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Redefining Energy

Laurent Segalen and Gerard Reid
Redefining Energy
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  • 198. Battery Blitz in Germany - Oct25
    Germany is experiencing a battery blitz. The market is expected to triple from 2GW to 6GW in less than two years. To give a bit of context, Zach Williams from Modo Energy, gives us the big picture and fundamentals of the German battery market.  Legacy developers have not yet been able to catch that wave, but newcomers have. We bring on one those new pioneers, Philipp Man, CEO of Terralayr.  In less than three years, Philipp has managed to set up a company which operates or currently builds 150MW of batteries in Germany; more importantly he has managed to sign some of the first tolling agreements with heavyweights such as Vattenfall and RWE. His approach combines medium size batteries (10-30MW) rather than gigantic ones.  The Vattenfall-Terralayr deal is a pioneering seven-year, 55 MW multi-asset capacity tolling agreement for a decentralized fleet of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across Germany, announced in May 2025. Described as an industry-first "virtual battery tolling structure," it marks a significant shift from traditional single-asset tolling models, enabling scalable and flexible energy storage solutions without significant capital investment from Vattenfall.  With Philipp, we dissect his lightspeed approach in a seemingly bureaucratic environment, we analyse how he has been to put assets on the ground so fast, and his approach to commercialisation of flexibility combining hard assets and a digital layer.  We discuss the price formation of tolling agreements, the “tranching” of capacity and how he sees the future. Is Terralayr a tech company? Is it an infrastructure play? Well, a bit of both.
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  • 197. The fight for accurate Carbon Accounting and 24/7 Green Power - Sep25
    With Gerard away, Laurent invited another Irishman, Killian Daly, to dive into a technical—but critically important—topic: carbon accounting, power procurement, the GHG Protocol (v3), and the push for 24/7 green energy.For as long as we can remember, companies have tried to boost their green credentials—high rewards if successful, limited consequences if they fall short. To curb exaggerated claims, standards like the GHG Protocol emerged.Laurent was part of the original task force that developed the first version of the GHG Protocol. He recalls the pivotal moment that led to the creation of Scope 2: an infamous visit to the Tomago aluminium smelter in Australia back in 2000. Fast forward two decades, and Killian Daly—now leading the forward-thinking organization EnergyTag—is driving efforts to embed 24/7 carbon accounting into the upcoming revision of Scope 2 of the GHG Protocol.It’s a crucial battle—for transparency, integrity, digital innovation, and sound economics. Opposing us are certain (not all) Big Tech companies, whose actual emissions far exceed their green marketing, and fossil fuel lobbyists doing their best to delay progress.But we are making progress—and we need your help. Join the fight. Reach out to Killian Daly at EnergyTag to see how you can get involved.https://energytag.org/And don’t miss a major event: Green Energy Procurement – 10th October in London, hosted with Renewabl, S&P Global, and Shoosmiths. Last year the event was 250% oversubscribed. This year’s venue is bigger—but spots are going fast.Secure your place now:https://www.renewabl.com/post/join-us-for-renewabl-day-2025-inside-the-ppa-market  
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  • 196. Are SAF and Marine Green Fuels worth the Carbon Reductions? - Sep25
    Aviation and marine transport together account for approximately 15% of global oil consumption—a substantial share driven by sectors that are among the hardest to decarbonize. Unlike road transport or power generation, these industries face unique constraints: the high energy density required, long operating ranges, and the limitations of onboard storage mean that electrification or hydrogen solutions remain technologically and economically unfeasible in the near to medium term.In response, policymakers and industry leaders are increasingly focusing on low-carbon liquid fuels as transitional solutions. Chief among these are Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), both of which can be used in existing infrastructure and engines with minimal modification. These fuels can be of biological origin—typically derived from waste oils, agricultural residues, or purpose-grown feedstocks—or synthetic origin, such as Power-to-Liquid (PtL) fuels produced via electrolysis and CO₂ capture.Globally, significant efforts are underway to scale up these alternatives. The European Union, for instance, has introduced blending mandates through the ReFuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime regulations, requiring a gradual increase in the share of SAF or other renewable fuels used in transport. These policies are supported by a range of subsidies, research programs, and emissions trading mechanisms (e.g., EU ETS inclusion for aviation and shipping), all designed to stimulate supply and demand for cleaner fuels.To help unpack the complex interplay of technical, economic, and regulatory challenges, we invited Callum McPherson, Chair of its Sustainable Business Forum and Head of Commodities at Investec, a London-based investment bank. With a mandate to structure and trade a wide array of fuels, Callum provides real-world insight into how these markets are evolving—and the limitations that remain.Some of the key topics Laurent and Gerard explored with Callum included: Which green fuels have realistic pathways to scale, and which are unlikely to work due to poor energy return on investment, unsustainable feedstocks, or prohibitively high costs? How will regional mandates, particularly those in the EU, impact global markets—and will they be enforceable in practice? What role will synthetic fuels play, given their dependence on clean electricity, high capital costs, and still-immature supply chains?What emerges is a highly nuanced picture. Despite the political momentum and technological progress, the fundamental economics remain challenging. Current estimates suggest that the cost of abating one tonne of CO₂ in these sectors can easily exceed €1,000 requiring considerable public support, whether stick or carrot.High costs and regulatory uncertainties are probably some of the reasons why Shell has decided not to complete the construction of a SAF refinery in Rotterdam.Laurent and Gerard conclude that while green fuels are a necessary part of the decarbonization toolkit, they are far from a silver bullet. The financial and ecological trade-offs are significant, and at current cost trajectories, these fuels will make only a marginal dent in overall emissions curves—at least in the near term.  Finally, an excellent book on the general topic of biofuels by Michael Grunwald:  "We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate."“The views and opinions expressed by Callum Macpherson are his own and are provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any financial products or commodities. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information discussed. Listeners should not place reliance on any of the information share, and we accept no responsibility or liability for any loss arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information. Commodities and other investments carry risks, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Before making any investment or financial decision, you should seek independent advice from a qualified professional, taking into account your own objectives and circumstances.”    
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  • 195. The Battery Doctor - Sep25
    Battery technology lies at the core of the global energy transition, but managing and optimizing battery systems has become a highly specialized discipline. ACCURE is a cutting-edge startup that is redefining how batteries are monitored and operated.Using artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and deep electrochemical expertise, ACCURE has established itself in the field of predictive battery analytics. The company currently supports over 6 gigawatt-hours of battery systems across various sectors including electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, marine applications, and insurance.In this episode, Gerard and Laurent are joined by Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies, CEO and co-founder of ACCURE, to explore How cloud-based analytics are driving advancements in battery safety, performance, and longevity.The conversation delves into the electrochemical processes occurring inside batteries and how sensors provide critical insights. We also examine the role of Battery Management Systems (BMS) and Energy Management Systems (EMS) as the digital infrastructure of battery operation and how predictive analytics represents a new category of operational capability for battery fleets.From early warning systems that prevent thermal runaway to precise lifetime predictions that influence asset financing, ACCURE demonstrates how data-driven insights can transform battery systems into safer, more efficient, and more profitable energy assets.Laurent and Gerard enjoy having dynamic start-ups on the show, that foster the Energy Transition.
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  • 194. Next-Gen Weather Forecasting: AI, Satellites, and Drones - Sep25
    Water, wind, sunlight — the driving forces behind renewable energy. The better we can predict them, the more we can accelerate progress and reduce risk.  Weather forecasting is undergoing a quantum leap, powered by breakthroughs in satellites, drones, and artificial intelligence. Once the exclusive domain of national weather services, the industry is now being transformed by a new wave of tech-driven startups. And the market is booming.  In this episode, Laurent and Gerard welcome Dr. Martin J. Fengler, a German mathematician and the founder and CEO of Meteomatics AG. Based in Switzerland, Meteomatics is a cutting-edge weather technology company with over 130 employees and a client base of 600 — including high-profile names like NASA, Lockheed Martin, Toyota, Tesla, and numerous utility companies. About 25% of its clients are in the energy sector.  Meteomatics stands out not only for its AI-driven weather models but also for its proprietary fleet of weather drones, capable of flying up to 6 kilometres high, delivering ultra-precise atmospheric data. The company has raised over $35 million in venture capital to date.  In our conversation, we explore the future of weather tech, its role in tackling climate change, the growing risks of extreme weather, surprising use cases — and yes, even wind theft.  Heads up: This one’s for the geeks.And at the end, Laurent sings for Lisa
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About Redefining Energy

Two investment bankers weekly explore how tech, finance, markets and regulations are radically redefining the world of energy: Renewable Energy, Electric Cars, Hydrogen, Battery Storage, Digitisation...Your co-hosts: from Berlin, Gerard Reid and from London, Laurent Segalen.Our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redefining-energy/X handle: @Redef_Energy
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