Make Electricity Cheap Again + BP's Reverse Ferret
Episode description
In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan delves into the latest developments in the UK's carbon budget and examines the prospects for clean industrial transitions in Europe. With highlights from the UK's Climate Change Committee's seventh carbon budget and insights from Emma Pinchbeck on future household energy savings, the discussion emphasizes the urgent need to reduce electricity prices while expanding clean power technologies. Interviews with climate tech experts, including Liam Hardy from Green Alliance and Charlie Mercer from the Startup Coalition, explore the pressing need for government support in electrifying industries and the potential impacts of decentralized approaches to renewable energy. The episode concludes with reflections on BP's strategic pivot back to oil and gas and the broader geopolitical implications of the energy transition.
00:00 Introduction to Clean Electricity and Carbon Capture
00:21 Weekly Climate News Recap
01:33 UK's Carbon Budget and Future Projections
03:34 Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy Transition
05:45 BP's Shift in Energy Strategy
07:06 Interview with Charlie Mercer on Climate Tech
09:08 Government Spending and Climate Tech Investments
15:41 Liam Hardy Green Alliance
17:16 Interview with Liam Hardy on Electrification of Industry
29:46 Encouraging Innovation in Smaller Startups
30:20 The Cost Disparity Between Electricity and Natural Gas
31:11 Understanding the Spark Gap
33:19 Challenges in Reducing Electricity Costs
37:17 Government Policies and Industrial Support
39:32 Creative Solutions for Energy Transition
41:24 Debating Hydrogen and Carbon Capture
45:43 Final Thoughts and Future Directions
48:39 BP Investor Call
48:39 BP's Strategic Reset and Future Plans
56:19 The Gulf of America Controversy
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