The UK is highly exposed to global energy markets and has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. At the same time, vast amounts of heat generated across industry and infrastructure go unused. Whether it should be called "waste" is a matter of debate, but could making better use of the energy we already produce be one of the biggest untapped opportunities in the energy transition?
This week, Michael Liebreich is joined by Jonathan Maxwell, founder and CEO of SDCL, a specialist investment firm focused on energy efficiency, and one of the founding members of the Cleaning Up Leadership Circle.
They explore why energy efficiency should be treated as a strategic resource, why “waste” heat could become one of Europe's most overlooked energy resources, and how Europe and the UK can strengthen its energy resilience following renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
They discuss the economics of gas versus electricity, the rapid growth of AI-driven data centres and their power requirements, and how long-term infrastructure investment can help build a more resilient, affordable and efficient energy system.
Topics covered in this episode:
The Strait of Hormuz and Europe's energy security
The UK's energy system and the cost of electrification
Gas versus electricity pricing
Debating “waste” heat and energy efficiency
AI, data centres and growing power demand
Powering and cooling next-generation infrastructure
Infrastructure investment and portfolio management
Europe's energy transition beyond the AI boom
Watch the full episode on YouTube now, or find it on your favourite podcast platform.
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