The Energy Revolution

As the energy system becomes more weather-dependent, matching supply with demand becomes a more of a geographic challenge. Wind, solar and hydro are spread across different geographies, weather systems and time zones. A cleaner, cheaper and more resilient power system will therefore need to be more connected.

In this episode, Simon Ludlam, founder of Etchea Energy, joins host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett to discuss the role of interconnectors in the energy transition. Simon is a veteran of the interconnector industry, with experience developing major projects linking Britain, Ireland and continental Europe.

They cover how interconnectors work, what it takes to build them, and why international trust matters when countries share critical energy infrastructure.

They also discuss UK-EU energy cooperation after Brexit, interconnection in Europe and Asia, and whether a transatlantic electricity cable could one day connect Europe and North America.

Keywords:

Interconnectors | Electricity Grids | Energy Security | Renewables | North Sea | Grid Infrastructure | Clean Energy | Energy Markets | UK Energy | Europe

China is already central to the global clean energy story. It dominates renewable technology manufacturing, leads the world on EVs and batteries, and is often described as the emerging “electrostate”. But we tend to hear much less about China’s own electricity system.

So how does it work?
Why has electricity been so important to China’s economic growth?
And what can the UK and Europe learn from the way China is reforming its power markets?

This week, Professor Michael Pollitt from Cambridge University joins host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett to unpack the past, present and future of China’s electricity system.

They discuss the scale of Chinese power demand, the role of provincial electricity markets, how China combines state ownership with competition, the politics of coal and renewables, and why China may become one of the most important testing grounds for the future of electricity market design.

Keywords:
China | Electricity Markets | Electrification | Renewables | Energy Security | Power Systems | Clean Energy | Energy Transition | Market Reform |

This week we’re talking about energy bills.

The UK has some of the highest electricity prices in theworld, and global events are once again pushing oil and gas markets into the headlines. But what actually drives the cost of energy in Britain? How will the latest crisis in the Middle East feed through to household bills? And does the price cap really protect consumers in the way people think?

This week, Kate Mulvany joins host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett tounpack how the UK energy market really works. Kate has worked for industry leaders such as Centrica and Cornwall Insights, and is now Director at Mulvany Consulting.

They discuss why gas still has such a big impact on electricity prices, how policy and infrastructure costs end up on bills, and why there is no single switch government can pull to make energy cheap overnight.
 

Keywords:
Energy Bills | Price Cap | Energy Prices | Gas | Electricity| Renewables | Fuel Poverty | Energy Security | UK Energy | Net Zero

A few weeks ago, Tony Blair published an essay arguing that the UK should focus less on clean power, and more on cheap power. But is that really the choice Britain faces?

And in a world of rising electricity demand, data centres, expensive gas, and growing pressure on the grid, what would genuinely cheap power actually look like?

This week, Andrew Sissons returns to the podcast to join host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett for a conversation about the politics and economics behind Blair’s argument.

They discuss the growing influence of AI on energy policy, why US-style energy abundance does not easily translate to the UK, whether gas can really provide cheap power, and why clean electricity is still Britain’s best route to lower bills and higher growth.

Keywords: Tony Blair | AI | Cheap Power | Clean Power | Growth | Electricity Prices | Data Centres | Renewables | Gas | Net Zero | UK Energy

This week we have a special episode of The Energy Revolution Podcast, as we’re joined by Chris Stark, Head of the UK’s Clean Power Mission, to discuss the UK’s plan to build a clean power system by 2030.

What has the Clean Power Mission achieved so far? And how can the UK make sure clean power translates into lower bills, greater energy security and a more electrified economy?

Chris and our host, Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett, discuss what it is like working at the centre of government on one of the UK’s biggest infrastructure challenges, why the next phase of the mission is about demand as well as supply, and what it would take for Britain to become an “electrostate”.

They also cover electricity prices, the industrial opportunities from clean power, and how the UK’s energy transition fits into the wider global picture.

Keywords:

Clean Power 2030 | Chris Stark | Energy Security | Electricity Prices | Grid | Renewables | Electrification | Net Zero | Industrial Strategy | UK Energy