DNV Talks Energy

Traditional to Alternative: the evolving business model

According to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook 2019 report, the world needs ten times more solar power to limit global warming by 2030. In this episode, Gavin Adda, CEO of Distributed Generation at Total, explores the changing role of traditional energy companies, with many now diversifying and looking at renewables to help them reduce their carbon emissions, meet changing consumer demands and address new government policies on climate change. With solar power playing a major role in this transition, Gavin explains that global corporates such as Google and Apple are recognizing the benefits to clean energy and starting to put pressure on their wider supply chain. This, alongside cheaper prices for energy such as solar, is helping developing markets to transition more quickly than ever before. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Transitioning to a wind-powered world

Global wind power capacity is estimated to grow by 60% in the next five years, with emerging markets such as Asia expected to play a major role in this transition. Clive Turton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, at Vestas, discusses the rise in wind power and what more needs to be done to ensure a faster decarbonization of the global energy market. With DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook 2019 finding that five times more wind power is needed to close the emissions gap by 2030, Clive explains why education on clean energy is still needed to ensure that policymakers around the world are making the required investment to help slow climate change. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

The future of green investment

Technological innovation has resulted in the cost of renewable energies such as wind and solar continuing to fall, with wide-scale deployment seen over the last two decades. Jon Moore, CEO of BloombergNEF, explores the future of investment behaviour, including the impact of consumer uptake rates, and why transparency is critical to moving the industry forward. With DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook 2019 report calling for $1.5 trillion in annual investment by 2030, Jon explains how initiatives such as the Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) are helping businesses and investors to better understand their exposure to climate risk, opening the door to significant levels of investment in future. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Rethinking climate policy: a holistic approach

The energy industry is widely recognised for its role in addressing climate change. However, it’s important to remember that other sectors – from agriculture and transportation to manufacturing – must equally evolve to ensure a faster transition towards renewables. Dr Lawrence Jones, Vice President, International Programs, at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), discusses the importance of taking a holistic approach to this global issue, including the need for more inclusive policy change. With billions of people in the world still lacking basic access to electricity, Lawrence explores the complexities around the idea of “inclusive transition” and how developing economies will require ongoing support and empathy from the rest of the world if they are to access cheaper renewable energy systems in future. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

Accelerating the energy transition

What role is technology playing when it comes to closing the global emissions gap? Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO of DNV Energy Systems, explores the key findings from the 2019 Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) report and discusses what more can be done globally to accelerate the energy transition. In this first episode of our new series, Remi explores why “extraordinary policy action” is needed to meet the Paris Agreement climate goals. Finding that $1.5 trillion of annual investment is required by 2030, governments must act now to benefit from the continued innovation in renewables, including wind, solar PV and energy storage. While the focus should be on the scaling-up of existing technologies, Remi explains what DNV is doing to harness the new, collective focus on climate emergency in order to progress the energy transition. To find out more or read the transcription, please visit https://www.dnv.com/power-renewables/podcasts/

FACE THE FACTS: Electric Vehicles: Closing the emissions gap

The electric car industry is growing, with half of all light vehicle sales worldwide expected to be electric by 2032. In this last episode of the series, Lucy Craig, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at DNV Energy Systems, looks at the not-too-distant electric future, the benefits and challenges of large-scale electric vehicle adoption and what this means for renewable energy generation moving forwards. While recent news revealed that combined European sales of both battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles totalled 259,000 in the first six months of 2019, growth is also being seen in developing countries. For example, India recently announced a new policy to foster greater demand for electric vehicles in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, particularly in urban centres. But how close are we to an electric future and what impact will it have on the wider fight against climate change?

FACE THE FACTS: Solar PV: Generating a brighter energy future

Despite the challenges that faced large-scale solar deployment several years ago – mostly due to the need for a more ambitious price target – the industry is now booming. In this episode, Dana Olson, Global Solar Segment Leader at DNV, explores the coming of age in solar power, the benefits already being seen and how advancements in technology are pushing it towards an even brighter future. Recent research has found that the solar market is going from strength to strength, with global solar installations set to reach a record high of 114.5 gigawatts in 2019, up 17.5 per cent from 2018. But what does this mean moving forward? And what technologies must providers embrace to keep up with our changing energy ecosystem?

FACE THE FACTS: The regenerative business

Corporate action on climate change is steadily gathering pace, with global retailer PUMA recently committing to a 35 per cent reduction in its carbon emissions by 2030. In this episode, Juliet Davenport, Founder and CEO of Good Energy, looks at what it means to be a regenerative business, and what companies need to do to not only operate sustainably themselves, but to give back and support others in the fight against climate change. In recent news, Chief Executives from the non-profit association Business Roundtable – which includes senior leadership from the likes of JPMorgan, Amazon and Apple – have pledged to look beyond shareholder value and redefine the role of business in society, including a need to protect the environment. With this renewed sense of urgency, what should organizations’ next step be in futureproofing both their business and the planet?

FACE THE FACTS: Artificial Intelligence: Keeping the lights on

The energy transition is picking up pace, with up to 80 per cent of the global electricity expected to be generated from renewable sources by 2050. In this episode, Michael Wilkinson, Global Segment Leader – Energy Digitalization at DNV, explores how digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics can streamline the move towards a Decentralized and Decarbonized energy system. In recent news, a significant power outage was recorded in the UK, as two of National Grid’s large power generators, a gas-fired power station and an offshore wind farm failed simultaneously and left nearly one million people without electricity. With the race towards renewables continuing, how can energy businesses ensure they’re embracing the opportunities digital technologies have to offer?

FACE THE FACTS: The climate change puzzle

Climate change is becoming more and more tangible – every day we are seeing the devastating consequences of a warmer world in the news. Amy Harder, Energy Reporter at Axios and formerly The Wall Street Journal, discusses her take on the eight pieces of the climate change puzzle and what she looks for when writing a story on this hugely topical, yet still divisive, issue. In recent news, global movements like the School Strike 4 Climate are taking centre stage, while policymakers and business leaders continue to pull in different directions on the issues at the heart of the climate change emergency. But with so many parties to please, is the conversation around climate ever going to ignite real change?