Climate Confident

• The Future of Energy: Virtual Power Plants, AI & Battery Storage

  Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Chris Doherty, CEO of Joulen, to discuss how data, AI, and battery storage are changing the way homes and businesses interact with renewable energy. With energy costs fluctuating and grid constraints becoming more of a challenge, the role of smart energy management has never been more important.Chris explains how virtual power plants (VPPs) allow households and small businesses to collectively act as a large-scale power provider, reducing costs and generating income. We explore how AI-driven algorithms optimise energy use, ensuring that people buy low and sell high—maximising savings and revenue.We also break down the regulatory barriers that prevent wider adoption of decentralised energy and discuss what governments can do to speed up the transition. From Germany’s success in residential battery storage to the UK’s evolving energy market, we look at how different countries are tackling these challenges.Other key topics:Why EVs with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could replace home batteriesHow energy storage can help stabilise the grid and reduce investment in new infrastructureThe financial incentives needed to scale solar and battery adoption in homes and businessesThe growing role of demand-side management in balancing electricity supplyIf you’re wondering how to make the most of your renewable energy system—or how policy can unlock wider adoption—this episode has you covered.📩 Get in touch: [email protected]💡 Follow for more insights on the clean energy transition.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Lorcan Sheehan Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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• Greenwashing, Greenhushing & Climate Accountability – What’s Really Going On?

  Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Jenny Morgan, author of Cancel Culture in Climate, to explore how public shaming and polarisation are holding back real progress on climate solutions.We already have the tools and technologies needed to reduce emissions, yet fear of criticism—whether from activists, media, or the public—often paralyses businesses and leaders. Jenny explains how cancel culture leads to three major pitfalls:Greenwashing – Overstating sustainability efforts to avoid backlash.Greenhushing – Staying silent about genuine climate initiatives to escape scrutiny.Green recanting – Companies reversing climate commitments due to heightened pressure.Rather than tearing down imperfect efforts, Jenny advocates for empathetic accountability—holding organisations to account while keeping the door open for progress. We discuss how companies like Patagonia and Allbirds have embraced transparency over perfection, and how social media can be both a force for good and a major obstacle to climate communication.Key takeaways:✔ Why fear of being “called out” prevents meaningful climate action.✔ How businesses can regain trust after sustainability missteps.✔ Practical strategies to foster productive climate conversations.Tune in to rethink how we approach climate accountability—and why working with people is more effective than working against them.🔗 Listen now and subscribe in your favourite podcast app.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Lorcan Sheehan Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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• The Hidden Barriers to Building Decarbonisation – and How to Overcome Them

  Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Puja Balachander, CEO and co-founder of UpGreen, to explore how commercial landlords and asset managers can accelerate energy efficiency retrofits while keeping costs down.Buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, yet many remain inefficient due to financial and logistical barriers. UpGreen tackles this by reducing upfront retrofit costs and enabling landlords to recapture savings from tenants, turning sustainability upgrades into a viable business strategy.We discuss:Why 87% of UK commercial buildings must undergo energy upgrades within the next five years to meet regulations.How UpGreen's model cuts retrofit costs by up to 80% while recovering 60% of expenses through tenant savings.The hidden inefficiencies preventing widespread adoption of energy retrofits, despite their cost-effectiveness.The challenges of scaling retrofits across different markets, from the UK’s public energy performance data to Germany’s fragmented regulations.The future of retrofits beyond energy efficiency, including climate adaptation measures for flood and heat resilience.This episode offers practical insights for commercial landlords, sustainability professionals, and policymakers looking to unlock the full potential of building decarbonisation.🎧 Listen now and subscribe to Climate Confident to stay ahead of the latest sustainability trends.🔗 Show links:🌍 Learn more about UpGreen: getupgreen.com📩 Contact me: [email protected] the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Lorcan Sheehan Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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• Decentralising Energy: The Future of Peer-to-Peer Trading & Renewables

  Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Dr. Jemma Green, Co-Founder and Chairman of PowerLedger, to explore how blockchain technology is reshaping the energy sector. We discuss the shift towards peer-to-peer energy trading, how utilities can adapt to a decentralised grid, and what role blockchain-backed renewable energy certificates can play in ensuring transparency and accountability.Dr. Green explains why traditional feed-in tariff models are becoming unsustainable, how local energy autonomy can reduce grid congestion, and why distributed energy solutions are key to managing growing electricity demand. We also dive into the economics of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and the impact of Europe’s Clean Energy Package on decentralised energy markets.Takeaways from this episode:Why utilities need to move beyond traditional energy supply modelsHow blockchain ensures trust and efficiency in energy tradingThe economic incentives driving distributed renewables adoptionWhat energy prosumers (like EV owners) can do to optimise costsWe also touch on India’s approach to energy decentralisation, regulatory hurdles slowing adoption in Europe, and how businesses can benefit from corporate renewable energy trading.Tune in to understand how technology is driving the future of sustainable energy.🔗 Listen now and subscribe!Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Lorcan Sheehan Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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• Can the Ocean Save Us from Climate Change? Exploring Nature’s Carbon Sink

  Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Annalisa Bracco, a physical oceanographer and climate scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, to explore how our oceans are changing—and why it matters.The ocean is a critical carbon sink, absorbing vast amounts of CO₂, but it’s also warming at an alarming rate, driving more extreme weather events and disrupting marine ecosystems. Annalisa explains how rising sea temperatures are fuelling stronger hurricanes, shifting rainfall patterns, and devastating biodiversity—particularly in coral reefs, where we’ve already lost up to 75% in the Atlantic alone.We also discuss the role of marine protected areas, the surprising impact of sea cucumbers on coral survival, and how AI and machine learning are helping scientists map oceanic ecosystems. Annalisa shares insights on potential solutions, including ocean-based carbon sequestration, enhanced weathering, and the challenge of safely storing CO₂ at depth.Key takeaways from this episode:✅ Warming oceans are intensifying weather patterns and reducing freshwater availability.✅ Coral bleaching threatens food security for over a billion people.✅ AI is revolutionising how we track biodiversity and predict climate impacts.✅ Marine conservation efforts can rapidly restore ecosystems and improve fisheries.The health of our oceans is deeply intertwined with the future of our planet. Listen now to understand what’s at stake—and what we can do about it.🎧 Tune in now on your favourite podcast platform!Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Lorcan Sheehan Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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