Ep.249 The Data Centre Surge: AI’s Impact on Power Demand and Grid Planning
In this episode, we explore how the explosive growth of AI is driving a rapid expansion of data centres, and how this surge is reshaping power systems and energy infrastructure around the world. Richard Howard, Aurora’s Global Research Director, is joined by Malavika Gode, Senior Associate in our UK Advisory team, to unpack the energy implications of this accelerating global trend and what it means for the future of electricity systems.
Main topics include:
The projected surge in power demand from data centres globally, and what’s driving it
Key factors influencing where data centres are being built and how location decisions intersect with grid challenges
How data centres are sourcing power today and what needs to happen for their growth to be sustainable
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EP.248 Harrison Moore on the Investment Landscape in Australia
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Harrison Moore, Head of Energy and Renewables at Azure Capital. He joins our Head of Australia, Weije Mak and Laura Perez del Olmo, Advisory Associate in our Sydney office to discuss the investment landscape in Australia for power and renewable assets.
Harrison has over 15 years of experience in corporate advisory, working across a wide variety of engagements, including M&A and capital raisings, in particular within the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. He has extensive utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) experience, involving assets across all stages of development.
Main topics include the following:
The current investment landscape in Australia and the technologies attracting the most investor interest
The impact of government tenders on financing assets in Australia
Global uncertainty around the Green Energy Transition and what it means for Australia
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EP.247 Rosheen McGuckian, CEO, NTR
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Rosheen McGuckian, CEO, NTR. She joins our Head of Research for Western Europe & India, Marc Hedin, and Steph Unsworth, Research Senior Associate in our Oxford office, to discuss the consequences of grid constraints in European countries.
Rosheen serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NTR, a leading investor and asset manager in Europe’s transition to clean energy. With over 25 years of experience and more than 3 GW of clean power investments, NTR’s expert interdisciplinary team now oversees 1.4 GW of clean energy and storage assets across seven European markets, operating on behalf of three investment funds.
Main topics include the following:
Impact on Internal Rate of Return (IRR), debt sizing, and project viability in project risk management
Battery deployment as a potential solution in countries with weak grid infrastructure
Characteristics of a bankable renewables project with unremunerated constraints in 2030 in Europe
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EP.246 Jürgen Mayerhofer, CEO & Co-Founder, enspired
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Jürgen Mayerhofer, CEO & Co-Founder of enspired. He joins our Managing Director for Iberia & LATAM, Ana Barillas, to discuss battery optimisation.
Jürgen holds an MBA in energy management and has worked in the energy sector for 20 years, contributing to the expansion of renewables in the grid in various expert positions. Under his leadership, enspired has evolved from a small-scale startup into a trusted institution with dozens of in-house specialists for AI trading services in Europe’s short-term power markets.
Main topics include the following:
How are battery optimisation and battery trading different?
What does it take to unlock dependable revenues and finance for storage at scale?
What challenges does co-location bring to the optimisation of a battery and what strategies can be pursued to overcome them?
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EP.245 Matt Grover on Battery Dispatch and Economics
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Matt Grover, Director of Energy Markets at Fluence in Australia. He joins our Managing Director for APAC, Hugo Batten, and our Head of Research in APAC, James Ha, to discuss battery dispatch and economics.
At Fluence in Australia, Matt leads the team responsible for the company’s Mosaic software product, which supports dozens of renewable generators and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) assets in trading on the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). Prior to joining Fluence, Matt held roles at AMS, EnelX, and EnerNOC. He brings over a decade of experience in Australia's NEM market operations.
Main topics include the following:
Key features of NEM’s market design and generation mix, and future changes at a system level
The role of battery dispatch software in overall business cases
Battery economics including merchant dispatch, offtake contracts, and virtual tolls
Welcome to ‘Energy Unplugged by Aurora’, a mix of in-depth conversations with key international industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, sharing their unique perspectives on the global energy transition.
Hosted by various Aurora experts, we explore the hottest topics and trends across the energy landscape. From renewables, battery storage, and grid integration, to hydrogen, commodity markets, and technology innovation, our high-profile guests weigh in with their valuable insights.
Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the energy industry, with a new episode released every week!
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