The Clean Energy Revolution

Overhead power lines transmit the vital electricity that our homes and businesses, schools and hospitals need. They’re exposed to all the elements - storms, winds, hail and snow - so someone needs to make sure they can withstand whatever is thrown at them. Thankfully there’s a team of people who do this 24/7 – lineworkers. The UK’s transmission network has 7000km of overhead lines - lay the cables end-to-end and you’d get halfway to Australia. Laura Young, a.k.a Less-Waste Laura, chats to training instructor Thomas Norris, about how he leads his teams through extreme weather to keep the power on. Tom talks a day in the life of a lineworker, the training process and what it takes to climb the pylons and keep the network resilient. In the US, Carolyn Kissane talks with Amy Broz, one of only two women lineworkers at National Grid in New York State. Her work involves emergency response, keeping electricity systems live in storms, after disasters and accidents. Amy talks role models, how the work has changed since the 1990s, and explains how mentorship is crucial for encouraging women in trades, community service and utilities. If you think you have what it takes to serve the community by keeping power on through emergencies, you’ll find everything you need to know here: https://www.nationalgrid.com/about-us

In this special edition of The Clean Energy Revolution, we bring you highlights from a panel discussion, ‘Women Leading the Energy Transition’, hosted at New York University during Climate Week. The discussion is moderated by Sandy Grace, Vice President of US Policy and Regulatory Strategy for National Grid, who sits down to talk with women working in various roles addressing the clean energy transition. You’ll hear from panellists including Naomi Boness (Stanford University), Hadia Sheerazi (Rocky Mountain Institute), Amy Myers Jaffe (NYU), and one of this podcast’s co-hosts Dr. Carolyn Kissane (NYU), as they share their career journeys, current challenges, and opportunities needed to ensure a robust, equitable and sustainable energy transition. Be sure to tune in to hear about the impactful work happening in policy, academia, NGOs, and startups, as well as the incredible and inspirational stories of some of the women at the forefront of the energy transition. This special episode is not to be missed.

The role of technology in the energy transition has been talked about for years. In a speech at the Leaders Summit on Climate in 2021, International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol said: “IEA analysis shows that about half the reductions to get to net zero emissions in 2050 will need to come from technologies that are not yet ready for market. This calls for massive leaps in innovation. Innovation across batteries, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, carbon capture and many other technologies.” So what major advances in technology have we seen in the industry since that speech? And what role does current technology have in driving innovation in the industry? From Google’s AI-driven efficiency programs to cutting-edge technologies improving grid performance, this month we’re looking at the tech that’s needed to accelerate the path to net zero. Carolyn and Laura are joined by Neil Osborne, Google’s Chief Energy Evangelist (yes that’s the real title), as he shares how the company is using AI to optimise energy usage. As Carolyn explains, data centres are energy-hungry. So at the same time they’re saving energy with AI optimisations, they’re using it. How are companies like Google addressing this dilemma? Other key technologies discussed in this episode are: Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR): This technology is already helping National Grid to unlock up to 40% extra capacity for electricity to flow safely through their power lines. We speak to Alex Houghtaling from DLR operator LineVision to find out more. Smart Conductors: Jason Huang from TS Conductor joins Laura and discusses revolutionary smart conductor technology that measures temperature and sag in real time. This can help utilities push more power through the grid safely and optimise capacity, aiding the global transition to renewables. Battery Storage Safety: Eric Stein from Viridi explains how advanced lithium-ion battery storage systems, initially developed for NASA, are making grid storage safer and more reliable. AI for Grid Maintenance: National Grid uses AI to monitor and maintain the condition of its infrastructure, from predicting the impacts of climate change on vital assets to analysing the network via autonomous drones. Gary Stockdale, National Grid’s Net Zero Innovation Manager, discusses how innovation is helping them to work smarter in the mission to net zero.

Connecting more clean energy projects to the electricity grid is one of the most critical issues in driving the clean energy transition. Legacy ‘first come first served’ approaches, along with a rapid growth in the number of projects looking to connect, have led to stalled, or "zombie" projects waiting in the queue to be connected - so what’s being done to resolve this? Across the world, it's estimated we'll need 11,000 gigawatts by 2030 to triple renewable energy capacity. In the UK, electricity capacity may need to double by 2030 to achieve net zero goals, and in the US, renewable electricity deployment needs to significantly ramp up to achieve a zero-carbon energy supply. To discuss the rise in connection applications and the plans to accommodate them, Laura speaks to Ruth Shaw, Customer and Stakeholder Experience Manager in Electricity Transmission at National Grid. Together they look at groundbreaking projects like Dogger Bank – the world’s largest offshore wind farm – and how these projects are providing the blueprint for a streamlined connections process. On the other side of the Atlantic, Carolyn is joined by Sandy Grace, Vice President of US Policy and Regulatory Strategy for National Grid, to uncover how the US is tackling similar challenges. Innovative solutions like bi-directional flows and vehicle-to-grid technology are poised to revolutionize the grid. Sandy explains how they work, and analyses the need for regulatory reforms to speed up connections to the grid. Find out more about the upgrades to the grid happening in the UK and US at https://www.nationalgrid.com/the-great-grid-upgrade and https://upstateupgrade.nationalgrid.com/

The Global Wind Energy Council forecasts that, with sustained policy support and investment, global wind capacity could reach 2,000 GW by 2030. This would be a significant contribution to net zero goals, so what does this sustained policy support look like? Where does the investment need to go, and where are we seeing innovation in the sector? On The Clean Energy Revolution, Carolyn and Laura explore the policy, technological advancements, investment needs, and the pivotal role of international cooperation in developing wind power. Laura is in Bilbao at the WindEurope annual conference. WindEurope, formerly the European Wind Energy Association, represents manufacturers, suppliers, utilities, developers and research institutes to develop and advocate for wind power in Europe. Giles Dickson is CEO, and he joins Laura as the conference gets underway. Together they highlight the role of the North Sea as a pivotal energy hub for Europe, as Giles talks about the need for increased cooperation among North Sea bordering countries to maximize the region's wind energy potential. What does the wind sector look like on the East side of the Atlantic? Meanwhile, Carolyn is in New York, with Will Hazelip, President of National Grid Ventures for the U.S. Northeast, to discuss the outlook for wind power in the region. Wind power in the US has seen substantial growth in the last two decades; 6 terawatt-hours in 2000 to 434 in 2022. What’s the potential for growth over the next decade, and beyond? Major projects such as South Fork Wind Farm and Vineyard Wind show the scale of ambition in the north-east, and the progress that’s being made to the 30GW target for 2030 set by the Biden administration. Carolyn and Will examine the state cooperation and policy support for offshore wind projects – projects that are perfectly placed to provide New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC with firm, reliable clean energy. As of the end of 2022, the UK's offshore wind capacity stood at over 10 GW, contributing significantly to the country's renewable energy mix. The UK government aims to add an extra 40 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 to meet increasing electricity demands and sustainability goals. Across Europe, the goal is 300 GW by 2030. The main talking points to come out of the WindEurope event, as Laura explains, are the complexities of scaling wind energy, the necessity of robust commercial frameworks, the impact of NIMBYism, and the crucial aspect of community engagement in wind projects. Katie Jackson, President of NGV, and Matt Hinde, Head of European Affairs, also join this episode to explore these key points: the critical need for substantial investment and development in wind energy to meet future electricity demands, the importance of state cooperation and international collaboration to harness wind power effectively, and the significant challenges posed by supply chain issues, regulatory hurdles, and community opposition.

It's going to be a significant year for clean energy. In 2024, countries are expected to update or submit new nationally determined contributions - their commitments to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The International Energy Agency has highlighted the need for significant increases in renewable energy deployment to meet these climate goals, projecting that renewable power capacity must double by 2030. This means an annual increase of around 300 GW over the next decade, compared to 2020's record of 250 GW of added renewable energy capacity. All this against a backdrop of pivotal elections around the world which will have a major impact on energy policy. So what needs to happen this year to keep us track for net zero? Laura and Carolyn get season 3 of the Clean Energy Revolution underway by making three bold predictions for the year in energy. The pledges made at COP28 last year are still a major focus, with the UAE's $30 billion fund to support climate-friendly projects worldwide and a commitment to triple renewable generation by 2030 standing out. National Grid delegates also gave us their predictions while in Dubai, and Laura and Carolyn analyse these at the end of the show. What else can we expect from the year? Find out on The Clean Energy Revolution. Discover more about National Grid at www.nationalgrid.com

The transition to cleaner, greener energy means that big changes are needed to the infrastructure that keeps it flowing to our homes and businesses. So how are these changes making a difference to the workforce of today - and of tomorrow? In this episode of The Clean Energy Revolution, Max finds out about: New York’s Community Offshore Wind project, which could create up to 10,000 new jobs in the Northeast US. The innovation needed to ‘upgrade’ the UK’s electricity grid, and how it will lead to new ways of working in a digital age. Why a huge range of skills and roles - not just engineering and construction - will be essential for a successful energy transition and a cleaner future. Discover more about National Grid at www.nationalgrid.com The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not of National Grid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Clean Energy Revolution, Max La Manna discovers new ways that people and businesses can reduce their carbon emissions and the energy they use, and asks what this could mean for our homes and lifestyles – as well as for the planet. In the studio, Max is joined by Tristram Stuart - a writer and expert on the environmental and social impacts of food – as well as self-titled ‘Food Waste Disruptor’ Martyn Odell, aka @lagomchef, for a chat about low-energy cooking and how food waste contributes to global emissions. In Glasgow, Laura Young, aka @LessWasteLaura, visits a nightclub that gets its energy from harnessing the body heat generated by clubbers. She also talks to young people from the 2050 Climate Group about how the city has been affected since hosting COP26, and how they’re changing their own lifestyles to become greener. Discover more about National Grid at https://www.nationalgrid.com/ Less Waste Laura: https://www.lesswastelaura.com/ Tristram Stuart: https://www.tristramstuart.co.uk/ Martyn Odell: https://www.lagomchef.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not of National Grid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a new year, and Max La Manna is taking a look at the ways clean energy is heading in 2023 and beyond. We’ll hear predictions from experts across the energy landscape on what they think the next year - and the coming decades - will hold. Those predictions will be dissected and discussed by three energy leaders: Emma Pinchbeck - CEO of Energy UK, Dr. Shini Somara – mechanical engineer and broadcaster, and Keith Stephens - Group Corporate Affairs Director at National Grid. They discuss the technologies and innovations that are leading the future of clean energy, as well as how advances in hydrogen, EVs, renewable energy and generation-defining legislation could determine how soon we achieve net zero. What will enhance the energy sector in 2023? How will countries collaborate in the fight to reduce global emissions? And what exactly is space-based solar? Find out on The Clean Energy Revolution. Discover more about National Grid at https://www.nationalgrid.com/ Find out about Energy UK: https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/ Find out about Dr. Shini Somara: http://www.drshinisomara.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not of National Grid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Clean Energy Revolution from National Grid, Max La Manna explores our energy systems as we move towards a net zero world. In this episode, Max takes a look at the different ways our energy supplies are being kept secure and resilient–both now and into the future. With all the challenges in the world today–extreme weather, climate change, cyber threats, global politics - this is anything but straightforward. So Max guides us through the projects and innovations helping to protect our supplies. We chat with Dan Stevens, National Grid's Group Vice President for Resilience and Crisis Management. He’s passionate about finding solutions to difficult problems, and gives an insight into how we address major challenges, from hurricanes to cyber attacks. Then it’s off to the Budweiser Brewing Group's Magor Brewery in Wales, for a guided tour by Lloyd Manship, plant manager, and Tom Brewer from the global brewing innovation technology team. They’re passionate about renewable energy; not only have they built the UK’s largest onshore wind turbine, but they have dozens of energy-saving projects at all stages of their brewing process. Back in London, Max talks to Rebecca Sedler-commercial director and part of the interconnectors team at National Grid. We find out how electricity is shared between countries, enabling renewable energy to be used more effectively than ever, and balancing supplies if energy runs low. Next we talk energy storage with Charlie Blair, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based company Gravitricity. Max and Charlie discuss how renewable energy might be stored in the future–could the solution be weights suspended in mineshafts? Finally it’s back to the USA. With weather conditions becoming more extreme, how will the energy networks cope? Max talks ice, heat and storms with Natasha Deschene, vice president of Electric Asset Management Engineering at National Grid. Charlie Blair is MD at Gravitricity Budweiser Brewing Group's Magor Brewery is located in Magor, South Wales Discover more about National Grid at www.nationalgrid.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time on the Clean Energy Revolution from National Grid, Max La Manna is finding out how we can learn from science and nature to come up with solutions for a cleaner, greener future. We’ve come a long way from the days of windmills and watermills, with our oceans becoming vast sources of wind power, and development along our coastlines allowing us to process and transport renewable energy around nations. But how can we look at natural processes to better lock away carbon, and how important is it to make sure that when we’re building for the future, nature and habitats still have their place? Reporter, Physicist and Oceanographer Helen Czerski takes to the road to discuss kelp restoration and the truth about ocean carbon capture with Marine Ecologist Dr Ian Hendy from the University of Portsmouth. Cirhan Truswell is Climate Change Manager at National Grid. She joins Max in the studio to discuss how future-proofing our energy infrastructure also means considering and caring for the environments it exists in. We take a tour around BioteCH4, an anaerobic digestion plant in Lincolnshire that’s powering a local industrial estate on food waste alone! Still puzzled about what biogas actually is and how it works for our energy? Monica Kabel from National Grid joins Patrick Serfass from the American Biogas Council to talk about how the US is making this kind of energy a big part of their fossil-free vision for the future. If you’d like to keep track of it all, you can visit nationalgrid.com to follow our world’s clean energy story as it happens and find out how it’s part of your world right now. You can start your own conversation by sharing this podcast on social media or with a friend. You can find out more about the organisations and initiatives involved in this podcast episode via the links below: Dr Ian Hendy discusses Sea Kelp restoration in the Solent The Sussex Kelp Restoration Project The American Biogas Council BioteCH4 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Season 2 of The Clean Energy Revolution podcast, Max La Manna takes a look at the role energy plays in tackling the negative effects of climate change. As countries around the world aim to reach net zero emissions, Max discovers how the world will be powered in the next 30 years as we work towards a future that doesn't contribute to global warming. Along the way we’ll meet inspiring people who are embracing new technology to make their lives, homes and businesses cleaner and greener, as well as the experts developing the technology, who explain how our lives will be transformed and how we can get involved. From the electricity we use in our homes and offices, to our transport, shops, schools, hospitals and factories, the energy we use to fuel our everyday life is getting greener and cleaner. National Grid has a crucial role to play, as they supply energy to homes across the UK and the Northeast United States -meaning they’re at the heart of connecting all of us to a greener future. Are you ready to be part of the revolution? Join Max for your definitive guide to the net zero energy transition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In The Clean Energy Revolution from National Grid, Helen Skelton talks to brilliant individuals for inspiring ideas on how we can make sure the energy we use is clean and green. A huge part of transitioning our energy system is making sure that we stop emitting carbon dioxide and harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. But we also need to think about how we can remove it too. This time Helen’s chatting with experts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and finding out about the East Coast Cluster project – the UK’s model for decarbonising energy in our most heavily industrialised areas. And we travel to a peat bog in South Wales to find out how this restoration project is setting a course to limit further carbon emissions and even lock it away for the future. Dr Jeanette Whitaker from UKCEH and Bilal Ahmed from the Northern Endurance Partnership discuss the different approaches to tackling carbon in our atmosphere, from land-based natural solutions to technical and engineered approaches, even repurposing under-sea mines and aquifers for storage! Dr Rob Low from Rigare Ltd. takes us for a squelchy walk around the Hirwaun peat bog in South Wales, to explain how this National Grid restoration project is adding biodiversity to a heavily industrialised area. And Katharine Kerr chats to wetland scientist Annette Burden to find out how “Blue Carbon” research and restoration projects could hold the key to locking away carbon long-term. Useful links: https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/journey-to-net-zero-stories/working-smarter-get-net-zero https://www.nationalgrid.com/powerofall https://www.ceh.ac.uk https://eastcoastcluster.co.uk https://www.netzeroteesside.co.uk/northern-endurance-partnership/ https://twitter.com/rigareltd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.