Energy Conversations

Scotland’s hydrogen sector: Opportunities and challenges

In Episode 1 of this hydrogen-themed series, we’re delighted to host Nigel Holmes, CEO of Hydrogen Scotland. Nigel took the helm of Hydrogen Scotland (formerly the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association - SHFCA) in April 2011 and grew the association significantly, expanding its membership base to connect industry, academia, and local authorities. Hydrogen Scotland recently returned from their trade mission in Spain, which has been noted as a ‘priority market’ by the Scottish Government in their Hydrogen Sector Export Plan. We talk about: * how hydrogen can fill the gaps when renewables are unreliable * How global conflicts affect the hydrogen market * How to find a balance between decarbonising and remaining competitive →Read more about Nigel Holmes here [https://www.hydrogenscotland.com/portfolio-item/dr-nigel-holmes/] →Read more about Hydrogen Scotland here [https://www.hydrogenscotland.com/] This limited series is jointly brought to you by Dr Aliya Tskhay [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourstaff/aliyatskhay/] (CEP Research Associate) and the Scottish Council on Global Affairs [https://scga.scot/scga-state-of-the-world/] (SCGA). The CEP project, State of the Global Hydrogen Sector and Scotland's Growing Role in Production and Export of It, is part of the wider SCGA project on the State of the World [https://scga.scot/scga-state-of-the-world/]. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The ⁠Centre for Energy Policy⁠ [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/] at the University of Strathclyde works to ensure that transitions to mid-century net zero targets deliver sustainable and more equitable prosperity. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7258105994319212545] Follow us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/15815895/admin/dashboard/] Follow us on ⁠Bluesky ⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/strathcep.bsky.social]and ⁠X⁠ [https://x.com/StrathCEP] Music credit: Arturo Gonzalez (@arturibus) Video & audio editor: Richard Hill and Paulina Gonzalez-Martinez This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centreforenergypolicy.substack.com [https://centreforenergypolicy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Heating our homes & tackling inequality - Marta Santini & Megan Scherrer

In this episode, we’re focusing on fairness and households in the energy transition. As the UK accelerates towards net zero, what does that actually mean for everyday heating and cooling of our homes, particularly for those already struggling with energy costs? We’re joined by Centre for Energy Policy PhD students, Megan Scherrer and Marta Santini, whose PhD projects are looking at how households interact with heating and energy efficiency measures. →Read more of Marta’s work ⁠here ⁠ [https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/persons/marta-santini/]and ⁠here⁠ [https://www.edrc.ac.uk/people/profile/marta-santini/] →Read more of Megan’s work ⁠here ⁠ [https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/persons/megan-scherrer/]and ⁠here⁠ [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourstaff/meganscherrer/] ------------------------------------------------------------------- The ⁠Centre for Energy Policy⁠ [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/] at the University of Strathclyde works to ensure that transitions to mid-century net zero targets deliver sustainable and more equitable prosperity. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7258105994319212545] Follow us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/15815895/admin/dashboard/] Follow us on ⁠Bluesky ⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/strathcep.bsky.social]and ⁠X⁠ [https://x.com/StrathCEP] Music credit: Arturo Gonzalez (@arturibus) Video & audio editor: Richard Hill and Paulina Gonzalez-Martinez This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centreforenergypolicy.substack.com [https://centreforenergypolicy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Making energy markets work for all - Richard Neudegg & Christian Calvillo

* Watch the video of this episode on our Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2N0cXMWwJQRSSUwGxb79nF?si=VHMl-4XKQ_uvr6GrXiBMjQ] ⁠ [https://www.uswitch.com/] Uswitch⁠ [https://www.uswitch.com/] Director of Regulation, Richard Neudegg, joins us to talk about the revolution energy markets are undergoing. Richard sits down with CEP Senior Research Fellow, Dr Christian Calvillo, to discuss how different tariffs and products can be adopted by mass market energy consumers, while also considering those least able to pay. How do we help everyone navigate this rapidly changing energy market, especially when one size doesn’t fit all? →Read more on ⁠Uswitch’s ⁠website⁠ [https://www.uswitch.com/] →Read more of ⁠Dr Calvillo’s research⁠ [https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/persons/christian-calvillo-munoz/publications/] ------------------------------------------------------------------- The ⁠⁠Centre for Energy Policy⁠⁠ [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/] at the University of Strathclyde works to ensure that transitions to mid-century net zero targets deliver sustainable and more equitable prosperity. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://subscribe%20on%20linkedin%20https//www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7258105994319212545] Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforenergypolicy] Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/strathcep.bsky.social] and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter/X⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/StrathCEP] Music credit: Arturo Gonzalez (@arturibus) Video & audio editor: ⁠Eve Lucas⁠ [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourstaff/evelucas/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centreforenergypolicy.substack.com [https://centreforenergypolicy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Global Race for Critical Minerals - Aliya Tskhay & Stephen Agyeman Duah

In this episode, Dr Aliya Tskhay [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourstaff/aliyatskhay/] and Dr Stephen Agyeman Duah [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourstaff/stephenagyeman/] discuss the complex role of critical minerals in the shift to low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. While these resources offer major opportunities for economic growth in mineral-rich countries, their extraction often raises pressing environmental and ethical concerns. The conversation delves into how nations can navigate these challenges, drawing lessons from history to promote fairer, more sustainable outcomes in the race to decarbonise. →Read Dr Agyeman’s paper on Morocco-China-EU Relations on Green Transition Minerals - APRI – Africa Policy Research Institute: https://afripoli.org/morocco-china-eu-relations-on-green-transition-minerals [https://afripoli.org/morocco-china-eu-relations-on-green-transition-minerals] →Read Dr Tskhay’s article on Just transition – as the basis for the EU-Central Asia cooperation on critical raw materials | The Hague Research Institute: https://hagueresearch.org/just-transition-as-the-basis-for-the-eu-central-asia-cooperation-on-critical-raw-materials/ [https://hagueresearch.org/just-transition-as-the-basis-for-the-eu-central-asia-cooperation-on-critical-raw-materials/] ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Centre for Energy Policy [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/] at the University of Strathclyde works to ensure that transitions to mid-century net zero targets deliver sustainable and more equitable prosperity. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our ⁠⁠LinkedIn newsletter⁠⁠ [http://subscribe%20on%20linkedin%20https//www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7258105994319212545] Follow us on ⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforenergypolicy] Follow us on ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/strathcep.bsky.social] and ⁠⁠Twitter/X⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/StrathCEP] Music credit: Arturo Gonzalez (@arturibus) Audio engineer: Richard Hill This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centreforenergypolicy.substack.com [https://centreforenergypolicy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Energy Networks at a Crossroads - George Potter & Antonios Katris

In this episode, George Potter, Finance and Modelling Manager at SP Energy Networks, and Antonios Katris, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Energy Policy, discuss Ofgem’s call for business plans from the UK’s major gas and electricity network operators. They explore how these plans aim to secure sufficient revenue for running and investing in networks that deliver efficiently on customer priorities, whilst withstanding the ever increasing demand on electricity. The conversation highlights SP Energy Networks’ commissioning of CEP to provide independent research assessing their proposed £12bn investment and the wider economic impacts. This episode offers insights into the intersection of energy regulation, investment planning, and economic analysis. Links to further reading: * Read Ofgem’s RIIO-3 Draft Determinations [https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/riio-3-draft-determinations-electricity-transmission-gas-distribution-and-gas-transmission-sectors] (published 1 July 2025) * Read CEP’s briefing on SP Energy Networks’ business plan [https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/91528/] * Read CEP’s full report on SP Energy Networks’ business plan [https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/91529/] * Read SP Energy Networks’ RIIO-T3 business plan [https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/riio_t3_docs.aspx] * George Potter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-potter-b64a68156/] * Dr Antonios Katris [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourstaff/antonioskatris/] The Centre for Energy Policy [https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/] at the University of Strathclyde works to ensure that transitions to mid-century net zero targets deliver sustainable and more equitable prosperity. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠monthly LinkedIn Newsletter [http://subscribe%20on%20linkedin%20https//www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7258105994319212545]⁠⁠! Follow us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforenergypolicy] Follow us on ⁠⁠Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/strathcep.bsky.social]⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter/X⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/StrathCEP] Music credit: Arturo Gonzalez (@arturibus) Audio engineer: Richard Hill This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centreforenergypolicy.substack.com [https://centreforenergypolicy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]