DNV Talks Energy

AI and Technology: Rethinking energy consumption

How can we harness the power of new and emerging technologies to meet clean energy goals? Gavin McCormick, founder of non-profit technology company WattTime, argues that we need to think beyond generation of renewable energy to focus on the exact moment we use it, if we’re going to see real change in the next five to ten years.
In this first episode of our new series, we take a look at the big picture in terms of global emissions, and how new AI tools are helping consumers to automatically use energy when it’s at its cleanest. Gavin, who is a behavioural economist, explains the need for a shift in mindset – from blaming energy producers and users for emissions to empowering them to make smarter choices. He also discusses the impact of COVID-19 on corporate consumption levels, and the role data will play in redesigning utilities’ energy efficiency programmes. Finally, he shares his view on what will enable us to Transition Faster Together to a clean energy future. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/
 

Transitioning faster together post COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every corner of society, including the renewable energy industry. With the demand for fossil fuels falling significantly, and countries focusing on how the economy will recover, what does the future hold for the climate emergency? In this final episode, Ditlev Engel, CEO of DNV Energy Systems, reflects on the topics raised during the series and explores how governments, businesses and other key decision-makers can work together for change, both in the fight against COVID-19 and in accelerating our transition towards a clean energy future. Suggesting we need to “think big” when it comes to decarbonization, Ditlev explains that we have the technology needed to support the energy transition, but more regulatory reform and finance is required to further these opportunities and replace existing fossil fuel capacity. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Putting energy policy at the heart of recovery

Governments and policymakers around the world have been performing a balancing act in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic – trying to keep people safe in a global health crisis at the same time as planning for economic recovery. But with so much going on, what does this mean for the global energy transition? Bob Perciasepe, President of the Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), explores how key decision-makers can continue prioritizing climate and clean energy policies, at the same time as introducing economic stimulus measures to fight the disruption caused by COVID-19. While the focus has been on providing immediate relief for individuals, families and businesses being impacted by the pandemic, Bob suggests that governments and policymakers now need to move forward and look at how they can harness global collaboration against COVID-19 and use it to fuel a journey towards a decarbonized world. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Building back better: Post-pandemic community resilience

With COVID-19 having a huge impact on communities around the world, will our basic instinct to stay safe have a lasting effect on our energy consumption choices? Jennifer Layke, Global Director for Energy at the World Resources Institute (WRI), explores the societal impact of the pandemic and how governments and policymakers should be taking a community-level approach to building smarter systems for the future. With the pandemic seeing billions of people confined at home, Jennifer discusses why individuals should rethink their consumption habits following COVID-19 and how we can work together in order to accelerate the transition towards a clean energy future. This includes investing in clean energy solutions, such as electric vehicle charging stations and upgrading energy efficiency within the public sector. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

COVID-19 + Clean Energy: Powering our economic recovery

How can economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic whilst also ensuring that they meet clean energy goals? Dave Turk, Acting Deputy Executive and Head of the Strategic Initiatives Office at the International Energy Agency (IEA), discusses the importance of including renewables in economic stimulus packages and why clean energy technologies are showing resilience in these unprecedented times. In this first episode of our new series, Dave explores the impact COVID-19 has had on global energy consumption, with the IEA’s Global Energy Review 2020 finding that, despite a predicted 6% overall drop in global energy demand in 2020, renewable energy use will actually increase following the pandemic. He then discusses what learnings can be taken from the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to transition faster together towards a clean energy future. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

The energy transition: Fast, but not fast enough?

According to DNV GL’s recent Energy Transition Outlook 2019 report, the world needs five times more wind power, ten times more solar power and fifty times more battery storage if we are going to limit global warming by 2030. In this last episode of the current series, Lucy Craig, Vice President of Technology & Innovation at DNV Energy Systems looks back at some of the topics discussed during series 8 to determine what the future really holds for the renewable energy sector. Concluding that we already have the technologies required for change, Lucy explains that the focus should now be on scaling-up existing technologies, as well as introducing the extraordinary policy action needed to support their uptake. With ten years left to prevent the catastrophic impact of climate change, now is the time to act by ensuring that we accelerate the changes that we are already seeing today. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Blockchain: revolutionizing the energy mix

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we have just a decade left to get climate change under control, with technology innovation expected to play a major role in the efforts to keep temperatures at 1.5C. Brianna Welsh, Vice President and Head of Asia at Sindicatum Blockchain Technologies, discusses the impact of new technologies on the energy sector, specifically how blockchain is being used to encourage more sustainable consumption practices around the world. While consumers have traditionally had little influence over how they use energy, Brianna explains that blockchain and other digital technologies are helping to pave the way for a decentralized energy system and new business models within the renewables space. This includes the rise of peer-to-peer microgrids and the concept of ‘prosumers’, where individuals can power their own consumption and sell energy back to the grid. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Legislating for the age of renewables

With climate change now a global issue, legislation is increasingly being introduced to ensure countries remain committed to lowering their carbon footprint. In this episode, Dr Matthias Lang, Partner at Bird & Bird LLP, explores the role the legal sector is playing in the global energy transition, including how regulation can act as a technology innovation enabler. As outlined in DNV's Energy Transition Outlook 2019 report, the world needs to see “extraordinary policy action” if we are going to meet The Paris Agreement goals by 2030. Matthias explores why lawyers and policymakers should be supporting public and private sector businesses in understanding that change can be introduced efficiently at the same time as delivering positive results. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

The energy efficiency conversation

Today’s consumers are increasingly aware of the issues around energy efficiency, as well as the impact of their footprint on the planet. Dr Phyllis Yoshida, Senior Fellow for Energy and Technology at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, looks at how the energy efficiency conversation is moving on and what is needed to help the world commit to making sustainable choices in the long-term. While prices are coming down for renewable energies, Phyllis argues that incentives from governments, regulators and consumers will still be required in developing markets if utility companies are going to make the cultural shift towards clean energy, at the same time as remaining profitable. TTo find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Securing our renewable energy future

In 2019, the Saudi Arabia oil facility attacks raised huge questions about energy security - with the incident wiping out nearly half of the country’s estimated output and 5% of global production. Keisuke Sadamori, Director of Energy and Security Markets at the International Energy Agency (IEA), explores energy security in the age of renewables. He explains that incidents of extreme weather are destabilizing renewable energy systems and infrastructures around the world, and this will likely become a major energy security concern in future. In addition, Keisuke also examines how digital technologies may be opening the door to a new mix of cyber threats, which could impact on the renewable energy industry and the rate of its adoption. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/