Keep calm and deploy solar (and batteries) – with James Allston and Marko Topič
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of high fossil fuel costs on businesses and explores the potential of solar and battery technology as a solution.
With the Strait of Hormuz disruption continuing to drive fossil-fuel costs higher, businesses big and small have been left looking for ways to cut energy costs. But, in contrast to energy crises of the past, today’s clean energy technology is mature, cost competitive, and ready to fill the gap. This week on the pod, we speak to James Allston of Orkestra Energy for a view on how European businesses are responding to sustained high electricity prices and growing volatility. Rather than reacting to headlines, he explains how structural forces – from rising network charges to falling battery costs – are accelerating the business case for solar and storage. We unpack how local market dynamics, in leading commercial and industrial (C&)I marketplaces such as the United Kingdom and Germany, are shaping very different “value stacks” for batteries, including managing peak demand, navigating negative pricing, and optimizing behind-the-meter savings. We also explore the next frontier for commercial energy users: EV fleets with integrated on-site solar and storage. As grid capacity tightens and electrification accelerates, this convergence will likely shape how businesses think about both…
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