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Redefining Energy - TECH

Podcast Redefining Energy - TECH
Michael Barnard
Redefining Energy - Tech, a channel of the award-winning Redefining Energy podcast, features deep and broad conversations between global decarbonization leaders...

Available Episodes

5 of 42
  • 41. The HVDC Grid Revolution (1/2)
    Michael Barnard invites John Fitzgerald, the CEO of Supernode. John delves into the transformative potential of energy transmission technologies and the critical role of interconnectors in shaping the future of renewable energy. Drawing from his extensive background in engineering and utility management, Fitzgerald recounts his journey in the energy sector, which includes developing power stations, trading over interconnectors, and spearheading the East West Interconnector project between Ireland and the UK. His leadership at Supernode reflects his commitment to advancing superconducting transmission technology as a solution to modern energy challenges.Fitzgerald discusses the inherent limitations of alternating current (AC) transmission, particularly for underground and underwater cables, and highlights the advantages of direct current (DC) technology for long-distance energy distribution. He explains the technical intricacies of DC systems, including their capacity to manage inertia and integrate non-synchronous renewable energy. Throughout the episode, Fitzgerald emphasizes the need to address public consultation challenges in infrastructure projects to ensure the successful deployment of energy transmission networks.A central theme of the conversation is the evolving role of interconnectors. Once primarily used to exploit price differences between energy markets, interconnectors are now crucial for balancing variable renewable energy across regions. Fitzgerald explores the immense potential of continental-scale grids in Europe and advocates for tripling grid capacity to meet future energy demands. He also highlights groundbreaking projects like Sun Cable, which aims to connect Australia to Singapore, and the NATO-L project, which envisions transatlantic power transmission, underscoring the benefits of intercontinental energy connectivity for enhancing energy security.The episode concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the energy transition. Fitzgerald calls for greater investment in HVDC technology, praises China's advancements in this area, and urges listeners to stay informed about opportunities to integrate renewables through interconnectors. By fostering interconnected grids, he argues, the global energy landscape can achieve greater efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.
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  • 40: Buses - Hydrogen vs Batteries (2/2)
    In this second part of the episode, Michael Raynor and Michael Barnard offer an in-depth analysis of the comparison between hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric buses, focusing on key findings and discrepancies in a recent CUTRIC study. Barnard critically examines issues related to replacement cycles, carbon pricing, refuelling facilities and individual bus complexity. He highlights the study’s failure to account for technological advancements in batteries, such as decreasing costs and improving lifespans, which position battery electric buses as a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.  Raynor digs into financial projections and the challenges of managing multiple bus technologies in transit systems like Brampton’s. He applies his expertise related to scenario-based planning, gained in his Harvard DBA and published in his 2007 book, The Strategy Paradox, pointing out flaws in CUTRIC’s use of point estimates without error bars. Raynor notes the complexity involved in maintaining hydrogen buses, both in terms of infrastructure and organizational demands, compared to simpler battery systems. He raises concerns about Brampton’s decision to move forward with a potentially expensive and inefficient hydrogen pilot, citing a $1.1 billion discrepancy caused by timing assumptions in hydrogen bus deployment.  Raynor also explores how the study’s reliance on discounting future costs skews financial comparisons between the two technologies. He discusses the need for carbon emissions to be integrated into transit planning decisions and contrasts CUTRIC’s analysis with the EU’s more sophisticated approach to carbon pricing.  The episode concludes with Raynor’s personal reflection on the difficulties of tackling climate challenges while underscoring the importance of rigorous evaluation processes in transit planning. Raynor and Barnard call for Brampton’s transit proposals to undergo third-party reviews and improved quality control to ensure transparency and better decision-making.    
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  • 39: Buses - Hydrogen vs Batteries (1/2)
    In this episode, host Michael Barnard engages in an enlightening conversation with Michael Raynor, co-author of The Innovator’s Solution and an expert in carbon reduction strategies. Raynor shares his personal journey into sustainability, the evolution of his focus on decarbonization, and his current work developing innovative solutions for addressing corporate carbon challenges. A key topic in the discussion is the Raynor’s new firm, S3 Markets, which emphasizes the need to decarbonize upstream commodities to meet net zero commitments. Rayner highlights the difficulty corporations face in managing Scope 3 emissions and suggests shifting from traditional carbon offsets to “insets,” where companies pool small investments to make a meaningful impact. This approach targets the 80-90 high-emission commodities responsible for the bulk of industrial emissions, which make up 15% of global GDP.The conversation takes a practical turn as Raynor discusses Mississauga’s hydrogen bus pilot program. He recounts how he identified potential issues with the initiative and reached out directly to the city’s mayor and council. His insights led to an invitation to present his findings to the Mississauga City Council on October 30th. The conversation turns to Barnard’s dive into the CUTRIC (Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium) in advancing urban transit decarbonization through research and policy recommendations, as well as some red flags.Barnard and Raynor explore the financial and environmental trade-offs between hydrogen and battery-electric buses. Barnard provides a critical analysis of data from California and the EU’s JIVE program, showing that hydrogen buses come with significant costs for refuelling infrastructure and maintenance. Comparatively, for the cost of five hydrogen buses, municipalities could procure twelve battery-electric buses, making the latter more attractive both financially and environmentally.The episode wraps up with a closer look at CUTRIC’s recent report for Brampton, where Barnard identifies questionable assumptions about hydrogen system costs. One factor alone, the cost assumption for gray hydrogen could have a $200 million swing, dwarfing the $10 million variance called out justifying a blended hydrogen + battery electric fleet instead of a battery electric only fleet.Raynor examines the varying carbon costs of different hydrogen types—gray, blue, and green—and emphasizes the importance of carefully choosing technologies based on actual benefits. The battery-electric buses offer superior emissions reduction per dollar spent. 
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  • 38. Methane crisis unveiled… and how to fix it (2/2)
    In Episode 38 of Redefining Energy - Tech, Rob Jackson addresses the growing challenge of methane emissions, which are over 90 times more potent than CO2 in the short term. He reveals that two-thirds of methane emissions come from human activities such as fossil fuels, agriculture, and landfills, with livestock, especially cows, being the largest agricultural source. Methane's rapid increase is a major contributor to climate change, and Jackson explores its direct and indirect effects, including its interaction with ozone and how blending hydrogen with natural gas can extend methane's atmospheric lifetime.Jackson presents several solutions to reduce methane emissions, emphasizing the transition from gas to electric appliances like heat pumps and induction stoves. Regulatory changes and best practices in the oil and gas sector, such as improved methane capture during drilling and better pressure relief systems, are crucial. He also notes the European Union's plan to include methane in its emissions trading system by 2026.The episode concludes with strategies for agriculture and landfills, including reducing cow populations, using feed additives and vaccines to cut methane from livestock, and preventing organic waste from entering landfills. Jackson advocates for a holistic approach, linking methane reduction to broader climate and health benefits, and highlights clean energy as a critical part of the solution.
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  • 37. Methane crisis unveiled… and how to fix it (1/2)
    Rob Jackson, Chair of the Global Carbon Project and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute, dives into a critical discussion on methane emissions and their impact on climate change. In this episode of Redefining Energy - Tech, he outlines methane’s potency, noting that it is 80-90 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat during the first few decades after its release. Methane's role in climate change is not to be underestimated, especially since it makes up the majority of natural gas, which is often marketed as a "clean" fuel.Jackson raises concerns about methane emissions, particularly in household appliances like gas stoves. These appliances not only leak methane but also release other harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and benzene, which pose significant health risks to vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly. He also discusses the widespread leakage that occurs throughout the natural gas supply chain, challenging the perception of natural gas as a clean energy source.The conversation shifts to the challenges of detecting methane emissions, particularly from oil and gas operations. Jackson highlights advancements in technology, such as satellites, drones, and helicopters, which are used to identify methane super-emitters —large, concentrated leaks of methane. However, pinpointing smaller leaks remains difficult. These advancements, though promising, still face limitations, particularly when it comes to smaller-scale emissions from agriculture or subtle leaks in oil fields.Jackson stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to methane detection. He calls for integrating multiple types of sensors at different scales to address the full scope of emissions. Despite the improvements in technology, methane emissions from various industries continue to be underestimated. The International Council on Clean Transportation's (ICCT) FUMES project, which found higher-than-expected methane emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships, and Shell's own internal discoveries of methane leaks from its operations, were part of the discussions.The episode concludes with a call to action, as Jackson emphasizes the necessity of reducing methane emissions by enhancing detection methods and accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. He advocates for a multifaceted strategy to address climate change, one that considers not just methane but also the broader implications of fossil fuel reliance.
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About Redefining Energy - TECH

Redefining Energy - Tech, a channel of the award-winning Redefining Energy podcast, features deep and broad conversations between global decarbonization leaders and technologists and host Michael Barnard. His informed perspectives on energy, industry and transportation enable him to have intense conversations with brilliant and knowledgeable people. You’ll be informed, stimulated and amused.
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