About this podcast
Mini nuclear reactors. Farm-fresh ‘local’ cauliflower. Solar lasers. Energy in Conversation is a plain-speaking, thought-provoking look into our energy future, through the eyes of the people leading the way. Join the Energy Institute’s Deane Somerville to hear about tough challenges and big ideas on our journey to a low carbon world.
You can listen to episodes on this page, or subscribe via the platforms below:
Trailer
What to expect from the first season of Energy in Conversation
Episode 3: The heat equation
Published: 10 December 2019
Our latest episode explores the routes to decarbonising domestic heat. Hear from expert guests, Dr Tim Rotheray and Adam Madgett, about the need to balance both sides of the heating equation - energy efficiency and clean heating sources. We focus on the options for keeping warm without harming the planet, from electricity to heat networks to green gasses. 83% of UK homes have gas-fired boilers today, but what will the future of heating look like?
Our guests this week
Dr Tim Rotheray
Former Director
Association for Decentralised Energy
@timrotherayAdam Madgett
HyDeploy Project Manager
Northern Gas Networks
@NGNgas
Useful resources
- UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: Carbon Footprint of Heat Generation
- UK Committee on Climate Change: Next steps for UK heat policy
- UK Committee on Climate Change: UK housing: Fit for the future?
- The Association for Decentralised Energy: Energy efficiency, fuel poverty, and more
- About HyDeploy
- IEA: The Future of Hydrogen
Episode 2: Energy's digital upgrade
Published: 26 November 2019
This week we focus on the UK's digital energy switchover - like TV and banking, retail energy is getting a 21st-century upgrade. But 1 in 10 UK adults are not internet users, and the same proportion are in fuel poverty. Can a digital energy future close this gap, rather than widen it? From smart kettles to vehicle-to-grid charging, and everything in between, our guests paint their vision for the future and consider how to take everyone along, including and especially vulnerable consumers.
Our guests this week
Dhara Vyas
Head of Future Energy Services
Citizens Advice
wearecitizensadvice.org.ukRobert Cheesewright
Director of Corporate Affairs
Smart Energy GB
@SmartEnergyGB
Episode 1: Food waste? Not cool
Published: 12 November 2019
Our first episode takes place at the intersection of food and energy - two systems which are central to human wellbeing and climate change. Getting food from farm to table is taking a toll on the environment, and 1/3 of all food produced never gets eaten. While the story differs between emerging and advanced economies, energy is at the heart of the challenge wherever we are in the world. Our guests walk us through food's journey, from how it's kept cold to how it's sold, and ask us to rethink society's biggest questions: how can we feed the world without destroying the planet?
Our guests this week
Professor Toby Peters
University of Birmingham and Heriot-Watt University
clean-cooling.ac.ukLaura Sandys FEI
CEO
Challenging Ideas and Trustee, The Food Foundation
@Laura_Sandys
Also from the Energy Institute
We want to know what you think!
Is there something we missed? Do you have a burning question for next season? Just love the sound of Deane’s voice? We’re giving away a £100 voucher of your choice to one lucky reviewer, so share your honest feedback on Apple Podcasts, or by tweeting to @EnergyInstitute, by 17 December. Winner will be selected randomly and announced in January.