Fiber to the community: How smart cities really get built - with Jeff Bankston (Underline) and David Fritz (Hogan Lovells)

Building a decentralized energy system for a high‑demand world

In this episode of the Future of Energy podcast, Oliver Travers (Senior Associate, Hogan Lovells) sits down with AJ Lawrence (Chief of Staff to the Co‑Founder and Group CFO, Octopus Energy) to unpack why decentralized and distributed energy has become such a defining issue for modern power systems. As electrification accelerates, from EVs and heat pumps to data centers and AI, the grid is facing rapidly rising demand at the same time as renewable generation makes supply more variable and complex. Oliver and AJ explore how these pressures are reshaping the long‑standing “energy trilemma” of security, affordability, and sustainability, and the conversation dives into how decentralized models can help build a more resilient, flexible, and future‑proof energy system.

Turning Crisis into Strategy: EU measures and investment opportunities after the Hormuz disruption

In this episode of the Future of Energy podcast, Hogan Lovells lawyers Fernando Calancha (Madrid), Stewart Forbes (Washington, D.C.), and Florian-Alexander Wesche (Düsseldorf) explore how disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz are prompting both immediate and strategic responses, particularly across Europe. In the short term, governments are introducing relief measures such as tax cuts and support for industry, alongside more coordinated EU-level responses. In the longer term, the focus is on accelerating electrification; expanding grids and renewables; streamlining permitting; and reassessing nuclear and other flexible energy sources to strengthen security of supply. The podcast highlights major opportunities in renewables, storage, hydrogen, and grid infrastructure, alongside growing demand-driven projects such as data centers. Overall, while the crisis is creating short-term pressure, it is also accelerating long-term investment and the shift toward a more resilient, independent energy system.

Turning Crisis into Strategy: Contracts, projects and disputes at a global chokepoint

Turning Crisis into Strategy: The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy and trade. In this episode of the Future of Energy podcast, our partners Tobias Faber, Melissa Ordonez, and Randall Walker examine how the current crisis is impacting projects, contracts, and supply chains – and what companies can do now to preserve rights, manage risk, and turn disruption into strategy.

Turning Crisis into Strategy: Global energy markets after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

In this episode of the Future of Energy podcast, Hogan Lovells lawyers Matthias Hirschmann, Megan Ridley-Kaye, Matthew Bubb, Torsten Rosenboom and Romain Marchand from Europe, the US, and Asia came together to examine the global consequences of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Recorded during a flagship Future of Energy event in Paris on 15 April, the discussion explores one of the most severe energy market disruptions in decades and its far‑reaching impact on energy security, pricing, inflation, and supply chains worldwide. The panel offers regional perspectives from Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific, highlighting government responses, shifts in energy policy, and emerging opportunities in renewables, electrification, LNG, and nuclear. Listen to key insights for businesses navigating heightened volatility, geopolitical risk, and the accelerating transformation of the global energy system. Key points: * Global energy crisis and geopolitical risk * Strait of Hormuz closure impact * Energy security and supply chain disruption * Global energy market volatility * Oil, gas, LNG, and power markets * Energy price shocks and inflation

Fiber to the community: How smart cities really get built - with Jeff Bankston (Underline) and David Fritz (Hogan Lovells)

In this episode of the Future of Energy podcast, Jeff Bankston (Vice President and General Manager, Underline Technologies) and David Fritz (Senior Director, Hogan Lovells) explore what it really takes to build smart, connected, resilient communities. From tackling infrastructure bottlenecks to designing fiber networks that serve entire cities, they unpack the challenges and opportunities behind delivering inclusive, future-ready network access for all.