seen such a shock. Just 4 years ago Russia's full invasion of Ukraine caused a global energy crisis, and any historian will remem
Renewables and the Stock Market, with Minesh Shah (TRIG)
What's the stock market got to do with renewables?While there's a lot of focus on the rise of private equity in the infrastructure space, there is still a strong tradition in the UK of listed infrastructure funds, and of retail investors wanting to invest in the energy transition more widely.So is there still a case for public markets? And where do they fit into the overall picture of rene
How Energy Politics Really Works, with Sam Alvis (IPPR)
Do you find politics obtuse? Struggling to keep up with the twists and turns of energy decisions?With an endless web of party politics, departmental differences, and think-tanks pumping out ideas, it can be hard to know what the government is really thinking and how decisions get made.Our guest this week is Sam Alvis, Head of Energy Security and Environment at IPPR, the influential think-tank, and
Why the UK economy is broken, and where clean energy can help (with Andrew Sissons, NESTA)
Is clean energy good for growth? Since the 2008 crisis the UK has seen persistently sluggish growth, even compared to comparable advanced economies. Low investment, Brexit, and challenges in traditionally strong sectors have held the economy back for close to two decades.Now with the energy transition underway, is this an opportunity to improve the country's prospects? Or is a constraint on an
Using AI to fix the grid: beyond the hype with Amjad Karim (Keen AI)
Can AI make our grid better and more reliable? Or are AI solutions overhyped by execs and consultants that don't understand the technology?This week we look at a real world case of AI being used to identify damaged equipment on the UK grid, and improve the way that network operators maintain their infrastructure.The episode covers the various types of AI models and what they can, and cannot, u
Putting fossil fuel demand in doubt, with Molly Walton
What does the future look like for fossil fuel demand? OPEC and large oil and gas companies are bullish, but the rapid rollout of clean tech is undermining many of their claims.Our guest this week is Molly Walton, who worked on the World Energy Outlook at the International Energy Agency and is now Director for Energy at the We Mean Business Coalition.She joins Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, a former seni
The Art of the Deal: inside energy's M&As with Gareth Baker (Gowling WLG)
Energy is all about deals. Assets are bought, sold, and refinanced. Companies are acquired, portfolios consolidated. But what goes into making these deals happen, and what can they tell us about the energy sector at large?This week we're joined by Gareth Baker, a partner at the law firm Gowling WLG with over 15 years of experience working on some of the highest profile deals in the energy sect
Energy and the cost of living crisis, with Tilly Cook (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
The UK is in a cost of living crisis, and energy prices in particular are constantly hitting the headlines.Fuel poverty has been climbing, and many on middle or even higher incomes are struggling with costs too.How did we get here? And what can be done to tackle the problem? In this episode we are joined by Tilly Cook of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. We hear some real stories about what fuel pov
The future of PPAs and 24/7 power, with Juan Pablo Cerda (Renewabl)
Do PPAs have a future? More power than ever is being procured through government backed CfDs, so how and why will corporates continue to buy power directly? This week we’re joined by serial entrepreneur and CEO of Renewabl Juan Pablo Cerda to discuss the unique benefits of PPAs, and how the market is evolving to offer more sophisticated power profiles to buyers. Alongside our host, former governme
The secret to energy innovation (with Carbon Trust CEO Michael Rea)
How does innovation actually happen? Energy technologies are changing fast, but we'll need to change even faster if we're going to achieve a decarbonized economy. This week, we're joined by Michael Rea, CEO of the Carbon Trust, who has over 25 years experience building clean energy innovation systems in the UK, in everything from carbon accounting to the early days of offshore wind.Alo
Do we need a strategic reserve for gas? With Adam Bell
The current approach to funding gas plants is breaking, but what should replace it? And when? For a long time, gas has been the backbone of the energy system. That's changing rapidly as renewables become cheaper and more widely deployed, but removing gas completely from the energy system is not an easy task. Despite becoming less important, a small amount of it is likely to linger on the syst
Congo: the secret heart of the energy transition (with Dr Ben Radley)
The Democratic Republic of Congo produces over 70% of the words Cobalt, a key material in many modern bateries and clean energy technologies.It is a mining powerhouse, central to the global energy system, and yet the economy remains one of the poorest in the world.So what do these mines look like on the ground? Why have Chinese firms been buying up more of the country's mines? and what does al
How Business can lead the energy transition, with Rachel Solomon Williams (Aldersgate Group)
Are businesses leaders or laggards in the energy transition? Despite attempts by some to paint clean energy and net zero as anti-business and anti-growth, business leaders themselves are broadly supportive of the shift and see it as a place of economic opportunity. This week our host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett sits down with Rachel Solomon Williams, CEO of the Aldersgate Group, who work directly with
The New Politics of Net Zero: from Parliament to Polanski (with Harry Shackleton, Inflect)
The politics of net zero is changing. The term itself falling out of favour.According to the media, the consensus is fraying at the edges, with Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch banging the anti-net zero drum at every chance they get.And yet, beneath the surface there is still a relative amount of agreement. Labour, the Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru, and the insurgent Greens all agree that climate and c
Prisoners of Geography? Energy archetypes with Phoebe O'Hara (ETC)
Is a country's energy future determined by its geography?When it comes to energy resources, not all countries are made equal. Some are blessed with windy seas, others with regular sun, and a handful with the resources needed to build clean energy technology.This episode looks at some of the archetypes for energy systems, the limits of geography, and the opportunity for countries to still decid
Clean Power 2030: bridging the national and the local (with Merlin Hyman OBE)
The UK has an ambitious goal to achieve Clean Power by 2030, and cement itself as a clean energy superpower in the decade that follows.The success of this will depend not just on national leadership, but an ability to make the case for the energy transition locally, for the people that will see infrastructure built in their back yards, or want to know how they’ll feel the benefits on their bills.O
Can we really kick Coal? With Lucy Shaw
An uncomfortable truth in the energy transition is that Coal is still a major part of the global energy system. Despite being majorly polluting and often no cheaper than cleaner alternatives, it's persisted particularly in countries like China, India, and Indonesia, but also the USA and Australia. Why? And how do we truly phase it out of the system.Our guest this week is Lucy Shaw, who's w
Tackling Forced Labour in Solar Supply Chains, with Rachel Owens (Solar Stewardship Initiative)
The solar industry has faced tough questions about its supply chains and the links to state-enforced forced labour, particularly in regions like Xinjiang, China.In this week’s episode Sulaiman speaks with Rachel Owens, former human-rights campaigner and CEO of the Solar Stewardship Initiative, to talk about the major steps the sector has been taking to address the issue.We discuss how increased tr
Thatcher, Blair and Beyond: 40 years of energy policy with Jim Watson (UCL)
The energy system has changed dramatically in the last 40 years, both in the UK and globally. But how do these changes happen? What makes technology transitions and innovation a reality? Is it policy, politics, or global economic patterns outside our control? We're joined by Jim Watson, Professor of Energy Policy and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Resources at University College Lo
The Texas Energy Miracle (with Mark Lauby, NERC)
What makes the Texas energy system so special? Separated from the rest of the US grid, the Texas system is a living lab for the future of energy, achieving remarkable rollout of renewables despite the politics of the state.This week we’re joined by Mark Lauby from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the organisation responsible for grid and system stability across the US, to unpac
Race and empire in our energy system: a black history month special
How do race and the legacies of empire continue to impact the energy transition?For black history month our host, Cambridge Fellow and former government advisor Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, looks at the ways that race and empire still impact our energy transition: including ‘energy apartheid’ in South Africa, the legacy of segregation on the Texas grid, and the role of slavery and empire in the early i
Where Are All The Heat Pumps? with Adam Berman (Energy UK)
The UK has been extremely slow to decarbonise the heating sector. Why? And what can be done?Meeting the UK's climate ambitions will require millions of heat pump installations and widespread heat network infrastructure to be established, but both of these sectors are struggling to get off the ground.In this episode we are joined by Adam Berman, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Energy UK, to
What government gets wrong about growth: Heathrow, climate and taxing the rich with Alex Chapman
Growth is at the centre of Labour's political programme, and with Rachel Revees' nod to airport expansion many have wondered if climate goals will take a hit in pursuit of the economy.But what is behind the Heathrow story and what does it tell us about the wider thinking in Treasury on public infrastructure and climate in the UK. Today we're joined by Alex Chapman from the New Economic
Do We Need a Demand Revolution? A new way of thinking about energy with Caroline Bragg (ADE)
What happens to the energy system when you think about the end consumer first? People want warm homes, cheap power, and to get from place to place - they don't care how we make this happen, and arbitary distinctions between different parts of the energy system are holding us back.In this episode we're joined by Caroline Bragg, CEO of ADE, to discuss everything from consumer flexibility to
Is Europe funding Putin's war? Why sanctions on Russian oil and gas aren't working, with Isaac Levi (CREA)
Since the Russia-Ukraine war began, EU states have spent spent more on Russian fossil fuels than they've given to Ukraine in aid.In this episode, we discuss how countries and companies get around the UK and EU sanction regimes, and what this means for the ongoing conflict, as well as Europe (and the world's) transition to a cleaner, safer energy system.In the midst of a trade war and chall
1800 to the Present: a History of Britain's Energy Transition with Arthur Downing (Octopus Energy)
What can 200 years of energy history teach us about the energy revolution happening today? We are joined by Arthur Downing, Director of Strategy at Octopus and author of the forthcoming book Power and the People: a history of energy in Britain since 1800, to discuss how the energy system has changed in the 200 years since its inception, and what lessons we should learn as we try to build a new sys
Orsted vs Trump: what went wrong at the world's largest offshore wind company
Orsted is in crisis. Stock prices are down 86% since their 2021 high, and problems pile up as Trump has halted the construction of their latest Revolution Wind Farm off the Northeast Coast.Our host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, former UK government advisor and Cambridge Policy Fellow, unpacks the mistakes that Orsted made in its approach to the USA market and its poltical blindspots. He also covers what
Is Government Too Involved in Energy Markets? Batteries, renewables and the state with Ed Porter (Modo Energy)
Does government need to get out the way and let markets deliver net zero? Or is the state key to delivering the technologies we need for the future?This week is a crossover episode with the Modo Energy podcast, Transmission. Our host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, former government advisor at the UK Department for Energy and at No10 Downing Street, goes back and forth with Ed Porter, VP for Insights at M
What The Press Gets Wrong About Energy: journalism in an age of misiniformation with Simon Evans (Carbon Brief)
In an age of increasing misinformation it's becoming harder and harder to find what's truly going on in energy and climate. This week we sit down with Simon Evans, journalist from the Carbon Brief, and talk about everything from the Telegraph's anti-net zero obsession to the rise of AI content and how to communicate the facts when there's so much noise around.Hosted by Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, form
Energy Security in the 21st Century, with ex-NATO advisor Paul Domjan.
Energy security is changing. The war in Ukraine shattered complacency of many politicians in Europe and beyond, and laid bare the need to think radically differently about future energy security.This was no surprise to this week's guest, former NATO advisor and Founder of Enoda Paul Domjan, who has been thinking about the changing state of energy security for over 20 years. We cover everything
Is Offshore Wind in Crisis? A Global Stocktake with Rebecca Williams (GWEC)
This week we speak with Rebecca Williams, Deputy CEO at the Global Wind Energy Council, for a global deep dive into the state of offshore wind - and why there’s still reason for optimism.We unpack the wave of cancelled projects, rising interest rates, the return of Trump-era geopolitics, and what it all means for the future of offshore wind. From Europe to the US, China, South America, and Southea
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