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From FORESIGHT Climate & Energy, Watt Matters is a podcast all about the energy transition and the shift to a decarbonised economy. Through biweekly debates and discussions on the energy transition in Europe, North America and around the world, Watt Matters focuses on how to achieve thriving renewable energy markets and liveable cities through the right mix of policy, regulation, finance and technology.
In 2016, FORESIGHT Climate & Energy was launched to help break down the silos of our carbon-based economy and connect the dots of the energy transition. Now we have launched Watt Matters, a podcast all about reaching net zero in the most practical and affordable way.
In each episode of Watt Matters, FORESIGHT Editor David Weston will be joined by Michaela Holl from Agora Energiewende and Jan Rosenow of the Regulatory Assistance Project, as well as regular guests from around the world, to discuss a different topic on the energy transition to a decarbonised economy.
We want to build a community of listeners that are just like us: passionate about moving the global energy transition forward, so please don’t hesitate to engage with us, give us feedback and share your recommendations for future topics and guests.Â
15 September 2023
The UK energy system has changed dramatically in the last two decades, with coal usage plummeting and big opportunities for renewables. But the country needs to go full speed ahead with renewable solutions to tackle the climate crisis and lower bills.
In each episode, policy expert Michaela Holl, energy expert Jan Rosenow and FORESIGHT Climate & Energy’s editor David Weston will delve into a different aspect of the energy transition
Michaela spent 16 years at the European Commission in the departments of health and consumer (2004-2009) and energy (2009-2021) where she covered inter alia renewables energy infrastructure, renewables finance and energy efficiency in buildings at great technical level. She was intimately involved in the Clean Energy Package discussions, the EU Green Deal and the EU s recovery plan. She has broad experience in EU decision making also from a second EU institution, since, prior to the European Commission, she worked as parliamentary assistant to Claude Turmes, today Luxemburg’s Energy Minister.
Since March 2021, she works as a Senior Associate at Agora Energiewende in Brussels, a non-profit think tank which seeks to advance the goal of climate neutrality in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world with evidence-based and politically viable ideas. Michaela holds a Master in European Economics and a diploma in international business and cultural studies. She is a guest lecturer on the energy transition at TU Munich School of Governance. When she manages to get away from energy twitter, she enjoys stand-up comedy, running, time in the community garden and cheering for her two sons at football matches.
Dr Jan Rosenow is a Principal and Director of European Programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a global team of highly-skilled energy experts. Jan has several board appointments including the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and the Coalition for Energy Savings. Jan also has a passion for energy research. He is an Honorary Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. In recognition of his work within the field, Jan was named one of the world’s Top 25 energy influencers and has been appointed Special Advisor to the House of Commons as part of their inquiry into decarbonising heating. He is a regular commentator in the national and international media and has been an expert witness to the European Parliament and the House of Commons on many occasions.
David Weston is an experienced journalist with a focus on renewable energy and wider business reporting. Based in London, he has written extensively for Windpower Monthly, a global publication, most recently as News Editor with responsibility for the daily digital news feed. David has online, print, audio, and video experience. He has previously covered consumer news, local affairs, and national politics.
1 September 2023
A rooftop solar boom combined with inefficient buildings and a stubborn fossil fuel industry makes Australia’s energy transition complex and critical. To discuss the ins and outs of this, David, Jan, and Michaela are joined by Luke Menzel of Australia’s Energy Efficiency Council.
28 July 2023
As we reach the summer break, Jan, Michaela and David reflect on the year so far, what we have missed and what needs to be focussed on for the rest of the year.
14 July 2023
The solar industry is in a bullish mood despite negativity around the rest of the economy.
30 June 2023
Flaring, venting and leaky infrastructure in the energy sector are leading to climate-killing carbon dioxide and methane escaping into the atmosphere – one EU law is trying to prevent this.
16 June 2023
Once combined and electrified, the millions of homes everywhere could provide substantial flexibility capacity to support grid operators integrate increasing levels of green electricity.
2 June 2023
There are many ways district heating systems could benefit from greater coupling with industrial processes. But barriers remain, meaning opportunities to decarbonise are being missed.
19 May 2023
Tired of waiting for big energy companies to procure clean energy, energy communities are clubbing together to take advantage of the low prices renewable energy offers.
5 May 2023
Decarbonising the heating sector will rely heavily on the heat pump sector. This week’s episode looks at how the sector is shaping up to the challenge.
21 April 2023
Decarbonising is easy when a regulator can set rules and regulations for the territory it oversees. But how do you convince other countries or regions to go green? A new hybrid trade and climate superweapon recently created by the EU aims to solve that conundrum. Get ready for the CBAM.
5 April 2023
With significant buying power, corporations and businesses can support the development of energy efficiency measures faster than households.
24 March 2023
With a buying power significantly stronger than the general public, corporations are looking to buy up solar capacity through power purchase agreements (PPAs) to help decarbonise their activities. But the market, and the regulations, are not yet ready.
10 March 2023
Wind power will be central to the energy transition, but it’s currently stuck in the mire. Unsticking itself is all but straightforward.
24 February 2023
Green hydrogen’s role in the energy transition is a given, but just how far and how fast the technology will spread remains up for debate.
10 February 2023
Despite the ongoing energy crises, the use of coal and gas over this winter has not increased as much as some feared. Europe is on the verge of breaking its addiction to fossil fuels.
16 December 2022
This week’s special live recording of Watt Matters comes from Eurelectric’s offices in Brussels, where the team is joined by Ditte Juul Jorgensen and three trade association chiefs to discuss ways Europe’s electricity market is dealing with the shocks of the past 12 months while securing and stabilising the sector for the future.
9 December 2022
With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the United States is unleashing billions of dollars to promote climate solutions and clean energy technology.
25 November 2022
Following yet another round of COP negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, only limited progress again was made in the global effort to keep global warming limited to 1.5C. This week, the team discusses the value of these negotiations in the quest to avoid catastrophic climate change.
11 November 2022
With solar photovoltaic technology now established, creative new schemes—both technical and financial—are being developed across the globe. In this episode of Watt Matters, we discuss how innovative the solar industry has become and where there is work still left to do.
28 October 2022
Citizens across Europe are concerned about their heating bills as a result of the energy price crisis, but sustainable heating and cooling do not yet receive much attention in the EU’s agenda.
14 October 2022
The sales of electric vehicles continue to rise globally, but much more needs to be done to deploy charging infrastructure.
30 September 2022
In this episode of Watt Matters, we make sense of the short and long-term measures that Brussels is proposing to alleviate Europe’s energy price crisis and its impact on the EU’s energy companies.
16 September 2022
Europe has set ambitious objectives in its energy transition, but the continent risks not having the workforce to make it happen.
2 September 2022
Economic constraints and public acceptance remain two of the biggest challenges to mass deployment of carbon capture technologies in Europe. A unified CCS strategy in Europe could change this.
29 July 2022
Europe can have an almost completely decarbonised power sector by 2035, new research suggests.Â
15 July 2022
The world needs trillions of dollars in investments to slow down climate change and fulfil the objectives of the Paris Agreement, but simply throwing money at the problem will not be enough. To harness the force of climate finance, it needs to be made with a just transition in mind.Â
1 July 2022
This week, we are joined by Jesse Jenkins, assistant professor at Princeton University, to talk about the challenges and the opportunities for the energy transition in the United States and lessons from Europe’s energy crisis.Â
17 June 2022
As the hot topic of the moment, in this episode of Watt Matters, we examine how energy efficiency policies and measures are being treated around the world.Â
3 June 2022
This week, the European consumer organisation’s (BEUC) Monique Goyens joins the team to discuss how consumers are taking an increasingly active role in the energy transition.Â
20 May 2022
This week, DNV’s CEO of Energy Systems Ditlev Engel joins Watt Matters to talk about energy systems thinking and why a holistic approach is needed to make the energy transition happen.Â
6 May 2022
This week, Yamina Saheb, lead author for the IPCC, joins the team to discuss whether a shift in mindset can help accelerate the energy transition.
22 April 2022
On Watt Matters this week, Monica Morawiecka from the Regulatory Assistance Project and Julian Popov, a fellow of the European Climate Foundation, discuss what is required to make eastern Europe’s energy transition a reality.
8 April 2022
In this week’s episode, the team is joined by Gniewomir Flis from Energy Revolution Ventures. We examine the hype that surrounds green hydrogen and what role, if any, it can have in the energy transition.
25 March 2022
This week, we are joined by Peter Sweatman, chief executive at Climate Strategy & Partners, to discuss how to make energy efficiency measures more attractive and ensure investment is directed to the right areas.
18 March 2022
In episode 7, the team are joined by Alix Chambris and Brian Vad Mathiesen to discuss the potential pathways to decarbonise heating in Europe.Â
11 March 2022
Our guest this week is Kristian Ruby, secretary-general of Eurelectric, to discuss what role the energy market can play in shutting off Russian influence, what that means for energy consumers across Europe and the energy transition.Â
25 February 2022
This week, Jan, Michaela and David are joined by Jorge Vasconcelos, chair of New Energy Solutions (NEWES) and part of the Florence School of Regulation. Jorge tells us how electricity market design is essential in getting clean energy to where it is needed.Â
18 February 2022
In this episode, Jan, Michaela and David are joined by Claudia Kemfert, professor of energy economics and energy policy at the German Institute for Economic Research and Leuphana University to discuss how Germany’s new government, and its economy, are tackling the energy transition.
4 February 2022
The changing role of consumers, the rise of distributed energy and the advent of digital technology are forcing utilities to change how they operate. In this episode of Watt Matters, we speak to Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy.
17 December 2021
In this episode, joined by Dennis Hesseling from the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), we talk about what has caused the latest energy crisis, how Europe can avoid a similar situation from happening again and how the European Union has reacted. We also touch on the future of gas infrastructure and discuss the idea of whether green hydrogen can act as a replacement.
3 December 2021
In this episode, David, Michaela and Jan discuss where we are, how we got here and where we are going as the global economy continues its quest to ditch carbon emissions by mid-century.
2 December 2021
Listen to the trailer for the new podcast Watt Matters, bringing biweekly debates and discussions on the energy transition in Europe, North America and around the world.